having one of those days where i am feeling overwhelmed. i must say that due to an incredibly understanding woman, i am a very fortunate person. We have a beautiful 3 year old girl and another due in late oct. I have also been blessed with a good size garage and the ability to constantly keep filling it lol. I started out with a nice 04 HD 5 years ago when we got the house. Now i have that bike, 2 chops in progress, a 67 dart and the 55 buick. I look at the buick and see so much potential even as a simple daily driver. But i am trying to be realistic and my time is already at a minimum for tinkering. The wife is a-ok with tinkering as long as it doesnt become detrimental to raising a family. The dart runs great - just did a 200 mile roundtrip to a bike swap up in Keene NH a couple weekends ago. Was p***ing people left and right just to see how the little 318 would respond - and it felt fantastic. Prob is its not a high demand car and not a high dollar car. While i enjoy it i dont "love" it. And i am at the point where i need to whittle down my stuff and focus on the projects foresee having for a while. Ive always wanted an old pickup. I just tossed the Dart up on ebay and if it sells i'll be in a good situation. If not i was thinking of selling the buick to fund a truck while continuing to try and off the dart. sorry for the pointless post - just typing my own thoughts out and wondering what others do when they feel overwhelmed. not complaning mind you - i know i am fortunate. but ultimately none of this is more important than my family.
What kind of buick Special ....2 door hartop, sedan , 4 door hartop, sedan ??????? I t makes a difference in value, but I'd say, if it's not what you want, sell or trade it... Here's my old 55 special, I had alot of fun with it, but it's not what I really wanted, so it is gone....I miss it , but do not regret it...if that makes sense.
While I am not especially fond of old Buicks I have owned a couple and they were good cars. I guess offing the buick to buy a truck is a matter of where the buick is at and how much you like it. Does the buick need a complete redo or is it an easy up and drive car? Would you really miss it or is it just a pipe dream? I probably wouldn't have a lot of trouble offing the Buick myself but I don't normally have custom in mind when I am building a car. They just as a rule don't make good hotrods by my way of thinking.
thanks guys its a 55 special 4 door that i got for dirt cheap since i had no engine. i scored a 322 nailhead late last year that i'll be dropping in over the next month or so hopefully and that should give me a better idea of where i stand. i'm not a resto guy - haven't the time, cash or skills to go that route. i just like safe and fun daily drivers. would i miss it? i'm not sure since i haven't driven it but visually it's more of what i am into at this time. the moor door was purposely chosen as i will have 2 kids that i hope to involve. and obv they are cheaper to start with. ps- Abomb if i can get to 1/2 whats yours was i'd be very very happy!
Sell the Dart and the Buick and get the truck you really want, but keep in mind; you can't haul a family of four in a pick-up truck! I sold my chopper and '34 Chevy 3-window for just that reason. I now have two small boys, and the bike worked for me only, and the coupe would only fit one p***enger. I would rather spend time with my family, so now have a sedan we can all enjoy! If it was me, I'd keep the Buick, as it's a perfect "family cruiser"!
Obviously your young.. Keep just a few of your toys and concentrate on your wife and kids.. You'll have plenty of time for hobbies.. Just my opinion.......
Get rid of the bikes...they'll kill you faster than any car will...especially if you've got a wife, one daughter and another on the way. There's way too many nutjobwackos out there that'd just as soon cut you off as look at you. Keep the Buick... Their life depends on you...and riding a bike isn't responsibility...!!! R-
yeah ive been weaning myself off the bikes since we had Olivia 3 years ago. i'll always have a bike for kicking around on but as much as I love riding - and i really do - I love being a Dad more so. Thats why i got the dart - i traded it for a bike i built. basically the bike thing is a hobby for building and selling and I progressed to the car stuff. i can have 2 cl***ics - the wifey is ok with that. And the Buick will def haul the kiddies. I'd love to sell the dart if i can. just posted it up on ebay and we'll see. thanks for the inspiration all. heres the more door after i got it from a fellow HAMBer.
I think there's your answer. Just be patient. Get it running, and you'll be halfway there. Then you'll know what to do. Sooner or later, the Dart will sell. Then you can start thinking about a truck. PS. I love the hardtop.
