53 Buick - Is this an enhancement? Or a mistake?

I've had this Buick for about 3 years. I've completely redone just about the entire drive train, but I'm gettin' a little bored with it now, and want to give it a little personality.

What do ya'll think about converting the old style handles with buttons to 40's Lincoln door buttons?

I do hate to start cutting/welding on it because the body/paint looks pretty good, but trust me, it's just a 20-footer paint job. Whoever painted this years ago was in a big hurry, sloppy, and used loads of bondo in the back/lower portion of the car.

The conversion would be pretty simple, with no major reworking of the inside of the door, but of course I will have to grind/weld on the door.....

I've included a few pics showing the doorhandles I have now, and the proposed buttons.

Give me your opinion!

Thanks, Ben

 

popper to make the doors open when you push the button?

I think it would be neat. subtle....those cars don't need much.

 

i say yeah, give it a shot.

i would also slap some skirts on it and bring it down a little lower in the back, but that's just me.

 

That's what GM used on some of their Motorama cars in the early 50's, even the Buick Le Sabre has 'em.
Go for it. I'm evening using them on the inside of my '56 Olds

 

Personally, I like the handles. They have a bit of a "spear" look that goes with the car. The buttons are just...round buttons. I've seen them installed on other cars, and didn't care for 'em. Seemed like change for change's sake. It might be better to spend your time and energy continuing to improve your beautiful Buick convertible rather than trying to change it. Nice car. Good luck.

 

I'd do it if I had 'em

 

Do it !!

 

no don't do it! 53 buicks are nice as they are.

 

Do it.

 

One more vote for the handles.

 

I don't know if I'm gettin old or what, but I've really come to like a lot of the "lumps" we used to shave off, especially some of the door handles. Think I'd leave them alone on that car.

 

how about getting another project car to put them on

thats what happened to me when i started running out of things to do on our Chevy

 

I thought the round buttons would go with the portholes.....

 

Kustombuick has them on his 53 buick. they look great.

 

no hackey buford!

 

The portholes aren't round in '53. They're kinda oval or teardrop shaped. Even the round portholes from '51/'52 have little spears in 'em.

 

Definitely bitch'n. Actually just saw my first set today at the gnrs

 

that would be cool...

 

I'd be catching my thumbnail on that button.
How about custom deco door handles cast in bronze or brass and chromed?

 

Looks like a case of " if it ain´t broke...etc.", plus this car definitely needs to have its door handles.

 

you know, I don't want to admit it, cuz maybe that means I am getting old too, but I agree totally.. Im still wrestling with the idea of shaving my handles or not..

 

I personally would leave it. A 20 foot paintjob on an old convertible like that is perfect, lets you drive it without too much fear. Sounds like you're the kind of guy who loves to tinker with stuff, and once you get these door buttons in, what's to stop you from taking the mud out of the quarters, and then stripping the rest of the car, and so on. A few months from now you may have the car totally apart trying to perfect the body, and that seems a shame to me.

I like the suggestion that you may need a new project to play with, to keep your mind occupied, and you could leave this one as-is.