CliffNZ

Hello Neil We are Cliff and Doreen Humphries ex Orewa and Whangarei N.Z now living in Surfers Paradise Did you realise virtually all pre war Buicks were C.K.D. and put together in Petone Wellington. Hence no data plates on firewall. The odd ones with data plates did come in from overseas like our 37 model 46 S In storage in Orewea. Also had a model 41 that a firewall plate that was supposed to go to South Afrika ex Eric Bodley Rotorua but finished up in N.Z. We also had a model 47 same as yours I used to use it for work daily Now owned by Rob ----- lives in Maunatapere out of Whangarei. He is a reg. drainlayer How come you were on the Reatta website? We have a 91 Reatta Conv. We converted to Right drive Cliff E.Mail us at linmar@xtra.co.nz

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Hi Guys, It has been a long time we know but we have finally been using our Reatta for four weeks now. It has turned out really well and we are very pleased with the result. It is the hottest part of our summer here so we are enjoying top down driving out into the countryside and have been out every weekend to date. We had a thoroughtly enjoyable visit from Jim Finn, and his wife Linda. He bought over some parts for us as we had a bit of bad luck while parking it on our arrival home. (Cliff put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake while backing into our parking space.) All fixed and back to new again, thanks to Jim. Will attempt to attach a couple of photos of the final result. Best wishes from New Zealand, Cliff and Doreen

1000 comedians out of work and we get George. Having a good time in NZ. Jim

Hi Guys, We have looked in our computer and found a photo of our 1937 Buick Coupe taken with a friend's 38 Buick Sedan in the South Island last January. We were on a Vintage Car Club tour that centred around Invercargill (the most southern part of the S.I. There were 950 cars on the run, including cars from England and the U.S. Our Coupe is one of two imported in 1937 completely assembled. The sedans were imported C.K.D. and were assembled in Wellington. Our car was a complete basket case when we bought it, but being Buick enthusiasts we knew it needed to be restored as it was only one of two, and now the only one left n N.Z. Yes, the steering wheel is on "the right side" in both cars. (A pun on words)

Hi Barney, No it wasn't us, unfortunately. We do know that Mike Hanning from Christchurch (N.Z.) went so he could have been one of them. Very nice Buick guy. We found out when we went to the South Island in our Buick Coupe on a Vintage Car tour that he now owns one of our Sedans that we sold around 20 years ago. It is a small world!! When completed we will post all $ figures (N.Z.) for everyone to peruse. Cliff

The convertor has done over 400 conversions and helps the auto electrician. We haven't met the auto electrician so don't know how much hair he does have left, but it would have been a nightmare. We didn't send any photos of the wiring all over the place in case the Reatta owners shed buckets of tears and short circuited their own wiring. Cliff and Doreen

Hi Randy, Rack and pinion was a brand new one made for a Toyota Cavalier. It was a perfect match, only requiring a modification to the mounting - certified by a low volume certifier. (All work done has to be certified and signed off by a licenced certifier before it can be put on the road.) Could you supply more info re the restriction in the exhaust as this is new information for us. Cliff

Hi Randy, Yes your excellent column seal is all in place. The lower steering column is still original and was a perfect match for connecting to the right-hand drive rack and pinion. Pleased to see there is so much interest in the car. Cliff

Thanks for your comments. Yes, we are insane, but we are Buick Nuts, having had 1937 Buicks for over forty years. Now only have a red '37 Series 40 Coupe, only one in Australia and New Zealand with a Fisher body. (Australian ones had Holden bodies.) Thought we would add a Reatta convertible as our "modern". Cliff and Doreen

Hi EDBSO, Ignition key only goes on other side if you are left-handed!! Only car we have ever driven with key on left hand side of column was a 1977 Citroen CX Pallas which we gave away to make room for the Reatta. Cliff

This is the steering wheel and column. Last one was the right hand drive rack and pinion. Sorry

Steering wheel and column mounted

Did something wrong. Will try again.

Hi Guys, For those that are interested in the latest progress report from N.Z. we have attached four pictures received today from the convertor in N.Z. as we are currently on holiday in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia until 16th September, and cannot take our own photos. It is getting closer to being finished. All the hard work is done. Just the wiring to finish and dash to change over. Cliff and Doreen P.S. Looks as if we can only attach one photo. We are new to this. If we have succeeded in doing the four then good. If not, how do we get the others through?

