65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
General Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: elagache on March 07, 2019, 03:53:36 PM
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Dear 65GS.com historians . . . .
Hemmings has an interesting snippet of mostly unknown automotive history on their blog this morning. Citroën started out building a car very similar in design and manufacturing to Ford's Model-T. That caught the attention of Billy Durant who was interested in gaining an automotive foothold in Europe. Here is the blog entry:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/07/not-long-after-it-was-founded-100-years-ago-citroen-nearly-became-a-gm-subsidiary/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/07/not-long-after-it-was-founded-100-years-ago-citroen-nearly-became-a-gm-subsidiary/)
Durant sent some GM executives including two other automotive titans: Alfred Sloan and Walter Chrysler to look into the acquisition. Curiously, the consensus was that Citroën plant was "antiquated," and that factored into abandoning the effort. Yet this simply wasn't true. Citroën had taken over essentially a brand new plant originally built by the French government to make munitions during the first world war. It appears that private tensions ultimate sunk the proposal and that instead of GM getting a new division, the world instead would get Chrysler corporation.
The article goes on to describe the up and down history of Citroën. While demonstrating technical leadership in the industry, it struggled to be profitable and eventually was forced by the French government to merge with Peugeot in 1974.
Some interesting reading about a curious chapter in American and European auto manufacturing that had far-reaching effects in both parts of the world.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear 65GS.com "historians,"
Today the Hemming's Blog ran a story on an organization I joined a few years ago but haven't done anything with yet: the "Tin Can Tourists." The group turns 100 year this having been originally founded all the way back in 1919. Here is the story about it on the Hemming's website:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/15/a-century-later-tin-can-tourists-continue-to-promote-life-on-the-road/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/15/a-century-later-tin-can-tourists-continue-to-promote-life-on-the-road/)
It is something of an amazing story that early drivers were so determined to explore the United States that they started the recreational vehicle movement essentially out of necessity. As the article points out, motels wouldn't come into existence for many years. Once you left your home, you were essentially on your own for many miles!
The group fell into decline after World War II as the number of vacationing options exploded. The club was resurrected in 1998 and is at the forefront of the vintage travel trailer and RV movement. I joined it because it is a "nondenominational" club and I'm still trying to decide what sort of a vintage trailer I'm interested in. You can learn more about the Tin Can Tourists on their website:
https://tincantourists.com/ (https://tincantourists.com/)
It is interesting reading and a reminder that even the great American road trip has roots that are literally over 100 years old.
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
This morning the Hemmings's blog had an interesting story about various experiments to improve the thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines. To quote the article: "Garden-variety internal combustion engines unlock maybe 20 to 30 percent of the energy available in their fuels." The main engine featured in the story was a design by Cummins for the US Army that was managing 48% thermal efficiency!! Here is the link:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/05/14/cumminss-adiabatic-engine-experiments-produced-some-of-the-worlds-most-efficient-internal-combustion-engines/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/05/14/cumminss-adiabatic-engine-experiments-produced-some-of-the-worlds-most-efficient-internal-combustion-engines/)
It is an interesting read especially if you know a bit about thermodynamics.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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That was a good article and took me back a few years to Florida. I was down at the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum and saw the original Smokey Yunick Fiero that was said to get 52 mpg. It was common knowledge that this type of efficiency was not out of the question and they proved it with that Fiero. Interestingly enough, no one wanted to use it as an automaker because at the time the oil companies and the manufacturers were not interested in "saving" oil dollars. We may see a lot more of this type of engineering here and it is definitely available. They were already selling Ford Fusions overseas that got nearly double the mpg of the U.S versions. If they ever perfect the hydrogen version it is extremely efficient(if you don't blow up). I have seen some successful conversions,but it is still on the drawing board.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Kurt Ernst of Hemmings found a cute magazine advertising for the 1967 Buick GS. His write-up can be found here:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/08/08/when-buick-pitched-sporting-cars-with-safety/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/08/08/when-buick-pitched-sporting-cars-with-safety/)
It is an interesting example of how the automakers tried to distinguish themselves from their competitors.
Enjoy!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Daniel Strohl has posted on the Hemming's Blog a photo of the GM Fremont plant taken from the air sometime during the 1960s:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/08/14/fremont-california-1960s/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/08/14/fremont-california-1960s/)
Here is a teaser of the photo to attract your interest:
(https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2019/07/FremontCA1960s-970x617.jpg)
It appears to me that there is a mid-60s Buick in the first (bottom) row of parking spaces about 2/3 of the way to the right.
Anybody else spot one of our favorite vehicles?
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard , I don't see what you see :icon_scratch: but that VW Bug in the second row sure looks out of place with all of those big American cars !!!! Tony
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Two cars to the left of that 59 El Chamingo... ws
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Dear Tony, Bill, and mid-60s caregivers,
Hi Edouard , I don't see what you see :icon_scratch:
Attached to this pointing is the same picture with a pointer to the car I thought might be a Buick A-body.
What you do you guys think? :icon_scratch:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I see a couple of corvette in there too! Also a cablaro wagon!
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Dear 65GS.com car folks,
Daniel Strohl of Hemmings posted a link to a YouTube video from Renault.
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/09/08/a-sympathetic-car-like-a-pet-how-the-renault-5-charmed-the-french/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/09/08/a-sympathetic-car-like-a-pet-how-the-renault-5-charmed-the-french/)
Here is the direct link to the 48 minute long documentary:
https://youtu.be/cmrtQDFCgXY (https://youtu.be/cmrtQDFCgXY)
We saw it last night and were very impressed. I didn't know much of anything about this car and the documentary is very well presented. Why Renault would pay to make English language documentary is curious, but it is very enjoyable. If you have some way to view YouTube videos on your TV that's even more pleasant.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Mike Austin has an interesting article on the Hemmings blog about a rubber protectant that Honda has been using for many years - Shin-Etsu Silicone Grease:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/09/26/hondas-secret-weapon-squeaks-door-leaks-shin-etsu/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/09/26/hondas-secret-weapon-squeaks-door-leaks-shin-etsu/)
The article does a good job of documenting this products somewhat unusual properties. Whether this is a good thing or not is definitely becoming mucky, but if you want a tube look no further than Amazon. You can buy genuine Honda Shin-Etsu Silicone Grease and having it two days if you are an Amazon Prime member:
https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda-08798-9013-Silicone-Grease/dp/B00GD49GTS/ (https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda-08798-9013-Silicone-Grease/dp/B00GD49GTS/)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. A quick Google search has revealed another AAA - Amazon Addicts Anonymous!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Amazon-Addicts-Anonymous-329685213822186/ (https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Amazon-Addicts-Anonymous-329685213822186/)
Hmm, yes the problem could be this real! . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/D'oh.gif)
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with an itch for road trips,
Hemmings got wind of a project started by Paul Lacitinola who is the publisher of Vintage Camper Trailer magazine. Since I subscribe to this magazine, I was aware of this project as it has unfolded. In 2017, Paul was contacted by someone who claimed to have an Airstream trailer with "gold" stripes. It turned out to be the second of only two such trailers. You'll find the full story in the blog posting:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/10/07/restoring-a-one-off-airstream-gold-flake-bathtub-and-all/?refer=news&utm_source=edaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-10-07 (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/10/07/restoring-a-one-off-airstream-gold-flake-bathtub-and-all/?refer=news&utm_source=edaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-10-07)
It is clear that the classic car world is showing increasing interest in vintage travel trailers. That's perhaps good for older trailers, but will unavoidably increase popularity and therefore drive up prices. Not so good given my interests!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Interesting!
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
This morning, the Hemmings blog is "reprinting" an article by Matthew Litwin from the August 2017 issue of Hemmings Classic Car. It is the story of the Buick V-6 engine derived from the famous all aluminum 215 V-8. This engine has a more amazing history than you might expect and played an important role in the mid-60s Buick A-bodies that we find so near and dear:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/six-cylinder-revolution/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/six-cylinder-revolution/)
In addition, this engine whose entire production line was sold to the Kaiser Jeep company 1968 would return to Buick in 1973, purchased back from now American Motors. It would eventually become the famous Buick 231 V-6 that would propel Buick to a renaissance in performance cars with the Grand National.
It is an interesting read!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Eduardo, Yes I remember the article very well, I even cut it out and have it in my Buick literature collection. I have the V6 225 motor in my 65 Special. It's a good little motor that is odd fire, so it shakes at idle. But when you give a little gas and raise the RPMs it's just fine. Back in 1981 when I inherited the Special from my Grandfather i could not believe how slow the pick up was with the 1 barrel carb. I complained to my father that "this car sucks, can't we get more pick-up out of this car" My Father said "I will fix that". Several weeks later he had me pull the Special in the driveway in front of the garage and he replaced the 1bbl manifold with a 2bbl manifold from a 66 Skylark. Well that afternoon I thought I was driving different Buick, It ran so much better and I could actually get on the highway without a problem.. And this past summer I was getting 21 MPG to and from the Macungie PA car show. I've been running Lucas gas treatment in the Special (and GS) for the last 10 years and have seen the gas mileage go up and better carb performance. I don't sell the stuff. It just seems to work for me. Back when I was junk yard hopping I found many 66 V6 intakes, and they all found good homes sitting on 65 motors. It's a great power upgrade if you can find a 66 manifold OR you can put a 4bbl intake on, I remember the company Weiand had a 4bbl intake for the V6 225. I brought up the idea to my Father and he told me #*^~*%#/ In Italian, That meant NO !
Tony
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hi Eduardo, Yes I remember the article very well, I even cut it out and have it in my Buick literature collection. I have the V6 225 motor in my 65 Special. It's a good little motor that is odd fire, so it shakes at idle. But when you give a little gas and raise the RPMs it's just fine. Back in 1981 when I inherited the Special from my Grandfather i could not believe how slow the pick up was with the 1 barrel carb. I complained to my father that "this car sucks, can't we get more pick-up out of this car" My Father said "I will fix that". Several weeks later he had me pull the Special in the driveway in front of the garage and he replaced the 1bbl manifold with a 2bbl manifold from a 66 Skylark. Well that afternoon I thought I was driving different Buick, It ran so much better and I could actually get on the highway without a problem.. And this past summer I was getting 21 MPG to and from the Macungie PA car show.
. . . .
Thanks for sharing! I didn't realize that your Special had the V-6 or that this engine really needed the 2-barrel carburetor to be pleasant. I'm glad you kept the car so original. Not many 1965 Buicks with the V-6 still on the road.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Eduardo and V6 fans, That little V6 gave me 30+ years without any trouble. But the spring of 2018 it just was not running the way it should. It was missing under a load so I put a meter on it and the RPMs were bouncing, so I thought it could be a bad plug wire or wires, after checking It was not ! After checking all the other systems I narrowed it down to a leaky intake manifold. And sure enough after spraying some carb cleaner around the edges of the intake the problem showed itself. So off came the intake. The surfaces were cleaned and new gaskets were installed, and since I had everything was off I went ahead and changed wires, plugs, belts, hoses, rebuilt the carb & alternator, regulator, and put a new petronix chip under the cap.. Other than the "odd fire shake" at idle that little V6 runs great. The engine parts are readily available since it's basically the 300 V8 with two cylinder chopped off. And I have plenty of room under the hood to work on it since there is no AC in the way.
In the late 90s I upgraded the suspension. I installed a rear sway bar with new boxed lower control arms and new springs that were slightly heavier than stock to handle all the stuff I carry to shows and national meets. The V6 Specials do not have a front sway bar from the factory, so I added an original 65 GS front sway bar up front to handle any roll issues, plus a set of stock height springs and new shocks in all four corners to complete the suspension upgrade. This past June I installed a quick ratio steering box and new power steering hoses to eliminate the "forever" steering. It handles more like a GS than a 6 passenger family 4dr sedan, but it's really fun to drive on long trips ....
Tony
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Tony,
Please post some pictures of your 65 Special!
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Dear Tony, Brian, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
That little V6 gave me 30+ years without any trouble.
. . . .
Thanks for sharing the history of your Special and its V-6. I certainly wish my Dad and I had some more expert advice when we became concerned about a coolant leak in Biquette's engine back in 1979. She basically never fully recovered from that botched first rebuild.
Please post some pictures of your 65 Special!
When you can spare the time, how about a few photos of the V-6? I don't think I've ever seen a V-6 in a 1965 engine bay.
Thanks in advance!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Eduardo, Brian & odd fire V6 fans. Yes, the Special is in a rented garage in my area since I only have a 1 1/2 car garage at my house and the GS restoration project and tools have been taking up that space for the last 10 years. But I will take some photos on November 10th when one of the local clubs has a car show, it's the last one of the season. Then most of the vintage vehicles are stored for the winter months unless we have a warm spell as we did last year when I was driving the Buicks well into December, or until the city starts dumping salt on the streets. Then you don't see any vintage cars until after the Spring rains wash away the salt. :icon_salut:
Tony
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
The Hemmings blog has a piece from Barry Kluczyk featured the November 2019 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines. It is a thoughtful review of all the costs associated with painting and body work involved in restoring a classic car:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/time-is-money/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/time-is-money/)
It really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone on this forum, but it is well presented and thought out. It is definitely worth the read.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hey Tony, being a lopped off 300 V8, does your V6 maintain the V8 distributor with 2 grounded plug wires? The V6 that was in my '64 had a V6 distributor; nothing converted. Was that '64 an odd fire? Also the '64 2 door post here has a front sway bar. Strange? Im sure gramma never popped for a penny's worth of extras on this guy. Just curious. Bill
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Hi Bill, My 65 V6 has a V6 distributor and thanks to you I now have a spare that I will be cleaning up and rebuilding as a winter project. Yes the 64 was a odd fire too, It's amazing how Buick was able to sell the odd fire (shake) motor to the public when Buick had such smooth running motors from the 300 to the 425. They must have pushed the gas mileage ratings. My Father said that a lot of those V6 Specials & Skylarks were returned to the dealerships because the owners were tired of the shake and wanted an upgrade to a 300 Special or Skylark or even a LeSabre, that's how we got the green 4dr Special.
Yes that sway bar is strange, as far as I know they were not equipped with a bar from the factory. Unless the dealer sold it as a add on. Dealers made a lot of money selling add on's once the Buick was ordered. At the Buick dealership that my Father worked for there were two Woman in the office that were on the phone selling add on's to new customers and repeat customers. They worked on commission and they made more than the mechanics in the shop !!!
Also, I was not on the internet yesterday due to a bad cold. I just want to say "Thank You to all the Veterans" Freedom is not free...
Tony
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Excellent Tony! Stay on top of that cold! Im just "starting" to get over a case of chronic bronchitis thats next stop was pneumonia. I was really down for a few weeks! Giant horse pill antibiotics etc.
My '64 was delivered new to Roseland Buick in South Chicago. Thats where grandma bought it. Wondering if the dealer did the upgrade on all (most?) new deliveries for the sake of being able to upcharge the extra 12.00 LOL.. With mine, the whole front suspension was 100% at 38K miles, but the bolts through the links were wasted. New grade 8's at 4.00 each took care of that haha...
