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Raise your hand if you drove at least one old Buick this weekend


JohnD1956

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Took the '73 Sun Coupe to a Luncheon today in Westport Ct. with my wife. Madison Ave Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society had a special lunch at a members French restaurant and he showed off some of his Vintage Italian Race cars. My friend with his 66 GT 350 (Original owner) and me with my Gran Sport were the only American cars there. The FORD GT is American too, almost forgot that one. Had a great time watched some videos of the Vintage Eyetalion cars being raced and winning at Goodwood Races last year then a fantastic French lunch. The Sun Coupe ran great. It was its first time out and only needed a new battery to start the year. Drove around 70 miles roundtrip.

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Edited by philip roitman (see edit history)
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 Today, we drove to meet a Club group we're members of to tour a mid 19th century pumphouse in Hamilton, Ontario. Total there and back mileage was about 130, on the '41 Roadmaster. The weather was not the greatest, dry, but just above freezing when we left, we even drove through a snow squal, but fortunately it was brief, thought the wind was the issue most of the day. It blew us around quite a bit, and I had to take a major highway for a stretch. Not much fun driving, even at 45/50 we were being pushed around. Made it there safely and met up wit the rest of the bunch.

The only trouble with the car, was that right after we stopped, I was told that the parking lot on the other side was were we supposed to park, only it wouldn't start, no cranking at all. Seemed to be the carb starter swtich, then I was told that it was alright to just leave it there. Fine, so I did, but right after the tour was over I scooted out to it, but I just hit the starter again, and away it went!

 This pumphouse was designed to pump water for all of Hamilton, which in 1860, when it was constructed was only about 20,000, but a few years before they had had a cholera outbreak that killed 100's of people, in the fairly small population of the time, so the city govn't decided something needed to be done.

 Two huge walking beam steam engines, built locally, with all of the stone for construction coming local as well, the Niagara Escarpment is a vast mine of limestone. Hundred's of miles long, and several hundred feet high, left over from long past upheavals. This was state of the art mid 19 th century engineering. The design is amazing, the cast iron supports look like Greek columns, and similar treatments throughout. This was when even such industrial places like this were made to look pleasing. The steam engines drove pumps that pumped water from nearby Lake Ontario, up onto the escarpment where they had built a resevior, (called locally Hamilton Mountain, but its' not a mountain, anywhere else), a distance of about 6 miles, and then the water was gravity fed to residents from there, residents that had the money to pay for the piping, that is.

 The other neat thing about this place is that on certain days, a steam club brings their scale live steam locomotives here to run them on specially built track. Sadly, today wasn't one of those days.

 Here are a few pictures

 Keith

 

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We spent the day with The Aqua Zephyr at this years Goodguys NC Nationals car show at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC

The weather was perfect after rain and strong gusts the day before!

We had a lot of folks stop by and ask "How do those headlights work?" or just to talk about who they knew that had one when they were growing up. No judging today. We were just there to enjoy the beautiful spring day, admire some great works or rolling art and meet lots of Buick enthusiasts!

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2 hours ago, Pilgrim65 said:

What’s the black roadster 50 s jag ? Xk 150 perhaps 

I posted Pictures of the show under Gallery which show this vintage Jag with the hood open. Don’t knows much about the car since the owner, an older gentleman, parked it and went about with friends. I can tell you that it brought lots of attention, it was dark purple and had a Puerto Rico license plate. Since it was parked besides my Buick, I heard many commentaries but many people could not tell the exact year or model. Heard an educated opinion that it was an early 50’s perhaps an XK 120 long chassis, whatever that means!?. When I first saw it, I thought it was a kit car.          

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Edited by Elpad (see edit history)
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10 minutes ago, Elpad said:

I posted Pictures of the show under Gallery which show this vintage Jag with the hood open. Don’t knows much about the car since the owner, an older gentleman, parked it and went about with friends. I can tell you that it brought lots of attention, it was dark purple and had a Puerto Rico license plate. Since it was parked besides my Buick, I heard many commentaries but many people could not tell the exact year or model. Heard an educated opinion that it was an early 50’s perhaps an XK 120 long chassis, whatever that means!?. When I first saw it, I thought it was a kit car.          

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Was a good guess , they made a 120, 140 and150 , would love any prefer them to e types 

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XK120 Jaguar. Early 1952 or earlier (by the chrome front parking lights). This one has non-stock wheels, windscreen, steering wheel, dual exhaust. I have had a few XK120 and 140s. Strong, fun cars. Inexpensive when I was in my early 20s, 50 years ago. My early '52 was a fully race prepared 120MC, with 150 front disc brakes. Elpad : how do I find the pic........ Urk !!!!!!!!! I was just asking and : thanks for posting, Pilgrim65 !!! Radiator is also non-stock, it is raked and larger-good idea in warm Florida, as are the hood louvers and hold down strap. Save your nickels and save your dimes, these are not inexpensive any more.   -  Carl 

Edited by C Carl (see edit history)
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Thanks for sharing your trip Keith!

