1954 76-R project car for sale on Ebay as a Parts car

[Pete Phillips]

Okay, gang, here's another 1954 Roadmaster model 76-R up for sale in the often ignored parts car section of Ebay. Item #130052645314. Looks like it has some body damage in the left rear quarter, engine not running, but it looks restorable to me--I've restored worse cars than this. Not mine, and I have no connection to the seller, just want to get the word out and help save what was once a fine old car with a rare and desireable body style. I have too many projects, so I'm not a buyer this time.

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

I'm talkin to the guy who is a Buick man by the way and the story on this car is that it was sitting in the car collector owners front yard minding it's own business when some one ran off the road and hit it and a couple more old cars. The seller acquired it in a insurance pool buy and was considering doing something with it himself. He has a lot of appreciation for the 54 Riviera styling, called them and the coupe de ville the sexiest big body cars there ever was. I must agree with him. He said he's willing to store it til next July when I come back through from Seattle to pick it up. We'll see how it goes. thing even has the JACK in the trunk.

By the way Pete can you please define "too many projects" for me.

[Guest BJM]

Ditto. I put it on my ebay watch list. But, I think it's in worse condition then some I have seen recently but I don't like any dents from the cowl back on any of my project cars. I can handle rust, less rust the better, with body filler but major dents scare me. It also looks shabbier then the one I bid on in South Dakota about 5 months ago. That fellow 2nd chanced me at $750, I passed on it, then he reposted it on ebay and it went for over $1,100! Hard to tell.

[59 98]

Mr.Earl, that is the car I emailed you about a while ago to see if you were interested in it. It is about five miles away from me if you need me to go look over any specific areas. Paul is a good friend of mine, he is a no-nonsense type of person. In fact, we were talking about the auto-body and salvage industry changes for about two hours last night after he brought me a title for a 63 Electra I bought from him a while ago.

The 54 is cool, complete, but definately a project. I knew about the car before the driveway incident, but sadly minding its own business on the guys property it got mashed.

If you need anything, let me know,

Matt

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

I thought that might be the same one but it looked worse now than then. Yea I've enjoyed my correspondance with Paul, very interesting guy. I'll keep my eye on the bidding but it is already more than I'd like to spend given the location. I have a couple of 2 door Super donor cars for the dented body panels. It would be something I would pull into the pole barn and get on in 30-40 years after the rest of my projects. These body styles are much too sweet and rare to let something like this get crushed. There have been a couple on eBay being parted out that were in better shape than this.

[BUICK RACER]

Here's the link

[Guest imported_Thriller]

Looks to be in better shape than most of the cars I've purchased...and cheaper than a few of them too.

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

Looks like "someone" will be owning the Roadmaster. This car is the same color paint scheme as Irene was originally 03B, Arctic White over Casino Beige with black interior. the black interior is somewhat rare and the only time I have ever seen it is with Casino Beige. This car did not have power brakes present, not sure if they had been removed or what but they weren't visible in the 100 pictures the seller sent me. not the lines from the manifold, the pump on the wheel well nor the booster under the car.Could not see if it had a manual cylinder either, If it was manual it would have been one of the rare early production ones that came without the problematic power brakes. I have a couple of 56R Supers that would have worked to cut the rear quarters off and grafted onto this one. I noticed also in the pictures that someone had installed airbags in the rear springs. I'd love to have the car for a future project and I ain't done bidding yet but from what the seller said there is "local" guy interested so to me that pretty much said "sold". The guy selling the car is probably one of the nicest, helpful and most intereting people I have dealt with on eBay so at least it's been fun. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[59 98]

If the Roadie is sold locally it would be ironic because Paul has been trying to sell this one for well over a year now, with almost no interest. I can tell you though, that the local guy is not me, I snagged his 63 Electra. I am just hoping, Lamar, that you don't think that 'someone' is me. I would never undercut anyone on a car, there's more of them out there and I don't like to ruin friendships like that. If I had intentions of buying it, I'd have let you know.

That's one thing I don't like about this new eBay 'bidder 1, bidder 2' thing. You can't tell where the bidders are from and such. Not in Paul's case, but I can see how in the future a person may be bidding against themselves a lot on the higher priced cars, you have no idea if the bidder is a shill or not. With the old way, you could trace their bid history and where they were from. If a bidder buys thimbles and Precious Moments and sells jeans, and all of a sudden the are buying a 59 Olds 98 coupe for 17K, you can kind of guess they might be friends of the seller. Off subject, I know, but eBay-related.

Have fun,

Matt

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

Nah Matt, I never even thought you'd be interested in it given you had let me know about it over a year ago. Guess i should have taken it then, if I recall the asking price then, I could have saved $25.54.