Hi Guys, Cliff NZ here. Thanks for your enquiries re progress on the R.H. drive Reatta. At present we are in Queensland, Australia for our winter break. When we left NZ the conversion was about half way. Very slow progress, but expecting it to be finished before we get back in September. He has done over 400 conversions and says this is the most difficult he has done to date. Have plenty of pictures but seeing it in its present state would not please a lot of guys as it looks as if it is in a wrecker's yard. The motor was out (to gain access to the firewall), doors off, dash out, wiring everywhere. The motor is now back in and the auto electrician should be working on re-routing and extending some of the wiring. Steering is completed. Will update you when we get back middle September, when we also hope to have our first drive. Cliff and Doreen

Hi Im Cliff from N.Z. At present getting our 91. Reatta Conv. (ex Toni Hunt )converted to right hand drive, some Job! Glad its not me doing it! Would it be possible for you to get me a set of these Mud flaps? Im more than happy to send you the cash plus postage of course to you before you send them off to us. Hope this is not being too cheeky What a great car and site we really enjoy it. Our E.Mail is linmar@xtra.co.nz Hope to hear from you soon Regards Cliff and Doreen

Hi Guys , An update on our right hand drive conversion. Motor out , dash out, subdash out, wiring out, new right hand drive steering rack mounted from a Toyota Cavalier. This was quite a tricky job. Steering rack was virtually identical to Reatta but 3/8th inch longer (tie rod adjustment will fix this). The mounting was different. He had to tilt new rack to make it the same as original, with new engineered mounts welded to the frame. Brake pedal will have a balance bar same as volvos . Still many tricky jobs to come, rather him than me!! looks like a major coming at some stage with the air con. unit at present not having any where to put it. Was suggested that we leave top down! At present looks as if reatta is at a wrecking yard. Perhaps we should have gone away, and come back when all was completed, what the eye doesnt see the heart doesnt grieve over!! He is just a one man band so still a long way off yet.

Go to www.hemmings.com/index.cfm They have three 1983's for sale. You had better be sitting down when you view it. Cliff from New Zealand

Hi to all further update re right hand drive conversion in N.Z. The two biggest jobs are the steering rack, which will be replaced by a HOLDEN a G.M. co. in Australia very extensive there and N.Z. Second major of course the dash. When removed it is placed in a jig to keep its overall shape then cut horizontally then sections cut and changed over. All welded in and together then sent to the specialists to be re-vinyled sucked down then new matching paint. Will take photos of its progress Cliff .N.Z.

Hello Barney John & other members. N.Z. regs. require imported cars like ours to have been owned and DRIVEN in the U.S. for a minimum of 90 days then it could be left LEFT HAND drive. We can only holiday in the U.S. for max of 90 days at one time. Its all worked out!! If the car is older than 20 yrs then no conversion required. We didnt want to just look at it for the next 4 yrs till we could put it on the road !! Besides we have spent all our lives driving on the other side We do have quite a few left hookers here for reasons given mostly 50s 60s and 70s. As far as I can find out our reatta will be the only one as a right hand drive . I even tried the U.K. and the continent. Barney dont know if any Rivs. ever came here. Will post more info. another time if any body is interested

Hello from New Zealand. We are Cliff and Doreen, the new Reatta owners. Yes, it was a long process getting it to us - it took just under six months, but well worth the wait. No damage done to it on the way over. We have since washed the travel grime off it and it now looks great. We still stand by our comments re Toni Hunt. Conversion will take six to eight weeks, and we have a very clever engineer that specialises in one-off conversions doing it. The finished cost to us on the road (in N.Z.) dollars will be just under $50,000. The dollar conversion rate at the moment is around .67 cents. We are forty-five year long Buick lovers, having used 1937 Buicks for our every day transport for all that time (including using one as a builders shed on wheels). We have moved into condo living and now have only our 1937 Buick Coupe Model 46S, plus the Reatta when it is ready. We are looking forward to driving our 1991 Reatta Convertible in a couple of month's time. We do enjoy the forum, and look at it most days.