Got today off (no doctors etc!) so Im getting out to the frozen tundra to extricate the gas tank and start pulling up the trunk floor. Take a look at the extra '64 stuff Ive listed for sale. HUGE discounts for previous buyers!
Stay warm guys... Bill in sub arctic Two Rivers, Wi.
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Live from the shop! Siphoned 7-8 gallons of gas outa the BADLASS and ready to drop the tank. Great work when you can get it! Temp is 15F and a 30Kn wind. Great... pics later. Cant do them out here... Bill
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Hey Bill, I took another look at the parts you have for sale, but did not see what I need. Do you have a signal light lever ? The one on my GS project is really pitted and I don't have a spare. If not I will ask the other guys and see what they can come up with.
The cold weather came into the city yesterday, when I got up this morning at 6 It was 24 degrees and the city salted the streets. So now my Buick's are in for the winter. Plenty of winter projects to keep me busy until March/April .
Tony
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For some reason my dad was into Citroens. He had a couple DS models in the 60's, later he had an engineer friend at Ferodo in France that purchased a '56 Traction Avant 15 (the 6 cyl)
for my dad. He had the brakes and clutch reworked in France with the best Ferodo had and brought it to the USA on a ship. Dad kept that car til about 1990 but it looked exactly like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9lLp7vtr3w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9lLp7vtr3w)
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Dear Ted and mid-60s Buick owners with a soft spot for Citroëns,
For some reason my dad was into Citroens. He had a couple DS models in the 60's, later he had an engineer friend at Ferodo in France that purchased a '56 Traction Avant 15 (the 6 cyl)
. . . .
Thanks for sharing! My Dad also had a soft spot for Citroën but never could afford one before immigrating from France to the United States. As a young man, he owned a Peugeot. Then in 1968 he was "convinced" to switch to Buicks! :laughing7:
I don't remember if I've posted a reference to this old History Channel documentary on 65GS.com or not. You can view it on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N1NqwT1ZJ8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N1NqwT1ZJ8)
It is an interesting 47 minute overview of the company.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hemmings is sharing with us an article from their classic car magazine on the compact car offerings of Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile in 1961:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/three-identical-strangers/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/three-identical-strangers/)
It includes some period advertising posters and describes how each division put a different spin on what was essentially the same car. It is an interesting bit of history that leads up to the Buicks we are most enamoured with. :love4:
Enjoy!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with an interest in current automotive trends,
Hemmings has a story today on schemes of George S. Lawson in 1966. He proposed a very ambitious bit of revisionist urban planning related to automobiles. Here is the article:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/06/fords-1966-plan-for-city-congestion-little-cars-that-fit-in-huge-buses/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/06/fords-1966-plan-for-city-congestion-little-cars-that-fit-in-huge-buses/)
There were two keystones to this purported innovation in modern living: ultra-dense urban centers and tiny cars that were shared instead of owned. Lawson's drawings look a prototype for today's "smart" cars. His idea of shared cars definitely has become a revisited fashion in today's ride sharing.
If these ideas didn't gain traction in the 1960s should we believe their time has come? The smart cars of today suffer from the same flaw as Lawson's original concept: So where do you put groceries for more than one day? How about a new floor lamp or Christmas tree? How will people in this ultra-dense urban center get away from the city to go camping, or do some astronomy under dark skies, or scuba dive?
My trusty wagon was the SUV of the 1960s and urban planners haven't learned a thing from the customer zeal for the SUVs of today. People desperately do need to get away from the pressures of modern life and they need vehicles can that can take them, their family, and the needed provisions and equipment into their nature they crave. I'm sure urban planners take such car vacations as much as the rest of us. Alas, they don't apparently take this heart when they go to work and propose their visions of a utopia for us humans.
Cheers, Edouard
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Howdy Ed and all the other nature buffs... Ol' Mies VanDer Rhoe said "Form follows function...: Right?? So the millenials go from their cubicle to Achmeds pantry while walking six blocks home with a 20.00 6 pack and some suedo meat for dinner. For a treat him and his wife leave their comfy 500 foot "apartment" at 2500.00 a month and hop on the elevator for a trip to the McDoogles on the 95th floor.
From the heavenly view the both exclaim simultaneously "Look at all those people down there..." . I hope my ticket gets punched before I hafta live like that! Bill
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
It may be the "holidaze," but the folks at Hemmings are posting what to me at least are some interesting articles. Yesterday they had piece on camping gear that was specifically designed to attach to various vehicles:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/10/well-before-hashtag-vanlife-carmakers-encouraged-you-to-sleep-in-their-cars/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/10/well-before-hashtag-vanlife-carmakers-encouraged-you-to-sleep-in-their-cars/)
It is curious to me at least that this sort of scheme didn't become more popular. Camping with generic equipment is more expensive than most folks realize. So spending a bit more to incorporate your car into your camping environment should be more appealing than it apparently is.
This morning Don Homuth shares some of the photos he has taken of cars from the comfort of a passenger train:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/11/for-some-of-the-best-car-spotting-take-the-train/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/11/for-some-of-the-best-car-spotting-take-the-train/)
I found this piece bringing back memories for me.
