1954 Buick Landau Motorama Show Car

[Centurion]

Charles Barnette has obtained this wonderful, historic photograph from Robert K. Blair!

Robert K. Blair, of course, is the individual who wrote the letter to the editor of Hemming's Classic Car, seeking information regarding the current status of the Landau. (See more detail earlier in this topic.)

[Charles D. Barnette]

I have already referred to the fact that the center section of the rear bumper of the Landau swings down in order to store the spare tire underneath the trunk floor (like the Chevrolet Cameo pickup). What I have just found out by reading the 1988 third quarter edition of Automobile Quarterly is that surrounding the spare tire compartment are two kidney-shaped fuel tanks. By the time this car arrives in Texarkana, I think we shall all know every square inch of it. Charles D. Barnette

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charles_Barnette</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have already referred to the fact that the center section of the rear bumper of the Landau swings down in order to store the spare tire underneath the trunk floor (like the Chevrolet Cameo pickup). What I have just found out by reading the 1988 third quarter edition of Automobile Quarterly is that surrounding the spare tire compartment are two kidney-shaped fuel tanks. By the time this car arrives in Texarkana, I think we shall all know every square inch of it. Charles D. Barnette </div></div>

Learning more and more........

Discovered this while perusing through my old Bugles. It was the Car of the Month back in March 1970. I looked and looked but could not find the author of the Car of the Month article. Charles, do you know if the "original loose leaf notebook" is still in the glove compartment?

[Charles D. Barnette]

Dear Mr. Earl, thank you so much for this article from the Bugle. It is most informative. It is my understanding that the referred to GM maintenance book is no longer with the car. Charles

[Charles D. Barnette]

In the July 1954 issue of Motor Trend in the "Spotlight on Detroit" serial article written by Don MacDonald, on pages 10 and 11, there is the following to be found on the Buick Landau: "General Motors, on the other hand, is looking backward with its Buick Landau, a delightful anachronism which lends a touch of the Glidden Tour era to the current Roadmaster chassis. As far as we know, we have a scoop on this car (with the exception of all the people who saw it at the GM Motorama!) mainly because our Buick friends were too embarrassed to send out publicity broadsides. They shouldn't have been; there is a Vanderbilt or Rockefeller flavor to the design which has been unfortunately missing from the American scene ever since the Rolls-Royce factory in Springfield, Mass., closed its doors." There appears one picture of the car with a lady in the back seat and a chauffeur in the front seat of the Landau. The picture caption reads as follows: "Who said they aren't building them like they used to? Roadmaster Landau will remind some of Glidden Tour era, perhaps stir up (a)styling storm as did the hardtop". Charles D. Barnette

[Charles D. Barnette]

Mr. Robert K. Blair, whose father (Robert F. Blair) once owned the Landau and the one who got to drive the car to his High School prom, has let me know he will be in Texarkana in October at the Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum to see the car when it is displayed. Mr. Blair has not seen the car since 1961. It should be quite a meeting! In honor of his connection to the car, I have asked him to be the one to actually reunite the cups and thermos with the car after a 21 year separation. So it will be his hand to actually do this in a special ceremony at the said Museum. Buick lovers-it does not get much better than this! Charles D. Barnette

[Centurion]

Charles, now you have me wanting to travel to Texarkana in October. This sounds too good to miss. I hope that some of the BCA members in Texas will read this topic and plan to attend.

[Centurion]

Charles Barnette has recently acquired an original letter from Robert F. Blair, as well as a remarkable series of historic Landau photos. Robert F. Blair, a former Buick executive, can certainly be considered the man who "saved" the Landau.

Charles, please add further details, but here are the wonderful images you've obtained:

[Bill Stoneberg]

Brian .. Are you coming to Texas ?

[serb]

Fantastic ,

I think it is really neat the way things came together regarding this car. It seems like it just gets better and better.

stevo

[Charles D. Barnette]

Thanks to Brian for posting for me the ebay pictures of the Landau plus the Blair letter. How neat to have words about the Landau from the very person who help save the Landau! Upon receipt of same I immediately sent copies of these items to Mr. Robert K. Blair of Austin, Texas, to identify the persons in the Landau. He identified them as follows: The picture of the duo in the back seat is himself (the younger man) and his Uncle Jack Kenmore of Pennsylvania (Jack was a Buick Executive). Jack is also in the picture as the single person in the back seat. The picture of the trio is Robert K. Blair along with his mother Ethyl Blair and his father Robert F. Blair (the Buick Executive who saved the Landau and wrote the said letter). Of course in all the "people pictures" they are enjoying the cups and thermos that will be reunited with the car in October in Texarkana. The pictures were taken about 1960 at the Blair home in Darien, CT. Charles D. Barnette

[TxBuicks]

Charles,

Do you know the exact dates for when this car will be displayed in October? I want to make plans to attend.

