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Rare Buick - READ ONLY
65 messages, Last post on Apr 15, 2002 at 11:37 AM
You are in the Classic Cars - Archived Discussions Forum.- Your Host is mr_shiftright
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What is this discussion about? Buick, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan
#56 of 65 by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Apr 23, 2001 (8:02 pm)
You know, those early 60s GM full-size convertibles aren't really all that expensive...I've seen very nice ones in the $10,000-12,500 range, and 70s converts at around half that. Don't pay attention to those high asking prices you see, that is not the real market.
#57 of 65 by speedshift
Apr 23, 2001 (10:37 pm)
Yeah, '60s Buicks tend to appeal to a group of people that don't have much money to spend, like me. The engineering is fairly routine except for the aluminum front brake drums and Dynaflow, and the main appeal is the "period" styling, something people don't usually dig deep into their pockets to have.The exceptions might be the handful of 4 speeds and dual-quad 425s, but at least in the '80s they were bargains compared to comparable Chevies. Same with Olds, even the luxury/performance Starfires. The pool of people who really want these cars is just too small to put much pressure on prices.
'60 Buicks are nicely baroque but for my money the '59 is an even more appealing example of wretched excess.
#58 of 65 As a kid... by isellhondas
Apr 24, 2001 (8:50 am)
I remember a neighbor's new '59 Electra 225 sedan. It even had power rear vent windows! Was I ever impressed!#59 of 65 Rare Buick? by netranger4
Apr 25, 2001 (9:52 pm)
Several years ago, I was in Salem, Ohio and stopped at a junk sale being held in a barn. One of the pieces for sale was a '37 Buick Fastback 4-dr Century with double sidemounts. The car was filthy and had a line of chicken poop right down the center of the car from the hood to the rear. It had been parked under a beam for umpteen years and was for sale for $750.00. These things do pop up once in awhle...don't know what happened to it but maybe one of the Buick collectors heard/bought it.#60 of 65 by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Apr 26, 2001 (9:18 am)
Might be rare but not very valuable. Restoring 4-doors is a labor of love, you'd be buried in it financially with little chance of a profitable resale or of much admiration from Buick collectors. You restore a four-door and you get a polite "nice car" and they walk away, but a convertible always gets the juices going at car shows and club events, etc. This makes sense if you think about it, as the 4-door models were often the "utility" vehicles of the line. Even 4-door limos are a hard sell in old cars, as are flower cars and hearses.Of course, if the car were just dirty, it would be worth saving and driving around. But I doubt any serious "collector" would want it, except...except for that type of collector (a rare bird) who wants every model of a certain year....I have seen that happen now and then....so maybe that was the type of buyer.
#61 of 65 Buick Police Interceptor Production (late 50's) by gmengineman1
Apr 14, 2002 (12:49 am)
As isellhondas indicated the CHP used the Buick Century exclusively in 1955 & 56. San Diego, Long Beach and Los Angeles police depts also purchased some of these great pursuit vehicles for their "Freeway Flyer" special assignments. Seldom did anyone pull away from those cars. In the early 60's another attempt was made to enter that specialty market with the fast '62, '63 and '64 cars. They were great performers but the Dodge folks had the edge in the price war and the low bid usually prevailed. The RCMP had a few "Grand Nationals" for some high speed work and loved them. Again, price won out and another vehicle was chosen to replace them. Too bad. The Buick Division was the first GM outfit to design a production high speed performance car with their 1941 Century. What a car! My grandfather had one until the '56 Century hit the market. Then he bought a new one. It too was in his garage for years. With GM dumping the Oldsmobile Division what will happen for Buick? I hope they come up with some more classic vehicles.#62 of 65 by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Apr 14, 2002 (6:44 am)
Buick has the oldest demographic of any car in the world right now. This is not good, obviously, because it means all your customers are dying.#63 of 65 Interesting Buick buyer by carnut4
Apr 14, 2002 (1:18 pm)
is my Dad. He's 74, has a new 2002 LeSabre with the gran touring suspension. He also had an 86 Somerset T-type [a fairly rare and interesting Buick-big tires, alloy wheels, etc]] with less than 90,000 miles, that was starting to need $ work, and he didn't want to dump bucks in it. So, what does he get to replace it? A, a Honda Accord V6 coupe. Now there's a contrast- a New LeSabre and a Honda Accord, side by side in the garage. I've driven his Buicks, and they're OK. The 3800 has lots of torque-but-I just don't think I'd ever have a Buick-a new one, that is.#64 of 65 by speedshift
Apr 14, 2002 (1:38 pm)
Lots of torque, a great ride (hard to find these days) and what I think is some pretty good styling--but no personality.#65 of 65 Yes- by burdawg
Apr 15, 2002 (11:37 am)
I tried to talk the wife into a new Century, but she won't have anything to do with it. She says "it looks a an old persons car". Well, sorry seniors, but that's her opinion.Advertisement
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