Since I am a fan of Buicks I vote for keep the Buick. They are a great riding and driving car and keep up with traffic well once they are up to speed.
4 door hardtops make great family cars mate. Mines not a fast car but it keeps up with traffic and rides real nice. I've got 3 kids who all love going for a drive in her. Get her up and running and enjoy it I say.
Bikes are fun as hell! First time I've really been without one in a long time, BUT-I think of my coupe as being about the same as a bike-it's loud, rattly, dangerous, you don't really want to be caught out in a rain storm with it, etc etc. Oh yea, keep the buick and make it look like O'Doyle's!
Well If you´re hoping to have your two kids involved like You say you are, I´d say p*** on the pickup truck. For all practical purposes and Your family in mind, keep the (running) Dart for at least as long as You may be working on getting the Buick running. By the pictures You posted I like the looks of Your Buick. Looks good in two-tone, and looks perfect for taking a family of four out to roadtrips, shows, etc. Good Luck.
What a good lookin car, sell it and regret it. That baby is so cool. My pal calls more doors "no-waitng" and it is correct. Get er goin and have a smile on your face all the time. My 2 cents. ~sololobo~
Sounds like you're the expert on motorcycles...so I neen some advice. I'v got a 1913 excelsior,1919indian,1948 panhead,1954 H-D 165,1975 FLH, Shovelhead bobber,1973 shovelhead project, 1939 wld, 1938 Motoschoot,1998 softail custom, That,s not all of them...but I'll stop there. What I need to know is...should I get rid of them before I get killed? I've already spent quite some time in the hospital after a girl T-boned on one of the other bikes. Just need some expert advice. Thanks Sonny _______________________________ LIFE'S A GAMBLE ......LET EM' ROLL
Sounds like you don't have much interest in either car. Maybe sell them both for something you want. That being said, the Buick looks awesome. Here we are getting mom some free time, the kids love cruising in it. Later all 6 of us, with 2 car seats cruised around and flew kites at a park.
I say keep the Buick! You can get the whole famile in there. Unless you plan on doing a bunch of hauling, I believe the truck would limit you. We love our 4 door hardtop '56 Olds. We jam tons of **** in it and drive it EVERYWHERE!!!
I was in a similar situation a few years ago, the kids are young, I wanted and old truck, and I got one. I love it! BUT Three kids and the wife in a 53 stude pickup is not very comfortable, or safe! The kids always want to ride along and I want the family involved. So now we have a 47 Ford Tudor the family will be able to enjoy this hobby with me. Keep the Buick, or sell it and finf another family car you are into.
actually i love the buick - my concern is the time to get it going. ideally the dart will sell for a fair price - its on ebay now - and i can reinvest in the buick. i was just having some moments of like how the heck did i end up with so many projects and how do i manage them all! as for the truck i have always wanted an old pickup. i dont have to get rid of BOTH cars to get the truck - but i certainly cant have 3 lol! in an ideal world id love to have the buick for the fam car days and the pickup as my shop rat truck. thanks everyone!
don't let the buick go (unless it's to me) cause it really fits your situation. And it's completely sick! Good luck with her.
Consider doing this to the olde gal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR1KYKP1wQM This sled is "Hot as the moustache of a cross-eyed fire eater and winds tighter than a G-string on an overweight stripper." The owner/driver states: " Basically it is a highly modified Buick Century 1954 with a Chevrolet 355 engine that provides aprox 480 real HP, a Mc phearson/Hammerlund suspention (back/front), 2 80 liters fuel cells, disk brakes (Wilwood 6 pistons), a Richmond closewide 5 gear box, top speed 165 miles/hr, and overall prepared by Uvi Vega. The car is fun and fast, but can not do anything vs the top Studebakers; it is too heavy and not very aerodynamic at top speeds (above 140 it matters!). The 53-55 Studebakers can do 180! So, as pretty much everybody else in La Carrera, we just run for the fun of it and hope for the best result. Regards!"
keep the buick its a cl***ic some nice paint and stuff it will be a cruiser even with car seats in the rear sell the Dart, mostly a no cl*** machine compared to a better built buick do what your brain tells you on the scooters they will always sell later too
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