Projects Falling in love again. New barn find Buick

So I just brought home a new love. I realize that many say that they have barn finds. This big girl actually came out of the barn. I am still in the planning/dreaming stage and I don't have any money so this stage will last awhile. I am trying to decide between finding a donor clip (cameroish) or doing like a TCI suspension. I think that bagging it would rock but the money thing scares me a bit. I've never been down this particualar road and want to do it the right way but want to drive it sometime in the next 10 years. Any input from fellow HAMB'ers would be appreciated.

 

great car, looks like the chrome isnt to shabby on it and the grill is in good shape too. Make a plan and build it to be awsome

 

Your in the right place for ideas , I have read a few articals about the bigger cars with the mustang II frontend and they say that they wear out fast because of weight I might would look at a camaroish front clip !!!

 

Yep. The Stang stuff was designed to handle a 3000 pound car, max. Putting it under that Buick would be like putting 6" stiletto heels on a 350 pound woman - the results ain't gonna be pretty or safe. The Camaro/Nova clip would be a good way to go.

 

Does it have an engine? Just get it running, do a wheel and tire change and drive it while you save your money for the major stuff.

Nice find, has lots of potential.

 

I agree, get it running, get it safe and roadworthy, and enjoy it! And in the mean time pick up parts for it little by little, like swap meets, and here and maybe a cheap rattle can paint job.
Congrats on the find, it's a beautiful car!!!!

P.S. I just noticed in the pics no motor or trans, bummer, that thing would be a sweet home for a Nailhead though, I have a Dynaflow if you need one

 

Great car! I have a 52 Buick, they are awesome cruisers. I wouldn't be too worried about changing the front clip on it. The front suspension on these are pretty decent and you can still get parts relatively easily....Enjoy! Does it still have the straight 8?

 

x2!!!!

 

lots of work! I have the same car. however it has 28k miles on it and also was stored in a barn for many years. (mine is a 4-door super) Does it have the straight 8?

 

Nice find

 

nice find

love buicks

 

There's no motor or trans in it. I don't know what combo I will go for. I recon I will save my money and find something good. The stainless is all there and I have the missing/broken mustache for the grille. My plan is to change out the floor, find a motor/trans/rear for it and pick up stuff from here and the swap meet. I'm pretty jacked and think it will make a great ride someday. I found a bunch of suspension stuff on Kanter's site that I would probably go for. The sad part is, I can't keep it at the house so it will be built from a storage yard and tow it home on the weekends...

 

Actaully, if you rebuilt that front end, I think you'd be pretty impressed with the way it drives...Put your money into good brakes!!!

 

Put a nailhead in it!

 

nice find i got a 50 buick

 

Nice find! A real nice, sold car! I'm not real familiar with Buicks. It that grille stainless or is the chrome just that good? I would find a Nailhead, put it in, a little lowering and drive it just the way it is! It would be cheap and get more atention for sure! I can get a cheap ($700) 47' Buick here in Cleveland that has a straight 8 in it. It would be cool in yours, but probably a little far for Boise. Best of luck to you!

 

The lines on the early 50's Buick are sweet custom material. Nice Find!

 

I agree with this. Get it running, it's a great morale boost.

 

Wow! Just look at that real patina!! Nice find.

 

I'll store it for you.

But really, I'd just get it running and safe.

 

That's a blank canvas right there, awesome find. Kustoms let your imagination run free

 

Love that grille. I vote for a Nailhead under the hood.

 

That is a COOL ride, i can remember as a young boy my aunt having one,they had a sound all to their own.

 

I agree with what grapp said see what your going to need to get the thing road worthy and you will be surprised with how well these cars handle. I'm running my original gear in my 59 buick and bagged and wouldn't upgrade for nuthin.

 

No Camaro clip. Buickmike has a 53 buick 4 door that we put a Camaro clip in. The clip is real wide and you have to run about a 5" wide wheel. He just scraped the whole frame after running it for a year. It was bent from being wrecked along time ago and dog tracked going down the highway.
The new frame is from an 80s Monte carlo and stretched 13"s with a 350/turbo 400 setup.

Nice find and post up progress pics.

 

i love those buicks and the grills are so cool!!i have a 52 pontiac that i channelled over an full size olds delta 88.it was alot of work but i now have a reliable ride that goes anywhere and i can get parts just about any place also. and that is what i wanted.just remember make a plan and do whatever you want!

 

Nice that you found a 2-door, and even nicer that you found a hardtop...Riviera. Good luck with your big beautiful Buick.

 

i've got a fiddy three special. rockin a straight 8 and dynaslow tranny. check out bobsautomobilia.com and oldbuickparts.com. good luck on everything with that sweet buiee!

 

I agree with what a couple of other people have said..that stock front end isn't terrible, and someone does make a disc brake kit for it to, if you want to go that route. Dual quad nailhead in your future? Gotta love those toothy Buicks.

 

Nice lookin' find! Looks pretty solid, and that grille is just bitchin'.

I would say get it running, get it safe, and rock it like it is. I wouldn't mess with the frame, just upgrade the brakes and fix what's broken. These things are pretty stout, and it's never going to be a sports car so just enjoy it for what it is.