The last piece definitely was pulling at my heartstrings. The title says it all: "The Drive Home is looking for wagons to join the cross-country road trip.:"
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/10/the-drive-home-is-looking-for-wagons-to-join-the-cross-country-road-trip/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/10/the-drive-home-is-looking-for-wagons-to-join-the-cross-country-road-trip/)
Here is the link to the official announcement:
https://www.americasautomotivetrust.org/drivehome/ (https://www.americasautomotivetrust.org/drivehome/)
Alas, Biquette isn't ready for such a long trip yet. Still I suppose I can daydream about joining such a trip with Biquette pulling a vintage Airstream travel trailer.
Remember, daydreams are always free. So enjoy!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard, You do really need to get that Airstream trailer and hook it up to your wagon. Take some photos and enjoy the great outdoors. And remember you said "Daydreams are free'" so if you can't really do it, photo shop it ! and lets see it.
I remember I was in 3rd grade math sitting in the row next to the window looking out the window Day Dreaming when Sister Mary (A Nun) wacked me in the head with a yard stick and said "Anthony stop Day Dreaming" :nono:
But Daydreams are good, and sometimes do come true... Just watch out for Sister Mary !!! :laughing7:
Tony :angel4:
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Dear Tony and mid-60s Buick caregivers who perchance daydream
Edouard, You do really need to get that Airstream trailer and hook it up to your wagon. Take some photos and enjoy the great outdoors.
Well, . . . . I do have some leads . . . Of course only a 1965 Airstream trailer would do. And it would have to be restored to the same beauty as Biquette. It would also need to be modernized like Biquette. That leaves just two problems: where to I build the garage to store an vintage Airstream and . . . . .how do I pay for it all!! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/dollar.gif)
And remember you said "Daydreams are free'" so if you can't really do it, photo shop it ! and lets see it.
Remember, stay tuned to this station!! . . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/tune_in_TV_emoticon.gif)
I remember I was in 3rd grade math sitting in the row next to the window looking out the window Day Dreaming when Sister Mary (A Nun) wacked me in the head with a yard stick and said "Anthony stop Day Dreaming" :nono:
But Daydreams are good, and sometimes do come true... Just watch out for Sister Mary !!! :laughing7:
Your story reminded me of the Chuck Jones 1954 cartoon "From A to Z z z z". Of course you can't find the cartoon in pristine condition on the web because of copyright issues, but here is a translated version:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7337vz (https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7337vz)
Hopefully that's enough to bring back the memories!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Hi Edouard, I saw the cartoon and yes that was definitely me in elementary school. My mind was always some where else :tard:
Tony :angel4:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who are always in search of . . . . . . . MORE!!!!!
If the LS swap is getting way too conventional and boring for you, Hemmings found just the cure for that dull routine:
(https://img.hmn.com/stories/2020/01/07133540/79003223_2658128837748608_3702254018081325056_n.jpg)
Your eyes do not deceive you, that's a V-16!!! Here is the link to the Hemming's article:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2020/01/07/this-ls-based-v-16-is-real-and-its-spectacular/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2020/01/07/this-ls-based-v-16-is-real-and-its-spectacular/)
The article includes a link to a YouTube video with this engine on the dynamometer. As the article explains, this engine is designed for marine use and it comes in versions from a naturally-aspirated 900 horsepower to a twin-supercharged 2,000 hp. However, they can build an engine for the road as a special request. Here is the companies website:
https://www.xvipower.com/ (https://www.xvipower.com/)
Of course this is all a bit too Chevy for us diehard Buick types. Perhaps we should nudge Mike Tomaszewski to make a V-16 version of the Buick big-block. Of course if TA-Performance did this, we would be have a terrible, simply terrible time trying to fit that V-16 into our engine bays!! :laughing7:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. Hey Bill! So do ya' want a bit more oomph for your boat? I'll betcha a pair of these will do the trick!! :laughing7:
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Dear 65GS.com faithful,
Way back on December 29th, Mike Austin of Hemmings wrote up this piece about an CBS show from 1966:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/29/good-sense-has-never-had-anything-to-do-with-love-americas-affair-with-cars/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/12/29/good-sense-has-never-had-anything-to-do-with-love-americas-affair-with-cars/)
I squirreled away the video and didn't have a chance to watch it until this week. Here is the direct YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8sZ8tAkoNk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8sZ8tAkoNk)
It turns out to be a really lively romp over the car scene back in 1966. It is narrated by then CBS reporter Harry Reasoner with writing by none other than a young Andy Rooney. It is a very enjoyable 50+ minutes! The only downside is the length. It was intended to be watched on TV and this is definitely another nudge to find a way to move Internet videos to your family TV set.
Enjoy!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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P.S. Hey Bill! So do ya' want a bit more oomph for your boat? I'll betcha a pair of these will do the trick!! :laughing7:
It could happen but a V 12 would be about the limit. Front drive belts would be right up against the bulkhead! Bill
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners with diverse interests,
The Hemmings daily email had a surprise for me this morning. The title was: "A fond farewell to Clive Cussler, 1931-2020." Here is the link to the story:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2020/02/26/a-fond-farewell-to-clive-cussler-1931-2020/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2020/02/26/a-fond-farewell-to-clive-cussler-1931-2020/)
Having spent quite a few years scuba diving, I was aware of Clive Cussler's novels and interest in finding shipwrecks, but I knew nothing about his interest in classic cars.