Small world, my wife and I have driven by this a few years ago to go to Hamilton and meet our now in-laws only we drove the Cougar as the Special was not quite dependable enough for that road trip then.

You will have to go back during the summer (when it is nice and warm) and tour the Hamilton Bay area. They are really trying to make it more people friendly from it's industrial steel making days. 

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I took The Aqua Zephyr out to the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Car Show today. The weather was a little iffy early in the morning but cleared up nicely by noon. Ours was only one of two Buicks at the show, which isn't unusual for where I live.

Surprise! The Zephyr earned a Top 5 Antique Vehicle award. 

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On 4/27/2019 at 6:41 AM, Larry Schramm said:

 

My Dad, myself, and my son all played trumpet, and all on the same instrument which we still have.  That instrument has see a lot of use through three generations. In high school I also played French horn which both of our daughters played through school.  Met my wife in the band in college.  Best find of my life!!

 

My grandson now plays the Bach Stradivarius trumpet which was custom designed and made for me in 1954 by the master - Vincent Bach when his studio was still in New York.

 

The day I met my wife back in 1968 I was visiting her home town of New Orleans. We met accidentally through my band's piano player and his fiancee, jumped a streetcar and went to the French Quarter. Either my trumpet or I (apparently ) impressed her by being invited to sit in with some of the best bands on Bourbon Street:

Pete Fountain, Ronnie Cole, Dukes of Dixieland, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Papa Jack Assunto, and finally - Al Hirt, in whose big band I later played.

 

We started dating that day and married 14 months later. I still pick up the trumpet, baritone horn, and valve trombone once in a while, but bring the trumpet to Glidden and Founders tours. My singing could get me kicked out of some of the finer establishments.

 

The old car world includes folks with diverse talents.

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14 hours ago, Ed Luddy said:

Drove 2 old Buicks in the last 2 days.

a 1969 GS 400 convertible and a 1967 Wildcat 4 dr hardtop. Wildcat was flawless. GS 400 not so much. Was taking it to the body shop guy for my brother and it started smoking. Pulled over, shut off, restarted fine, no smoke. Continued 5 more miles, started knocking! The supposed "rebuild" of the 400 was BS. It's junk!

Anyone want the car for $3900 come and get it. What a colossal liar the dude was that sold it to my bro. It came from original owners family. He misrepped the car big time.

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Yay on the Wildcat!  So sorry on the GS...

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This Sunday, I drove my 1937 Model 61 to the Opening Reception and Registration Pickup for the AACA 2019 Southeastern Divisional Tour. We had a fun 3 days of touring on Monday-Wednesday with beautiful weather. Cars present on the tour included many Buicks. The most interesting ones to me were probably the 1910 Buick and 1912 Buick. I got photos of both cars but never managed to get photos of them side by side.  

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Edited by MCHinson (see edit history)
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On 5/1/2019 at 11:31 AM, NC68Riviera said:

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Our Riviera prior to driving to the Goodguys car show in Raleigh, NC. This might be one of the nicest pictures I've taken of The Aqua Zephyr!

 

Those new DB tri-stripes sure look spiffy!  ;)

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On 4/30/2019 at 12:12 PM, Ben Bruce aka First Born said:

Left early Sat morning for my oldest son's in Marlin, SW of Waco.   Couple pics of the quite, pleasant view.

 

  Ben

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Pleasant view and I bet a quiet view!   I enjoy driving the country roads and getting to stop to listen to nothing. No airplanes, sirens, highway noise and general din of the city.   God love the song of the birds and crickets as my old Buick makes clicking noises cooling roadside.   

Edited by avgwarhawk (see edit history)
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When was my car out last? It was raining again this morning. I think the rain stopped a couple of times during the week but it didn't get dry. Lake Ontario is gray. So is the sky and you can't tell where the horizon is......

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My last post was Dec 3 2018 with 23,291 on the Electra. Put 7 miles taking her to the pole barn the next day and ended the year with 23,298 miles on it. Pulled her out of the Pole barn today and drove it home with a gas and Pizza stop for a total of 15 miles. Odometer now reads 23,313. Of course as I was putting the battery in the car it started to rain. The 2019 season begins!  Have a car show tomorrow and one on Sunday in Westport Ct. with a tour afterwards with lunch. The reason I am taking this car is the forecast is for 90% rain Sunday, so I will not be taking the '73 Sun Coupe as planned. Lets see what mileage I will put on her this year as I have an extra car besides the other Buick's to drive this car show/touring season. (2016 AMG GTS Edition1) Will post again Sunday with the mileage for the weekend. Sure felt good to drive it again. I am including a picture of the GTS from 2 weeks ago at Caffeine and Carburators in New Haven CT.  just to show it off.

