For those of you that have been on the board for some time you know me, or at least you know me through the board, and I am one of the most true blue Bonus Built guys here but I might be straying a bit, well maybe a lot. No, I not getting a Ch**y, but kinda close.

While on a road trip to help my neighbor and his friend get a '53 Hudson and a truck load of parts I found a '37 Buick four door sedan. It's a project car but it's in a lot better shape than some projects I've been know to drag home. It's in a lot better shape than my F-2 when I started.

It all started last Friday when I stopped by my neighbor Grant's house. He's a Ford guy, a Model A coupe, '56 T Bird, '34 sedan and a '51 F-1. I just happened to stop by and he asked if he could use my trailer to help him retrieve the Hudson. I ended up volunteering to use my truck and drive down to pick it up for the cost of gas and a non McDonald meal. I'm always up for a auto related road trip. Saturday morning we start out at 6 am for a four hour drive to our destination. Once there we go to one of 12 warehouses the seller owns, 4 of which he uses to store his cars and parts to load the Hudson on my trailer. In the yard with the Hudson is a half dozen "project" cars, one a '37 Buick. The Buick is decent and my neighbor starts checking it out, opening the doors and checking under the hood. He also takes a few pictures. He then starts bugging me to buy the Buick. He asks the guy "How much for the Buick?" "$500" was the answer. Grant bugs me all day about buying the Buick, I say, "Sure, as long as you give me the name a good and cheap divorce lawyer!" All the back home, 4 hours, he keeps needling me about the Buick. I truly put it out of my mind because I don't really have the money and I know how much my wife likes my old truck hobby. We get home about midnight and the next morning, Sunday, I down load some pictures of the all of the cars the guy had along with the Hudson we picked up. My wife walks into the room and starts checking out the pictures. I show her the Hudson and a bunch of other show cars the guy had and then I click on the Buick. Believe me I didn't do it with the intensions of trying to sell her on it. I wasn't even thinking of buying it but when she saw the picture she says, "Wow, that a great car!" "I like it!" "How much did he want for that?" I tell her and she "You have to back and get it". I told her to shut and quit BSing me but she kept it up and I kept telling her to stop. Finally she said, "No, you should get it". She said she'd even drive it once it's fixed up. So now I'm liquidating stuff to raise funds to go back and get it.

It'll have a little more room than the cab of my F-2, maybe not as much as the panel but it'll be a little classier. My neighbor told me if I get the car and don't want it he'll give me everything I have in it, the price of the can and the gas it takes to get it. He thinks I could easily get 3 times the money if I put a little work into it. I just would like to get it because it's a cool car.

 

Very nice. Lots of potential for a very classy ride right there. Tell the wife that your building it for her as long as you can get another Effie

 

Don't blame you a bit, I've had the bug for a project car (not truck) for a while. Thought about shoeboxes, something like that. Almost bought a cherry DeSoto that's been around here, just a gorogeous car needing almost nothing. I went a different direction but I can understand completely the way you've chosen! There's about two acres in that back seat!

PS -- a Hudson Hornet or Wasp was high on my list, too

 

BobJ thats a great looking ride! Stu (Truckdog ) mentioned to me that you were straying from the Bonus Built fold or thinking about it when I met up with him and his wife here on Monday over lunch. If your wife says "get it" you better be on it quick

Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out. sounds like a great deal for sure.

Later
Josh

btw what engine does it have?

 

Here I thought you might finally do up a 51-52 truck manure spreader and all

 

Yeah, I know what you mean, she already starting to rethink it so I better go get it while I still have a chance.

I didn't look at the engine, really didn't look at the car too close because I didn't think I'd have a chance of getting it. My neighbor did look it over real good that's why he told me he'd buy it from me if I didn't want it. He also had a good digital camera with him and took a lot of very high quality pictures. The ones I posted above are a few of them, I resized them to fit the post but I can zoom in on the originals to see all the details. The neighbor said the engine was complete and I was told it was a straight eight. Hopefully, it's not junk. If it is there are also a small block out there. Better yet, I do have an extra flattie.

Nathan, I wouldn't stray that far!

 

Bob, I have a soft spot for any old car or truck. That Buick looks like a great project. The left front fender looks like the only major body damage on it. I am currently trying to find a Model A. I don't care if it is a coupe, roadster, sedan or pickup. I am leaning toward buying it in pieces as complete or restored ones are a little out of my budget. We have a very active Model A club here in San Antonio,(Alamo A) and we meet every Saturday morning for breakfast at Jim's. Some really great great cars and folks in the club. Keep us posted on your Buick. Your wife wanting it is half the battle.

Gil

 

Hey that is pretty nice Bob, good luck with it.

Of course I'm not sure we should be hearing any more comments about "dental Issues," etc....this being the case........

 

straying ??????????? naw . it's old it's cool and it'll be fun . variety is the spice of life ............. till you buy a c@#v^ that is LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A worthy cause - I'm always looking for a 40 Pontiac.
Or a Hudson - Packard straight 8 - just the engine.

 

I don't know? I found a 46 47 Che*^ COE 1/2 mile from my house yesterday! I kinda like it but he wants way to much for it, probably a good thing anyway since I really want that 40 ford COE, if I can pin the guy down and make an offer?

Bob gotta love those straight 8's If nothing else this one can be a warm up practice for your wife saying to go get an old car

Josh

 

No, Bob can't do that because I'd lose my parts supplier

 

Bob,

It's ok. I bleed Ford blue, too, but about 3.5 years ago, I dragged home a Mopar.

1937 is a good year. My Chrysler Airflow was made in 1937. I think that the cars from the 30s are very stylish and some of the better designed vehicles (style-wise). I love my Airflow.

Although I paid about 10 times as much as the guy is asking for the Buick, I could easily triple my purchase price if I sell it. Like your wife, my wife wasn't pleased when I brought the Airflow home. It was non-running and I took a chance. It sat untouched for 10 years. It also has a straight 8. However, after I got the car going, my wife fell in love with it. She tells me that I can't sell the car and if it breaks down, then we'll have to fix it. She wants the Airflow to stay in our family for as long as possible. The Airflow is our "go-to" car. We take the car out on weekends and to every show possible. Everyone likes the Airflow more than my 52 Panel truck. My Panel feels jealous because the Airflow gets more attention and gets to park in the garage.

Lastly, don't forget, the more you spend on an old car, the less money will come out of your pocket, and vice-versa. Since I've bought the car, I've put in another $4k to keep her running. Of course, I don't dare to touch the car and leave the work to a professional who's familiar with these cars (he has a restored 37 Airflow as well).

Here's a picture of the Airflow when I brought her home.


Here she is at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals from last weekend (parked next to my friend's 49 Stude pickup).




I also had this 37 DeSoto S2. It was all original and also parked for a few years. It was a complete car and only needed a new electric fuel pump and brakes redone to be roadworthy. Had no where to park it at the time and was forced to sell it. I got twice what I paid for it. Now I have the room for it and kicking myself in the butt for not keeping it.





For $500, some gas and your time, you can't go wrong. You'll always be able to recoup the money should you need to sell it.

 

Bob,
You really scared me! I saw the title to the post and my heart skipped a beat. I thought for sure that you were going to admit to either looking at or (gasp) buying a buck-toothed morphodite truck.

I'm sorry I ever doubted you.

You can't go wrong on the Buick (especially since the ol' lady is happy about it). Good luck with it, I'm envious.

Bobby

 

I've already gotten an idea of what I want to do if I get it: