47 Buick Woody barn find

38Buick 80C · October 1, 2010

OK this should probably be in buy sell, but I'm taking VP privledge to post it here.

There is a 47 Super Woody Wagon that will be in the Bugle up for Auction in Nov. here in NC (in the Asheville Area) The executor of the estate and I have been talking for several months and the proceeds of the auction (and the estate) are going to charity.

Check out this news report on the Buick

Asheville. NC :: Absolute Le - "Woody" To Be Auctioned

It is not running and there is one spot of rust that I have been made aware of on the right rear rocker and fender. Other than that it looks like a very nice survivor, but I have not personally been up to Asheville to look at it.

It needs to go to a good Buick home!!!

Here is the ad that will be in the Bugle I suggest contacting the email below for more info on the car. As of tonight (Sept 30) I did not yet see any info up on the auctioneers website.

1947 Buick Model 59 Woody. Estate sale, offered at auction on November 20, Asheville NC. In storage approx. 40 years. Online bidding and phone bidding available, register ahead. Email 47buickwoody@gmail.com for photos etc., on line auction info www.richardhatchauctions.com . Car available for inspection.

October 1, 2010

that is going to be a wonderfull time machine for some lucky person!

Something I can only dream about.

Thriller · October 1, 2010

Come on lottery numbers....

From the looks of it, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it bring a lot more than they suggested on the news cast...especially if I win the lottery, I won't really necessarily care how much it costs....

pirate · October 1, 2010

I am thinking this is not a car to restore but clean it up, make it roadable and have a wonderful origional.

October 1, 2010

I agree, 'restoring' this car would be a crime. IMO.

I'd sure like to see it washed up and in person.

Rich Morton · October 5, 2010

That is really FANTASTIC!!!! Someone is going to be really lucky.Thanks for sharing;).

38Buick 80C · October 5, 2010

Got this from the estate today.

"Finally got the car out today, by the end of next week it should be ready for viewing at Richard's place near Hendersonville(NC).

The wood does look good. But it's going to need rocker panels all around it seems."

Reatta Man · October 6, 2010

Just wondering...

If someone replaced the rusty rockers and resurfaced the rust spots and repainted the car, but just cleaned and varnished the existing wood, would you consider that original or a mild resto?

It looks as if the rust needs to be stopped before it progresses, and the rusted out panels need to be replaced, along with any repairs made to the frame to make it safe to drive. If you do the "gotta do" stuff but basically leave the rest of the car intact, is that still original?

And yes, WOW, WHAT A FIND!!!!!

Joe

buick5563 · October 6, 2010

I think you gotta do whatcha gotta do, but then you have tested the thread on the sweater. Maybe just tugged a bit, but then you keep pulling and pulling and...

Reatta Man · October 6, 2010

Yep, was looking at that paint and wondering if it could be buffed out?

I sure would hate to be the first guy to hit that with a buffing pad; I would think almost any modern buffer and even the mildest compound would to through that 63-year old paint in the blink of an eye. Then you almost have to repaint all of the green metal areas.

Is the motor seized or does it still rotate? I've heard lots of stories about old Buick engines running with just the most basic repairs and replacement of parts, but a locked up engine would be another issue.

October 7, 2010

With the work that appears to need done, I would think a repaint would be in order - maybe not go crazy with a six mile deep paint job though. Clean the rest up and it would still be a very original appearing car.

Only Buicks · October 9, 2010

It's been my experiance that rust goes very deep. Once your into it you need to dig it all out or suffer the consequences. I hate to say it, but I think this is a good candidate for a major restoration of at least the steel, but then where do you stop. Wood looks nice from the picture. This car would be striking done, just my opinion.

38Buick 80C · October 26, 2010

Update from the estate:

Here is the 'auctonzip' site that has new Woody photos--- more of engine etc to be added soon.

Thanks for your interest-- the auction will be on November 20 near Asheville, NC.

AuctionZip.com - Live Auction Locator - Fast,Easy, and Free!

Thriller · October 27, 2010

Whimper.

TxBuicks · October 28, 2010

Wow! If I had that car I would just do what it takes to keep it running and safe, and not do any more restoration than necessary. What a classic original survivor. Leave it alone.

Restorer32 · October 28, 2010

Unfortunately it seems to have significant rust issues but I could live with them. Nice original car. Any guesses as to what it brings?

38Buick 80C · October 28, 2010

I'll see what I can do to get that info. I'm not personally planning on attending, I so not have room for another car for right now, but one of my chapter members is planning on attending and I think the estate would share that info with me.

Buick Bruce · October 31, 2010

Be sure to scroll down to the last photo posted by the auction house . . . showing some documentation/ literature equally as stunning as the car.