 The GTS is being detailed and protective wrapped and ceramic coated as I write this.) I believe she is an instant Classic/Collectable as only 370 were imported to the USA.

 

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First day without rain in a week made for a wonderful drive to first Monday trade days followed by a great lunch and a couple summer shandies to welcome back the sun for a couple days. All made the better having an out of state friend in town who has never gotten to experience the joy of a leisurely 20 mile morning drive in an old Buick.  Now she wants to buy one ! 

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Took the '92 Century wagon to the Rhinebeck NY Auto show today.  Ok, it's kind of cheating but it is 26 years old and sporting over 181K right now.  Anyway, the day started out with roads freshly wettened overnight and then got worse as it poured on the trip to Rhinebeck.  The wagon performed great! Just like a Buick!  And 70 miles later arrived on the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.  

 

Some background on the event.  It runs for Friday, Saturday and  Sunday.  Friday is set up day for the large vendor count swap meet, which continues through Sunday.  Not many Buick parts there but fun just the same.  And there is a car coral for all three days of the meet as well.  But on Saturday the main theme is modifieds and hot rods, while on  Sundays the main theme is restored/original classics.  Both days anything that shows up is let in so there is something for all if you spend the time to look.  

 

I did not take any pictures of my own car but when we arrived the parking guys tried to flag me to the car coral.  But we kindly declined and said we were headed for the show field.  Then we paid our dues and drove onto the field, which was a huge soggy bog!  Good thing I still have the snows on there.  The little Buick just slogged through to the next spot, and there she sat amongst all types of hotrodded muscle and classic cars and 4 wheel drive pickups lifted to the heights of 18 wheelers!   LOL... It looked so tiny there!  But it immediately got some love from some attendees.    Anyway, as I roamed the field I got some pictures of some interesting sights.  Here they are. 

 

First up was a factory 3 speed stick shift  57 Olds.  Thought it was amazing that it was a factory 3 speed!

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Then there was this 62 Chevy 409.  Just something about the 409 speaks to me. Yeah, it was a 4 speed car!  4 speed Buicks are so hard to find... Those other GM guys have all the fun!

 

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And here was a clean 66 Galaxie.   I think the 66 Galaxie sports a nice balanced design.  Always liked em.

 

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Then there was this 84 Lesabre out in the field.  A very clean car.

 

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But what may have been my favorite car ( next to the '92 mind you) there was this absolutely solid and original 67 Chevy Caprice!  

 

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When I saw this car I thought @EmTee was a brave guy!   But it turned out it was from the NYC area.

 

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Later there was this Caddy in the swap meet.  Check out the asking price!  And this thing needed ton's of work!!!  TONS!!!!

 

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To be continued when I can upload more photos...

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Here was one scary machine!

 

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Can't imagine how long it will run with that #4 plug wire touching the header.

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Then there was Jim's car! A decent 62 Electra convertible that can be used and driven!  If I had the space and $$$ I'd be on this one.

 

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And in what may be of interest to some, this with a stuck motor!

 

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Check out the art work on these rear quarters!

 

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Lots of bondo and broken glass!!!  But still an interesting car. 

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And then there was this combo!

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Is this the origin of the term,"Fifth Wheel"?

 

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And by way of explanation:

 

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But lest you think this was all seriousness, here was one for the little folks.  Wonder how many of them know what it is?

 

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Anyway 160 mile round trip that does not get added to my 2019 challenge total, but was still very enjoyable in my old Buick...

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Does last 2 weekends count?  

 

Took the old girl to get her first bath since purchasing our 1927 Standard!

 

Before and after, IMHO for a quick wash and one coat of yellow wax by hand I think “she shined up real good” as my Grandmother used to say!

 

Enjoy.....

 

ps, white walls will be hit with bleach white the next time I have her out!!  

 

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Ha -- separated at birth?  Actually the NYC one appears to have a white interior; mine is black.  Does that make Goldie the 'evil twin'?  :huh:

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I did think about going, but the weather has been so fickle lately that I thought I'd better just stay home and keep working on the ark...  :P

Edited by EmTee (see edit history)
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12 hours ago, JohnD1956 said:

First up was a factory 3 speed stick shift  57 Olds.  Thought it was amazing that it was a factory 3 speed!

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That looks a lot like John Appleby's old car from Rochester, New York. I remember him driving his to work back in the 1980's. Seems like he sold it for around four grand back at the turn of the century.

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