[Charles D. Barnette]

The display dates are Saturday, October 11, 2008, 8 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, October 12, 2008, 10 AM to 4 PM. We are located in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas, at 217 Laurel Street, Texarkana, Arkansas. The name of our Museum is The Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum. The highlight of the display will be when Mr. Robert K. Blair places the original "Holy Grail" three cups and thermos back in the rear armrest of the car after a 21 year absence. That reuniting ceremony will take place at high noon on Saturday, October 11, 2008, at the Museum. We will also cut the birthday cake for GM's 100 birthday at that time. The display is in connection with Texarkana's annual Quadrangle Festival held within three blocks of our Museum. I as the activity director of the Museum welcome all Buick lovers including yourself to this event which will be an unique moment in Buick History. We will also present to the Landau replications of the original wheel covers that were stolen from it many years ago. There is no admission charge to the Museum, but of course donations are welcomed. There is an admission charge to the Quadrangle Festival grounds however. We will also on our grounds have an antique auto show for cars, trucks, tractors, and motorcycles. We are especially inviting all antique Buicks of the area to be present at the show. Texarkana is actually two cities; Texarkana of Arkansas and Texarkana of Texas are located back to back. Therefore we pride ourselves on being "twice as nice". Attendees will be allowed to take photos both inside and outside the Museum. The Motorama Landau is highly photogenic! For further information you may phone me at 870-773-0109. The telephone number at the Museum is 870-772-2886. Charles D. Barnette

[Centurion]

Charles has announced that the reproduction Landau wheelcovers have been completed and are ready to be presented to the Buick's current owner.

Be sure to notice the full-page ad in the September issue of the Bugle regarding the display of the Landau in Texarkana.

[Charles D. Barnette]

I am waiting to get word that the Landau has survived hurricane Ike, since Ike came calling last night and today in Landau's hometown of Houston, Texas. The Landau survived "destruction orders" of GM so surviving Ike should be an easy matter! I have been assured in the past that the building where the Landau is housed is on high ground. Meanwhile as I write this Ike is headed to my home area of Northeast Texas. Pray for my home state of Texas and its wonderful people. I will update as I learn more. Charles D. Barnette

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

Our prayers are indeed with you, your family, The Landau as well as everyone else, their pets, livestock and possessions in the great state of Texas.

[Charles D. Barnette]

I am relieved and proud to officially announce to the Buick Club of America that the 1954 Buick Landau is alive and alright having survived "Ike" along with 999 other collector cars belonging to Mr. John M. O'Quinn in Houston, Texas. I just got the official word 5 minutes ago. Mr. O'Quinn and his excellent staff are all alright as well. The building housing the Landau suffered no damage as it is located Northwest of Houston on high ground. Ike did the most damage South and East of Houston as well as downtown Houston in the Houston area. Despite the tragic loss of 50 known lives in a 10 state area as I am writing this, the billions of property damage to the state of Texas alone, and the one million Texans still without electrical power, the Landau is okay and still set to be in Texarkana for the festivities of Oct. 11 & 12, 2008! After Ike left Houston, it traveled to Texarkana as a "Tropical Storm" early in the evening of Sat. September 13, 2008, knocking out electrical power to 40,000 homes and blowing down numerous large trees, but there was no loss of life here. Texarkana had at least 59 mile per hour winds clocked at our local airport before the power went out. It was enough to take a trampoline stake from a neighbor's yard and drive it through the roof of my pastor's home like a knife cutting through butter. By the way our church is still housing some 90 evacuees from Port Arthur, Texas, and will continue to do so for the next 7 days. All of this just endures me even more to the Landau. The Landau and I have survived "Ike the Terrible" together! Mr. Robert K. Blair is preparing remarks he will give in Texarkana regarding the Landau, his father Robert F. Blair's work with Buick as an important Buick Executive, and his personal acquaintance with the then GM CEO Mr. Harlow Curtice. These remarks will need to be recorded for Buick History! I believe that of all the messages I have placed on this thread, this one has been the most heart "wrenching" waiting on word to type same. Charles D. Barnette

[serb]

Our hearts, prayers and wishes go out to everone, whether they are one of our car people or not. We wish all a very speedy return to normal life. We pray for those that did not live through the storm.