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . . I guess great minds think alike! . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/Laughing_LOL.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners, particularly those with A-bodies,
Hemmings has come out with one of those lists of good ideas that are so popular in the media, blogs, and whatnot. In this case they provide 20 tips for GM A-bodies of the 60s and 70s. Here is the link to the article:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/inside-information/ (https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/inside-information/)
There are some interesting ideas here, but probably not much for this community to pick up on. Still there was one suggestion that is a boon to the Buick community in general. Toward the end of the tips is a suggestion for Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac owners to consider purchasing a TA-Performance differential cover/girdle (part number: 1808). TA-Performance has been standing by the Buick community for decades, so it is nice that the national automotive press is giving them some wider exposure.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
The May issue of Hemming's Motor News has a "Classic Car Profile" of the 1966 Buick Skylark Sport Coupe. You'll find it on page 20. There is certainly nothing anyone on this forum would learn from the article, but it is always nice to see our favorite Buicks getting some national press.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Edouard, And fans of the 66 Skylark. Its a nice article plus the Skylark belongs "Brian" From our own Registry (This Website) I have seen this Skylark at a BCA National Meet and it is stunning automobile.. :icon_thumright:
Tony
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Anyone have a scan or copy they could send me? Was not aware they dug up the pics of my car and did another article with them! They did an article on my car in Hemmings Classic Car mag in 2011. They came up to me at the 2010 charlotte autofair wanting to do an article on my 65GS, and did the 66 too since I had it at the show as well.
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Hi Brian, I will cut out the article and send it to you so you have an original. Just send me a PM with your address..
Tony :thumbsup:
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Dear Tony, Brian and mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Was not aware they dug up the pics of my car and did another article with them! They did an article on my car in Hemmings Classic Car mag in 2011. They came up to me at the 2010 charlotte autofair wanting to do an article on my 65GS, and did the 66 too since I had it at the show as well.
I did not know it was your car. Congratulations! :hello2:
It is a bit disappointing that they didn't at least let you know that they were planning to use these pictures. It isn't that hard to send a quick email.
Cheers, Edouard
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Brian
I can send you the whole magazine if you want it.
Harle
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When they took the pics and did the article in 2012, I had to sign a release form, and it gave them the right to use the pics in future articles and in the other Hemmings publications.
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Dear mid-60s Buick owners who occasionally stroll down memory lane,
Hemming's is trying to lift our spirits during these difficult circumstances that we face. Thomas A. DeMauro has gotten some help from the Automotive History Preservation Society to locate some really nice and cute automotive ads that will bring a smile to your face. Here is the article link:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/04/08/11-vintage-ads-to-inspire-low-stress-stay-at-home-automotive-activities (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/04/08/11-vintage-ads-to-inspire-low-stress-stay-at-home-automotive-activities)
If you scroll down to the second ad you'll get to enjoy this:
(https://img.hmn.com/900x0/stories/2020/04/06164409/02-1964-Buick-Special.jpg)
It is certainly fun and effective advertising. Although I must confess that my trusty wagon is my least favorite car to wash. That long roof means there is a lot more surface area to clean. Fortunately, I choose my outings carefully so she mostly stays clean.
All the ads in this article have something to enjoy. So take a moment and give yourself a smile that we all could use these days.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Never saw that ad before...thanks.
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
The May issue of Hemming's Motor News has a "Classic Car Profile" of the 1966 Buick Skylark Sport Coupe. You'll find it on page 20.
Hemmings has now posted the article online so everybody can read it. Here is the link:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/1966-buick-skylark-sport-coupe-v-8 (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/1966-buick-skylark-sport-coupe-v-8)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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That?s Brian?s car!
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Hi Edouard & Jim. I met Brian and his wife at the BCA Allentown meet years ago. They are really nice people with a very well restored 66. :thumbsup:
Tony
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One fact check for the article: the 300 engine was not available with an iron four barrel intake in 1966. The article said all V8 engines were available with that option in 1966, but only the 340 was available with a four barrel in the 1966 Skylark.
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The way it is worded is confusing, but reading it a couple times it is correct:
Fuel system: Two-barrel carburetor (V-6 and V-8); four-barrel (optional V-8); cast-iron intake manifold for all
What it is saying is the four barrel is on the optional V8 engine, which in this case is the 340, or Wildcat 375. At first read I can see how it looks like it means the four-barrel is and option on all V8 engines.
The bigger, more glaring error in the article is where it says my grandfather ordered it with a vinyl top. I don't understand why everyone always assumes the car has a vinyl top when they see the two-tone colors. This has happened more than once in writeup about the car. It has a white painted roof and came that way from the factory. Firewall tag has 'NC" on it for the paint code. N for burgundy mist, and C for Artic white painted roof.
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Following the logic here: It reads as if the 4bbl is optional on the v8. It was not an option on the 300 and the 300 is a v8. There are no clear qualifiers.
