To buy, or not to buy -- 1962 Buick Special Deluxe

Hey all, newbie here. I *thought* I wanted to find a 1964 Buick Special or Skylark, the car I used to know and love, and stumbled across a 1962 Buick Special Deluxe. I'm going to see it on Saturday. Looks way cute in photos, but has 118,000 miles on it. I've also heard that the aluminum engines can be a problem? Anybody have opinions on this car? It's been repainted, and the interior has been redone. Appreciate your thoughts, good or bad, and thanks!

 

i had a 62 special. it was a good driver, drove it a couple winters here in minnesota. never had any problem with the 215, i think it's a neat engine.

 

Thanks so much! I wouldn't want to buy a car just because I thought it was cute. Would I?

 

Ain"t never seen no cute car.

 

Hmmmm, that could be because you're not looking at it from a female perspective? Just saying....
Also trying to look at it objectively and be sure that it's a sound car.

 

GoldenOldy,

If brad chevy has never seen a cute car, he suffers from myopia, figuratively and literally.

The early 60s Olds and Buick compacts were indeed cute cars in their day and have only gotten better with the p***age of time. Excellent design.

The engines are very cool and surprisingly there were quite a few hot rod parts available. As you may know the engine was licensed to Rover for over 30 years; further the alum 215 V8 engines were used in Morgan sports cars, some open wheel and sports racing cars in the 60 and 70s, some speed parts are available from Australian supplies.

go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V8_engine#215

trakrodstr

ps, here is an English (Morris) hot rod with a Alum 215 V8 contact HAMB Senior Member "Morrisman" for details

 

ain't never not used no double negative

 

What about brad chevy's triple negative?

 

That was a quadruple negative! Nice!

"Cute" is not the word to describe a Buick. "Barge," "Tugboat," etc. Those are names fitting a Buick.

Um... '62 is better looking than '64 in my opinion. I think the Aluminum motors are kind of cool, but I wouldn't want one in my Buick. I'd want a Nailhead, because they make American speed parts for those bad boys.

It does have a lot of miles, and sounds like it's been gone through. That's usually the opposite of what I buy, but it's all in the eye of the beholder, and you're the one lookin' at it.

Pics?

 

I don't think brad chevy knew it was a female asking about the "cute" Buick when he replied.

 

You would use the word "Barge" to describe a compact car?....hummm...another eyesight problem.

 

Oops... wrong Buick. I play with the big ones. Mea culpa.

It's not an eye-sight problem, it's a brain problem.

 

Well that's easily cured with gl***es. Or estrogen. Not sure which.
Thanks too for the link. Does this mean you should use a special antifreeze for aluminum engines????
Nice Morris!

 

I lost count on the double negatives. Does that completely cancel out the sentence?

Okay, my Electra 225 was a "barge", saved my life in a head on. (Not my fault!)

So body style you like the '62, with the engine of a '64?
And yes, this car is definitely not original, but on the plus side, he knows the mechanic who's serviced this car it's entire life, and it's been babied. Also lived in the high desert, so no cancer. Is it okay to post a pic that's not mine?

 

He's excused. And I'm sticking with my description of it as cute!

 

In English, yes.

Yeah, I used to have a '63 Electra 225, 4-door. Big. Well I think the aluminum jobs are pretty pathetic HP-wise, and I don't like the straight windshield posts on the '63+. So yeah.

It's been babied? Well there's a surprise.

It sounds good to me then if you know the whole history of it. Worst comes to worst the motor explodes and you can drop a Nailhead in that thing.

Sure it's ok. As long as you say it's not your picture, it ain't plagiarism.

 

Going ahead with a pic that's not mine, hope it's large enough to see.

 

Yeah, it's kind of cute. It would look cuter if:

1. Lowered
2. Thin whites
3. Supremes

 

it were a 2 door.

 

Supremes? I'm supposed to stuff a singing group in the back seat? (Good thing it's a four door....)

Here's the engine:

 

I used "barge" to describe a Female one time....................................

 

But only once, eh?

 

GoldenOldy You go ahead and enjoy your cute car,sorry .

 

Looks like a nice car, I have a 67 300, w/a th350 in my 62. Was a real pain cutting the floor all up so the ****** would fit. Now its waiting for a straight axle conversion, etc. etc.etc. My first 3 Buicks were of the 64 and 65 variety skylarks, I'll have anotherone one of these days.

 

Thanks Brad. Won't know for sure until I see/drive it. Did you look at the pictures? Any opinion?

 

Well,GoldenOldy,to each his own,I never cared for the body style of that year Buick,The Pontiac Tempest,or the Oldsmobile either.If thats what you like get it,don"t let someones opinion change your mind.

 

I'm thinkin' your Plan A is a better idea. The '64-up GM A Body cars...including the Skylark, Tempest, F-85/Cutl*** and of course the Chevelle...are much better cars in a whole bunch of ways.

I've had a ton of A Bodies over the years and still drive a '64 El Camino 24/7/365 and swear by them for dependability and repairability.

Not so "cute", maybe, but better...

Just my $.02

 

Well that's a little harder to change!

But I agree, 4-doors aren't cool, but I didn't really want to open that can of worms.

 

A guy in my club has a nice 62 convertible that belonged to his great aunt. White with red vinyl interior, all stock, one owner, So Cal car. He wants to get it out of his storage area. Give me a shout if you are interested and I can put you in touch with him.

 

CUTE ? I HAD A 60s BUICK IT WAS'NT CUTE **** IT SURE COULD KRUZ.
SWEEEEET. DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO , JUST KEEP OIL & GAS IN IT & THE FRONT WHEELS DOWN.