Garage find 1936 Buick - Sitting 25 years

superbuick · March 26, 2012

I found a one line add for a 1936 Buick" town car" on Craig's List with no pictures and no phone number. So I replied and forgot about it. Later I recieved an e-mail asking when I wanted to look at it , still no phone number (I hate e-mails on a possible new discovery) So I said soon, but pleeeeease call me, Nothing. The next day the owner called me and said the car hasnt moved in 25 years, but was parked running, with rebuilt engine, new brakes and tires. The paint is thin and interior fragile but all original. He called it a town car because it has town gears and wont drive so well at freeway speeds. It is a Special sedan, all original, paint, interior and chrome.

So now I am very interested, so I set a time to view it. I drove to Seattle thinking this is a fun aventure, but most likely a bust. When I arrived and walked around his house to an old garage I found the 1936 Buick under 1/4 of dust and just how he described it. I looks like an easy repair to get back on the road. So a deal was struck and the seller and buyer are both happy. Now to go pick it up and take more pictures- or make a video of the "garage find Buick recovery"

Should be recovered in a week or two, and washed to see what under the dust. I will post new pictures then.

Still dosent seem real as I had no pictures, no reason to get excited, but drove to Seattle and back home in two hours and aquired another pre-war Buick.

I do need to find the clutch inspection cover and spark plug cover if any one has one or a lead.

Thanks Steve:D

March 26, 2012

WOW! What a beauty!

March 26, 2012

Great find! Well done!

Cheers

Grant

MrEarl · March 26, 2012

Wow what a car and a story to go with it. Look forward to hearing and seeing more.

Congrats man:)

March 26, 2012

Fantastic find! You're gonna have a blast!

March 26, 2012

There's a few spark plug covers on eBay... a couple of them are in the $200 range but there's one for an opening bid of $39.99 with no reserve... check out:

1936 Buick straight eight spark plug cover | eBay

March 26, 2012

Also - my spark plug cover is currently off my motor (1936 Special) -- I'll try to remember to measure the length to see if its 30" like the one on eBay (they don't specify if theirs is a Special, Century, or whatever so if mine is 30" long then that will answer that question).

March 26, 2012

Steve- I measured the spark plug cover on my '36 Special and it is dead on 30" overall length, so I'd say that the eBay link I sent to you is in fact from a Special.

Regards,

Keith

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trp3141592 · March 26, 2012

Hi,

GREAT find!

Enjoy it !!

--Tom

serb · March 26, 2012

Fantastic, you just made a whole bunch of us very envious.

Buicknutty · March 27, 2012

Great find! Make a video of when you first start it up for us!

Keith

Paul Dobbin · March 31, 2012

Great story! It's the kind of thing that keeps the hobby interesting.

In 1995 I went to Wisconsin to go snowmobiling and when the snow

melted, I too went to see an "old Buick (1935) sitting in a barn for 25

years".

My wife and I had to walk thourgh about 8" of snow to get in the dark

barn to look at the car with a flashlight. Covered with junk and full of

mice, the old Buick looked sad. I took a couple of flash pictures with my

wife's pocket camera and left discouraged. Walking back ot the car my

wife asked, You're not going to buy that are you?" I said "no way, to

much work!

When we got back to Florida and developed the film, the Buick looked

so good I called the owner and bought it!

Four years and lots of labor and $ later, we began a long term love affair

with ourn1935 Buick. But, I still show the before photo's when people ask

if it's a kit car?

superbuick · April 2, 2012

The 36 Buick was recovered today. We pumped up the tires, bike pump ( forgot to bring the electric pump) jacked up the front tires, both spin. Found to car stored with the parking brake on, so I thought it wouild be a big tow with the strap to drag it out of its resting place for the last 25 years.... but big suprise, it rolled freely. Was able to winch it on the trailer up a steep driveway. Kept one person in the drivers seat and the brakes had a good pedal and hold well! Was able to check the engine and it turns buy hand. So in all it was an easy recovey and is in the shop now.

Next is a bath, oil the cylinders, flush fuel tank and lines. Service carb and tune, then start and drive. I plan on a full brake inspection and rebuidt the hydrolics even though they work well. In my experiance, every brake sytem is ugly, pittie and leaking under the wheel cylinder boots after sitting for more then 10 years even if it had all new parts. They just dont hold up well if the brake fluid is not changed and flushed every 2-4 years. Another nice surprice was removing an 70's plastic steering wheel cover and find a solid uncracked steering wheel.

Was able to talk to the old owner (Ron), he is in picture standing next to the car on the trailer. Ron found the car storrd in a barn and bought it in 1968. He got the car running after owning if for several years. Sometime about 1980 he rebuilt the engine, brakes and new tires. He joined the BCA and drove the car for several years, then life just busy and the car sat.

Next update should show the car cleaner up and runnoing.

- this is Fun! Steve

April 2, 2012

Pictures from today. Guess who got to pump up the tires

Buicknutty · April 2, 2012

Looking good, Steve! That must of been some job pumping up those tires with a bike pump!

Keith

414TATA · April 2, 2012

Congrats on the find:) Beautiful Buick.

They are soooo much fun:D Keep the photos coming.

Wayne

1941 Super 51

superbuick · April 3, 2012

She's Aliiiiive.......

Today it got a new battery, oil the cylinders, tested compression 100 lbs in all, fuel system flushed, oil charge, carburetor serviced and other little things.

-Then it started, checked the lights and was driven around the block, still has piles of dust on it, that will be latter.

Next is to get the rodent smell out of the old cloth -

Any ideas ???? :confused:

-

Then a bath, touch up, complete lube and brakes serviced

-Steve

39BuickEight · April 3, 2012

Just great!

JoelsBuicks · April 3, 2012

Another elegant old Buick finds an owner who cares. One who appreciates her lines and curves that so perfectly define a bygone age and era. Her new caretaker will be a steward of her many needs, wants and desires, particularly those that make her do best the things she was first assigned to do. Her graceful gait once again sustained, may she forever return the gratitude of those who cared.

Congratulations old girl on your most treasured find.

Joel

J3Studio · April 3, 2012

Very cool!

sean1997 · April 3, 2012

Next is to get the rodent smell out of the old cloth -
Any ideas ???? :confused:

Contact a place that does car detailing. Some of them can put an ozone generator in the car and seal it up and let it sit for a few hours. They do this to remove the smell left from smoking in the car. I bet it would probably work for other odors too.

April 3, 2012

great find Steve!

are the "bud vases" original or were they an optional extra? we have a pair on our '31 90 but they were a later addition

cheers

Jules

superbuick · April 3, 2012

Sean, thanks for the detail recommendation. We have a ozone machine in the car now, seems to be helping. Next will be the application of an enzyme oder neutralizer and then will follow up with a de-oderizing bomb we got from the detail shop.

The bud vase (only one on passenger side) seems to have been there a long time. I am sure it was added to the Special, don't know if it was when new or after.

-Steve

superbuick · April 7, 2012

Wow, this car is great to drive. No wonder Buick sales soared in 1936. It drives so much better than my 1931's. Great power, brakes and handling. Seems to drive like a much newer car than a 1936. Only draw back is no turn signals, I don't mind driving with out them but so often when I want to change a lane the guy next to me is staring and taking cell pictures. When I slow down so does he, when I speed up the same thing. Oh well, part of driving a fun piece of history.

Sure looks better with a bath. Hopefully the pictures load this time.

Happy Easter to all.

Steve

Edited April 10, 2012 by superbuick (see edit history)

jackofalltrades70 · April 7, 2012

Enjoy your wonderful find, Steve! What a buickful looking car!

Ben Bruce aka First Born · April 7, 2012

WOW! WOW! Steve, you are one lucky guy. Enjoy.

Ben

Buicknutty · April 9, 2012

Looking great now that its' cleaned up, enjoy the ride.

Keith

The Continental · April 13, 2012

Great find!

Funny about pumping up the tires. What kind of extension did you have to use to pump up the tires with the bike pump?

Centurion · April 17, 2012

Steve, the car looks fantastic! I can't wait to see it firsthand.

Dave Gelinas (XP-300) · September 11, 2013

Just caught this thread.

Great find.

What's the latest on the Buick?

Dwight Romberger · September 12, 2013

Steve! Wonderful find! That is what an original car should look like.

Turn signals are a good idea. I converted the front fender running lights on my '36 International by using light bulbs that are clear but blink orange. It is impossible to tell they are not original equipment until you turn on the turn signals. They come in 6 + 12 volts.

CONGRATULATIONS! and ENJOY!

Dwight

I also love the definition of a "town" car. My grandparents would think that what it meant too! They had a Studebaker that never left town.

Edited September 13, 2013 by Dwight Romberger
my wording was not clear (see edit history)

1967 - 1997 Riviera · September 13, 2013

A very nice surviving example. Gratified to know it is now in the hands on one who appreciates it as-is.

Have you tried using Westleigh's Bleach-White on those wide whitewalls?

VickyBlue · September 15, 2013

Dawn diluted in water with green scotch bright pads works miracles on white walls...

Edited September 16, 2013 by VickyBlue
Don't ask.... (see edit history)

Tom_S · September 15, 2013

Steve,

Sure looks a lot like mine. Have fun with it!

Tom

Dwight Romberger · September 16, 2013

Do you cook the dove first?

VickyBlue · September 16, 2013

My wife is right next to me and she is laughing hysterically... I meant to say Dawn... Good one Dwight...

Garage find 1936 Buick - Sitting 25 years

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