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1934 Series 60 Convertible Phaeton


nzcarnerd

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This car appeared at a local show today first time out after a comprehensive restoration.  It was the only Series 60 to be imported to New Zealand in 1934 and probably one of very few left with right hand drive.  Most of its ownership history is known and it has survived mostly unmolested but required a lot of work to get it to this condition.  Even though it was an expensive exercise I think you would all agree that the owner should be proud of the result.

 

On the other side of the tent was a 1932 Cadillac V12 roadster. Unlike the Buick it is a more recent import - though about 30 years ago - and retains left hand drive.

post-101859-0-38930000-1453604640_thumb.

Edited by nzcarnerd (see edit history)
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I met the owner of this beautiful car when we both attended the 2008 Australian Buick National Meet held in Queensland. I saw photos of it before the restoration and I think it was dark blue. I had my recently restored ( in 2008 ) 1934 Holden bodied Series 40 Buick Roadster for the Meet and Post Tour and he was particularly taken by the colour, but I didn't realise how taken with it until I saw the posted photo of his finished car. 

 

A truly magnificent looking vehicle - thanks for posting.

post-76653-0-68204000-1453689067_thumb.j

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I met the owner of this beautiful car when we both attended the 2008 Australian Buick National Meet held in Queensland. I saw photos of it before the restoration and I think it was dark blue. I had my recently restored ( in 2008 ) 1934 Holden bodied Series 40 Buick Roadster for the Meet and Post Tour and he was particularly taken by the colour, but I didn't realise how taken with it until I saw the posted photo of his finished car. 

 

A truly magnificent looking vehicle - thanks for posting.

The phaeton spent most of its later years painted dark green but a quick look at the reverse side of the side mounted spare wheels revealed its original maroon colour.

 

By the way I have a 1934 Holden bodied Series 40 sedan which has been in my family since it was imported to NZ just after WW2.  I learnt to drive in it but it has been off the road since the late 1960s and unfortunately, even though it is fairly complete, the cost of restoration would far outweigh its value. I have not seen any more of them but I believe it is one of three of these in NZ.

Edited by nzcarnerd (see edit history)
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Guys

Glorious car and looks beautifully done in the photo. Is I think a model 68C, 4 door convertible phaeton with built in Trunk, Standard Catalog of Buick Ed by  R Kowalke lists production in 1934 as 444 units, price when new $1675 US.  Terry Dunhams' Book on the History of Buick lists of 444  of model 68C  made, a total of 143 were exported either as complete cars or stripped chassis.

 

How many of these  were RHD remains unknown by my sources to hand.I do not know if the exported models included Canada, or if the Canadian Buicks were only the McLaughlin Buicks. 

 

Either way a rare car and if a shop did a lot of the work I know how much a car of this quality would cost and it will make your eyes water at least and maybe cause divorce as well. Well done to the owner for securing a rare part of New Zealand's motoring history

 

nzcarnerd:  there was a 1934 series 40 sedan advertised last year on TradeMe . It looked from the photos to be in reasonable order. It was listed at the time at $70,000.00 and was located in Kingston in Southland NZ. I was keen to go and look at it when I was nearby last year but was over ruled by the minster for war and finance (aka Mrs Anzac Buick). I do not know if it sold at all or was just withdrawn from sale.

 

cheers

Andrew 

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  • 4 years later...
On 1/25/2016 at 9:13 PM, Anzac Buick64 said:

Guys

Glorious car and looks beautifully done in the photo. Is I think a model 68C, 4 door convertible phaeton with built in Trunk, Standard Catalog of Buick Ed by  R Kowalke lists production in 1934 as 444 units, price when new $1675 US.  Terry Dunhams' Book on the History of Buick lists of 444  of model 68C  made, a total of 143 were exported either as complete cars or stripped chassis.

 

How many of these  were RHD remains unknown by my sources to hand.I do not know if the exported models included Canada, or if the Canadian Buicks were only the McLaughlin Buicks. 

 

Either way a rare car and if a shop did a lot of the work I know how much a car of this quality would cost and it will make your eyes water at least and maybe cause divorce as well. Well done to the owner for securing a rare part of New Zealand's motoring history

 

nzcarnerd:  there was a 1934 series 40 sedan advertised last year on TradeMe . It looked from the photos to be in reasonable order. It was listed at the time at $70,000.00 and was located in Kingston in Southland NZ. I was keen to go and look at it when I was nearby last year but was over ruled by the minster for war and finance (aka Mrs Anzac Buick). I do not know if it sold at all or was just withdrawn from sale.

 

cheers

Andrew 

 

I was looking for something related to 1934 Buicks and came across this  - old - thread.

 

I think this is the car that was on trademe in 2016 - photo taken at the February 2020 Napier Art Deco event. photo credit Clive Barker on Flickr.

 

1934 Buick series 8/40 4-door Sedan

 

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On 11/16/2020 at 4:47 PM, nzcarnerd said:

 

I was looking for something related to 1934 Buicks and came across this  - old - thread.

 

I think this is the car that was on trademe in 2016 - photo taken at the February 2020 Napier Art Deco event. photo credit Clive Barker on Flickr.

On 11/16/2020 at 4:47 PM, nzcarnerd said:

 

I was looking for something related to 1934 Buicks and came across this  - old - thread.

 

I think this is the car that was on trademe in 2016 - photo taken at the February 2020 Napier Art Deco event. photo credit Clive Barker on Flickr.

 

1934 Buick series 8/40 4-door Sedan

 

$70,000 for a 35 40 series sedan? Wow!

IMG_20191015_150107_hdr.jpg

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18 minutes ago, Terry Stock said:

AH3899 has been for sale on New Zealand's Trademe in recent months.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/specialist-cars/other/listing/2863908818?bof=2cDAha0f

Price being asked probably reflects the investment that has been made in it.

And TMe starting price has risen a few times.

The money put into a car does not equal its value in the market (as most of us know)

 

Not the same car as the 2016 $70K Southland, NZ car referenced above.  My understanding that car in now in mid Canterbury wih a new owner.  Both cars are a dark blue color.

Edited by 1939_Buick (see edit history)
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On 1/25/2016 at 3:37 PM, 50jetback said:

I met the owner of this beautiful car when we both attended the 2008 Australian Buick National Meet held in Queensland. I saw photos of it before the restoration and I think it was dark blue. I had my recently restored ( in 2008 ) 1934 Holden bodied Series 40 Buick Roadster for the Meet and Post Tour and he was particularly taken by the colour, but I didn't realise how taken with it until I saw the posted photo of his finished car. 

 

A truly magnificent looking vehicle - thanks for posting.

post-76653-0-68204000-1453689067_thumb.j

 

It would be interesting to know how many of these 1934-35 Holden body roadster have survived. This one was imported to NZ in 2005. My Holden history book suggests only 50 were built.

 

 

 

 

29512287_225448458015967_2610080225966424064_n.jpg

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