Mark Simmons Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I see by the photos from our friend in Ga.that my old memory is still functioning "49 were Buicks first venti-ports and the spear is a semi-sweep. I can't remember the '51's trim at present but I am thinking it was a semi spear as well not a true sweep spear as was on the '54's Thanks for the pictures Mr. Earl. Come to think of it maybe the '53 Riveria Coupes or convertibles were the first with the true sweep spear. Thriller, good point but I thought we were talking about the trim not the body pressings. I owned a '50 Roadmaster and don't recall a sweep spear on it. Man I wish I still had that one. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 53 was the first year for the TRUE check mark sweep-spear in stainless on the Skylark - but I believe that the sweep-spear hearkened back to the pontoon fender lines of the 42 Roadmaster and the sweep-spear style continually morphed until it's height of style from 53 thru 57. The sweep-spear continued in Buick styling off and on clear up to today's LaCrosse which has it in the upper side body lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthbob Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I was remiss in forgetting one iconic image from 1919 to 1984.One that bleeds Buick and GM??????What is the first thing you see when you open the door of a Buick during those years that represent our members cars..........................??????????????????????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I am not sure Fisher bleeds Buick, GM yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 (edited) Simply put, I still maintain that the forty-nine's were the first for the sweep-spear (albeit were not as pronounced as the 54-57) as well as portholes, and riviera hardtop. Beautiful year of Ned Nickles showing off his design style. Here is a convertible produced later in the year than the one above displaying the sweep spear instead of the straight bottom trim. My wife loves this car. (so do I) Edited March 8, 2011 by MrEarl (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I was remiss in forgetting one iconic image from 1919 to 1984.One that bleeds Buick and GM??????What is the first thing you see when you open the door of a Buick during those years that represent our members cars..........................???????????????????????????Body by Fisher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Mmmm, that 49 is tasty.I will still say the 42 Roadmaster started the Sweep - spear styling that by 1949 started taking shape with the accent chrome and finally hit home with the 53 Skylark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Tastes great.Less filling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Are we back to beer again Mike? I think that is another thread The ring sounds pretty cool. Can't wait to see the final design.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Naw Jim, just wanna argue with Keith and Lamar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Now don't you start getting them all riled up. You know how Lamar gets and what happens to his tattoo:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 (edited) No arguments here. Derek and Keith's assertions are dead on, BUT you can't deny the fact that the first mention of SWEEP SPEAR ever in a Master Parts book was 1949"This is a Sweep Spear" Edited March 9, 2011 by MrEarl (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 I guess it comes down to a question of defining terms. If you mean the basic styling concept, it goes back to the 40s. If you mean curved side panel trim, then Lamar has shown us photographic evidence on a '49. If you define it to be the heavily check-marked, then we start in '53 with the Skylark. It isn't an argument per se.As for my earlier comment on the side trim, I was just going by the photos in the Standard Catalog of Buick. I sit corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscheib Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I have been away for a few days and have not followed this thread, but now I need to look for some old photos. I think a version of the sweepspear first appeared on the Brunn designed and built Custom Buicks of 1940, 41 (see page 216 of "The Buick - A Complete History).John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I will bow to the gentleman from Connecticut. That sir is indeed a SWEEPSPEAR. Hopefully someone with more time than I will post the pictures and text. Very interesting that it appears the Sweepspear was designed by one Hermann C. Brunn and not Ned Nickles after all. Thank you for this great information John. I LOVE THIS FORUM!!! Nobody's ever right but nobody is ever wrong. Perhaps someone should start a new thread called The Ornaments and Emblems of Buick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 So very true!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Simmons Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I like it, I like it This forum is very stimulating to the little gray cells not to mention all the work the memory banks do in searching out the places where we filed these bits of information away. I am having trouble with the concept of "never being wrong/ never being right". Does that mean we all agree to respectfully disagree on all non essential subjects to our beloved Buicks which is the one thing we all have in common? So Just what color crayon am I then. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Does that mean we all agree to respectfully disagree on all non essential subjects to our beloved Buicks which is the one thing we all have in common? Yes. THAT is what makes this forum great.So Just what color crayon am I then? MarkGreen with envy over cars that are better than our own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscheib Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Now I have to dig some more. I also belive I saw that other Brunn designed cars (non-Buicks) also had a form of sweep spear, so it would probably be correct to say that Ned Nickles brought the sweep spear design to more wide spread use.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Perhaps someone should start a new thread called The Ornaments and Emblems of Buick.Perhaps Suzanne will photograph and write about it...I know she has a bunch of hub cap / wheel photos.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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