60FlatTop

Not too good a picture but I was out in the garage today and got this shot of my Starfleet Academy decal on the Riviera. 1967 Basic Propulsion Engineering. screw type -continuous impulse. Bernie

Since I bought my car, in 1978, there have been a lot of market changes associated with collector cars. The one point that always surfaced was that first generation Riviera owners don't sell their cars very often. When they don't come up for sale it is hard to get a market value. I paid either $1900 or $2100, don't remember, for mine. And May 2017 will mark 39 years of ownership. That's one that ain't in the market. And a lot are in the hands of similar collectors. They were recognized early, well maintained by very conservative original owners, and many passed on within the same family as a wife's transport with first ownership in the 20 year range. If the first owner didn't take it to 20 years the second owner did, for sure. They have popped up infrequently over the last 40 years. Because car people know me, I usually heard about ones for sale in my area; not many. They really are fairly fresh on the national market scene, with the internet sales driving the exposure. I expect to own mine another 30 years unless something major breaks on the car or me. So it essentially has no value. No plans to sell, only insure. If I was in the market for one I would be looking at the $8,000 to $12,000 car that needs redoing. (I am looking for that in another model). I wouldn't be interested in the so called restored one because I am too familiar with "work done by others". I will buy one that needs work and do it myself. That doesn't do any good for the market statistician but it makes me feel a lot better. Bernie

Maybe it is just a ploy to get hits on the Avanti site. Short cryptic posts all leading to the same place look more like a marketing class homework project. I might buy one someday but not because it's like an XKE or any sort of muscle car. Fox news and Hagerty? Now, there's a pair of chartreuse journalists.

The red car is probably from a pride of Kougar cars. There have been a few around over the years. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kougar_Cars B

Nothing is obvious. I posted a picture of four cars the other day and had the ones with dual master cylinders and disk brakes in front, one even had 4 wheel disks. And someone asked why the single master cylinder, drum brake cars were in the back. I thought the second row was the second safest. Yep, nothing is obvious, obviously. I'm still trying to figure out where the original 14" wheels on a '64 Electra came from. Bernie

Ed Moul is pretty lucky to find this forum and get all the good advice. If he had found a group on LinkedIn 15 people would have followed by by writing "I have one and here are 10 reasons you should buy it." This forum is a nice break from commonplace internet social marketing. Hell, even abrasive looking cartoon characters can bring out a smile. Bernie

Here is my car and it sits the way that appeals most to me. My key is the rocker panel parallel to the ground. The tires are 7.10 X 15 Deluxe Champions. All the body mounts are new. It has gas shocks all the way around with slight upward pressure. And I usually have a full tank of gas. I think it is right on in front and about 3/4" high in the rear. Probably due to ethanol being lighter than real gas. The springs are all about 15 years old in the picture. The fronts are MOOG from NAPA, about $100 for the pair. The rears are from a specialty company, maybe Just Suspension, or a name like that. They are supposed to be OEM spec and I paid about $200 for the pair. Cheaper ones make the car way too high. I have had some. The wheel arch body mounts carry a lot of weight and the originals were quite crushed. I need to note that all the suspension bushings are new, as well. The front lower inner and the rear lower control arm rubbers were slightly ovaled. The front more than the rear. It is possible the brochure picture is of a car that was pulled down a bit for the long, low look of the time. Bernie

I'd hate to give up my World's Fair plate.

Once I worked at a place where another mechanic was also named Bernie. Anything he fixed came back different. If you gave him a chair with a broken leg it would come back with three legs to keep it from rocking. Once he spliced a thermocouple wire for a steam humidifier on an environment chamber and it caught on fire. I remember stuff like that. When I see something like these kits that adapt modern parts to older cars I ask questions. Why is the brake tubing 1//4" on a '64 Buick and 3/16" on the car the kit parts came from. What was the basis for the decision to go smaller? Where are the adapters placed, at the master cylinder or at a junction, and why? There has to be an answer other than "that's what it took to fit". What is the difference in fluid volumes between the stock and modified? Is it sufficient? Those and others related to the changes are annoying to the guy with the "How To" article from HRM in his hand. Like Matt, I have a suspicion about the modifier; have they ever driven one that was right? I let a dyed in the wool rodder drive a stock Buick Super in fine tune once. He was amazed at the car. It was not anything like he expected. It is not the generalization that the so called "purists" are throw backs stuck in the past. They are the guy who owns one that works right. Stating that the original equipment is sufficient is an informed statement. Uniformed is another thing. Bernie

We don't really throw guys out of the restaurant. It was just an exaggeration of some of the things I have seen on the forum. It is easy for me to keep the forum up in a browser while I work. So I look about as often as some workers take a smoke break. If I didn't like it I wouldn't look. But sometimes the stuff I see written compels me to comment. This topic is fine and legitimate to discuss. I don't always stick to a topic. It's a hobby and supposed to be fun. As a Buick guy, I just sit back and observe, but when the time comes to pile up the boxes I ain't sharing that banana with anyone. Now, that's off topic... maybe. Bernie

