60FlatTop

Try sitting in the driveway and putting the car in Drive. Then hold your foot on the brake and press the gas easily, powerbrake. If the engine looses power, bucks and sputters, I would check the ignition system, probably spark plug wires first. If the engine sounds strong and revs up but the car doesn't do much it time for some tranny attention. That car has rubber seals in the transmission. If it sat for a long time they can dry out. You might get lucky with some old style transmission fixer in a can. Its 60 years old so when you do remove the transmission be sure to slide the toque tube cover off and check the u-joints. Bernie

This is a lot like old guys giving advice to a young guy. I am an old guy but I sure remember being young and sharing my excitement for a new project, venture, job, or the like with my father. God, Mission 1, make sure the kid makes the same decision as he would. And certainly, don't make a mistake. They would choose your friends for you and your mother would choose your girlfriend if they could. Once a friend of mine and my son were sitting at the kitchen table. I asked my son if he had ever hear someone say "If I knew then what I know now"? He said "yes". I asked "Do you want to know?" He said "No" , got up and walked away. Good kid, just like the old man. In 1966 my father came home excited because he found a car for me. We drove to the next town and looked at it; a 1961 Ford Station Wagon, 6 cylinder, stick, and brown. That was a ZERO. I brought him back to our town and showed him the Austin Healey at the Buick dealership. While we were there we saw a black 1960 Buick Invicta. I bought it. Neither of us planned on a car like that. Thank goodness I pushed back on that Ford idea. Its fun writing this stuff so if you read this far you must have time. On that girlfriend comment I made. I remember when the Olds Intrigue came out. I stopped to see the first one, walked around it and though about for a few seconds. I decided the car had all the appeal of a girlfriend my mother would pick out for me. Talk about corporate image. Bernie

One more comment on "money pits". I look back over the monstrous projects I have brought home and never completed since I was 12. I have no regrets over any of those "dream pits". Bernie

Humor sometimes get lost in the writing. I think the car is great and priced fair. Over the years I have noticed that many collector Buick owners have cars they purchased in the price range of $2,000 to $3,000 or the equivalent over the last 50 years and just kept them long enough to increase in value. More did that than went out and bought the finished high buck car. This has always been a very adaptable hobby. That $2700 Skylark, a clean 1990's Roadmaster, even a Park Ave Ultra are affordable today and will be nice cars to have in 2030. Make good choices when you are young. I'm happy with the '64 Riviera I bought for 2000 bucks when I was 30......... 33 years ago. Bernie

Bill, I sent you a private message. Here is an Ebay part with the same number: 1941-76 Oldsmobile trans. countershaft-NOS GM#1307848 | eBay Their books may not have gone back to '39. Bernie

Horrible car, way overpriced, stay back and save your soul. Please send me the name, address, and phone number of the seller. Thank you, Bernie

You are a good guy, John. Always remember that the reward is being able to do that for him. There is a reason you have been lucky. Bernie

I love the Youtube!!!!! I had an 1988 IROC, black, slightly modified, and very clean. I bought it for the looks and performance. It didn't take long to before bored with it and the seat hurt my back. I felt very lucky to sell it. It might be that GSJohn has found one he likes. If so, spend a few bucks on the 2000 Silverado and wait for a nice Buick. Bernie

You can always give these guys a call: Get it Done Transportation - 5 Stars out of 5 - Transport Reviews.com - Your Auto Transport Information Source. View Reviews, Ratings and Rankings of Auto Transporters. I bought my convertible in Racine Wi., not running on Thursday and it was in my garage at 10 AM Saturday morning, $650 if I remember right. Bernie

Some things are just wrong. Bernie

The only thing that bothered me was the Plymouth hub cap! When I was a kid my grandfather owned a tire shop where I worked. That's the early '60's. What you are doing won't hurt. That rubber is there to keep water away from the fabric cords. I was just thinking about doing that in my cellar and my wife screaming down the stairway. Of course, that opens the door to all those smell of burning rubber and screaming women jokes. I certainly wouldn't want to get something like that going. Bernie

The redneck and the hippy......she learned that car washing thing fast. I wash ALL the cars now. Notice that my 1939 Model 41 had stream boards and century style window trim. I sold it around 1980 and I believe the car was restored and still out there. It was originally a side mount car so the holes are still in the frame. Bernie

A while back I posted stories about a '50 Woody wagon and a '68 Riviera I had 30 years ago. Here is a set from 1974 and 2010

I bought my 8.20 X 15 Firestone Wide Whites from Summit. They are Coker tires and I saved about $140 because of Summit's free shipping policy and a couple other things. Bernie

2 Slices for $2.22. The whole lunch was $8.00. My wife is smiling and she paid! There is an eagle's next in the trees way over across the pond. Bernie

John, I was looking for 1950 Super pictures and came across this world traveler. The 2010 Gathering of Buick's hosted by the Finger Lakes Chapter BCA. Great time!

Here is a '50 Super owned by Tom Pirrung that I serviced in 2007. A really nice car, very original. Only a couple pictures of the interior but they may help. Tom, if you see this keep me in mind if you ever let her go.

shorttimer, I remember a few trips to Pomona in the late 1980's when I had to fix a broken cogeneration plant. I remember the traffic! When I say I am from New York it is hard for people to realize that I see more cows and trees than buildings. I also remember how hard it was to find a nice little diner. One Saturday I was thrilled to find a nice place on a corner in downtown Brea. After a great breakfast I headed back to Pomona somewhat aimlessly. I drove through hills with big nurseries of palms and the like. When I came out of the hills I was driving down a really neat tree lined road. I thought I was going someplace special until I read a sign that said "You are now entering the Chino Men's Correctional Facility". Whoa!!! I turned around and found Pomona quickly. Bernie

January 7th in the wilds of western New York between Rochester and Buffalo, a nice sunny snow free 80 mile ride in the '60 Electra. Visited the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge then lunch at the convenience store at Rt 63 & 31A. What a day! Bernie

It is an Electra 4739, not a 225. A wash, wax, and a little spit shine and it will look just like this> Bernie

When in doubt, throw it out. Always works for me. Bernie

I know about this stuff: Merry Christmas!!!!!

My friend, Mike, couldn't hack it. I had to keep the top up. I am running out to the post office shortly. We'll see.

Around noon today I opened the Buick forum and scanned through. Then I had a better idea. I got my '86 Park Ave back on Thanksgiving Day. Almost everything mechanical has been apart and massaged back together. I need to drive it, splash hot oil in the engine, run new gas through the tank, and just generally make friends with the car. The early morning dusting of snow was gone so off we went. The heater works great! Bernie

At first glance I thought it was the best looking Packard I ever saw! Bernie