Looks like I'll be heading to Wichita either over the holidays or Paul said I could leave it there and pick it up in July on my way back from Seattle. What a coincidence, the last 76R I bought in Wichita made it's unofficial BCA National showing in Plano on it'w way home.

Oh well, anyone got a empty trailer heading in a southeastery direction from the midwest. OR anybody needs something hauled between Atlanta and Wichita in the next couple of months. and looks like gas prices aren't in my favor, back up to 2.30 here in GA.

and if anybody can help me justify buying this derelict please let me hear it. Not looking forward to breaking the news to the warden.

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks to be in better shape than most of the cars I've purchased...and cheaper than a few of them too. </div></div>

Thanks Derek,sounds good... mind if I quote you come fess up time. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[Pete Phillips]

Reasons to justify purchase: 1. They aren't making any more of them.

2. Lamar, you said you have a good rear quarter panel which this one needs.

3. It has good glass, and good trim.

4. It's a 53-year old Roadmaster with a desireable body style.

5. It needs some love.

Pete Phillips

P.S.: There is a very good, indoor antique car swap meet in Wichita at the Coliseum north of town, the first weekend of February every year. Would be a good time to go get that car, and you would have a good chance of finding someone there with an empty trailer.

[Guest imported_Thriller]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks Derek,sounds good... mind if I quote you come fess up time. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>

Thanks for the laugh. No, I don't mind at all...just don't go telling Rita just how crazy (or is that stupid or foolish) I am before I get a chance to meet her (I'm assuming she's going to Seattle with you). <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Be happy...you're only paying about 3/4 of the price of fuel that we are here.

In reality, if you have the space, what's another car? Fortunately for our bank account, I have run out of space for the time being.

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

There ya go Pete, some good ones. I paid a couple hundred more than I'd like to but I figure if someone is going to embark on years of work and tens of thousands of dollars to do a frame off restoration then what is 2-300 dollars. Kansas cars for the most part seem to be fairly solid. And if the glass is good then that alone is worth the grand I paid. The 54 Roady that didn't meet reserve last week at $6,400 may have looked better than this one but it actually had more rust out than this one and needed a fair amount of body work also. So there, ya see I saved about 5,000. I have a 4 door chassis with a freshly rebuilt engine, tranny and good brakes that I can sit this body on.

I am sure there are those that wonder why anyone would pay that much and travel over 1,000 miles one way for such a vehicle. All I can say to that is "when you're in love nothin else matters" Now if I could just retire and get to work on it. Oh and by the way, I broke the news to Rita tonight. her response, "Well good, you and Jordan need a good roadtrip".Yep, that Rita, she's a keeper alright.

[Rooster]

Maybe it's brother or sister are hiding close by ?

Ken

1929 tourer model 25X

1971 Centurion hardtop

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Maybe it's brother or sister are hiding close by ?

Ken

1929 tourer model 25X

1971 Centurion hardtop </div></div>

I'll keep my eyes open for them for you Ken.

[Rooster]

Thankyou. Very much appreciate your help Lamar.

The weather here Down Under is in direct contrast to North America at the moment. Hot, dry and large bush fires out of control. Looks like a very busy summer for me at the Fire Station. We see your snow storms on the TV. My daughter is currently on the Amtrak train from Nebraska to New York. She says it's freeeeeeezing. Not used to such conditions , it never snows here.

At least for us the summer weather means we can get our Buicks out while most of yours are tucked away for the winter.

Ken. Western Australia

1929 tourer model 25X

1971 Centurion

[Guest imported_Thriller]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At least for us the summer weather means we can get our Buicks out while most of yours are tucked away for the winter.

Ken. Western Australia

1929 tourer model 25X

1971 Centurion </div></div>

It's always good to hear another persective from a different part of the world. That being said, you know then that the pressure is on for you folks Down Under to post more photos while our cars (at least for many of us here - there's a few in the southern U.S. that don't see snow either) are hidden away.

I'm looking forward to those photos <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

Yea Ken show'em that 29. I've already been treated to a private screening and it is a jaw droppin gorgeous car. I think there's a forum somewhere on here just for such postings.... called My Buick and Me or something like that.

[Rooster]

Thanks for the compliment Lamar. Ok , I'll post pictures of my Australian bodied tourer in the Me and My Buick for those that are interested. Some of you have probably noticed that I'm looking out for a 1954 model Riviera 2 door. When the snow melts hopefully there will be a few come up on the market for sale.

Ken from Down Under

with

1929 Tourer

1971 Centurion hardtop