Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Hi everyone! Starting this tread to track our first classic car restoration - a 1950 Buick Special Deluxe Jetback model 43D. Hubby and I have always wanted a classic car, and we lucked into this one when a co-worker needed to clear out some family property and found it in a barn. We only got her home a couple of days ago and have cleaned up the outside. We will deal with the inside and engine in the next couple of weeks. First, a couple of pictures of where she was found. By the time we got her home, rain had washed off a lot of the dust/debris, and we were able to better see the extent of the surface rust on her. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 Bath time! Her first wash in probably 40-ish years. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 Then a CLR/Scotch Brite Scrub and 2 coats of Gibbs. Made a huge difference! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 And once she was all done. A couple of progression shots We are really happy with how it is turning out so far, and can't wait to start on the inside. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Welcome, and I am glad you found us over here on the Buick Club's section of the AACA Forums. 1950 is a great year for Buick aficionado's and there is much to learn about them. Have you two discussed what you'd like the car to be? By this I mean are you looking for a 1950 trip when you use it? Or are you looking for a modern car capability? As I said on Facebook, this is a model that is not often seen. But according to the Buick Club of America (BCA) Roster, there were 14,355 produced. One important question would be why did the car get parked all those years ago? Did the seller have any information on that issue? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drhach Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Congrats on the new car. I'm curious about the Gibbs product that you used. I know about it from the Harley guys. I'm not sure if this is the same product. The stuff they use is almost like WD-40 and is always kind of wet. Is this the same stuff or is does this product dry? I'm curious why you used that rather than a coat of wax. Regards, Dan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastienbuick Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 WOWW ! Very nice buick and superb project ! I can't wait to see the rest of the restoration ! Did you have a picture of the product you used to restore the original paint ? Congratulations on this great purchase ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, JohnD1956 said: Have you two discussed what you'd like the car to be? By this I mean are you looking for a 1950 trip when you use it? Or are you looking for a modern car capability? As I said on Facebook, this is a model that is not often seen. But according to the Buick Club of America (BCA) Roster, there were 14,355 produced. One important question would be why did the car get parked all those years ago? Did the seller have any information on that issue? We don't know why it was parked, and we aren't sure what we want it to be. Right now, our goal is to get it cleaned up to prevent further deterioration. Hubby is leaning towards a chassis swap primarily for added safety and ease of working on it, but first we want to see if we can get the motor to turn over before we make any big decisions. For the most part, anything that will be done on the car will be done by us, primarily because we don't want to commit professional-level funds to the car right now. Really, its just a fun project for us to get our hands dirty and see if we can turn a forgotten car into something useable again. And eventually take to our local cars & coffee events 😄 (I have been bringing our son to them since he was very young, and when he was three he used to drag people over to the general parking area to show them the totally awesome stock Subaru Outback I had at the time 😂. I feel obligated to have something cooler for him to show off 😂). 3 hours ago, drhach said: I'm curious about the Gibbs product that you used. I know about it from the Harley guys. I'm not sure if this is the same product. The stuff they use is almost like WD-40 and is always kind of wet. Is this the same stuff or is does this product dry? I'm curious why you used that rather than a coat of wax. 2 hours ago, sebastienbuick said: Did you have a picture of the product you used to restore the original paint ? We went with Gibbs because we watched some videos of other people using it on their original paint/rust and on bare metal cars to stop rust formation. The first coat dried very throughly and very fast - it basically all soaked in. The second coat took longer to dry, but is dry to the touch now. From what we read, if we choose to have the car painted, it won't interfere with that process. We live in a very high humidity area, so we want to keep the rust under control. We also wanted something easy to apply, and we were worried about what wax would do on the rough surface. The photos are very forgiving - there is a lot going on with the paint if you zoom in. The main goal is to stop deterioration until we decide what exactly we want to do with the car. We are really happy with how it came out. I don't have a photo of the product, but if you search on amazon it will come up. Edited February 23, 2023 by Jmbt 1950 Buick (see edit history) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 55er Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Whatever you decide to do with the car DON'T DO A CHASSIS SWAP! It will be a lot easier to work on an original 1950 Buick that to deal with all the problems you will be creating by swapping the body onto another chassis. And as for the car's value, a chassis swap will ruin everything. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 1 hour ago, The 55er said: Whatever you decide to do with the car DON'T DO A CHASSIS SWAP! It will be a lot easier to work on an original 1950 Buick that to deal with all the problems you will be creating by swapping the body onto another chassis. And as for the car's value, a chassis swap will ruin everything. Noted, and I will pass the message on to him. We paid almost nothing for the car, so we weren't under the impression that it has any value, but that is something to look into and take into consideration. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 1 hour ago, Jmbt 1950 Buick said: Noted, and I will pass the message on to him. We paid almost nothing for the car, so we weren't under the impression that it has any value, but that is something to look into and take into consideration. In what part of the world do you live? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 18 minutes ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: In what part of the world do you live? Ben Looks like a Tennessee plate on the car, Ben. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 7 hours ago, Jmbt 1950 Buick said: And once she was all done. What a great start you are off too! You have come to the right place for any and all questions you may have about your Buick. I have been a member here for just the past 6 years (after getting my '41), and you couldn't find a more congenial, helpful, and knowledgeable group of people. Please post more pics when you get a chance (interior, under the hood, etc.) We love pictures! 😄 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 24, 2023 Author Share Posted February 24, 2023 1 hour ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: In what part of the world do you live? Ben The car is from Tennessee. We are in south Louisiana. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Heaps Posted February 24, 2023 Share Posted February 24, 2023 Congratulations on your acquisition! Our “ torpedo backs” share the same year. I agree with the assessment that you will be better off with repairs on the original equipment rather than a chassis swap. Enjoy! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Century Eight Posted February 24, 2023 Share Posted February 24, 2023 Great looking car, i like the fast backs. I agree with the others about a chassis swap but it’s your car. That being said , if you put that money and effort in bringing the rest of it back, you will have a great old car, and easier to re-sell to a wider audience than having to find a buyer with similar tastes as yours. I have had four old Buicks with straight eights and they are all great road cars. The fifties have more internal engine improvements that you cant see, but make them very good to tour with and a step up from the six cylinder Chevys I had. Mine all keep up on the highway very well. If the straight eight engine is not shot, it’s very bulletproof. There are many good sources for parts for the whole car. Have fun with it! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted February 24, 2023 Share Posted February 24, 2023 Cleaned up nicely! Great job! Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 (edited) We've been working on pulling out the interior. A few places of rust through in the floor pans, but overall not that bad. We did have one question - when others replace floor pans, do you add in those rubber stoppers, or leave them out and go with a solid floor pan? We weren't sure what they were for and if we needed to include them in the sections we replace. You can see them in some of the empty interior photos. Related, we have found lots of places where people have 49 and 51 floor pans, but not 50. Is there a reason for this? Any recommendations on places for floor pans would be appreciated. Edited March 1, 2023 by Jmbt 1950 Buick (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 Boy, if my floor pans had been that good I would have patched instead of replacing. Unless they are much worse than the pictures show. Ben 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted March 1, 2023 Author Share Posted March 1, 2023 We found a ton of paperwork in the glove box, and we finally went through all of it today. All of the owners AAA paperwork was in there, along with some legal documents. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted March 1, 2023 Author Share Posted March 1, 2023 10 minutes ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: Boy, if my floor pans had been that good I would have patched instead of replacing. Unless they are much worse than the pictures show. Ben When you say patch, do you mean cut the rough stuff out and weld in sheet metal, or do you mean patch with something else? This is our first car renovation, so we aren't really sure what is the best choice - all tips are appreciated! We hadn't gotten a good chance to clean it yet, but the places we cleaned some more holes showed up. It is still pretty strong in some places, but weak in others. Once we get it repaired, we were thinking about covering the floor with like a truck bed liner, just to give it some more strength. If anyone has done that and has thoughts, send them our way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenugent Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 I used truck berliner on my riviera,if was to do it again I would use the same without the agrigate.Im sure you can get it without,plus it will cover more square footage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmfconsult Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 This looks like it will be a fun project for the family! In case you hadn't seen it, you may want to review this thread of another 1950 Special restoration done by another forum member. It may give you some ideas on hard to find parts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 18 hours ago, Jmbt 1950 Buick said: 18 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: Boy, if my floor pans had been that good I would have patched instead of replacing. Unless they are much worse than the pictures show. Ben When you say patch, do you mean cut the rough stuff out and weld in sheet metal, or do you mean patch with something else? This is our first car renovation, so we aren't really sure what is the best choice - all tips are appreciated! We hadn't gotten a good chance to clean it yet, but the places we cleaned some more holes showed up. It is still pretty strong in some places, but weak in others. Once we get it repaired, we were thinking about covering the floor with like a truck bed liner, just to give it some more strength. If anyone has done that and has thoughts, send them our way. I don't have a welder and I am not a welder. 