Stevo

[TxBuicks]

Charles,

Do you have a daily agenda set yet? I have a choice of coming on Saturday or Sunday and it would help if I knew what was going on each day. Thanks.

[Charles D. Barnette]

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, is the big day! On that day at noon Mr. Blair will present his remarks, the original cups and thermos will be presented by him to the car after a 21 year separation in a special ceremony, and the reproduction wheel covers will be presented to the car as well. Picture taking is unrestricted and welcomed at all times. We will cut the GM 100 years old celebration birthday cake and celebrate the fact that Buick is represented by the Landau recognizing Buick is the company that GM first started with. I fully expect to have a 1919 Buick Touring car there as the oldest Buick as well as other fine Buicks of the area. We have a fine example of the beautiful 1950 Buick also scheduled to be there. Can you feel our excitement yet? Sunday will be a "pots and pans" day culminating in the exit of the Landau from the Museum promtly at 4 pm. I will have to have my crying towel ready for that! Texarkana is now being seized by "Buickmania". Come be a part of Buick History! Thanks to this site the 1954 Buick Landau is becoming the most famous Buick in the world! Charles D. Barnette

[serb]

Charles,

As you are well aware, most of us (take that to mean almost all of us) will not be able to attend so we are waiting for you to post the video. We know you and your staff are experts at video photography so "handle it, handle it, handle it."

Again, congratulations to you and your staff for organizing this.

Stevo

[Charles D. Barnette]

A summary of the itinerary for the Landau program follows(I will be dressed in a formal tux with tan coat and dark blue pants to match the colors of the Landau): 1.Official welcome by Charles D. Barnette with recognition of special guests and those members of the Buick Club of America present. 2. Singing of Happy Birthday to GM to celebrate their 100 years of existance. 3. Address by Charles D. Barnette on the 1954 Buick Landau, the original cups and thermos to be reunited with the car, and the reproduction wheel covers to be presented to the car. 4. Introduction of Robert K. Blair by Mr. Barnette. 5. Mr. Blair will speak on the car, his father who saved the Landau, and on Harlow Curtice. 6. Formal presentation of cups and thermos to the Landau with Mr. Blair placing same in the car where GM intended them to be to the tune of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir. 7. The tune "Reunited" as recorded by "Peaches & Herb" will then be played after all items have been placed in the car. 9. The birthday cake for GM will then be cut and served as we listen to tunes on the top billboard in 1954. "Come be a part of Buick's History!" Charles D. Barnette

[Charles D. Barnette]

I need to add that Led Zeppelin's Kashmir is the same tune used by General Motors to debut its concept V16 show car- The Cadillac Sixteen- at the Detroit Opera House in January of 2003 as a part of The North American International Auto Show in Detroit! Charles D. Barnette

[Guest my3buicks]

Wouldn't "My Buick, My Love and I" be a much better choice of music for the Landau. Would you really want to lower the Landau to use the same song as a mere Cadillac?

[Charles D. Barnette]

Now that I reflect more on this, I realize there is not yet one mortal written song worthy of the beauty, elegance, and majesty of the 1954 Buick Landau! Come see this car for yourself in person Oct. 11 & 12, 2008, in Texarkana! Charles D. Barnette

[Charles D. Barnette]

By gollie there is such a song written in 1951 by Frank C. Skinner and recorded by Gisele MacKenzie and Gordan McRae. I will most certainly add it to the Landau event if I can find it! Anyone have a site I can go to to get this tune? Charles D. Barnette

[Charles D. Barnette]

I have it! What a song. I just heard it. "My Buick, My Love and I" just happened to be the theme song of The Buick-Berle Show starring Milton Berle on primetime TV from 1953 to 1956. The Landau will now be properly welcomed to Texarkana by this song. Charles D. Barnette-what areas of knowledge will the Landau take me to next?

