sean1997

Yes, that is the exact same chart that Ed is referring to in post #20 above. It is one of the paint charts that has resulted in the assumption that has got us into this predicament in the first place, namely that because the color shows up on the manufacturers 1957 color chart it must be a 1957 color. But if you look closely, you will notice that the manufacturer was careful to place a caveat at the bottom of the paint chart stating that Bittersweet and Apricot are 1956 Spring Colors. It is also the reason why the manufacturer lists a 56 in front of the paint code on the chart, to indicate that this is a 1956 color and not a 1957 color.

The paint charts were done by the paint manufacturers and not by Buick. Production of the 1957 Buick's started on 10/15/1956. I've posted a link to a 1957 order form dated 12/20/1956. This would be an early model year order form. As you can see, it does not have Bittersweet listed on it. If Bittersweet was a carry-over color, it would be shown on the order form. If you look at the 1940-1963 Buick Master Chassis Parts Book, you will see that it shows all of the 1957 colors, including the spring colors, but it does not list Bittersweet as a 1957 color, only as a 1956 color.

Yes, that is part of the confusion. If you read the footnote (*) it indicates that this is a 1956 spring color, hence the 56 in front of the code. To clarify: 1955 Buick spring colors released in the spring of 1955 were applied to 1955 model year cars. 1956 Buick spring colors released in the spring of 1956 were applied to 1956 model year cars. 1957 Buick spring colors released in the spring of 1957 were applied to 1957 model year cars. In other words, the calendar year in which the spring colors were released matches the model year to which the colors were applied. Some websites show 1956 Buick spring colors for 1957, which is a mistake on their part because they have assumed that since it shows up on a manufacturers 1957 color chart it was applied to 1957 cars. It was cheaper and easier for the paint manufacturers to put the 1955 spring colors on the 1956 chart and the 1956 spring colors on the 1957 chart rather than release a chart with only the spring colors and then have to release a new chart just a few months later when the paint codes changed for the new model year.

Yes, I think that is part of the confusion. The same is also true for the 1956 spring colors which show up on some 1957 color charts. To clarify: 1955 Buick spring colors released in the spring of 1955 were applied to 1955 model year cars. 1956 Buick spring colors released in the spring of 1956 were applied to 1956 model year cars. 1957 Buick spring colors released in the spring of 1957 were applied to 1957 model year cars. In other words, the calendar year in which the spring colors were released matches the model year to which the colors were applied. Some websites show 1956 Buick spring colors for 1957, which is a mistake on their part because they have assumed that since it shows up on a manufacturers 1957 color chart it was applied to 1957 cars. It was cheaper and easier for the paint manufacturers to put the 1955 spring colors on the 1956 chart and the 1956 spring colors on the 1957 chart rather than release a chart with only the spring colors and then have to release a new chart just a few months later when the paint codes changed for the new model year.

Spring colors were provided to spark a final surge in the later end of the current model year. During the 1950's the model year ran from approximately September through August. So the 1957 model year would be September 1956 through August 1957. Sales of 1956 model year cars would have ended in September of 1956, not the summer of 1957.

I've got a Buick car order form dated June 10th, 1957 which would be near the end of the model year. It has Arctic Blue, Mariner Blue, Gulf Green, Hunter Green, Sylvan Grey, and Dusk Rose on it for Spring colors, but no Bittersweet. http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1957&manuf=GM&smodel=Buick&info=yes&page=3 I also have one dated December 20th, 1956. No Bittersweet on it either. You can find a copy of it here: http://www.teambuick.com/reference/years/57/order_form.php

In 1949 the Dynaflow was standard on the Roadmaster and optional on the Super.

54655105 5465510 = sequential number, range for 1949 was 5220972 to 5567999 5 = Series 50/Super (series digit at end of engine number for 1942-1956)

The Fisher job number is stamped on the cowl data tag. Yours says 32509, which is model 57. Model 57S was 32519.

Fisher job number 32509 is for Buick model 57, so you have a model 57 not 57S. The thing with trim codes is that their availability by model changed throughout the model year. I've seen years with over a dozen revisions of the trim and paint code forms, which is where I got the information that I used to make the trim code list you used. You could also special order things. I will update my trim code list to include model 57 on trim 114.

Model 76A Roadmaster 2-door hardtop (Riviera), 6-passenger (one piece rear window) production = 2,812 Model 76R Roadmaster 2-door hardtop (Riviera), 6-passenger (three section rear window) production = 3,826 The data plate on the cowl should tell you the Buick model and Fisher body style number. Buick model 76A = Fisher body style 4737X Buick model 76R = Fisher body style 4737DX Complete production for 1957: http://www.teambuick.com/reference/years/57.php

Model 67S was a 60 Series 4-door special sedan, not available in the US. Wheelbase of 128 inches. Usually it was things like an upgraded interior trim, wood dashes, or extra exterior bright work that made them "Special". The body job number of 34009 shows that it used the same body as the model 67.