40 years ago on mine that was worse than yours I coated with Por 15 (or equivalent) on both sides and applied fiberglass fabric, some mat and some green fibered bondo. No new deterioration... On a floor nobody knows (until now). 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 AND IT WORKS. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted March 1, 2023 Author Share Posted March 1, 2023 1 hour ago, old-tank said: I don't have a welder and I am not a welder. 40 years ago on mine that was worse than yours I coated with Por 15 (or equivalent) on both sides and applied fiberglass fabric, some mat and some green fibered bondo. No new deterioration... On a floor nobody knows (until now). Thanks! Here are a few up close pictures in case there are other ideas on how to repair without replacing floor pans. We don't know how to weld but have access to a welder and are willing to learn. Also completely ok with not replacing if there is no need to 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 Boy, I'm thinking @old-tank may have the right idea. These floors really seem like they are too good to justify total replacement and all of the collateral damage that would entail. As long as the braces under the floor and the attachment points for the seat are solid, maybe consider 'stabilizing' what you have using a combination of glass-reinforced filler (e.g., "Tiger Hair") fiberglass mat/resin and plain polyester filler. If the floor is still structurally sound, the most important thing is to encapsulate it to prevent moisture from degrading it any further. Only weld-in steel patch panels where the perforation is to the point where the panel deflects or breaks through when pressure is applied (as with your foot, or screwdriver handle). You can then coat both sides with POR-15. I'd also consider going over that with a coat of the DIY truck bed liner on the underside. Post pictures of any areas that you think are questionable and we'll all chime-in with recommendations regarding how to deal with those specific spots. It just seems to me a wholesale replacement of large sections isn't justified here. Better to keep it simple so that you can enjoy the car while restoring it. Removing the floors will likely wind-up taking the car out of commission for a long period, unless you pay to have it done and that will sap funds that could be better spent on tasks directly applicable to making it roadworthy. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usnavystgc Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 23 hours ago, Jmbt 1950 Buick said: Here are a few up close pictures in case there are other ideas on how to repair without replacing floor pans Those floors look too good to totally redo. I'm @old-tank , fill the holes with fiberglass after you treat with POR 15. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elpad Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) On 2/23/2023 at 11:24 AM, Jmbt 1950 Buick said: And once she was all done. A couple of progression shots We are really happy with how it is turning out so far, and can't wait to start on the inside. Like them 50’s, BTW, you already made it to Girls on Buick thread! here is Toby my 50 model 51 Edited March 3, 2023 by Elpad (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmbt 1950 Buick Posted March 3, 2023 Author Share Posted March 3, 2023 (edited) @EmTee @old-tank @usnavystgc This is super helpful - and after doing a little research seems like a really good option. Question - the frame has some surface rust from what we can tell; we don't see anywhere that the frame is rusted through. We had planned on taking the body off and painting the frame, but not sure if that is worth it. Would it be better to leave the body on and clean/paint what we can reach, or take it off and do a more thorough job? @Elpad Ha! I didn't even know that thread existed, but I'm quite honored. Personally, what I'd like to see is a thread for Boxers by Buicks, but I'm partial also, your car is amazing 🤩 Edited March 3, 2023 by Jmbt 1950 Buick (see edit history) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin The Kid Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 I would focus on getting the car running and driving, you can always restore it later. This car seems to be an excellent candidate for preservation/light restoration and regular use. There's a growing space in the classic car world for original condition, unrestored, and "patina" cars. Pulling the body off to repaint the top half of a frame is a lot of work for not a lot of reward, in my opinion. I would address the floor rust, either through fiberglass coverup methods as discussed or through welded patch panels in the affected areas, and take measures to prevent further rust. Then focus on repairing the car mechanically, doing an interior, and driving the wheels off the thing. Of course, in the end it is your car and completely up to you what to do with it, and everyone will have a different opinion on what the "correct" thing to do is. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 I am with Edwin. The only part of the frame I painted on mine was in the engine bay. Only that because the engine was out. It will be fine. I did not try to get mine "correct". Local upholstery shop with fabric on hand. Inexpensive paint, which yours does not need. MAKE IT YOURS. Enjoy. Ben 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 Make me #3 on this suggestion. Now, I'm really happy that @Edwin The Kid chimed-in on this discussion because what he failed to mention is that he is smack-dab in the middle of the very same sort of project... https://forums.aaca.org/topic/381465-my-1965-skylark-2dr-hardtop/ ...and he's practicing exactly what he preached! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Heaps Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 A friend turned me on to a great solution for taking on the underside of a car that isn’t going to be a show car, clean it well, patch the holes in the floor and then get some black oil based paint and a small paint roller ( the cigar sized) , thin the paint, and roll everything you can. Afterwards you may need to rattle can some areas for better coverage. Plan on getting messy. Also, if you want to go a step farther, you can apply the rusty metal primer first, just roll on as you would the oil paint. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 That stuff from the glove compartment is fascinating! What a treasure trove. I particularly like the letter from the judge and the "permission" for Tom Perkins to drive the car despite his DUI. It makes you wonder what exactly the situation was, and it certainly suggests a kind of small town compassion and "flexibility" with the justice system that is probably a thing of the past nowadays. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elpad Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 On 3/3/2023 at 12:17 AM, Jmbt 1950 Buick said: @EmTee @old-tank @usnavystgc This is super helpful - and after doing a little research seems like a really good option. Question - the frame has some surface rust from what we can tell; we don't see anywhere that the frame is rusted through. We had planned on taking the body off and painting the frame, but not sure if that is worth it. Would it be better to leave the body on and clean/paint what we can reach, or take it off and do a more thorough job? @Elpad Ha! I didn't even know that thread existed, but I'm quite honored. Personally, what I'd like to see is a thread for Boxers by Buicks, but I'm partial also, your car is amazing 🤩 There is also a thread for four legged friends! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonomatic Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 First, the pictures you are taking are fabulous in that, you are capturing the "reality" of what the car really looks like. Second, if you stop right here, don't go any further, you have easily doubled, possibly trippled it. Third, I have seen some cars with the modern chassis upgrade, and the performance and behaviour while retaining the old look, is a cheap and effective way to have a resto rod on a budget. I was about to jump in and side with your idea of doing that until the seats came out and revealed the floor. Now, I have to go along with the others and recommend that you get it running, driving and tagged and see what you've got. These cars were built to different criterea, good ride, quiet engines, dawn of the automatic, and they are amazing in what they were able to accomplish. Fourth, your car is a Jetback, 2 door or 4 door, there is nothing else that looks as distinctive as these cars. Stock, slightly lowered, (they beg for fender skirts), I would say they are 3rd in desireablilty, behind convertables, and then hard tops, to ANY buyer out there, restorer, hot rodder, rat rodder, your car appeals to them all. Take the advice of these guys on here and consider their suggestions. For instance, the recommendation for the floors, if you do the POR 15 and whatever else to just cover the holes, anyone that looks at it and pulls the carpet back and doesn't see the ground underneath the car is going to give you more of your asking price. What a GEM you have brought home! 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted April 8, 2023 Share Posted April 8, 2023 I'm just picking up on this thread, and what a great find you have! As Neil said all those documents in the car are fabulous , and the kind of history which only rarely goes along with a car. If you start to repair the floor pans by welding them, it will be a long and difficult job. As long as it's allowed, clean up the floors and go with the fibreglass/POR15/ or similar. Where I live in Ontario Canada it is no longer allowed to have a road safety done on a car with fibreglassed floors, but our jurisdiction is typically tougher than most. I will be following your progress with interest! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted April 8, 2023 Share Posted April 8, 2023 On 2/23/2023 at 11:24 AM, Jmbt 1950 Buick said: And once she was all done. A couple of progression shots We are really happy with how it is turning out so far, and can't wait to start on the inside. Amazing what a little elbow grease will do. Best of luck with your "new" car. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted April 8, 2023 Share Posted April 8, 2023 (edited) Great car with some very interesting history. You have a excellent start on this project. I also would suggest not doing the replacement of the frame, as I have owned a '52 (very similar mechanically) and they are great driving cars. Parts are available from CARS (old Buick parts) Bob's Automobilia, Chevs of the 40s and Restoration Specialties, to name a few. Check out Eastwood for repair material in fiberglass and the POR-15 product (they are very helpful). I look forward to seeing your progress. Best of luck. Edited April 19, 2023 by kingrudy (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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