Centurion Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Will anyone here be attending the Concours?Over the years, there have been many questions on the forums here regarding the 1958 Buick Wells Fargo that was built for Dale Robertson, who starred in the "Tales of Wells Fargo".I note that the car will be displayed at the Concours, and hope that some of our Buick folks will be on-hand to capture some excellent photos and information about this Buick, which seems to have been hidden from public view during recent years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCReatta Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I will be at Amelia island this year. I will be on the lookout for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 This is fantastic! I would love to see some current photos of the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Thanks for letting us know, Brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) Here's the article we did on the car, written by Joe Bortz back for our January 2011 issue of Antique Automobile.WellsFargo1.pdfWellsFargo2.pdf Edited February 10, 2015 by West Peterson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I remember it showed up in the car corral at Carlisle PA many years ago---never saw or heard of its fate since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Joe Bortz's story is just a sweet as the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 West, thank you so much for sharing that article about Joe Bortz and the Wells Fargo. What surprises me is that, even during the 1990's, this car was not commanding higher prices at the auctions. The simple fact that it's a '58 Buick Limited convertible makes it very special, and its unique features and fascinating history should make it all the more valuable.I found myself wishing that I were the guy who had let the Milwaukee Buick dealership know in 1990 that I wanted the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booreatta Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Not to change the subject but Joe Bortz will be bringing the Wildcat I to the BCA national meet in Springfield Mo in June. Its always good to see these special cars come out from time to timeChuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 This clip is always good to watch: Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Yaros Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I presume this car was never made available to the public? Did the thing really come with real guns? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted April 1, 2015 Author Share Posted April 1, 2015 I finally located some photos of the Wells Fargo at Amelia Island. Enjoy! Did anyone see it first-hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dei Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Brian, Thanks for posting these pictures! :)I indeed enjoy them.Did I miss where she has been resting all this time? He / they have to be proud and happy owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrlforfun Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 OK Buick people: I spy a resemblance to vinyl pattern of the 63 Le Sabre wagon interior. Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Did anyone notice that the the two pictures of the steering wheel have different colored "cheap" steering wheel wraps? Other wise, it's a really neat icon. (Can I use that word - neat?)Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 It is so great to finally after all these years get to see some fantastic pictures of the WF and not the tease pictures we have looked at for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glassesguy Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Brian: Thanks for posting the pics. Great to see the car still lives. Anybody notice the shift quadrant looks like it's been converted to a Twin Turbine Dynaflow. Hope the owner keeps the car in view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 Brian: Thanks for posting the pics. Great to see the car still lives. Anybody notice the shift quadrant looks like it's been converted to a Twin Turbine Dynaflow. Hope the owner keeps the car in view.Yes, Dave, I noticed this also, and was a bit disappointed that the car's original Flight Pitch is no longer in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 OK Buick people: I spy a resemblance to vinyl pattern of the 63 Le Sabre wagon interior. MitchMitch, you're right about this, and it made me wonder whether Ionia Body Mfg. had performed some of the custom work for Buick on this car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Yes, Dave, I noticed this also, and was a bit disappointed that the car's original Flight Pitch is no longer in place. Devils advocate here. With that 'change' how do we know it is the original. Just saying. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 Devils advocate here. With that 'change' how do we know it is the original. Just saying. BenBen, I don't know for certain, of course, about this car's original transmission. But I believe that the Flight Pitch was standard equipment in all 1958 Limiteds and Roadmaster 75's. Since the Wells Fargo is a slightly customized 1958 Limited, I think that it most likely had the Flight Pitch transmission when originally delivered to Dale Robertson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 How late in 58 was the car built? It could also easily have been involved in the ol' flight pitch-to-twin turbine swap early in its life. I like the power vent windows and later model interior door handles...and rear seat speaker (although it doesn't really look like a speaker grille). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dei Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Good points Adam. Both my Limiteds and the Roadmaster do not have the Flightpitch tranys so knowing there was switchs made obviously the Wells Fargo had it done at some time. The vin number would be interesting to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted April 3, 2015 Author Share Posted April 3, 2015 So, Doug and Adam, did Buick discontinue use of the Flight Pitch at some point during the course of the 1958 model year and begin using the Twin Turbine in these cars? Or, would any '58 Limited with a Twin Turbine have been converted sometime after the car's original delivery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Good question. Since the "Triple Turbine" was still going on in 59, I guess that theory doesn't hold water. My bet would be that this car suffered the same fate as many of the other Flight Pitch equipped cars. Once the trans went bad, in went a standard Dynaflow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dei Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Unfortunately I don't have any data to say for sure about timeline replacements. I just recall reading the odd article about Buick dealerships having to eventually switch them to satisfy customers (and we all know how the memory works).It is the same with the air bag suspension, my second Limited has the rear height levelers, steel air lines (rusted out), air control valve, compressor at power steering pump and air holding tank between the frame under the lower splash pan infront of the rad but no air bags while my 1st Limited has none of that except the air tank. I never had any paperwork with either car of mechanical history so.... I wonder if the Wells Fargo ever had the air bags? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glassesguy Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Adam: Noticed those vent windows as as well. Bet Buick got those from Cadillac. Interesting take on the paddle type door handles as well. Ben: I agree with Brian that the Flight Pitch was standard on Roadmasters and Limiteds; however, many survivors were converted. Buick even listed a factory conversion kit for this as they did for the troublesome Air Poise suspension. Some 58 Flight Pitches were changed to the 59 version( renamed Triple Turbine) per factory Service Bulletins. A unique driving experience no matter which version a 58 Roadmaster or Limited is equipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glassesguy Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Doug: We need somebody to pop the hood on the Wells Fargo. I'm curious as well. If it did have the air bags, I'll wager it was converted long ago. I have a copy of the instructions that came with the conversion kit. Your second Limited accurately reflects the results of those instructions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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