[89REATTAJIM]

You beat me to it, just sent you a P M to the site. Best Wishes for your show, would love to be there. Videos please?. Jim

[Guest imported_Thriller]

Jim - would you mind posting the link if you have the site? I know I've heard this song, but can't recall where. A friend just tried sending both versions to me (with The Mellomen doing the other), but I couldn't open his mp3 files.

Thanks.

[89REATTAJIM]

Derek, here's the site:

http://local.aaca.org/junior/cartunes/mp3/1950.htm

"My Buick My Love and I" is under 1950's Car Tunes.

_________________________

'89 White/Burgandy 127k mi (For Sale)

'89 Silver/Blue 50k mi

[Charles D. Barnette]

The Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum of Texarkana, AR, has happily received as of last Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, the following cherished, special email from Mr. Bill Warner, a former owner of the 1954 Buick Landau,: "Happy to hear my old Landau is to be reunited with its cocktail shaker and cups. We restored the car in my shop in Jacksonville, and we really enjoyed studying how it differed from the production car. Most of the running gear is 1953 Buick. Glad it is in good hands." Electronically signed by Bill Warner, Founder and Co-Chairman of The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance of Jacksonville, FL. The 54 Landau is now age 54, and in exactly 2 weeks from today it will arrive on Texarkana soil for display in our Museum on Sat. & Sunday, Oct. 11 & 12, 2008. Come be a part of Buick History! Charles D. Barnette-it is really going to finally happen. Our Museum is totally consumed with excitement!

[Charles D. Barnette]

Mr. Robert K. Blair has been kind enough to send me a written draft of the speech he is preparing to deliver in Texarkana when the Landau arrives. I would like to share a few teasers from that speech which will be presented to this thread after the showing in Texarkana. In these excerpts Mr. Blair is referencing his dad, Mr. Robert F. Blair. "In 1956, he was promoted again to Assistant General Manager in charge of the Eastern Region. We moved from Detroit to Darien, Connecticut, an upscale New York commuter town about 35 miles from midtown Manhatten. When he was in town since he had access to a company car and parking, dad drove and parked at the Mecca Garage on 54th Street near his office on W 57th Street. There he first noticed the Landau languishig in the garage, only used when (Harlow) Curtice came to town." "He(my dad) was told to find a buyer and he later went back and made a deal to buy the car himself for $750." "My job was to wash and wax the Landau." The Landau has gone through the hands of four automotive giants as follows: 1. Mr. Harlow Curtice in New York when Mr. Curtice was GM CEO, 2. Mr Robert F. Blair in Conneticut who saved the Landau, 3. Mr. Joe Bortz of Chicago known for owning a large private collection of Motorama cars, and Mr. Bill Warner of Jacksonville, Florida, as dicussed in the previous message. Now she comes to Texarkana where I will not leave her side until it is time for her to leave. This means sleeping in the Texarkana Museum for two nights. I am blessed! Charles D. Barnette

[Charles D. Barnette]

It is finally the month of October and that means the Landau is coming soon to Texarkana. From securing that the Landau would come to Texarkana for 2 days; to securing the original cups and thermos; to securing Robert Blair to speak; to securing rare photos of Mr. Blair, his mother, father, and uncle all enjoying the cups and thermos in the back of the Landau in 1961; to making my debut on Youtube with the arrival of the cups and thermos in Texarkana; and to the Landau and me surviving Hurricane Ike, it has been quite a ride worthy of a great movie script! In futher correspondance with Mr. Bill Warner, he wrote "I have many bloody knuckles working on the Landau." Unfortunately Mr. Warner will be unable to attend the upcoming event, because he will be up East at the time. However he did write this: "Have a great showing of a really rare piece." Come see the fruits of Mr Warner's works. COME BE A PART OF BUICK HISTORY! Charles D. Barnette

[TxBuicks]

I have been elected to write an article about this event for the Buick Bugle. Unfortunately, the Bugle editor, Pete Phillips, will be out of town attending some little swap meet in Hershey. He asked if I could fill in for him, which as you all know, is a huge task.

So before next weekend I'd like to try to learn as much as I can about the Landau in preparation. At this moment, I know very little other than the information provided on this thread. If anyone has knowledge, pictures, or leads to articles already written about the Landau, you can forward them to me at rfaries@verizon.net. If anyone has already started an article about this event, please contact me and perhaps I can help you. I dopn't want to step on anyone's toes. Thank you.

Charles, I'll plan on seeing you Saturday morning. I share your enthusiasm.

