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A truck load of new parts were a considerable bonus of the deal; in all, an estimated £3,000 worth of goodies which were, I suspect, the deciding factor. Rubber body mouldings and brand new (old stock) front wings are among these - and then there's the newly plated chrome bumpers and many other items carefully under wraps awaiting the final assembly stages.
As an added incentive, the Buick's rebuilt 320 cu. in. Straight-Eight engine poses against the garage wall in fresh blue paint, waiting for the time it will be lowered gently into place. The power plant is in fact as it was collected; re-bored with new pistons, a re-ground crank, new timing chain and lots more.
In an assortment of boxes, somewhere in Paul's loft are stacked the clocks, gauges and a carefully cocooned original wiring loom. The plan, I'm told, is to test and repair the loom on a bench, attach all connectors, gauges etc., then with the help of a friend (or two) fit it as a complete unit to the body, as would have been the practice on the production line when new. (Good luck!)
Sadly, not all the required parts came gift wrapped along with the car, but so far, locating missing items has not proved the problem one would imagine, considering the age and rarity of the car. As an example, centre glass for the triple sectioned rear window was located through Peter Cooper (Tel: 01751 472197) at a cost of £300. Apparently, the first one ordered got only as far as New York in one piece, proving that sometimes it really does pay to go through a middleman. Similarly successful was the location of replacement rear quarter lights, after it was decided that the originals were not a viable proposition to repair.
Among the items Paul is still on the look out for are a power seat switch and any information on original interior specifications; in particular, photographs showing the stainless trim strips which stretch across the width of the roof lining, as these are missing. Obviously, the missing pieces can be re-manufactured, but it would be helpful to see exactly how they should look.
Paul readily admits an awful lot of work still remains to be done, and when asked to hazard a guess at a completion date, suggested "definitely not next year, but hopefully the year after". At present, the Buick claims about two evenings a week... and with another evening spent learning to play tenor saxophone (I'm told he's progressing very well and hopes to join a 40s-style R&B band) there's just not enough days in the week. Further to this, are his activities as a "Swing DJ" (you can book "Paul's Big Broadcast" on: 0114 2697812).
According to the previous owner, the '49 heralded from California, being imported to Britain in 1986 by a London restorer. Rumour suggests that the chap fell victim to "Black Monday" and lost everything. Subsequently, the dismantled Buick, complete with its virtual treasure-trove of new parts, was sent to Oxford as repayment of a debt to a friend. Paul has tried to confirm the full history, but without luck. Even the California Licensing Department could find no record of the Buick on file. So it would seem close to the last half-century looks set to remain shrouded in a veil of secrecy. Whatever the past of this stylish automobile, it sure aint talkin'... But one thing's for certain, when it landed at Paul's door it secured a future worthy of the very finest. |
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