51DeLuxe

Just an option but there is usually a slew of them at any given time available on eBay in the Vintage Car Parts section. Also, CARS Inc's Buick division at oldbuickparts.com sells them and zillions of other Buick only parts with no shipping charge.

Wow, great info. Thanks for the interior color info Bill. Very timely. I will get those numbers as soon as I can Dave and post them. It would be interesting to know because the engine identified in the sale ad was a 322 but from the above info a 322 would not be original. Unless of course that was a canadian thing. I'm fairly certain that the bottom of the information plate mentions Flint, MI but I will check again. I work in Toronto but I live in the suburbs on the Oshawa line. The McLauglin's owned a farm I lived on a few years back and I had a tourist attraction in my field which was a glassed in display holding an early car and I believe a carriage and sleigh. If anyone here is interested I can stop by next time I go past there a take a couple of photos. I'll tell you, summer Sunday afternoons are really something in my neighborhood if you're a fan of old GM vehicles. I also have a pretty nice museum a couple blocks down the road in one of the original GM plant buildings.

Wow, you guys are amazing. Thanks for the assistance. Should make the parts hunt slightly easier...but definitely not easy Bill; When you said I can tell it's a Deluxe by the trim down the side...what would I be looking for to differentiate?

Hi all; I hope to be in a position where someday I can offer advice instead of ask for it but here I go again. As I research and search for parts, it is increasingly obvious to me a major first step in the restoration process is the proper identification of my vehicle. Is is a 1951 Buick 4 door sedan, the registration is a little fuzzy after that. The fellow who I got this from told me it was a Special DeLuxe. I has a DeLuxe script on the trunk and Buick Eight on the trunk lid ornament. Here is what I have been able to obtain off of the plate under the hood. 1951 MOD 51-410 Style No. 51 4369D Body No. 84 2396 Trim No. 41 Paint No. 01 I have been able to determine the paint code stands for Carlsbad Black which makes sense because....the car is black. I have the original seats/upholstery and door panels so I kinda get that. What I don't understand is the model codes the resellers of parts list such as 40 series, 50 series etc. How do I tell what size engine the straight eight is? Any help deciphering the would info from the plate is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Thank you Sir for the information. If anyone needs a 53, I know where you can get one cheap !! It's currently for sale on eBay

Hey Guys; Can anyone tell me if the mustache bar from a 53 or 54 would fit on my 51? Thanks in advance

Hey thriller, I's never going to be more than a driver at this point but it should still be done right as far as I'm concerned. I'll check that Buick Farm. Hey anybody know why the little picture of my Buick doesn't show to the left with my name like Thriller's killer red convert? Is it because I'm new? Thanks

Thanks for the heads up on the starter and the parts place Dandydaves. I think I'll look around for a new starter and just keep one spare and have the other on a rotating rebuild. It came with brand new radial all season tires when I got it but I kinda like the nostalgic look of the wide whitewalls. I guess there is no compromise? Bill; The chrome is really badly pitted and some pieces appear a ghost grey almost like there is no chrome left at all. I have attached another picture that hopefully demonstrates what I mean. See the tail light surrounds and the fender tops. In your learned opinion, do you think this will come back with polishing? One more thing please I have an ownership and registration stating this car is a 1951 but nothing I can find published shows a 1951 with the fender top chrome or rear fender trim as long as this. Any ideas? Thanks again

Thanks all for the welcome. To answer some of the questions (I guess it's only fair before I ask a bunch)........ Thriller, being from Manitoba you should know that no red blooded Canuck could give up fishing. I spend about 60 or 70 days a year on the water. Thanks, I think it's a solid car to start with.....pretty staright and solid. She grew up and grew old in Florida until she moved to Canada 2 years ago. Bill Stoneberg, it is running good right now. Small leak in one of the wheel cylinders so stopping might be bit of a problem until I change them out. It appears to be all original although I haven't checked the numbers on the engine yet but overall fairly unmolested. Still a 6 volt system. I'll have to gut the interior as it was all original and mostly crispy. I plan on taking this one to driver level as I'm introducing my 13 year old boy to mechanics and we're sure to make some mistakes. Once I'm puttering around in this one on sunny weekends, I'd like to find something a little more distinctive and snazzy to try bring to show but I think I need some more experience first. Gecco, the picture is actually of the place in Northern Ontario where I got her. She has a place of honor in my garage now and won't be left in the cold anymore. poor old girl ! I realize this is getting a litle long but maybe I can pop off my first couple of questions/requests for advice. 1) As mentioned it will be a driver. Am I better off replacing the badly pitted chrome pieces or going for the rechrome which seems much more costly. 2) What disadvantages are there to leaving the car 6 volt and using wide whitewall bias ply tires Thanks in advance

Hi all; I just joined the BCA although I'm technically in Canada. (Since I'm in Toronto, I reside further south than most of your northern states so I think I get the entry ticket!) I decided recently (to be read as "the wife's ultimatum")to slow up my hobbies in the great outdoors and start something that keeps me at the house (to be read as "at the wife's beck and call") I have always had a huge interest and a mild talent with older vehicles so a match was made and old car restoration begins. I searched for a likely target as my first victim and recently traded my older snowmobile straight up for a 1951 Buick Special DeLuxe 4 door sedan I am hoping not to drive you nuts with what you may consider dumb questions but I sure would appreciate any support Cheers