Customs The Adventures of Bob the Big Ol’ Buick

Yea, I’m excited to spend the weekend learning and hanging out with other car guys. Me and the boys went to Joel’s shop while we were in Colorado back in May so that is part of what led me to go ahead and sign up for one of his classes. Should be a good time.

 

Jumped in the car to head to the chop class and just happened to notice the date on this oil change. Seems it only got 6500 miles put on it in almost 60 years. Pretty sure I have put half that many on since I started driving it a few months back. Bob sure needed his legs stretched. Good to know the bearings were packed just 9000 miles before I got it.

 

Made it another hundred or so miles this evening to the chop class and back home. It was a little nerve racking at times dealing with rush hour traffic on a Friday afternoon in a car with drum brakes and bias tires. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way either. Turns out that Silas and I were the only ones that actually drove old cars to the class. Anyway, lots of great guys in the class and I’m sure I will have some new friends by the time the weekend is over. Here are a few pics from the drive and of the shoebox Ford that we will chop tomorrow. Got it all ready for the chop this evening as far as pulling the seats, glass, etc. out. The class is pretty full, so I honestly didn’t do much this evening. Hard to stack 20 guys around a car and folks not get in each other’s way.

 

Didn't drive Bob anymore over the weekend, but I figured I could at least follow-up on the chop class. We got the majority of the chop at least back together enough that the remaining work is just all the tedious stuff like finish welding, chopping all the garnish molding, wing windows, etc., etc. The car was given away by raffle to one of the class participants. It couldn't have gone to a better person either. The guy that got it is 65 and was really eager to learn everything. I know if I or Silas had won it, we would just be stuck trying to decide what to do with it. Part of me would want to finish it out in some cool traditional style, while the practical side of me was looking at all the work that was left for the car to be a driver. Anyway, I decided to drive my Ford back and forth Saturday and Sunday since it is a better highway car and also has better heat. It was good to get it out as well since I have pretty much parked it since I started driving the Buick regularly. I think it was feeling neglected and I was amazed how long it took me to get used to driving it again. You all know how all these old cars have their own idiosyncrasies that make them different to drive from each other.

 

Man that looks familiar.

 

Haha! Looks like maybe Merv was in your class as well in addition to the same basic car. I know he said it was his 3rd class and he and his son Abraham were helping Joel with this one.

 

Couldn’t pass up a 70 degree day in the middle of January to drive the Buick to work.

 

I drive my Ford all year round as long as the roads have the salt washed off them. I took it to work one Saturday morning when it was 3 degrees.

 

Been driving the Buick quite a bit lately to work and all over so decided to grab some glamour shots this evening on my way to the nursing home.

 

Woohoo! Got in the trunk and fixed my screw up missing the slot so I can get in with a key again. Had to have my youngest son climb through since seems my 2023 diet hasn’t had very good results yet...

 

Well, for anyone that has been following along, Bob may be heading to a new caretaker soon. After recently buying a 40 Merc coupe that I can turn into that prewar custom that I have wanted to build for a while and the fact that my Fairlane needs some desperate attention as well as the 61 GMC I also recently ended up with, something has to go. Bob has been a lot of fun and is likely the most solid and unmolested old car I have ever owned. But, it is now listed in the HAMB classifieds so I can use the money and time toward other cars at this time. I will likely look back and regret letting it go at some point. But, I have also learned that I can't keep them all or they all end up neglected too much... More to come...

 

Makes me SAD. Good luck.

Ben

 

After all you did a great thing, you got Bob out on the roads again and you did get some nice memories, (and shared them with us) just hoping his next owner uses him as much as you did, old cars needs too be driven.

 

Amen to that! Pretty sure Bob only got 7000 miles from 1963 to 2022. I suspect I put around 3000 on it in just 2022.

 

The adventures continue. Went to a swap meet today, so drove Bob. Saw another Bob when I got back to town.

 

Also, the other Bob appears to be owned by a high school kid in town which is way cool in my book. My son Silas has seen the car parked in the high school parking lot before. The young man seemed surprised to see an older Buick in his mirror at the light. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him, but need to.

 

Received something pretty dang cool in the mail yesterday from @rusty1 He even lowered the car for me as it should be.

 

Nice!

 

I heard there was some football game going on so seemed like a good time for a drive while not many are out.

 

Sure looks shiny. Don't you just love driving old cars when the streets are mostly empty?

 

Yep! Nice night to drive around town for sure!

 

We were out for dinner, came back close to kick-off time and the streets were also empty.

 

Nice photos!!
Pretty amazing, so empty, for real, lookin at grown men chasing a ball, I rather be lookin at some paint drying

 

I was out of town in Indy last week so was happy to jump in the Buick yesterday and run to town. Amazing how relaxing it is to jump in an old car after flights, Uber rides, etc.

 

So, my wife and I took the Buick to the nursing home to go visit her step dad this evening. I have driven it out there probably 10 to 20 times before so didn’t really think anything about it. But, this evening, the director of the facility came asking me about it. Then, the lady bringing the dinners asked about it. Then, two nurses asked about it as well. Seems it is a big hit at the nursing home.

 

Found Bob’s brother in New Mexico.

 

I can't believe this car hasn't sold. Really bummed... I just had 8 grand cash and spent it on responsible shit.

 

Ummm . . . Are you sure that's Bob's brother? I mean, by comparison he looks kind of, errr . . . flamboyant.

 

I just ran across this after seeing your car for sale. This is such a cool thread of your experiences with this '50 Buick. If you were closer, I'd really consider taking this off your hands.

 

I have a brother that lives in Detroit. I’m sure I could get it up there.

Actually just had a local guy come see it. He wanted to update everything with LS, big wheels, etc. Bob deserves better. Thankfully he would rather throw $100k or so toward a 56 Chevy.