Thriller Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 So, in late August, Pete Phillips got a call from Thief River Falls, MN about this car being for sale. Not knowing where TRF was, he mapped it and noted how close it is to Winnipeg, so Derek got an e-mail. There was then a phone call or two and an exchange of photos via e-mail and next thing you knew, Derek was going for a nice drive to take a look. Derek was enamoured, so much so that he perhaps didn't take as close a look as he should. The price was reasonable, and it looked nice, and Derek had approval from the Minister of Finance, so cash changed hands and Derek made plans to return the following Sunday with a battery, a teenaged boy, and the truck and trailer. You know, when a car doesn't start, but you're OK because you have a winch, there's a sense of confidence, perhaps even cockiness that goes with it. Factor in a 4600 lb car and an eight year old winch battery, and it was near disaster. Happily, the car was almost on the trailer, so we only had to push it a few more feet, uphill of course. We towed it directly to our mechanic for the requisite Manitoba inspection after jumping through assorted border crossing hoops. They got it running well and performed the odds and ends required to pass the inspection. The bad news is that it needs floors, so it needs to go to a body shop that is willing to deal with rust. Happily floors are available, and I was given a set of rocker panels by a fellow Gopher State Chapter member. It was noted that the transmission fluid was down, so it was topped up, only to find a puddle under the car the next day...torque ball seal next on the list. At least the car has had good company for the winter as our McLaughlin-Buick 29-51 is also there. So, as of right now, it has spent the winter at the mechanics and in another month or so we should be able to get it to a body shop, then be able to put plates on it and get it on the road this summer. The Minister of Finance and her progeny have always had a liking of the "angry eyebrows" of the 1959 Buick, so one was on our wish list. Now the wish is complete. That makes two 1950s Buick Estate Wagons in the stable...in a sense, I hope it isn't a trend. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmfconsult Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 (edited) That looks fantastic Derek! Is that the missing trim pieces I see bundled up in the "way back". Edited February 18, 2017 by dmfconsult (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 Yes. I haven't done an inventory but it is all supposed to be there - it had been removed for straightening and polishing. I'd forgotten we had the Reatta in the shop as well that weekend with brake issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Wow! that's a fast car. 15 MPH standing still! LOL... That's really looking like a nice car Derek. Some A/C and it's the perfect go to National Meet car. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 You think that's fast...you should see the '56 Special. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Does that wagon have black rubber floor mats instead of carpet? If so, no wonder there is some floor rust. I found and priced that horizontal tail gate molding at a salvage yard not too long ago. The owner wanted $450 for it, so needless to say, it stayed there. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Nice find, Derek! Hope to see it sometime. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redrob Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Ya gotta love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 (edited) Any northern car that spent any winter time outside was exposed to salt. I don't recall regarding the floor covering and can't say from the photo for certain. That said, I don't remember if I heard where it came from before TRF. When I get on the computer again I will strive to remember to look at the original photo and see if I can verify from it. We haven't decided yet what we are bringing to Brookfield and the timing means we are unlikely to attend Denver in 2018 so I don't know when it will be displayed just yet beyond locally. Edited February 20, 2017 by Thriller (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Yaros Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Hmm? According to the speedo, it is doing 15 mph, even with no one behind the wheel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) Yup, would seem. One more thing to eventually address. Typically, when driving the old cars, I rely on my GPS receiver for speed and learn the characteristics of the speedo. As it is, our posted speeds here are km/hr so I have to do some conversions anyway. Edited February 21, 2017 by Thriller Fixed iPad stutter (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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