Customs The Adventures of Bob the Big Ol’ Buick

Yea, I keep trying not to think of what I would really like to do with the car. Converting it to a two door and maybe even a fastback would sure be cool... But, I'm thinking I better stick with the practical plan of lowering it and getting it reliable. I was just looking under it again last night and can't get over how solid this car is.

 

I also remember Gary's Buick having the exhaust exit where the back up lights are on the bumper. That was a cool and easy custom trick. They were huge to match the size of the hole.

 

Sure would've been easier and a lot cheaper to start with a 2dr fastback

 

Exactly, which is why it won’t actually happen. This car is too nice to cut up. Or, I am just too lazy to do it (whichever way I would like to think about it).

 

Did a mock up for packing the the Roc this morning and I got to say building a 40’s sedan was not a bad idea.

 

Good call. I have been also considering how cool it might be to have a small camper to pull behind this car. That would sort of complete the period look of the family car deal.

 

Yeah I actually built the car with that in mind until I realized none of my family would be a “happy camper” sleeping in most of them.

did consider a roof rack for it but I’ve got plenty of room in there even with a full size spare, jack and tools

 

I eyeballed the VW roof rack I have in stock on my 39 sedan. I think it would look cool but it would need to be widened a few inches.

 

Find a set of the ranger brand cast aluminum roof rack feet. They take a pipe in the center so they will fit whatever you want. Saw one used on a 47 Tudor recently, I’ll find a photo

 

Here ya go

 

Hmm...now you have me thinking @Tim

 

@Tim those are pretty cool, I considered those. A nice set on ebay will run $300 ish, and that's the clamps only. That's a good option for sure, but I got this VW roof rack already just sitting here, that's why I considered it.

 

I liked them largely because it would let me use my existing roof rack basket off my late model. But yeah I’ve looked at the vw stuff as well

 

Saw a Grandma car a few years ago, I was working on a windmill farm, and one of the landowners who was in his mid-70's was selling off a bunch of stuff. In one of the barns was his grammas' last car, right where he and his dad parked it in 1966, very good shape, still had air in the tires- but it is SOOOO ugly- a '41 Olds 4-door. Couldn't get drunk enough to make that fat chick look good enough to take home

 

Yea, I have to admit that a 41 Olds 4-door would have to be pretty cheap for me to want it... I have always liked the looks of the early 50's Buicks though, so it wasn't near the stretch to make me interested in a good deal on this 4-door.

 

Well...I have had this car for about a month and have to admit all that has happened is that I polished up some of the chrome and then pushed it outside so I could use the lift to work on my kids vette. Once we get some things done on it, we need to swap motors in the Edsel. Oh, and this week has been “lay flooring upstairs in the house” week. Maybe I will get to work on something of mine someday.

 

That’s the dream right? Lol

 

Just found this and went through all 6 pages.
Very nice car and story.
Buddy of mine brought home a car with a cat installed and called it 'Lucky".
He told a "Lucky" story one night around the campfire(along with some brews) that had us all laughing our asses off.
Good luck with your project(when you get to it, wink wink).
Tim

 

Just found this and went through all 6 pages. Great writing, I enjoyed your extended version. Most don't want to keyboard that much info.
That you found this car and got a smokin' deal on it is I think some good juju. Not sure there is much more anyone could do for a human than adopt them. I have the utmost admiration for adoptive parents. I think of you guys when I want to strangle my own kids. And believe me I came close a couple of times.
Coincidentally Silas was my grandfather's name and my father's middle name. Great name.
My 75YO cousin was recently telling stories of growing up in the back seat of a huge '50s four door. His parents bought it from our aunt who married into wealth and got new cars every couple of years. Big luxury cars like that beauty you now have.
Just think of your grandkids telling stories some 70 years from now about their back seat shenanigans (innocent childhood ones, not what these hooligans are all thinking) at a young age.

 

Thanks for the comments. I have actually run across very few Silas's thus far, so that is pretty cool that you have relatives with that name as well. And, believe me, I have wanted to strangle some of my kids too so can relate... Nothing special about me and my wife adopting kids...just how God created our family. I actually have 4 adopted kids from 3 different countries and my youngest 3 will all be 18 this year. That seems pretty poor planning on our part and I will be thankful if my wife and I survive until those three get through the teen years... To that point, the grandson mentioned in this thread is my youngest daughter's who was only 16 when she had him. So, obviously not an ideal situation, but a blessing none the less.

