1911 Buick - Binghamton, NY - $8,900

[Lahti35]

1911 Buick - Binghamton, NY - $8,900

 

A very solid car requiring a restoration. Fenders and body seem good. Was painted red in the 20s maybe. Engine is stuck. This would be an fairly easy restoration and end up a very good 30 hp car for touring.

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/448617287539339/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

 

Looks to be in a stash of other cars, someone's horde coming to light?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dibarlaw]

Thanks for posting Lahti35

It is closer to me than the 1912 I responded to in Idaho.

 

Also thought about the Barn Find 1910 model 19 located in NY. that was at least a running car, was a better buy. But for me I would need an extra 3 bay garage and an extra 10 years of good health and enthusiasim. But I still would have loved to have a project like this when I was a decade or 2 younger. There was also a older restored 1911 Buick roadster posted last year that I pursued and exchanged several emails but the family did not get back to me. When I asked at least where in the United States the car was located comunications stoped. It was supposidly an inherited car.

Edited April 29 by dibarlaw (see edit history)

[dibarlaw]

So far the only identification I can fit it to is a Model 21 that originally had 1/2 front doors. Just like several cars found in this area show some with full front doors.(Barn Find 1910 Md.19) The larger Model 39 shows the lever controls mounted inside, while this shows an outside mounting. To say I like these Model 21s would be an understatement.

Another 1911 Model 21 I tried to negotiate on. It was also not running at that time. All went well untill I asked the price. Then they could not decide. They were asking for offers. I offered and never heard back.

Below. BOOM car show 1987. Owner Burgoyne J. Frank.

 

[1912Staver]

Seems quite reasonable for an intact 1911 Buick touring.  It does seem to be closest to a Model 21. Let's hope more of these very long term storage gem's show up. I wonder what the truck is that's sitting beside it.

Edited May 1 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[dibarlaw]

Lot of discusssion on the Brass Buicks site.

[mercer09]

saw the car 2 days ago- stuck motor no title, surprised youre not all running to get it! lol

[1912Staver]

Does any 1911 car in New York have a title ?  And as far as my experience goes , a stuck motor is about  par for the course for something sitting for decades like this one. Right up front in the ad they state the engine is stuck.  I see lots of good in the photo's , why so negative ? Do intact and largely original 1911 cars come your way regularly ? And less than 10 K at that ? Wrong side of North America for me, but otherwise I would be running to get it.

 I thought on a recent thread you said a lack of a title on early cars does not scare you. What changed ?

 

 

 

Edited May 2 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[mercer09]

nothing changed for me...........just the guys on this site are so dam cautious that it is laughable.

 

always the- too far away- wife said no- if I only had money........................ no garage space etc.

 

so many armchair warriors-most should be collecting stamps

 

 

 

 

[1912Staver]

All I can say is that most on this site are at least interested. But unfortunately most also probably should be collecting stamps. To be in a position where distance doesn't matter, and where there always can be extra space found generally means money isn't a problem at all. A situation that fewer and fewer find ourselves in as time passes. The wife thing ? Probably oodles of money would help with that as well. Overly cautious. no just the reality of living within your means. 

 Yes stamps, or perhaps clocks.

 

 

 

Edited May 3 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[Walt G]

One other factor about a possible purchase of a great car that has been sitting and will need work is the ability to find competent people to assist working on the car to get it sorted properly.  Lots of graduates of a certain college for old car restoration are mostly "managers" , to me the word mechanics and managers do not necessarily interchange well.  I compare that to a Principal of a school and a teacher - can the principal be hands on teaching ? or just managing??

[1912Staver]

I agree Walt. I was briefly a High School shop teacher, almost 35 years ago . And there was trouble in the instruction of mechanical skills even then. I can only assume things have become worse over time.

  But getting back to this Buick, I see a car that in my view has much to offer a less than wealthy Brass car fan. Mostly intact and obviously sitting for a very long time. Not messed with by many owners , or pieced together out of basket cases. A 1911 car just like many of us dream of finding some day. 

In my area cars like this all seemed to be found by the mid 1960's. I have been on the lookout in my area since the mid 1970's and to my knowledge nothing intact from the general age of 1911 , give or take has been found over that span of years. Peter Findlay { Brass cars of British Columbia thread } would know better than I do. 

 So a reasonably rare find. 

 And a reasonably desirable car , in the lower ranks of Brass cars at least. Buicks have a reputation of being quite good cars for their year of manufacture, and have better support these days than most makes apart from Ford T's.

 And at a price where pretty much any Brass car fan can afford the buy in . Even in this economy $8900.00 is not a lot of money. But the buyer would have to be someone who would be doing 99% of the work themselves. And most likely live reasonably close by. If you had to factor in long distance shipping the affordable factor evaporates quickly.

  In my case it would be a 6000 mile round trip, so hardly a practical situation.

[mercer09]

well Walt, you hit the nail on the head.

fella selling all of those brass cars went to a certain college, you know where. Prices would be higher if they ran- but they dont.

 

worth a chuckle.......

[Walt G]

57 minutes ago, 1912Staver said:

Even in this economy $8900.00 is not a lot of money. But the buyer would have to be someone who would be doing 99% of the work themselves. And most likely live reasonably close by. If you had to factor in long distance shipping the affordable factor evaporates quickly.

So very true ,and realistic as to what it takes to get a dormant "flower" to once again bloom....................

[dibarlaw]

Walt:

 Thank you for your input. As an Industrial Arts teacher for 30 years I can identify with the lack of competent mechanics/ skilled trades people who may be able to do the project justice. The last 3 major opperations I had to do on the cars those shops are now gone. I tried to space out expence but realized I needed to get things done while a source was still available.

 As the previous BCA Mason/Dixon chapter director told me that "if you could not afford this hobby you have no business being in it". He had about 17 cars from a 1935 Auburn thru to 1960s Buicks and Corvetts. All in top condition. So I am guilty of being a kibitzer. As some are only involved in the hobby that their means allow. I had to go with some Driver Quality cars as my means allowed. (A retired teacher at 1/2 salary) Sure, I had chased many Brass era Buicks. My 1925 Buicks were only intended to be a stopgap untill something in Brass came along. Now all my time, space, money and emotions are invested in these cars. Along with the friends we have in our 1925 Buick support group. When I had my 1937 Buick we had a great long distance tour car. I had opportunities to purchase some very good cars. But that would mean imediate disposal of the 3 Buicks. We all know the difficulty of quick sale of imperfect (driver) cars.  After our 1937 was wrecked in an accident in 2021 (now down to only 2 old cars) I have had my late 1930s early 40s Buick enablers pushing me to get a replacement. On the other end my Brass enablers have found many cars for me to pursue. 

I have to stop as I am getting too negative. The wife just called up to me to ask if I had anything to go out for Bulky Item disposal. I am sure she would consider the stuff accumuated with the cars and me thrown in.

[1912Staver]

59 minutes ago, mercer09 said:

well Walt, you hit the nail on the head.

fella selling all of those brass cars went to a certain college, you know where. Prices would be higher if they ran- but they dont.

 

worth a chuckle.......

I don't usually get too hung up on the sellers personality or abilities. To me it's all about the car vs the cost to get it sitting on my driveway. It can be a very worthwhile car : like I perceive this Buick to be, but a 6000 mile road trip alters the situation enough that the whole thing is a non starter. A couple of months ago there was another one in New York State  I would have jumped on at once. Not a Brass car, but one I have had on my list for a long time. Probably less than 20 in North America, and at a very attractive price. But also in New York , and the retrieval cost put it over my limit.

 I have encountered quite a few sellers that make me shake my head , but if the car is right, and the overall logistics work I usually end up being a buyer.

 

Larry , it sounds we are travelling on parrel tracks !  Just think of how much improved the old car hobby would be if only the rich were allowed to participate. All of us kibitzers swept from the ranks. Perhaps a means based licensing process.

 For the rest of us Stamps, Stamps , Stamps. The world would be a so much simpler place.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[dibarlaw]

That one hurts for me as it is about a 3 1/2 hour drive for me to get there. There is also a restored 1911 needing some sorting at same distance away. But another person who will not give a price and wants offers in the $40,000 and up range. That car was offered several years ago. Needing a little more work. If I was able to sell all 3 of my Buicks for optimum prices in that time frame I may have been able to come up with the $40K.

 More kibitzing I guess...

[Walt G]

Larry, I can appreciate what you have said, I too would love a brass era car but the extra "equipment" needed to have one ( trailer, truck to pull the trailer) I do not have the space to store when not being used, nor $ to purchase same. Living on western long island about 35 miles east of Manhattan in a great village that was mainly built up by 1935 ( and still looks that way) has its advantages and disadvantages.  The cars I own have to be able to be comfortable for periods of time at 50 mph or more. Have brakes to cope with the lack of courtesy and skill of modern drivers, etc. So pre war I do own but "more modern" so far as ability to use easily. My 40 Buick Roadmaster is a great running car with a decent cosmetic restoration from the 1960s, my Packard touring has ( had - I took it off and put it in the glove box because awards do not do anything for me, I can appreciate them but they are just to "showy " for my personality)  a AACA first place award on it from a previous owner and after I bought it finally lost its former status as a "trailer queen". I love well restored cars but they have wheels and if I can't drive them then I don't own them .

Walt

[dibarlaw]

Walt:

 I responded to your PM and apreciate your thoughts. What you have outlined above is exactly why I am utilizing what I have. 

[1912Staver]

My take on Brass cars is that I will probably never have a drivable example. But I really enjoy working with my basket case.

Every part is so different from even cars from the 1920's. Right hand drive, outside gated shifter. Those big { rare and expensive } 27 inch Firestone detachable , demountable rims and hardware. All the reasonably high quality brass , Solar Staver badged lamps, Not in the Solarclipse class but still high quality compared to many 1912 makes, big cellular brass rad. Subframe mounted T head engine and 3 speed selective shift, Warner gear , remote gearbox. Everything that makes a 1910 - 1912 era 40 H.P. car special. Much more a piece of engineered machinery than a consumer product as cars became , Model T Ford circa 1912 onward. 

I am mostly a nuts and bolts guy . Even if I bought a driving brass car I would probably take it all apart almost at once anyway. Just to see how it was engineered and made. 

 

 

 

Edited May 4 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[mercer09]

recd an email this morning- this car and the "hoard" are all sold.

 

was it a good deal? only the buyer will know.

 

I am with Dibar on the model 19. it was the better buy.

[motoringicons]

I believe that this Buick has sold. It was cheap. A great introduction to the brass world. The owner had about 5 other early cars listed for sale and I heard they have sold. They were reasonably priced but not cheap. They were in the same condition as the Buick. The market for early cars is strong. 

Edited May 5 by motoringicons (see edit history)

[mercer09]

back on again with several others- buyer fell through................ market not so strong..............

2nd chances.