Fed-Ex transport delivered my girl today!!! She was the only car on the hauler and there was no room for the driver to get that big rig into the storage place I've rented as temporary work space. So he unloaded her in the middle of the road in the merge/turn lane. You can just make out her bumper and taillight on the top level thru the far open door on the side of the hauler... She doesn't run (yet!!), so my crew of pals from work not only pushed her from the merge lane where she was unloaded, but ran her straight up the storage lane to (and eventually INto) the rented berth. So technically, I drove her. I asked em if they'd be willing to meet up later and push me to the corner store so I could drive her some more. Went over like a lead balloon. That's an original 1950 shop manual on her roof - the previous owner was kind enough to tuck it into the trunk for me to find! I had already bought the book on CD, but having an original printed copy is pretty keen. Smells like my pop's old manuals. And the saddest part of a happy story...poor girl has no room to breathe, but it'll have to do for now. There's enough room on the driver's side to get in and out and a bit of room at the front. Pretty sure I can do a little engine work on her while she's stuffed in there. Sure as hell gonna make the effort, and may rent a bay nearby to store parts/tools. Sorting out my housing situation at the moment, so worst case she'll be in there for a month or two til I can get her into a proper garage. At least she's not in there during the hotter Florida months... The intrepid computer nerd crew - the entire staff of my training development team from work. If we had gotten mashed in that merge lane pushing her across traffic into the storage area, all work on a multi-million dollar military training project woulda pretty much ground to a screeching halt. So I had em pose like someone had taken them hostage and was gonna mail the pic to my manager with a ransom of Buick parts for their return. Only the guy on the left there looks too giggly to convince anyone of hostage status. Awesome sports those guys tho, bought em a BBQ lunch after the car was secured! >rubbing hands together< Now the fun begins!!!
As for the trip to the store. Did you tell them it was a beer run? What is going to happen to that puppy when you get to her?
Congrats! Shes a beauty,I dont think I have ever seen a buick like that. (I guess you could say its a fast back or aero sedan maybe???) It must be relatively rare huh??? I like it!
Delivery happened in the middle of the work-day, so no beer...THIS time. Plan is just get her roadworthy and running first - she tries to turn over but doesn't catch, so carb rebuild and fuel line check from tank to fuel pump and some simple cap air filters. Also needs an exhaust from manifold to muffler, and those cokers are more worn from sitting than I'm comfy with. Wiring harness in the engine is pretty dry-rotted tho her lights work (horn and turn signals are a no-go), will attend to that as well. A thorough brake check, but they felt real solid and held firm when the guys made the first running push to get her into the bay but came up a little momentum-short and she started to slip backwards. Floor pans are typically nasty but not the worst I've seen - rockers and door-jambs are relatively clean, and another goody found in the trunk was a new set of front pans! Previous owner was a real peach and also threw in three sets of hubcaps, one set of which is nearly pristine with a red Buick logo in the center. Also a big bin of spare parts including a few extra grill teeth. Found in the glove compartment was the original owner's handbook and that orange tag they hang off the heater buttons in the dash!!
More worried about the morons in the storage facility (and passing traffic!) that saw us loadin her in, but appreciate the sentiment. Hopefully I won't have to keep her in there long, and you can bet I'm gonna be there every chance I get even just to make sure she's safe and sound. As for Fed-Ex'n a car, yeah, I had no idea they did it until I started shopping quotes! It's about $1K, more or less, depending on the travel distance and the size of the car (and if it's running or not). Great customer service, the most lively group from Fed-Ex I'd ever dealt with, actually. Low budget: dunno if it's a rare style or not, but I hadn't seen many either when I started looking for this kind of car. Love the '50 Buick grill and the jetback styling, just got REALLY lucky.
See if the storage space right in front of the car is open, you can take the sheet metal screws out of the tin wall and have another room for tools, parts, beer, etc.
Okay, you win, you scared the crap outta me. I had already waxed the numbers of the bays, but edited the pics with sloppy sky and tighter crops. Thanks!!
Where are the damn pics?? ok see the pics, why do you need to make the guy so paranoid? Car's not much good wo title...
Hey, I'm just looking out for you guys, if you've been reading about all of the thefts going on lately I'd hate for anyone to lose something that they love...seriously, with or without a title it would have been easy for anyone that lurks around here to make off with a bitchin car...and it is a bitchin car...people need to be more careful these days, there's a lot of desperate jackasses out there...best of luck with getting her running and driving, for what you paid you got a great deal...
I'm confused. A multi-million dollar military training project Fed Ex'd a 50 Buick to Orlando? Are we invading Cuba or something? Spill the beans.
Congrats, Jordster. Buick called their fastback model a sedanette in the forties, and thru 1952, I believe. I don't think they built them after '52....maybe thru '54. So that's a 1950 Buick 4-door sedanette. Rick
great super sedanette, i had a 2dr i sold about 7 years ago..........i want it back. hence my email (fifty56s). also early '50 had the hood release in the porthole and the later '50 had a cable inside.
I don't know you, and don't know your work ethic, but I would bet money that car never leaves that storage unit under its own power. Hell, it probably wont ever leave the storage unit. Ive seen this before. Feel free to prove me wrong. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but when a car goes into storage like that, interest usually falls off soon after the door is locked.
Looks like a great beginning to a great story.Hope get her running soon , so you can enjoy here.And get some insurance on it!
Looks like a great beginning to a great story.Hope get her running soon , so you can enjoy here.And get some insurance on it!
wow, fedex looks like they have pretty nice car hauling rigs. how did the shipment go with them? car looks great! -scott noteboom <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
The Jalopy Journal
