The driver's seat is worth at least a few hundred $$, especially if it's the same for 48-52 Panel trucks. Stock seats are hard to find.

 

I think the panel seats are the same up to '56, don't quote me that but I'm sure I read or saw them. '57 and up look a little different.

 

That's what I thought as well.

 

Looks like a 1937 Series 80 (Roadmasher) or 90 (Limited).

Your Buick expert must be interested in buying those parts pretty badly considering the low buck estimate he gave you of what the parts are worth.

The side mount fenders are highly desirable (worth faaaar more than a grand each), even if beat up, rusty and more so...if the covers are present.

If the grille is straight, it's worth another grand EZ. Those delicate horizontal bars broke if you looked at them.

What happened to the Straight 8? Did you save any of the dash gauges or the outside door handle/mechanisms that are not afflicted with the usual GM dropsical condition?

 

The Buick is actually a Special. I don't have the wheel covers but the Buick guy told me that Specials rarely came with side mount spares and mine have all the mounting hardware. He offered me a set of nice, rust free fenders and cash for the fenders. He also said the mounting hardware alone is worth $500. As for the grill, it's in about 4 pieces. I plan to build one out of stainless when I get that far. Unfortunately, the engine and tranny turned out to be junk but I was able to find replacements fairly cheap.

I ended up buying another Buick, a Limited, basically a limousine, for $150, salvaging all the usable parts to trade to the Buick guy for 4 nice doors, trim pieces, recored radiator, headlight buckets and other parts I figure are worth at least $1000. When he saw my rust bucket body he sold me a solid frame and body for $100. With all the wheeling and dealing I haven't really stuck too much into this beast, yet.

 

The seat for the panel is worth a pretty penny.

 

Falstaff Beer? Oops...I mean, boy that'll be a lot of work.

 

If you say so, but this Buick appears to be on the long 131" wheelbase used by Series 80/90's.

Special's were on the 122" wheelbase.

These are great cars, highly collected, and dependable with their OHV Fireball straight 8.

I had a 1941 Century coupe with the dual carb option. Paid 40 bucks for it in 1964 and drove it home.

 

Paint it ? no do not wreck it !!! drive it ! some folks try to make their ride look like it is with the patina.

 

Now THAT'S a patina finish!

 

I totally agree! There are guys who HAD trucks like this and then put a $100 back yard mask and shoot job on it!

 

I say call the crusher...........those are damn ugly trucks and should be banned from the highways forever....................

Michigan Rick

 

Nice Rick. If didn't know you better I would have thought you were serious.

 

I bought a set of boards from www.smoothiefabrications.com for my panel. They are made from 16 gauge and are smooth /no ribs. I had to make and weld attachment brackets to the bottom to mount them to the frame brackets because I didn't want bolts showing through the top of the boards, I also will be welding an extra support under the area where you step when getting in the cab. www.midfifty.com also sells the same plus fiberglass ones for the 53-56 panels

 

i've seen the shorty boards, they are really different shape wise and length wise.

i know about the fiberglass ones but i am really looking for a set of henry steel .