[Charles D. Barnette]

Roy, don't forget it is Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 (not this weekend but the following weekend)-I wouldn't want you to come on the wrong weekend! I am thrilled that you are doing an article for The Bugle on this event. I have confirmed that noted author David Temple who wrote GM's Motorama will be present to sell and autograph his books. You will be able to pick his brain on the Landau as well. Thanks. Charles

[Charles D. Barnette]

In my opinion the top 6 most beautiful and historic Buick Motorama Show Cars in chronological order must include the following: 1.the incredible 1938 Buick Y Job, 2. the advanced 1951 LeSabre(actually an overall GM product), 3. the superlative 1951 Buick XP 300, 4. the stylish 1953 Buick Wildcat I, 5. the sporty 1954 Buick Wildcat II, and 6. the exquisite 1954 Buick Landau. Aside from the Landau preluding the rear open fender well for the Roadmaster body, the Landau picked up a retro look with the back portion of the top folding down exposing the back seat. It along with the 1954 Cadillac Park Avenue Show Car may have had the first official "cup holders". The "clean and crisp" 1954 Buick grille can be seen to this day on current Buicks. Helping to establish the ageless and timeless unique, regal look of the Landau are the dark blue and tan (fabric) exterior colors, the glass partition between the front and rear interior compartments, and the fold-down section of the rear bumper for the spare tire. The Landau is a great testimonial to the designs of the legendary Harley Earl! I thank all who have contributed to this thread, The Buick Club of America, and AACA for establishing this website. I now go to make final preparations for the landau to come to Texarkana one week from today (public display will be Saturday October 11 and Sunday Oct. 12) and collect her original cups and thermos along with reproduction wheel covers. After the Landau "has left the building", I will have more to share, tell, and show. On behalf of the Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum in Texarkana, I make one final call to all Buick Lovers-"Come Be A Part Of Buick History!". Charles D. Barnette

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

Wonderfully written Charles. Thank you so much for the personal invitation to the showing of this fabulous car. Sure wish I could be there. I concur with your list totally. Somewhere in the forum archives is a Buick Concept car thread and I will try and pull it up. You may want to check out a currently running thread about the 1952 Buick Skylark... "the first Skylark"

[Charles D. Barnette]

I am breaking my short lived code of silence to announce that when the Landau comes, I will be able to tell her that three fellow Motorama "cousins" will be on display two weeks after she leaves me at Capitol Cadillac in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, thanks to the Potomac Region of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club. I can be silent no longer. Remember you heard it here first on the Landau site. The Motorama Gods are smiling in the month of October 2008 even if the Financial Gods of our country are not! The 1956 Cadillac Maharani is one-also known as the "Kitchen Sink Cadillac". The second is the 1953 Cadillac LeMans #4, which is owned by GM (only four of these cars were ever built). But the big "earth-shaking" news is that LeMans #3 that fell off the radar screen in the late 80s has been found and will be on display as well! I do not believe numbers 3 and 4 have ever been shown together before! This is major, because whereas #4 has been modified by GM in 59, #3 is still in stock condition (LeMans number one burned up totally and LeMans number 2 has not been publicly accounted for since late 53). I am sure the horn of the Landau will sound a little louder when she finds out about these three Motorama cars appearing together on display. Charles D. Barnette

[Charles D. Barnette]

The Landau has landed in Texarkana at the Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum by way of an 18 wheeler at one AM this morning! She came in the secrecy of night from Houston, Texas. There to meet her at the Museum was already on display a stately 1924 Buick Sedan owned by Roger Booth of Texarkana and a beautiful 1950 Buick Sedan owned by Ray Abernathy also of Texarkana. In this time of worldwide financial chaos and with an historic US presidential election only weeks away where our country will either elect the first black president or the first female vice-president, it is good to pause, view, and study the 1954 Buick Landau-a true Automotive National Treasure! More coverage of the event to come later. Charles D. Barnette

[TxBuicks]

If things go according to plan, Roger's 1924 and Ray's 1950 will be joined by my 1961 Electra 225 when I arrive tomorrow morning. It is not a show car yet, but it's not afraid to come to a party. It is a 4 hour drive from my house to Texarkana so I'll be leaving pretty early in the morning. I'll plan on arriving around 10:00. I can't wait to see all the Motorama cars, especially the Landau. Don't cut the cake without me.