What parts are you having trouble finding? Even if you convert the front brakes you will still have drums on the rear. Sounds like only half the problem goes away. Have you driven a drum brake Buick in proper operating condition? I have two and wouldn't consider changing them other that routine service. Bernie

A round head has the profile of a 180 degree arc. An oval head has the profile of half an ellipse. Bernie

A group of us meet on Saturday mornings and I can tell you for sure, anyone who makes an off topic comment is quickly ostracized from the group. We just won't tolerate such things. Bernie

I am hoping they follow up with Nimoy, hands and feet spread on a Buick black and white.

" Why did you hide the best-looking cars in the back? " Almost a judgement call. Judge meant. See post #1. That picture was a deliberate plant. I was grinning when I put it there. I had three possibles for that comment, but you weren't one. Bernie

Small showing, one judge, one spectator, one folding chair, two free iced teas, no music, no trophies. It was the seventh day and I rested. And it was very good. But then, I needed to share it...with a Packard. Bernie

Get into overdrive soon enough and that Model 600 will get you 600 miles on a tank of fuel; quite a coincidence. A couple were in the last row, back corner of the junkyard I hung around as a kid. I was going to get the better one out and started but the back tires were flat. It was less than 15 years old at the time and the rear bumper uprooted from the unibody once the weight was on it. Walked away from that idea. When I went into the Navy I left 6 cars behind at my Grandfather's shop. One was a 1941 Ambassador. It was a solid one with about 1/4" of brushed on paint. We did have one of those 1958 or so Ramblers for parts. It was, maybe, 9 years old and the owner heard a big Bang during the night. The front spring came up through the unibody and hit the bottom of the hood. I think experiences like that with various makes of cars made me quite discriminating about the cars I bought, or maybe didn't buy, over the last 5 or so decades. According to the records almost half have been Buicks.... with separate bodies and frames. Bernie

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Albert Einstein "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." George Bernard Shaw "Some people live more blissful lives than I." Just a guy at a car show.

Here's an Avanti II that I bought a few years ago. It is a 1972 and the round lights must have appealed to Newman & Altman. I probably should have kept it, but the previous owner had destroyed the gelcoat and things were getting "hairy". It certainly left in style, though. I wouldn't call one a muscle car. It didn't fit the "cheap model big engine" format of the time. The first one I saw in person was at the park in downtown Watkins Glenn at the concours held for 1963 Grand Prix. Then, as now it is more of a styling oddity. Bernie

I'm thinking of driving up Friday, catching the show Saturday, Sunday with my Daughter and her husband in Boston, then stopping at Clark's Corvair and talking to the nice seamstress lady about my slightly tweaked Riviera interior on the way back on Monday. Of course, you know what it's like to make plans. I keep planning to go places and I end up like Don Knotts.

Buyer's remorse. Cure: Sell it, you will probably make a few bucks. It is really hard to suffer a 100% loss, anyway. Seller's remorse. Cure: Just slide your hand in your pocket and wrap your fingers around the hundred dollar bills. It makes the hurt go away and brings a smile. Cheapskate's Remorse:No cure: Indelibly etched forever, recurring, and haunting thoughts in lonely moments. Bernie

Fifteen miles south and turn left on Rt 20, now there's a ride; good excuse to see my Daughter in Newton. Kind of close to Hershey, but I'm tempted. Bernie

It went for 22,400 Euros, $25,000. I guess you know I'm happy it went for that. A lot of work went into that bombsight adapter. I am pretty sure that is the Rhone in the background. That's the river the Buick models are named for. The Claret Mist paint came out better than mine. I was almost 32 years old when I did my paint job and we used a red oxide primer. The dark primer never let the bright maroon highlights come up. It always had a sort of brown cast. If you have concerns with the little changes in this one don't miss my '64 in Brookfield. Fresh paint and upholstery are in the plans. Whether some or all the plans materialize is still not assured, but it will be my last go around with the car and when Bill Mitchell said "Give me a Rolls-Royce with a Ferrari grille" I'm taking it literally. Think this in a first gen Riviera: The reversed doors won't make it, but '39 Roadmaster hood releases might replace the door handles. Bernie

I have put a few evening hours into giving my Riviera a refurbish in preparation for the 2017 Nats. Taking a break this morning and doing a little daydreaming I came across this article: http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2015/12/27/1963-buick-riviera/ That could be THE RIVER in the background. Some interesting details. Bernie

Nice picture of the Overhoff brothers. "You take the Opel." "No, you take it." "No, I want the Electra." "No, the Opel is yours." "Don't back out of the picture. Take these keys. And stop using that language under your breath." All three cars now rest in the Opel Gardens, Frankfort, Iowa. Bernie