Flaxen Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 My wife is making a scrapbook of her ancestry. This photo was taken in NY I believe in the mid to late 30's. Her dad and mom are both in the photo. Would like to know what the make and year of the convertible is. Any help would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) 1935 Buick convertible sedan (EDIT) phaeton.... Edited January 1, 2020 by keiser31 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flaxen Posted December 31, 2019 Author Share Posted December 31, 2019 Thank you keiser31 . That's IT!! What a beautiful vehicle. Regards, Flaxen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Looks to be the big Series 90. In Buick speak it was a 'convertible phaeton'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 1934 OR 1935 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 9 hours ago, Grimy said: 1934 OR 1935 Do you know any differences between the two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 4 hours ago, keiser31 said: Do you know any differences between the two? John, I owned a 1934 56S for 45 years and researched a good bit. Some amateur sources say the grille mesh was slightly different between the two years, but on parting out several, I could find no differences whatsoever--which could have been due to replacement parts. The repro parts catalog went with the car, so I'm unable to check. I welcome any definitive information on the subject. HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone! May it be healthy for all of us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 Maybe the dash gauges/speedometer are a different color for `34-`35.. Just guessing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 1 hour ago, pont35cpe said: Maybe the dash gauges/speedometer are a different color for `34-`35.. Just guessing. Not in my experience, subject to correction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 I think there differences between 1934 and 1935 are minimal. I believe an automatic choke was introduced somewhere along the way on the larger series cars. The Series 40 models were only introduced in May of 1934 - the big cars were introduced in December '33 - and as far as I know had no major visible changes until the completely new 1936 cars came out on 28 September 1935. The Series 40 cars did get numerous mechanical upgrades through the run as there were reliability issues with the earliest ones. I had a couple of them and the con rods were a problem at the start apparently. Had a habit of throwing rods. The Standard Catalog says there were also problems with clutches and timing chains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 The 1934 50-60-90 series definitely had an automatic choke, damn them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 So....nothing in the photo to determine whether it is a 1934 or 1935? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 On 1/4/2020 at 1:32 PM, keiser31 said: So....nothing in the photo to determine whether it is a 1934 or 1935? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 This restored Series 60 phaeton lives not far from me. It was the only Series 60 car imported to NZ in 1934 and has a known history. Note the difference between the 128" wheelbase 60 and the bigger 90 as in the photo above can be picked by the rear door opening. On the 90 the rear edge of the rear door is about level with the front of the fender. These convertibles are the only Buicks of that era to have suicide doors as far as I know. I assume they rely on the - maybe non-adjustable? - front seat for structural rigidity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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