:icon_scratch:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
This morning Jim O'Clair has a complete and tidy overview of the past and current choices we have for car (and other vehicle) batteries:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/05/19/what-type-of-battery-should-i-choose-how-do-lead-acid-gel-agm-and-other-batteries-compare (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/05/19/what-type-of-battery-should-i-choose-how-do-lead-acid-gel-agm-and-other-batteries-compare)
Most of us have come across the information in one place or another, but this pulls everything together and describes the history of battery development which isn't so well known.
It is a pleasant read.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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The 4 BBL was available in 65 on the 300
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1965/80060/buick_skylark_sport_coupe_300-4_v-8.html (https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1965/80060/buick_skylark_sport_coupe_300-4_v-8.html)
Also on the 64
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1964/80780/buick_skylark_sport_coupe_300-4_v-8.html (https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1964/80780/buick_skylark_sport_coupe_300-4_v-8.html)
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I noticed with my cars that the new Group 34 batteries are not as tall as they were back in the day so a spacer is required to use the factory hold downs properly.
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I noticed with my cars that the new Group 34 batteries are not as tall as they were back in the day so a spacer is required to use the factory hold downs properly.
A group 24 battery is one inch taller than the 34. 24's are what originally came in our cars.
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Jim,
I believe I use Group 24 and they are exactly the right height, fit well. Not 24F (for Fords).
Chuck
Edit: Walt beat me to it, but I'm happy to have the same answer! :hello2:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hemmings has a short piece on the early versions of what would become the Buick A-Bodies: the Special and Skylark of the early 1960s:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/07/28/buicks-1962-skylark-combined-upscale-trim-with-an-affordable-price-tag (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/07/28/buicks-1962-skylark-combined-upscale-trim-with-an-affordable-price-tag)
There is a little background on these cars and a link to a 1962 Skylark that is advertised for sale in (of course) Hemmings.
It is a quick read and the photos show how the styling in our cars evolved from the models of early 1960s.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with an eye on high-tech,
Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine had an article on how they installed a Holley Sniper EFI system in their Camaro budget project car:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/quit-fueling-around (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/quit-fueling-around)
It is an interesting article for both those considering an EFI conversion and those simply curious on how aftermarket technology is evolving. The article explains the reasons why such an upgrade is desirable and does a good job of documenting the installation process. What is less obvious is how much more stealthy these systems have come in 5 years. Compare the installation of the Holley to the FAST Sportsman in my trusty wagon done in 2015:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2719.msg18066.html#msg18066 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,2719.msg18066.html#msg18066)
There is much less clutter and much less to detract from the originality of the engine bay. So even if you consider an EFI system to be sacrilegious, there is good news here in that your insistence on keeping the original appearance of these classic cars is definitely steering the designs of the aftermarket developers.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
A smidge off-topic, but Hemmings has a short piece on the latest winner of the Antique Automobile Club of America's Zenith Award. It turns out to be the restoration of a 1958 Buick Century Caballero station wagon:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/08/26/a-buick-century-caballero-is-the-first-post-war-car-to-win-the-aacas-zenith-award (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/08/26/a-buick-century-caballero-is-the-first-post-war-car-to-win-the-aacas-zenith-award)
Of course, I have a soft spot for Buick wagons, but this the first post-war car to win the Zenith Award.
It is one of those quick reads that nonetheless feels good by the end.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Hemmings has shared with us an article by Mike McNessor from January 2021 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/1965-buick-riviera-gs-2 (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/1965-buick-riviera-gs-2)
Story is about someone that would be at home on this forum: Andy Starr. For many years he has been searching for 1965 Gran Sport. Instead on Craigslist he found what was described as: "1965 Riviera GS, two four barrels." As it turns out, it was an extremely unique car indeed! I won't spoil the plot, but that should be enough of a tease to perk anyone's interest on this forum.
Enjoy!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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I read that, beautiful car!
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I read that when my issue arrived. One of a kind.
My close friend has a 65 GS Riviera with 17,000 miles. Original paint, every option available.
His Father purchased it new, never seen rain or snow. Won several trophies at shows. Beautiful car.
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Andy Starr and his 65 Riv were at the 2017 BCA Nats in Brookfield, WI. It's truly a beautiful car! As I recall, he even sat in on our 65 GS division meeting. Seemed like he was considering a 65 Skylark GS restoration, but haven't heard anything to confirm.
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Thomas A. DeMauro has a piece on the Hemmings blog about his 1967 Gran Sport. He tells the story of having to document replacing a dash-pad for an article in the middle of a Pennsylvania winter:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2021/01/28/driveway-wrenching-during-the-winter-isnt-recommended-but-in-this-case-it-was-necessary (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2021/01/28/driveway-wrenching-during-the-winter-isnt-recommended-but-in-this-case-it-was-necessary)
The story isn't all that interesting although it describes the sort of predicament we can all sympathize with. What I found interesting was the details of the interior of this car. In particular, Thomas had opted for a generic Grant steering wheel instead of the OEM Buick one. To me at least it was some consolation for not having made the prolonged struggle to restore Biquette's steering wheel!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
This morning Hemmings shared on the internet an article from October 2018 issue of Muscle Machines magazine. It was part of a sequence on installing a Chevy crate engine into a Chevelle, but this segment focused on the twists and turns of repainting the engine bay:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/surgery-without-scars-2-4 (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/surgery-without-scars-2-4)
The real plot is how what started out as a "quick and dirty" engine bay clean up turned into a very careful repainting project that the restorers were ultimately much happier with. There is a subplot concerning whether or not you can be satisfied with "rattle can" paints or whether the step up to a professional paint gun will be worth the additional effort.
