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Post by Koala on Apr 15, 2010 20:21:32 GMT 10
October last year a friend in Saskatewan, Canada put me on to this 1956 Buick Special that was for sale at a car show. I have papers that confirm that throughout the life of the car it had been first owned by the father of the guy that I purchased it from with two owners in between that had been their neighbours. It had been restored in 2002 but it appears that at 94,000 mile the engine has never been touched. The car was reluctantly being sold as he had started a new business and needed the cash and I really thought that he would pull out at any time. Slight damage occured when the car moved sideways on a car trailer and it was snowed in at a climate controlled storage facility at minus 40 degrees for a month.  Well, my wife Judy and I flew to Melbourne last friday to take posession with the view to driving it home to Canberra accepting the risks of doing this with a unknown car of this age. We picked up the car from the fumigation facility, hit the starter and the 322 cubic inch V8 fired up straight away after 6 month of inaction and settled into a smooth idle. Happily I can report that the car cruised nicely at the speed limit, did not use any oil or water and did not cause us any concern. The Dynaflow transmission is 'differerent' as although it has a low range that can be used for starting off on hills it is not an automatic in the modern sense, in 'Drive' there are no gearchanges with speed increase being achieved by a variable pitch torque converter adjusting itself in accordance with speed and throttle position (so I an told).  We stopped off at the Buick Nationals that just happened to be held in Wangaratta with a display day on Saturday where we drew a lot of interest and comments about driving the car straight off the boat so the speak.  We made a 3 day weekend of the trip and arrived home safely on Sunday evening. It seems like a fairly honest car and as expected needs some work to tidy it up but the price was right, hope to have a tow bar on in time for Coledale  Plenty of room, very comfortable and a huge boot for all the camping gear. First v8 that I have ever owned. See ya all down the track. Ken |
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Post by willyn on Apr 15, 2010 20:48:16 GMT 10
Hi Ken you would have to have one of the best vehicles for towing awesome motor car Mate got the looks the weight and the grunt take me back to the fiftys anyday Will  ;D ;D   luv it!!! |
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 15, 2010 21:40:56 GMT 10
very nice ken.
sounds like it's going to be a very reliable 'old fella' as well.
look forward to seeing it a coledale.
geoff
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2010 23:43:06 GMT 10
Onya Ken and Jude... Finally got her in your clutches  What a great score.  Something about all that chrome and beautiful lines of the 50s and 60s cars that will never be repeated. Enjoy the admiration that you recieve while out motoring .. and catch ya at Coledale.. or maybe Katoomba.... ya can always sleep in the boot to avoid the snow. Reddo |
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Post by Jennison on Apr 16, 2010 4:55:18 GMT 10
Congratulations Ken,
As the saying goes, "there is just nothin quite like, a V8", especially one to go with the looks of that particular motor car!
regards
jennison
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Post by Cruz on Apr 16, 2010 6:53:00 GMT 10
8-)COOL Wel done. Looking forward to seeing it on the road. Cruz |
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Post by cobber on Apr 16, 2010 8:29:02 GMT 10
Good on you Ken, that car looks like "class" .
Are you going to put the steering wheel on the other side or leave it where it is ?
Cobber.
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Post by Koala on Apr 16, 2010 9:36:19 GMT 10
Thanks guys for the positive feedback, she is a nice cruiser that I am sure won't have any trouble handling the teardrop as long as I can keep the fuel up to it. It reminds me as a enlarged FC Holden. And Cobber, no I don't intend to change to RH drive as there is no real need to do it. The only perceived problem with LH drive is overtaking on the right side but really this is just the same as overtaking on the left in a RH drive car. I have some original mirrors to fit and came across a nice tiny rear view camera that you fit to the back of your van. it connects to the car by wireless and sources power from the park light circuit. So when driving you just turn on your lights and you have rear vision on the display that clips to your sunvisor, brilliant. The other option of course is to pull out slowly and all is well if you don't hear a horn or tyres squealing Take care Ken |
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Post by kingy on Apr 18, 2010 10:16:57 GMT 10
Coooollll Car Ken, you guy's getting all these flash new tow cars is great to see.....not the slightest bit jealous ......much ;D ;D ;D  Kingy |
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dorian
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Post by dorian on Apr 22, 2010 19:56:59 GMT 10
Wow!
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Post by Koala on Aug 7, 2010 16:51:19 GMT 10
Been spending quite a lot of time in the garage lately working on the Buick. Although we were able to drive the car from Melbourne it did need work in order to have it registered for the road soooooooo.......after new sills, new front floors, new brakes, new king pins and many other smaller jobs such as fabricating and fitting a tow bar, the car is now booked this coming Thursday for roadworthy inspection. Hitched up the teardrop today for the first time and went for a blast around the block.............had to check that it was still attached as the 580kg teardrop doesn't make much impact on 322 cubic inches. ;D Looking forward to attending a few events and seeing more of this big country of ours.   Maybe a repaint of the teardrop is now in order to match the car?? Koala |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Aug 7, 2010 17:22:45 GMT 10
My exact same thoughts, Ken - especially if you follow the paint lines of the Buick! Love the car!!! Just don't lose that cool duck with attitude!!!!!  ;D Cheers and enjoy! Ray |
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Post by JBJ on Aug 7, 2010 20:27:44 GMT 10
hi Ken,
Great to see the Buick on the road. Amazing how those little bits of rust are often MUCH bigger than they appear, but you've got it done, & generally you forget the pain & expense once its over.
Many years of fun ahead.
I think that given time & all the comments you will get from the experts, you will end up repainting either the van or the car, but I guess the van will be a lot easier.
Either way, its a great combo.
JBJ
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Aug 8, 2010 8:56:22 GMT 10
hi ken
the buick looks a treat.
we look forward to seeing it at kiama.
geoff 'n jude
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Post by cobber on Aug 8, 2010 9:29:31 GMT 10
Yep... see you at Kendalls Ken, Got a big hill getting out of the park there.... you sure you'll be OK  I reckon the car should be painted to match the 'van ......... but then I'm no expert  Cobber. |
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Post by Koala on Aug 8, 2010 15:00:38 GMT 10
Yes Cobber, I think we will have enough grunt to get back up the hill I have everything covered..............the GPS will take me to the nearest petrol station With 5 turns lock to lock of the steering wheel and a turning circle of 41.6 feet I may need a shoulder massage after all those sharp corners down the mountain. Koala |
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Post by Koala on Aug 13, 2010 18:11:17 GMT 10
Hey Cobber, I thought that you might like a preview of what you will see in your rear view mirror. ;D ;D  Koala |
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Post by cobber on Aug 13, 2010 19:10:48 GMT 10
Yeah righto Ken... And this is what you will be looking at just before you plant your foot down,  Now show me what I'll be looking at about 5 seconds after you do that  Cobber. |
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Post by Koala on Aug 13, 2010 19:14:33 GMT 10
Ummmmm, Me going into a service station to refuel  Koala |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2010 20:38:06 GMT 10
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Plenty of room, very comfortable and a huge boot for all the camping gear. First v8 that I have ever owned.
