Yesterday met with Bob Dron former owner of Oakland ca Harley Davidson and made a deal on the 54 Buick owned by Harold olsen. Body mods were done by The Joe Wilhelm and later painted by Rod Powell. Pretty amazing metal work. Anybody have more show pics or stories etc on the car? Thanks
It was affordably priced. Harold was a real nice guy. He even took time to talk to me when I was 13 years old. He was the ultimate gold chainer. He always said he lived in Carmel Valley California, also home to Clint Eastwood. Not too sure how many times I`ve heard that. I`ll post pic`s later.
that car sat in Darryl Starbirds museum from 1995 until just about a month or so ago and was sold to someone in Calif for REALLY CHEAP. Back in the eighties Harold blew the engine up while on the road and sold it as is to Don Kober of Coralville Iowa. Don put a new engine in it and used it for a few years and when Darryl opened the museum he loaned it for display there. I always loved that car and kinda wondered why Don left it there for so long. It was featured for one in Classic and custom magazine... cool car
I knew I had seen that car up close, just couldn’t place it! Thanks for the reminder that it was at Starbird’s.
I saw it pop up for sale on the Kustom Klassifieds and had to think long and hard on it. The price was attractive but I'm on the wrong coast and the fact it hadn't run in 20 years was concerning. I'm glad to see a worthy HAMBer wind up with it, it's a great looking car. What are your plans for it? Please keep us posted
The wide whites and the lakes pipes look great on that car. I would put them back on too. Sounds like the right guy got this car. Good luck.
@50bomb - Congrats on your recent acquisition! Here's the only photos of Harold Olsen's '54 Buick I have in my archives (please forgive the duplicates): I'm guessin' @RodPowell has more pics and info! - @HEMI32
Amazing how your custom car memory bank goes. When I saw the lead shot in post one My brain goes "I know that car" Scroll down the page and there is the photo of a magazine that I studied long and hard back when the issue I bought and probably still have but in poor condition came out. I've always had a thing for 54/56 Buicks anyhow. Still a great looking car that stands the test of time. Hopefully we will see photos of it at a custom car event over the next year or so.
NOTE: Bob Dron is also the caretaker of Harold Olsen's '48 Chevrolet Fleetline: see AGED LIKE A FINE WINE – BOB DRON’S 1948 CHEVY FLEETLINE
Was contacted through Instagram buy Don kober’s grandson today. So Don kober purchased the Buick in 1985 or 86. Got some cool videos of the car at a couple shows. Don Kober was a big KKOA guy as well. Here is a pic of him with the Buick after he purchased it. And the Buick in his collection of cars. Don kober after a few years loaned the car to the Darryl starbird museum where it remained for over 20 years..
The Jalopy Journal