38Buick 80C · November 19, 2010

LAST REMINDER... CAR GOES TO AUCTION TOMORROW NOV 20

Here is the last message from the estate

Thought you would like to know that Richard Hatch now has the entire catalog on line, plus a link to a page of photos of the car, plus links to several online bidding services at

Richard D. Hatch & Associates

John D. Williams · November 20, 2010

We are in Flat Rock, NC . We have driven almost 700 miles to get to this auction. If you are planning to bid by telephone or internet please take note.

Or if you know someone who is planning to bid, please let them know.

The words rust, rust, rust and more rust should come to mind. you know that pictures always look better than the actual ccar. I wish I had known the true condition of the car and how much rust was in the car. At our age, we spent 2 days getting here.

Body mounts on fron end of car all need replacement. Rockers, driver and passenger need replacement. Driver front fender, bottom, below bumper, rust into 2 pieces. Passenger fron fender rusted in 2 below bumper.Rear fenders- where they mount to the body by door, rusted in 2, both sides. Wheel wells,

where you open to get in car, rusted in 2. Spare tire - large hole in truck.

Mechanism that holds up the rear window is broken.

Floor board rust - driver left foot area - large hole. back seat by door entry, large hole both sides.

Bottom of hood and bottom frame of car have been undercoated to cover rust.

I scared some of the undercoat off frame and got a lage portion of undercoat and 3-4/32 of metal. Could not inspect uder car total

Hood latches - drivere side, pin broken.Passenger side brackets rusted shut.

Engine painted black. Firewall is painted black. My understanding is that that indicated a replacement engine put in by a dealer. Could not find a serial number on the engine.

Paint code is for Verde Green, but car looks blue.

Dash rusty and pitted.

This is not a car that you could "clean up and drive". Because my Woodies are 1948, I'm not sure about the upholstery. It may be correct but it isn't anything you are going to be happy sitting on.

Chrome - All needs replating.. Could not wash with scrub brush, maybe sandpaper.

Some stainless is broken or missing. It's obvious in the pictures.

I am only tellling this for the sake of telephone or internet bidders so youwill not bedisappointed. Be prepared for lots of rust or buying a parts car.

I still plan to bid on the car to add to my collection. I will be buying for a total restoration.

Happy bidding

John

mrspeedyt · November 20, 2010

what a project!! (but worth it at the right price.... )

John D. Williams · November 20, 2010

As an afterthought: Someone told us today that the car came from Mass. It was not original to the estate family. We cannot verify this but it was someone local who told us.

John

38Buick 80C · November 21, 2010

From the estate

The '47 Buick Estate Wagon sold for $40,000. There was rapid bidding in the room (including from out of state collectors), on line, and on the phone, and the bids rapidly passed $30,000. The winning bidder was a local woman whose late husband had been interested in antique cars

mrspeedyt · November 22, 2010

[quote=mrspeedyt;what a project!! (but worth it at the right price.... )[/quote ..... $40,000... NOT the right price! even $10,000 would have been high... imo.

Restorer32 · November 22, 2010

We have one we are rewooding, a '48, all numbers matching. Our intent is to finish the wood and do any necessary metal work and sell as a restoration project. Price will be about $52,000 including all new wood as original. 40 does seem a lot for this auction car. 25 maybe. If that rusty the wood likely needs extensive repair also. Difficult and expensive cars to restore but magnificant when finished.

38Buick 80C · November 22, 2010

I was surprised at the price too, but regardless the money went to charity so a good cause got more and that is the important thing.

mrspeedyt · November 22, 2010

good that charity benefits from the sale.... now... only if it didn't have such a rust problem.... it would be nice!

Restorer32 · November 22, 2010

Rust is fixable.

TxBuicks · November 23, 2010

Rust is fixable? You say that with such calm and certainty. You must have a skill that I do not have. I hate rust.

Restorer32 · November 23, 2010

Rust repair can be extremely time consuming if done properly so as to be undetectable when completed. It's like anything else, if you do it long enough and have the right equipment it gets easier. We did a '58 Cadillac Flower Car (1 of only 4 built) on which we replaced about 30% of all the metal on the car. Currently resurrecting a '64 Studebaker owned by an elderly gentleman who purchased it new and now wants to bequeath it to his son. Major rust including A, B, and C pillars rusted off at their bases and almost the entire front floor gone etc. Sentimental value means a lot some times. Personally I also hate rust repair. Luckily I have 2 guys who at least pretend to enjoy it.

Thriller · November 24, 2010

Rust is fixable? You say that with such calm and certainty. You must have a skill that I do not have. I hate rust.

All it takes is money Roy.

Did you see the Wildcat in Colorado? There's a local fellow here who does a fair amount of custom work who said it was too rusty to bother. The body shop that did the work, aside from doing a very nice job, said that it was the most ambitious project they had ever done.

47 Buick Woody barn find

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