Vehicle Description
Incredible original car in storage since the early '60s. 59,815
original miles. Recently serviced with fresh brakes, hoses, belts,
fluids, etc. Outstanding original wood, beautiful leather interior,
good paint & trim. The definition of survivor. From the looks of
the car today, this wagon didn't have to suffer through harsh
winters or wet summers, and as a result the wooden bodywork is in
exceptional condition. There's not a soft spot, crack, or
discolored piece anywhere on it and the wonderful honey-colored
framework around the mahogany panels has a look that only age can
create. The doors close with a solid THUNK and it still takes some
effort to get them to seal properly-the wood isn't shrunken and
dry. You'll note that the car is wearing 100% original code 8
Sharon Green paint and there's nary a ding, rust spot, or ripple
anywhere on the body, more proof that it has lived a good life.
Yes, there are some thin spots, some micro-blisters, and some signs
of age, but as someone who loves original cars, it's my
professional opinion that repainting this car (or restoring it)
would be a mistake. We cleaned the paint and gave it a light coat
of wax, and you could probably take it up a notch with a deeper cut
and buff, but we decided to let the next owner decide which path he
wants to take. The stainless trim is likewise in excellent
condition, while the chrome ranges from very good to mediocre, with
pitting on the 'mustache' above the grille and hood ornament, and
bumpers that are a little scuffed. The handsome green leather
interior is wonderfully well preserved, with smooth leather seating
surfaces that show no wrinkles, cracking, or dryness that comes
with age-storage must have been nearly ideal. The original floor
coverings, headliner, and matching green door panels are likewise
excellent and can be put into service without any additional
effort. There is one split seam on the passenger's side of the
front seat, but it is only the thread that has given up so it can
surely be stitched and repaired rather than replaced-we may contact
our upholsterer and have him look into it. From the driver's seat,
the controls are excellent-bright chrome on the dash, fully
operational gauges, and a beautifully preserved black plastic
steering wheel without any cracks or fading. Even the low-nap
carpets in the cargo bay are excellent and we believe that's the
original spare tire still tucked into the well under the floor.
Although it has been in storage for many years, this Buick runs
superbly. It has been fairly comprehensively serviced, including
fluids, cooling system flush, and new belts and hoses throughout
(including nearly 30 feet of new heater hose!). There's also a new
battery and the brakes were recently rebuilt with a fresh master
cylinder, new wheel cylinders, flex hoses, and shoes. The engine
bay has been cleaned but nothing has been restored or repainted,
and you can still see original finishes and decals throughout, from
the traditional Buick Turquoise engine enamel to the bright orange
lid on the AC oil filter. It starts quickly and easily, idling like
a sewing machine with plenty of oil pressure and no hiccups or
stumbles. Thanks to hydraulic lifters, which were standard in
Buicks by 1951, the idle is silky smooth and the big 320 cubic inch
straight-8 remains one of the most reliable and potent engines of
the period. Buick's Dynaflow automatic transmission wasn't known
for performance, but it is a great partner for the silky
straight-8. No shifts, just a smooth wave of big torque that pulls
the big wagon up to speed and holds it there all day without any
apparent effort. With 3.90 gears out back, this should be an easy
65 MPH cruiser. Yes, there's some surface rust on the bottom of the
car, but our advice would be to just leave it alone and drive.
Don't get hung up on it, because that kind of casual usability is
why untouched cars are so great. Original steel wheels with
standard hubcaps are the right look and it's wearing 8.00-15
Firestone wide whites that date to the early '60s. They look good,
but we'd recommend replacing them before the next road trip. If
perfection is your goal, this isn't your car ut owning and driving
a car like this is incredibly liberating because you don't have to
worry about it out in the real world. And once you feel the silky
smoothness of a car that has never been apart, well, you might have
to reconsider your obsession with perfection. Call today! Harwood
Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional
inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.