1936 Buick 80C w/Royals? - who, where and when?

[allcars]

Here is a photo from my collection of a royal couple, presumably British, riding in a 1936 McLaughlin Buick Roadmaster phaeton with right-hand drive. A crown emblem is attached to the front bumper. Web research suggests the flags in the foreground are Australian. The photo came from the estate of a man who worked for Chrysler in what is now Indonesia. Does anyone know what the occasion may have been and who is riding in the car?

Thanks!

[Ozstatman]

Looks like it might be the present Queen, Elizabeth II, and her husband Prince Phillip during her coronation tour of the British Commonwealth countries in 1953 following her coronation as Queen. Prince Phillip was an officer in the Royal Navy and often wore his white dress navy uniform on ceremonial occasions. Which city? I know Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney all had trams, see tracks in photo. So could be one of those. Other capital cities may have had trams too but I don't know. Other more learned colleagues from down under may be able to better narrow it down. Some no doubt will know if the Buick is still extant!

[Dave@Moon]

I think if you look carefully at the photo I believe the woman in the back seat is alone. There are two military escorts in the front seat. Also the car appears not to bear royal standards, which it almost certainly would have if it were carrying royalty. (There is what appears to be a single light-colored flag on the front left fender, but I think that may be just part of the background.)

The royal family did purchase a 1936 Buick limo for official use, however this is not that car. It may well be that several other Canadian Buicks were purchased as the same time and distributed to embassies around the world. (Although Buicks were built in fair numbers down under in 1936, according to the Buick Club of Australia no convertibles were built in that year.)

It may be a royal visitor to Australia (although the lack of standards on the car would cast doubt on it). If it is then it's likely young Princess Elizabeth visiting during or immediately after WW2. More likely it's a dignatary in a parade from that era and not one of the royals.

[Ozstatman]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dave@Moon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think if you look carefully at the photo I believe the woman in the back seat is alone. There are two military escorts in the front seat. </div></div>

Dave - I believe there are 4 people in the car, The front seat passenger, in possibly a khaki or army uniform with cap, and the driver in dark clothing in the front. And in back, a lady and the gent in the white naval uniform. Unless the driver in the front right seat has a very looooong head and is also wearing a white cap?

Can't resist it - But your footnote quote may well be true in this instance!

[Guest elmo39]

first it is in Australia thats an aussie flag . if it was the Queen it would definately be flying a standard . But princess Elizabeth went to AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND in early 1952 to represent her father when he became ill but had to return home when he died, it could be her in the photo and the guy in the naval uniform would be prince Phillip

[West Peterson]

Sure looks like a standard over the left front fender to me. I also agree, looks like four people in the car.

[Leif Holmberg]

In 1936 it seems to be only one model of Convertible Phaeton.I agree 4 people in the car.But way not flags on the front fender if there are the Royals? in the car.

Leif in Sweden.

[West Peterson]

Allcars. Your magnifier identified a crown on the front bumper. Can you look at that flag over the left front fender and see what it is?

[allcars]

Thanks to all for the observations...

West, under digital magnification at 600 dpi, it is evident there is a small, dark colored flag flying above the left front fender...there is a trace of a design in the center of it, and the shape appears to possibly be a crown (see new image).

Also, viewing the image in a larger format, it is clear that there is a man beside the woman in the rear seat...his face is obscured by the driver, but part of his light-colored military uniform is evident.

Interestingly, there are several segments of movie film on You Tube showing Queen Elizabeth II in a (per the movie poster) 1954 Royal tour at Melbourne. She arrives at her destination in a huge Royal Daimler open car...no sign of the Buick there!

I'm also still fairly certain the object sticking up at the center of the front bumper is crown-shaped.

BTW, the width of the image of the car in the original photo print is less than two inches across...amazing what a scanner can do!

[Guest]

5676RC A friend of mine here in British Columbia has one of the McLaughlin Buicks that you show in the clipping. It is an absolutely beautifull looking and running car. Up until the 1980's he was driving the car interprovincially and sometimes coast to coast. A fantastic car on the road at 70 or 80 or 90 mph.

[Leif Holmberg]

Tinindian.In 1961 I was offered to bay a 1936-1937 Buick wich had been driven of a privet chauffor around 7500 miles,the price was $125.This Buick had a convertible body built of a very well known coach builder here in Sweden (Nordberg).The car was a very similar to the Buick in the forum.I was 19 years old at that time and I remember I was thinking about how much fuel the car needed,and I know it was to much for me at that time.As you understand I did`t bay the car,but a coupe of years ago I was listen to the radio and could hear that the car was still "alive" in a museum here in Sweden.

Leif in Sweden.

[allcars]

Thanks to various comments and some more web research, we have found a possible explanation for where and (about) when the picture was taken and who the distinguished passengers may be:

In 1945, HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, became Governor-General of Australia. He was the future Queen Elizabeth's uncle. His wife, the Duchess of Gloucester, was formerly Lady Alice Christabel Montagu-Douglas-Scott,

There is a photo of him and his wife taken in 1945 at:

http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3695705

The woman in the car and the Prince's wife appear to very likely be the same person. So, I believe that the photo may be of the Governor General, accompanied by his wife, either arriving to take up his duties at Melbourne or in a parade for some other reason, ca. 1945. Since the crowd of onlookers is almost all women and children, I had wondered if it could be a wartime, or end-of-the-war photo.

Meanwhile, Stuart Syme, Buick Owners Club of Western Australia, has posted a great recent photo of what may be this very car. To view the photo, hop to the Pre-War Buick General forum or go to:

http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/467852#Post467852

Note that, as in the original photo, the existing car does not have an outside rear view mirror. However, I do see one difference...the car in the original photo does not have wheel trim rings, or they were painted wheel color (it is hard to tell from the photo). Then again, how many '36 Roadmaster phaetons could there have been in Melbourne? Trim rings could have easily been added later.

Thanks again.

[garnetkid]

tinidian, I suspect this is the car you a talking about as "Eleanor" as it is referred to by the owner lives not far from me and I have driven it on several occasions.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/garnetkid/36buick.jpg

[Guest]

That's right, her name is "Eleanor". I really enjoyed seeing her here in Victoria a couple of years ago.