60FlatTop

I bought a 1993 Park Avenue Ultra with about 30,000 miles on it and took it to 95,000 miles. Although it was a nice car, I was not happy with the way it aged. Routine maintenance and repairs, even using factory replacement parts never seemed to equal the smoothness of the original. I replaced the front wheel bearings with GM equipment and got a light rumble that had not been present before. I Did a complete brake job with parts from the dealer and noticed they didn't have the same feel. There were ways I would position my hand and arm while driving that made me sense a flexing between the door and the door frame. That was annoying. It was a car that was great up to about 55,000 miles and then the feel was not retrievable. I sold it and the new owner was very happy. I decided to drop back to the more durable body on frame, longitudinal engine, rear wheel drive platform. Even though the cars were not as new, they were of the type that is traditionally restored to "as new" driving capabilities. I bought a 1994 Roadmaster with about 60,000 in 2002 that was a pleasure to own and maintain. New York State rust got that one and I let my daughter take it through her last years of college and off on the big move to Boston. It was replaced by another low mileage 1994 Roadmaster that has since rusted and been passed on to an old High School friend who needed it. I replaced the second Roadmaster with a 1994 Chevy Impala SS, again, making me quite happy. Concurrent with those cars I bought a 2005 Silverado that will probably be replaced with another, if it even breaks beyond repair. The bottom line, my personal experience with unibody, transverse engine, front wheel drive cars has been disappointing. Especially as a collector vehicle, the traditional body and frame car is the choice for the long run. I have one now. It is an anomaly in the garage. It is a little special and I keep it to show I am not completely cynical and opinionated. Bernie

A little bigger car, maybe a small block V8, RWD. I could see that. Bernie

Both! I have posted the photos over the last few years. I think they are from Ought Nine. The photographer is middle aged, at 65 I started writing a personal longevity handbook, 66 Going On 106. All kinds of optimism in that title. No cars came out of the garage today, though. Just looking out the window gave me the Willys. Bernie

Here's an old one. or two. Bernie Almost forgot this one.

I wonder if that turquoise 1960 Ford truck Grille is still hanging over the hotel bar in Moline. I was there in 1984 and had a twin to that grille at home in my 350 Buick powered '60 Ford pick 'em up. Four of us stayed there because it was the closest lodging to Kiwaneee where we inspected some boilers being built. I'd go back for a visit. I remember a street across the bridge with a row of second rate used car lots. That Buick may have been in one. At the time I also had a 1935 Nash and had contacted a member of the Nash Club of America to find good spots to visit. We had dinner at the Iowa Machine Shed and I knew about a guy with a collection of radiator badges. One of the group spotted a lighted sign saying "Dancing Girls" from the freeway loop. Forgot about the radiator badges. I'd go back. Bernie

Maybe an addition to the guideline would make everything more cheerful and entertaining- when the price is not listed, please give a reason for not listing one. Bernie

I started maintaining the heat in my garage last year and it makes a warm place that attracts varmints. My wife is out there this morning picking off a few. She'll get a little wound up from that and I'll say "Hey, wanna go look at a car in the inner city after lunch?" Bernie

I saw the topic with the title "New Member Retention" and wondered if new members had a memory or cognitive problem. Maybe that was why they didn't put the price on their stuff. Maybe the rules should be shorter: Bernie

I would never think of advertising any item for sale without a price. Even with a Ebay auction the starting bid is my happy spot. What is the first question? How much is it? So I sit here with my personal investment in a computer and monthly cost to maintain a DSL or satellite connection through a network tying together servers, switches and various up links until a digital image scrolls across someone else's investment in a computer and connectivity displaying a whispered "The price is a secret." Oh, I am thinking about selling the '60 Electra, '86 Park Convert, '94 Impala SS, and '48 Packard in the spring. Any questions? Bernie

The first 33 are Buicks. This is a list of cars I actually owned with an attachment to. A bunch of other stuff passed through just as little money makers. I have 3 now. http://brockportinternational.com/xjs/Dir5/BernieCars.xlsx Bernie

A while back I walked into a DMV 1 mile from my house. I took one look at the row of cherubic faces, pivoted, and drove 15 miles to a happier place. Never let convenience be a priority when dealing with that group. And the other guys are probably right, avoid the deal. Is the the Studebaker Hawk you mentioned in another section of the forum? Could you send me the contact information in a PM? Bernie