Even for a seasoned restorer, I think it is a pleasant read. Newcomers might pick up some unexpected lessons about doing it right the first time. The extra effort isn't as much as you would expect especially if you simply decide from the get-go to repaint the engine bay in a way that will make you as happy as you want to be in the end.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Once in a while, a car cover is the best solution to protecting your classic. The question of which to buy has come up before on this forum:
http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4818.msg36399.html#msg36399 (http://65gs.com/board/index.php/topic,4818.msg36399.html#msg36399)
Mark J. McCourt has posted on the Hemming's blog a general overview of the choices we have when it come so covering your car:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2021/03/16/considering-a-car-cover-here-are-some-points-to-ponder (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2021/03/16/considering-a-car-cover-here-are-some-points-to-ponder)
Even if you once thought you had a good handle on car cover options, it is worth investing the time to see how these products have evolved. For example there are new "water-phobic" car covers like this one from Budge that uses waterproofing technology developed by Rustoleum of all things.
https://www.budgecovers.com/rust-oleum-neverwet-car-cover (https://www.budgecovers.com/rust-oleum-neverwet-car-cover)
Of course, there is no substitute for a well maintained garage, but when one isn't available, a car cover is definitely an improvement over nothing.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with an eye to car culture,
It sure has been a while since Hemmings has posted anything that seemed relevant to this community. However, this morning they have a story on how Detroit Speed made a serious restro-mod of a 1965 Buick Riviera:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/detroit-speed-1965-buick-riviera/ (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/detroit-speed-1965-buick-riviera/)
It is most definitely not my cup of tea, but as the piece suggests, the Detroit Speed team made a very serious attempt to keep the original feel of the Riviera while adding all the modern upgrades. It certainly can be admired as an example of detail-oriented craftsmanship.
Cheers, Edouard
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Very Cool!
Enviable attention to detail. I bet it's fun to drive! I'm not a big fan of restomods, but this one seems to hit the right notes, at least for me.
Thanks for sharing, Edouard!
:cheers2:
Chuck
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
This is a smidge off-topic, but an interesting Buick story nonetheless. Here is a link to a Hemming's article about Buick's "in drive" refueling effort:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/buicks-innovative-1960-torture-test-at-daytona/ (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/buicks-innovative-1960-torture-test-at-daytona/)
The core of the story is described in this paragraph from the story: It was a unique exercise in durability conducted by Buick, which advertised the test as “10,000 Miles in 5,000 Seconds.” It involved a moderately prepped 1960 Buick Invicta hardtop, one of 8,960 produced that year, which circled the superspeedway under the clock with a brace of early NASCAR stars doing stints as the wheel. The objective was to keep the Invicta rolling at an average speed of 120 MPH, an effort that would eventually set multiple international records. But it took a second Invicta hardtop to make everything happen, and to prove that the never-tried trick of fueling one car from another, at maximum speed, would actually work.
Here is a photo of the refueling scheme from the article:
(https://assets.rebelmouse.io/media-library/1960-buick-being-refueled-at-speed-by-another-buick-during-testing-at-daytona-1960.jpg?id=34660104&width=1200&height=800&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C65%2C0%2C66)
Buick even made a video describing the effort which you can view on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Dczamtg3UMk (https://youtu.be/Dczamtg3UMk)
Unfortunately, I don't have time to view the video at the moment.
Enjoy!
Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers with a general interest in things automotive,
This is about as far off-topic as you can get and still be automotive related, but this is too cute not to share. Hemmings has an article on a new camper van by Citroën:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/citroen-type-holidays/ (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/citroen-type-holidays/)
What should interest the folks on this board is its decidedly retro styling. As the article relates: "At first glance, the vintage-inspired camper resembles the 1940s classic Citroën H Van, a design that was once prevalent in Europe. That’s because it was designed by Italian coachbuilder Caselani, known for creating other “neo-retro” body styles." Here is a photo from the article:
(https://assets.rebelmouse.io/media-library/citroen-introduces-vintage-inspired-camper-van-concept.webp?id=49341091&width=1200&height=800&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0) (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/citroen-type-holidays/)
At the very least, it should bring a quick smile to your face!
Cheers, Edouard
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Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,
Admittedly a little off-topic, but Hemming's has a report on the custom 1960 Invicta that won the SEMA battle of the builders in the hot rod category:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2023-sema-battle-of-the-builders-winner/ (https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2023-sema-battle-of-the-builders-winner/)
At least it has a correct nailhead instead of a crate engine although "enhanced" . . . .
FYI . . . . . . .
Edouard
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I remember one year Hot Rod challenged the SEMA cars to drive the Hot Rod Power Tour. Most were apparently afraid but about six of them actually did the Power Tour Long Haul and proved they could do more than just look good! Props to them!
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Beautiful car!
I'm thinking that I may have seen this car a few years back in a custom build shop in Omaha.
Loren