Help with Vin #s

[Vintage]

I’m helping a friend try to sell a number of prewar Buicks.  I’m wondering if the vin # can be used to identify what the model is?

 

for instance 858959 is a 1918 4 door 6 cylinder - is there more info in the vin #

 

855239 is a 1922 Touring car?

 

1605504 is a 1926 2d?

 

Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

thanks,

Vintage

[nzcarnerd]

First, they are not vin  numbers. They will be either chassis numbers or engine numbers. About the only thing you can tell from the chassis number is roughly how far through the production run your car was built.

 

The 1918 numbers went from 343,783 to 480,99 so your 1918 car could be something else - unless you have transcribed the first digit incorrectly. Maybe the first digit is a 3? From your photo it looks like an '18. A four cylinder car?

 

With the later cars the chassis number does not distinguish between the various models - i.e. in both 1918 and 1922 there were both four and six cylinder models and in 1926 there were both Standard and Master model.

 

Your 1926 car is from late in the run as the last number is 1638773. The 1926 Master is readily distinguished from the Standard by having only six bolts in the rear hub - the Standard has 12. Of course the Master is a bigger car and there are many other differences but the rear hubs are the easiest to pick in a photo.

 

One for the experts to answer but there may be dates on the starter/generators?

 

[Larry Schramm]

Look at posting #28 for some chassis #s.  If you need a different page, let me know. Ignore the comments by the original question.

 

 

Edited December 19, 2017 by Larry Schramm (see edit history)

[Morgan Wright]

Or this one:

 

 

 

 

[Morgan Wright]

Or this:

 

 

[ROD W]

Vintage,   The car in the top picture looks like a 1919  to me.  The 1919 had more hood louvres than the 1918.   1918 had  three hood hold down latches where as 1919 had two.  Also 1919 had a round  ignition/ light switch on the dash,  where as 1918 had a rectangular switch with pull out buttons.   the 1919 tourer is Model  H -45.   The 1926 is a Standard model  two door coach  Model  26 - 20.

Has he decided on a price for the cars yet.

Edited December 19, 2017 by ROD W (see edit history)

[Vintage]

Thanks for the info so far.  The 18 runs and is a 6 cylinder and has a matching parts car.  I would be interested in what folks here think as to possible value of the cars.  I actually have no idea, I'm more familiar with vintage race cars.

 

The 22 is fully restored, maybe $25k?

The 26 is 90% restored, maybe $15k

Maybe $20k for both 18s?

 

There are additional parts for all of them.  Any of this in the ballpark?  I'm trying to help the surviving wife deal with this.

 

Attached are shots of the 18 parts car and both of the 18 dashboards, which seem to have rectangular switch box.

 

 

[dibarlaw]

Vintage :

 I my opinion the asking prices are par with what I have seen for similar cars. Again asking...  Actual sale prices may be a little more than half of these numbers. Many factors. Real bad time of the year to sell. Location ... where are the cars located?  We would like to see some better photos of the 1922.

 Is it a Model 45 (5 passenger) or model 49 (7 passenger)? If I would like a particular car that was a bit out of my price range but across town I might consider it. I have had to turn down cars that were relatively cheap because they were always on the other side of the country. Location,  Location, Location...

My Opinion... OOPs I just copied the image of the 1926 to my desktop so I can zoom in. I see the license plate is California. Same story for me ... Always on the other coast!

Larry

[Morgan Wright]

$20,000 is way too much for the '18 and parts car as they need a ton of work....why is one a parts car, is the engine missing or something? Usually a parts car is a wreck, that one looks restoreable from what I can see.

[Vintage]

The cars are in the California foothills near Grass Valley.  I guess the second 18 was a parts car because it was not running?  I agree that they are pretty similar other than one runs - both have engine, trans, etc.. There are spare frames, wheels, doors, etc.. The hope would be to find someone that wanted a package deal.

[Morgan Wright]

Sell them as 2 cars.

[Sherlock]

My Great Grandfather owned a 1917 Buick Touring car, Engine No. 312108.  Is there any way to determine which edition he had from this alone?  Thank you.

[Morgan Wright]

[Oldtech]

Sounds like an E 35 number.  4 cylinder touring.  I have an engine that I think is close to that number.   Any pictures of it?

Edited October 17, 2021 by Oldtech (see edit history)