If it is an old New York State registration with and person's name who is not available just fill out all the paperwork and leave in blank where that person is supposed to sign. When the nice lady at the Watertown DMV points that out just act surprised and say "Oh! He is out in the car. I'll take it out to him. He's old." And remember, if you are my age, always wear a Vietnam era hat and let her know this car is making your dreams come true. If there is a DMV in Governeur or Ogdensburg it is probably worth the trip, but don't go to a bigger city than Watertown. They are just looking for crooks, old honest guys can get away with a little more.Bernie

When I bring a project type car home I usually clean and polish every bit of the car as if I were taking it to a cars how. Shine anything that will shine, clean rainy rust trails from the trim, and remove all the dirt. In most cases you have just gained intimate knowledge of the car and added about $1,000 value if you begin to suffer a severe case of buyer's remorse. If you bring home a stray and are not completely happy with it, sell it. I guarantee there is no shortage of them and a new one will show up next week. Do it right and you could up the ante up by a thousand next time. Bernie

There is very little broken or worn stuff that I would take to a "professional", hand it to them, and just say "fix it". For an engine rebuild, study your own particular application, disassemble it yourself, buy replacement parts and farm out machining, and carefully reassemble reading the available information step by step. It will be very hard to find a person who will put the dedication and detail into your job that you can. Like the above comment about the timing marks, it is a long shot that the service provider would see that if you gave them a written instruction book. If you need to buy an expensive tool that you will only use once in your life, you are still ahead. Be diligent and don't be cheap. You can equal or better the best "professional" out there. Oh, I tried to help a guy out by sending a job to a guy a few weeks ago. My work truck needed an upper ball joint. I dropped it off at the alignment shop today. He may have bent the right front spring. Even "I" don't listen to myself ALL the time. Bernie

Is there any way to get the buyer's contact information? Bernie

Ask if they can ship on an eastbound transport. Western Australia might be closer that way. Bernie

I have a good, should be rebuilt from setting, '56 Roadmaster carb for sale on EBay. If someone from the forum needs it let me know and I will drop the shipping charges. That will make it $74 even and in your hands. Thank you, Bernie

Thank you, that fruit truck was one I was real happy with. I like the effect of the water color wash that Photoshop makes. Some would be nice to transfer into oil or acrylics. I like the desolation of this one: Bernie

Dale's message gave me an idea. I was thinking about my positive ground Packard when I read the comment, Park your POS down Positive Street. And the dead horse smiled. Bernie

In about two weeks it will be the third anniversary of my stroke, heart attack, and double bypass. Although I am comfortable driving a couple of hundred miles a trip to Springfield would be a stretch. Parking sure ain't my issue. I do remember a small event about ten years ago when parking locations were perfect: Bernie

I have been considering the Lincoln MKS. It has a Volvo body and a Toyota engine. Interesting combination. Bernie

In the 1990's I was driving a 1956 Holiday 88 with a 4 barrel as a daily driver. AND I was a father. I told people that when I first got into the hobby drivers would cut you off to get a look at the old car radiator badge to see what it was. If you didn't get a good look at my Olds hood ornament in your rear view mirror when I came up behind your '80's or '90's whatever there was no chance you were going the see it again. That was around the time the Intrigue came out. I remember walking around one for the first time and thinking it had all the appeal of a girlfriend my Mother would pick out for me. Here is the Cadillac I should have kept, and it was a 4100! Bernie

When I was much younger I got a magazine with an article on a new car that I just had to have. It was even addressed to me. So I rode my bike up to the Buick deal and got the brochure to study. Fifteen years later I drove the car to my Mom's house and retrieved the brochure to put in the car. Stuff like that does happen. Bernie

Here is Kenny's: http://www.madle.org/erogers.htm There is a burned 1974 that keeps surfacing online as the car from hell. It was on Ebay around 2005 and my finger was hoovering over the buy button a whole bunch of times. I should have bought it. I would if it came up again. The Madle site is great, good spot to spend time. Bernie

Tell someone you own a Buick Electra and the first thing they say is "deuce and a quarter". My car is a deuce, two dimes, and a penny; 221". I just tell them a couple of years before it would have been a Super. The four inches is all in the quarter panel. Maybe a "deuce and 'dem big quarters" would be more appropriate. I prefer the trim quarters and conservative lack of trim cladding. Of course I have always been a big car, skinny woman kind of guy. Them big quarters, well, they do have followers. In white as well. Yep, an extra 4" in the quarters. Bernie