Back to the car, I do plan on making lots of memories with this grandson in this car and others that he can talk about when he gets older. Since he lives with me, I have lots of opportunities to try to ruin him early... I know my own kids have lots of memories growing up in these old cars on road trips and seems it must have had some impact since my two boys are continuing on with the old car hobby.

Pic is my grandson who will turn 8 months old tomorrow "driving" his 17 year old uncles OT 4-speed roadster. He is doomed to like this stuff.

 

My adopted daughter also had a baby boy when she was 16, he is now going on 33 and has given us 6 wonderful great grandkids that are the greatest blessing, so I can relate to your story!

 

Hello,

When we were growing up, there was nothing but a Buick Sedan sitting near our house or in the garage. Our dad had a “thing” about his Buick Sedans. Starting off with a 41 fastback sedan, then following the line of Buick sedans to his last Buick two door sedan in 1982. He was steadfast about not wanting anything else. (except for one time, he told our mom that he was considering a low slung, Jaguar two person sports car as his daily driver. Much to the distain from her end of the conversation )
1941 Buick Fastback Sedan on the street side parking
Our dad had this funny idea burned into his brain. Every 4 years, he would have saved up enough to get a new Buick sedan, if all things fell into place. So, we saw a string of Buicks from 46 to 82 fill up one side of the garage. He bought his first two tone Buick 4 door sedan in late 52 when the newest models came out in the typical “fall” showroom displays. It looked similar to your model and we thought it was a huge car. Perhaps, not as huge as the black 49 Buick Roadmaster sedan he kept for 4 years. It was a two tone blue color.

This one saw road trip miles from 150 miles south of the border in Baja, Mexico to the San Francisco coastline, then inland to the Yosemite valley and the desert roads heading back to So Cal. It was reliable as we did not have any problems with the big Buick sedan.

Yours is not a boring old “Grandpa car”…if it is a Grandpa car, here is a Grandma car just to keep the Buick sedans going…

This Buick sedan was parked on the side of a coastal road. We instantly had questions about how it got there and how low it was sitting. The area of the parked Buick is in an industrial area with several road “dips” and with the low slung look the whole sedan, it was a miracle that the Buick cleared the road irregularities.

It was a classic 50’s to early 60’s style and had some cool accessories to go along with the “Ice Purple” paint. We had seen it driving around town on level streets, but this area of the coastal city has some powerful deep ruts and intersection bumps. (perhaps it has some hidden agenda sitting in the trunk for its ups and downs…)

Get your tape measurement units out, in full force.

Jnaki

Keep up the good work on your stylish hot rod/custom sedans. Anything can be made reliable and have the stylish looks to go along with the modifications. An old saying I learned from my OKC connection in the family… “Aw-Pshaw” on those that look at hot rods/customs in a different way. They are very cool and bring back a lot of old memories.

A compare and contrasting appearance after several months from the first sighting. A tri-color accented paint makes for a “cooler” custom cruising down the PCH highway on “Any Given Sunday…!” or in this case, a Saturday morning...

 

Cool story! Thanks so much for sharing!

I have been out in the shop quite a bit in the last few days trying to help my son get the engine swapped in his Edsel and keep walking by “Bob” (the Big Ol’ Buick). I can’t wait to spend a little time on it and get it running and driving to start some memories.

 

I think my grandson is ready for a ride. I better get to work. Actually considering taking this thing on my Hot Rod Hundred in less than 3 weeks if I can get a few miles on it prior to then. I did finally fix my battery charger today so I can try to start it up. Just one of those things I was able to do without until I needed to charge a 6 volt battery now...

 

Been trying to get it running this morning. It has fired off several times on starting fluid, but headed to get more gas now since I barely had any to pour in it. More to come, but should be driving it around the neighborhood today.

 

Not going to drive it today I guess. Finally remembered that this thing has an electric fuel pump on it and the fact that the pump isn’t running is why I can’t get gas up to the carburetor. I guess I’ll take it off and get it cleaned out to see if it is just gummed up. Didn’t feel like laying in the yard to do that job when there is a lift a few feet in front of it especially since I have a broken leg. Also, time to cook dinner since my wife, daughter and grandson all have Covid.

 

Dang, man. Prayers sent.

Devin

 

Awe geez

 

Hope yall all get well soon bud..

 

Thanks guys. They seem to be on the mend from the virus. It wasn’t too terrible (although I guess I wasn’t the one with it). Me and the boys are just trying to not get it too. Not sure how well I would do with a broken leg and Covid...