Vehicle Description
1917 Buick D-35 Touring Car
Thirty seven Buicks were produced in 1904 and none of them survive
today. In the infancy of the automotive industry, makers could not
have imagined how to develop within 100 years and while cars were a
luxury, they were also utilitarian and used until, quite literally,
the wheels fell off. Thank goodness for barns, which in the early
part of the century housed and protected many cars now considered
antiques.
For consignment, a 1917 Buick D-35 Touring car in mostly original
condition according to our consignor. Some upgrades have been added
but there's also opportunity to continue the work on this car, a
rare remnant from the earliest days of auto manufacturing.
Exterior
Pale Yellow covers the bathtub shaped body of the car that has
plenty of patina, multiple body repairs, and varying shades of
yellow. Wide black fenders are connected with a running board and
the left front fender is peeling primer gray with some rust
underneath. A completely vertical windscreen is dual paned and can
pivot while mirrors have been added. 30-inch painted wood spoke
wheels present in varying conditions, mostly good, and wear
5.5-inch tires. Buick was a dominant automaker during this period
so marketing through emblems wasn't critical. As such, a small
Buick nameplate appears on the black radiator. The canvas top and
accompanying side curtains are fairly new, according to the
consignor, and actually do present nicely, including the plastic
rear window. Brake lights and turn signals have also been added and
a spare tire is mounted on the back. Blotches, dings, bodywork, and
just age all contribute to the patina while possessing good
bones.
Interior
The seats are newer according to our consignor and consist of
Chesterfield style black vinyl bench seats, front and rear. Door
covers are simple vinyl panels with actuators as the only bit of
hardware. A robust wood steering wheel features throttle and choke
levers in the center and the simple dash is a yellow extension of
the body work, containing some switches with embossed plastic
labeling, a fantastic antique barrel style Stewart gauge, and a
more modern Stewart Warner amp gauge. The shifter is floor mounted
and a rubberized mat covers that floor all the way up to the
pedals. Inside the canvas cover, conditions are good with only some
dirt marring the appearance.
Drivetrain
A 170ci inline 4 cylinder is behind the engine cover and was rated
at 35 horsepower and fueled by a 1-barrel carburetor and set into
motion with a 3-speed manual transmission transferring power to the
rear wheels and 4.08 gears. The clutch was rebuilt recently, and
the vacuum fuel system was converted to electric. Mechanical drum
brakes were the only option in 1917 and are found here but only on
the rear axle.
Undercarriage
The term itself is a remnant of early American automobilia as
carriages were the mode of transportation up until just a few years
earlier! Anyway, driver quality underneath with plenty of patina,
some surface rust, and oil at the pan, transmission, and rear diff.
Our consignor tells us grease cups are due for repacking and there
are 31 of them. The single exhaust is clean and quickly enters a
stock style muffler and exits abruptly under the center of the car.
It took manufacturers a few years to realize that out the back was
a better option. Meanwhile, components around the wheels are
relatively clean and the wood under the running boards has held up
very well.
Drive-Ability
With some advice from the consignor and issues with the starter, we
were able to get it running and took this centenarian plus out on
the test loop. It rolls on its own power and the shifts are short
and we are coasting along, imagining what a kingly feeling it
must've been in 1917. The limited functions all work, including the
added lights. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
Good bones indeed on this 107 year old car that would make the
ideal restoration project with most of the interior good to go. You
won't find parts at RockAuto or O'Reilly auto parts, but you will
be able to network with the thousands of people involved in antique
cars and also have a great excuse to hit the swap meets! Or tune it
up and drive as is because most things that 107 years old don't
look this good!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