For information about the name see here: http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/m/mitchell_bentley/mitchell_bentley.htm http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/s/smith_a_o/smith_a_o.htm X-368 6K1106134Y L-360 FB 43341 4635-KK-463 X = engine production code KX 368 = engine build date code 6K1106134 = car serial number (see decode here http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?25968-Help-decoding-1964-Buick-Lesabre-Station-Wagon&p=101774#post101774) Y = build month = February 1964 L = transmission production code BL (ST400 automatic for 425 V8, Column shift) 360 = transmission build date code (12/27/1963) FB = body built at Flint (not really, probably should not have been stamped, but "natural variation") 43341 = body number (incorrectly stamped, again "natural variation") 4635-KK-463 = style number-paint code-trim code 24-203 3-4-4 6K1106134 24-203 = dealer number (Ballentyne Buick, 300 El Cajon Blvd., El Cajon CA) 3-4-4 = date of delivery (March 4th, 1964)

Cornering lights and luggage racks could be installed by the dealer once the car left the factory, so the codes for dealer installed items won't show up on the data plate. In 1964 there were four different schemes used for option codes on the data plates and there is always some natural variation depending on who was stamping the plates that day. 08D STYLE 4635 BODY 57 TRIM 461 PAINT F-F ACC. E6 F5 G5 I6 J1 K6 N2 P3 R2 S7 U7 08D = body build date = August (08) 1963, fourth week (D) 4635 = body style number 4 = Buick 6 = Wildcat/LeSabre Estate Wagon 35 = 4-door estate wagon, 2-seat 57 = sequential body number Trim 461 = Blue Cloth and Vinyl, available on styles 4635, 4645 Paint code F-F = solid Marlin Blue Metallic Accessory (ACC.) option codes: E6 = Rear Seat Speaker F5 = Instrument panel lower roll pad G5 = Tailgate washer/wiper I6 = Soft-Ray Tinted Glass J1 = Power Seat - 6 Way Adjuster K6 = Custom Foamtex Padded Cushions N2 = Air Conditioner P3 = Custom Bright Exterior Moldings and Roof Drip and Door Window Frame Moldings R2 = Luggage Rack S7 = Remote Control Side View Mirror U7 = Power Windows 01C STYLE 4645 BODY 2285 TRIM 433 PAINT K-K ACC. B2 F5 I6 K6 J1 K6 N2 P3 S7 U7 01C = body build date = January (01) 1964, third week (C) 4645 = body style number 4 = Buick 6 = Wildcat/LeSabre Estate Wagon 45 = 4-door estate wagon, 3-seat 2285 = sequential body number Trim 433 = Fawn Vinyl, available on styles 4635, 4645 Paint code K-K = solid Sunburst Yellow Accessory (ACC.) option codes: B2 = Seat Belts-Front Seat, Deluxe (Driver and Passenger) F5 = Instrument panel lower roll pad I6 = Soft-Ray Tinted Glass J1 = Power Seat - 6 Way Adjuster K6 = Custom Foamtex Padded Cushions N2 = Air Conditioner P3 = Custom Bright Exterior Moldings and Roof Drip and Door Window Frame Moldings S7 = Remote Control Side View Mirror U7 = Power Windows

For 1960, the serial number or VIN uses the following format: SYPxxxxxx S = series digit (Invicta is series 4600 so this would be a 6) Y = model year (A=1954, so G=1960) P = plant code (a number indicating which plant the car was built at), should be 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 8 xxxxxx = a sequential number, starting at 001001 for each plant. So the VIN for a 1960 Invicta should start with 6G, not 4G which would indicate a LeSabre (series 4400). If the Invicta was ordered with one of the custom bucket seat trims, it received an exterior badge stating Invicta Custom on the front fenders.

BUICK MOTOR DIVISION GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FLINT, MICH. 1941 MOD. 91 STYLE No 41-4919 BODY No 807 TRIM No 909 PAINT No 560 TOP ACC. BODY BY FISHER 1941 = 1941 model year MOD. 91 91= Buick model 91 = 4-door touring sedan, 6-passenger STYLE No 41-4919 41 = 1941 model year 4919 = Fisher body style number 4 = Buick 9 = Series 90 (Limited) 19 = 4-door touring sedan, 6-passenger BODY No 807 807 = 807th 4919 built at Flint, MI Trim 909 = Tan Broadcloth, available on models 90, 91, 91F, 90L (rear compartment, front compartment is black leather) Paint code 560 = solid Carlsbad Black 14106467 1 = built at Flint, MI 4106467 = sequential number, range for Flint was 3,880,012 to 4,257,441

Here is my trim code list (see PDF file): http://forums.aaca.org/topic/231704-1932-1975-buick-trim-codes-by-model/ Paint codes can be found here: http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1949&manuf=GM&smodel=Buick&info=yes&page=2 1949 MOD. 49-51 STYLE No 49-4569 BODY No BA 7642 TRIM No 51 PAINT No 10 1949 = 1949 model year MOD. 49-51 49 = 1949 model year 51= Buick model 51 = 4-door sedan, 6-passenger STYLE No 49-4569 = Fisher body style number 49 = 1949 model year 4569 = Fisher body style number 4 = Buick 5 = Series 50 (Super) 69 = 4-door sedan, 6-passenger BODY No BA 7642 BA = body built at Atlanta, GA 7642 = 7642nd 4569 built at Atlanta, GA Trim 51 = Grey Striped Broadcloth, available on models 51, 56S Paint code 10 = solid Allendale Green Metallic

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1962&manuf=GM&smodel=Buick&info=yes&page=27 http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1962&manuf=GM&smodel=Buick&info=yes&page=28 http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1962&manuf=GM&smodel=Buick&info=yes&page=3

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1956&manuf=GM&smodel=Buick&info=yes&page=2 http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?type=paint&paint=5285&ditzler=11386&smodel=Buick&syear=1956&smanuf=GM&sname=Cadet%20Blue

645437008504 6 = 1966 model year 4 = Buick 54 = LeSabre Custom 37 = 2-door hardtop coupe, V8 008504 = sequential number, starting at 000001 45437 = body style number (see serial number decode above for break down) 2-2-14 = build date (shift # - month # - day #) 2 = second shift 2 = February 1966 14 = 14th day of February 408156 = sequential body number Paint code R = solid Regal Red Trim 693 = Light Fawn Vinyl with Notch-Type Front Seat (in the US this was only available on Electra 225 Customs 48437, 48439, 48467) Post a picture of the cowl tag if you can. Canadian law requires records be kept for all cars built or sold new in Canada. So for a Buick built or sold new in Canada you can buy a report on your car here: http://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/options.html

Buick did change their car serial number scheme for the 1954 model year, twice actually, but I'm not sure it was in response to any particular legislation. Buick continued to use a serial number for the engine number through the 1956 model year, so either number code be used on a title or registration through 1956. I don't know what other manufacturers did, but I've attached a table showing the Buick car and engine serial number schemes over the years so you can compare it to other manufacturers and see if there are any similarities. In 1967 Buick standardized its car serial number scheme between its US and Canadian operations in response to international agreements made in 1965. Buick Serial Number Changes Over Time v01.pdf

Not much I can add to what Brain said. Other than 06/20/2008 is not a valid paint or trim code for 1942. Looks more like a date and I would find it unusual that a tile would contain the paint or trim codes. The paint codes are listed in the judging manual (pg 47-48 of 85) that Brian linked to and the trim code list can be found here: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/231704-1932-1975-buick-trim-codes-by-model/ 14299378 1 = built at Flint, MI 4299378 = sequential number, range for 1942 was 4,257,442 to 4,364,444 44972767 4497276 = sequential number, range for 1942 was 4,457,941 to 4,556,599 7 = Series 7/Roadmaster (1942 was the first year for the series digit to be at the end of the engine number)

You can only use a 1961-1962 center section to convert to open drive due to the difference in the number of splines on the axle shaft which changes the axle shaft diameter. See my post here: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?257578-Early-Olds-rear-and-early-Buick-rear-do-parts-interchange-Monzaz&p=2110102#post2110102 You will then need something to locate the rear axle to replace the torque tube. Chevy truck trailing arms are commonly used. Russ Martin sells a kit, see the last row of this webpage: http://nailheadbuick.com/drive-line-and-differential

Rebuilt 1957-1960 3.23 center section on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-60-Buick-Differential-Rear-End-Carrier-Ring-and-Pinion-3-23-ratio-Rebuilt-/141938176957?hash=item210c2cb3bd:g:y5kAAOSwT~9WlW1V&vxp=mtr

V8454106 V = V8 (V prefix dropped in 1955 after engine number 999,999) 845410 = sequential number, range for 1955 was 720,080 to 1,460,022 6 = Series 60/Century, making it a 322 nailhead