"Burn Notice" TV Show: 1960 Buick

[Guest 70 Electra]

My website (www.The1960Buick.com) has been getting a lot of questions and comments about a red '60 convertible that appears in the cable TV show "Burn Notice."

When I update the site, I'll certainly add this car to the list of Movie/TV appearances of 1960 Buicks. In the mean time, I wanted to post what I knew about this 'famous' car, in hopes of answering many of the inquiries I've received.

While I've not seen the show myself, I am familiar with the car that a Florida car dealer advertises as the one from the show.

While it looks sharp in a televised drive-by, this car--like 99.9% of old cars from the movies--is built as a driver. Currently bright red, with a non-authentic all-white interior, it was originally built in Linden NJ with a Cordovan (chocolate brown) exterior and Fawn interior.

It has been on the market, by one seller or another, for about 3 years. Perhaps because of its 'fame', the asking price has nearly doubled since 2006.

[Reatta Man]

Yeah, and be sure to ask the selling dealer if THAT 1960 convertible was the one they drove off of the top floor of a parking garage in a recent episode.

Sure hope that was a fiberglass or plastic fake......

[WWS]

When I saw that episode, my jaw dropped and I sat speachless. I can only hope it was a prop and not a real car

[LINC400]

It looks like a real car to me. Unfortunately it costs a lot less to destroy the real thing than to make up a fake and destroy it. The purchase price for the Buick is probably only a fraction of what the actors make for that episode. Actually I had this sinking feeling that the car would be destroyed as soon as it showed up on the show. It simply stuck around longer than I thought before it happened. Guess they didn't feel like storing it until next season.

[shart]

Greg,

Just makes me wonder whether its the same one that was in the Macy's commercial last year. I have that as an MPEG I recorded off the TV. It had the red with a white insert on the outside and white with red inserts interior. Attached is one photo.

[Guest 60electra225]

Irrespective, it's good that the 1960 Buick is finally getting some notice in shows such as Burn Notice and Mad Men !

[Guest 70 Electra]

The convertible is currently for sale, and is NOT the car that was crashed.

The car that was crashed was a slave car, made from a REAL 1960 Buick--but not a real convertible. It was, in true Hollywood fashion, an illusion...made from a 4dr sedan. The pillars were cut-off, the rear doors welded shut, and the front door handles relocated to give it the look of a 2 door. A convertible top was stretched over the butchered roof of the 4dr sedan. The car actually had no engine or trans.

The crashed car is being offered by the same Florida car dealer that is selling the "good" version of Sam's car. He's asking an extra $10K for the prop car. Pictures of both can be found at the website of the seller, Ted Vernon's Specialty Automobiles.

Edited August 23, 2009 by 70 Electra (see edit history)

[lrlforfun]

OK Buick People: I would rather my son watch porn than Viva La Bam. What's this got to do with this? Wrecking property has never done it for me, weather it's Burn Notice (which I like) or anything else. Anything is better than that!

What happened to drama with a plot with out all the destruction? Maybe I could paint my 60 Lesabre convert bright red with a matching interior and run around Castro Valley needing a shave just like Sam! Mitch

[LINC400]

While a 1960 Buick was still destroyed, I guess I am glad that it was a much more common 4 door with no engine or trans, than the nice running, more rare convert. I'm surprised that they actually spent the time and effort to make the mock up 4 door and spared the nice car.

Car wrecks have always been a bit hit in movies (yes, pun intended). I just hate when they do it with fully restored antiques. Especially when a new car could be used with no change in plot. At least this was a compromise.

Edited August 24, 2009 by LINC400 (see edit history)

[Guest Unavita]

When I saw that episode, my jaw dropped and I sat speachless. I can only hope it was a prop and not a real car

Actually yes. That was a prop made for the tv show. The car is in Minnesota at this time and will be here in our collection in Las Vegas.

[60FlatTop]

That Macy's ad is interesting.

Here's a similar one that was entitled:

"There's More Than a Buick in Your Future"

Try old age and the threat of senility

[wolf475]

That Buick is seen parked on the street in several episodes of burn notice before it is actually introduced into the show including the first episode when Michael first meets up with Sam after he sees Lucy