Some People Stumble into Amazing Deals on Old Buicks

[Centurion]

During the 2003 Buick Centennial in Flint, I met and spoke with an individual who displayed (on the final day of the meet) a black 1959 Electra 225 convertible. He shared with me the rather amazing story of the car's acquisition. He had befriended the elderly gentleman who was the car's original owner, and was surprised to receive a telephone call one day, learning that the car could be purchased for a mere $3,500. Needless to say, he jumped at the opportunity to pick up a solid, original convertible for that price. The car is far from perfect, but can certainly be shown, driven, and enjoyed just as it is.

Yesterday, I received a telephone call from another person who had recently contacted this same Electra 225 convertible owner. The convertible owner reported yet another recent, amazing acquisition. He had indicated to an acquaintance his interest in acquiring a '58 Limited convertible. The acquaintance replied that there was one sitting in a Cleveland warehouse, where it had remained untouched for the last twenty-eight years. The '59 convertible owner followed up, and purchased a solid, complete and original '58 Limited convertible for $9,000. This one just happened to be in my favorite '58 Limited convertible color scheme, as shown on this car recently sold by the Imperial Palace Collection:

So, here is a fellow who was in the right place at the right time to acquire two coveted Buick convertibles from the 1950's. Gee, this has never happened to me, and it is unlikely that such an incredible deal will ever be presented to me. I'm grateful for what I do have, but thought it would be fun to learn whether anyone else here has ever benefited from such fortune in the acquisition of a desirable vintage Buick.

[Smartin]

lordy..

Those are the coolest cars ever.

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

Never stumbled into any such amazing deal$ as that but if ya want to turn that around 180 and ask who's gotten screwed the mostest, then I've got some wing dang doozles for ya. But actually I'd be embarrased to tell

[Robberbach]

I purchased my 50 sedanet from a friend of mines father, before he died. I had told him that the first car I ever owned was a 49 Super. One day my friend called and asked if I would like to buy the car, they were moving his father and had to get everything moved fast. I had never seen the car, but had been told by my friend that his dad had bought it on a whim some 15 years previous, had brought it home. His wife told him that was the ugliest car she had ever seenand promptly put it in the garage. Occasionally my friend would go over and start it and stall it out on Marvel Mystery oil. I grabbed a trailer to go and get it sight unseen, and with no idea of what this was going to cost me. When I arrived it was sitting in the garage, just enough room to walk around it, so I did. I asked how much and my friend said if you want it load it, and we'll talk money later. When I got her home, I washed and started puttering with it. All in all it was in good shape, had beeb repainted with alittle surface rust, but no holes.. 78000 miles and clean under the hood.. My friends dad called a couple days later and we talked. He said to give him $600 and a ride and he would be happy. He got his $600 the next day, but never the ride, he died that winter of diabetes, but in his honor I named the car after him. His name was James Anys, so the car is called Janys. A year later I bought a new GMC truck, and they were offering an extra $500 off if you owned another GM vehicle. The way I figure it I bought that Buick for a $100. It was appraissed 6 years ago at $5600, a no. 3 daily driver. I've had the bumpers rechromed , new Coker's and normal upkeep, and I'm happy to just go out and drive her every chance I get.

[Guest Skyking]

Brian, I have to say it did happen to me when I bought my 66 Skylark convertible. A friend called me when I moved back to Rhode Island from Florida. I just happen to have that day off from work. He informed me of a 66 Skylark convertible that was on his mail route. I went to look at the car and couldn't believe the condition. A little old lady (91) owned it since it was new. She was asking $2500.00 for it. I bought it on the spot. I didn't think that could ever happen to me. So the deals are out there, once in a blue moon.......

[Centurion]

Robberbach, that's a wonderful story about the 1950 Buick. I hope you will consider creating a story for our new "Me and My Buick" forum.

Skyking, your Skylark story is similarly amazing. That car was absolutely beautiful.

[JohnD1956]

I got my 69 GS 400 convert with 27K on the clock in what I think was a great deal. Not necessarilly cheap, but I'm happy with it anyway. I'm posting the story on me and my Buick in a little while.

JD

[lrlforfun]

In about January, 1974 I got a call from a car wholesaler friend of mine. Maple Buick of South Orange ,N.J. had taken in trade a 65 Riv. We were too late,they wholesaled it to a car lot that sold the worst looking cars. After brief deliberation my friend and I went to look at it. It was a 65 Riv all right. It was so dirty from the snow that we couldn't tell what color it was and the price was an outrageous........$850. Gas lines for weeks, looking terrible and an outrageous price and stupid me shelled out the dough and got it.

With 119k on the odo I didn't expect much. it ran kind of rough too. I knew my father would kill me so I hid it in the garage. A few days after it warmed up and I took it out and began to clean it up. Yes,you guessed it! A 1 owner '65 Riviera GRAND SPORT with 19,000 ORIGINAL miles. Black with a saddle custom interior. I had wire caps on my 66 Lesabre and put them on the Riv. I thought it couldn't be real. And that's my story. Mitch

P.S. I sold the car not too long after that (some of the profit financed my move to the Bay Area that July)and in may of 1976 found the exact twin to it in Los Angeles,Ca. That one is in my driveway as I am writing this now!

[Guest 60Buick]

I got a call from a friend telling me he found me another 60 Buick but a 2 door post (the body style I can't seem to get no matter how much I try). I go and look and it is a 60 Buick but a 4 door hardtop. I liked the Casino Cream with green interior so I worked out a deal and bought it for 800 bucks. The kicker is the car has 40,000 original miles and will only require carpet and a repaint to be show quality. After throwing in a new battery and some gas it fired to life after sitting still for the better part of 10 years. I aired the tires and drove it home. The car was owned my a 90+ year old man that busted the left taillight when backing out of the garage and the family took the keys and parked the car out back under the trees, thats the reason the carpet and paint are ruined. Still has the original spare having never touched pavement and the car is 100% rust free and untouched. Other than one small dent on the drivers fender it is straight as can be.

[Guest 60Buick]

After thinking about it I guess several of mine were super deals. A buddy of mine ran into me in a restaurant one night a few years back and asked if I still fooled with Buicks. I told him 1960's but I am broke. He said he found me a convertible, I said well then I know I can't afford it. He said a hundred bucks I said SOLD! That weekend I went to a junkyard with him that went out of business and he knew the owner. I bought not one but 2 60 Buicks. I bought an Invicta convertible Black with a red interior only shy the engine. The interior is ruined and it needs floors and rockers. I also bought a White Lesabre 2 door Hardtop that is 100% complete but very rusty. The surprize came when I saw that it is one of only a thousand or so 60 Buicks with the standard transmission. The bad news is it sunk in the mud (parked there in 71, running at the time) and needs floors, rockers, front clip and a frame. I'm not complaining, 200 dollars for 2 cars.

I traded 2 61 Ford Falcon wagons for a decent 60 Invicta 4 door sedan. I had 300 bucks in the Falcons and they were very rusty 4 door wagons.

I traded 3 very ROUGH cars for a decent running and driving Lesabre 4 door Hardtop. I had 300 bucks in the rough convertibles.

A man that lives in my neighborhood had a 60 Lesabre 2 door hardtop with 88,000 original miles on it rusting away in his driveway. He was the original owner and refused to sell it to me at any price. It had not moved in 12 years. Once a week for 3 years I would go over there and try to buy it. I would also drive a 60 over there everytime I bought a new one. After 3 years of constant pestering it now sits in my backyard. A set of points a battery and some gas and it runs. The brakes need work as does the carburator. The seats are nice but the carpet is stained and the headliner is ripped. The body is rust free except for the right rear quarter where it would get rained on. How much did I give? $750.00. Those are my super deals.