look what I found...

[kustom_oz]

So get this: after more than two years together my old lady FINALLY decides to tell me about this little gem. She's been hiding it out on her abandoned farm and neglected to even hint about it. TWO YEARS! (can you tell I'm a little upset?) but now I want your input on what I should do to it (even though I've been laying out a plan all day) just to get some fresh ideas. this is going to be her car, so make sure she's a lady. thanks guys.

[kustom_oz]

Oh yeah, in case you're wondering its a 52 Buick super eight. the thing is pretty sweet already. I really dig the side opening hood. thanks again.
Oz

[maddddog]

Nice find. thats gonna happen to me someday. What to do to it? Take pictures as you go and I will tell you if you did it right. Thats about all the help I could be. I would just have to stare at it for a long time.

Man, I love that grill and bumper.

[Dave Severson]

Neat old Buford you have!!!! With the big straight eight for an engine, the engine bay has room for most any power combination you would want... I would say some mild custom mods, like frenching the headlights, tailights, rear license plate, etc. I saw one of these last summer done up with suicide doors, everything frenched, and a bit of the crown taken out of the roof. It was a candy apple blue with some pearl, had a 455/400 Buick for power and looked like a million bucks!!! Looks to be in great shape and should be a real fun build.....

[Itoldyouso]

You think you're ticked now...............wait until 10 years from now when she tells you about the five '32 Ford coupes hidden in the barn !!!


Cool Buick, and it's even a two door. Dave is right, clean it up a little trimwise and either do a freshening up on the straight 8 or put some big ole Buick V8 in there. I've seen these with a sbc, and the motor looks lost in there. Kind of looks like a weed-wacker engine in that cavernous engine room.

Slam it, put some wide whites on it, and drive the heck out of it.


Don

[moparjack44]

Love em old Buicks. I agree with what has already been said. Em ole Buicks are good from the start, so don't need much. By all means, put in a Buick V8, not a sbc or even a bbc. Keep it Buick.

Jack

[skids72]

If at all practical, it would really be cool to bring that fireball straight 8 back to life of course this will be more difficult and expensive than v8...

Regardless, looks like that Buick has great potential...

[51deluxe]

i agree with skids...resurrect the fireball. talk about cool factor. I am actually looking for the bumper and grille from a 52 buick super 8 to go on my 52 chevy styleline....so let me know if you wanna sell it, lol.

[Big Tracks]

[QUOTE=skids72]If at all practical, it would really be cool to bring that fireball straight 8 back to life of course this will be more difficult and expensive than v8..."

That body's a beauty. If it has any rust it isn't visible from where I sit!

I agree with skids72. Those straight-eight Buicks had a sound all their own and it has been a long time since most people were privileged to hear one, particularly one coupled to the famous Dynaflow automatic transmission (us wiseasses called them "Dyna-flush").

Does yours have the automatic? If so, you may get a strange look from the guy at the transmission shop.

Congratulations on the find.

Jim


P.S. Side opening hood?

[Itoldyouso]

P.S. Side opening hood?


Yep, the early Buick hoods would open from either side and swing sideways. You could also release both latches (as I remember) and take the hood off. We had a '48 Roadmaster convertible that a trailer truck demolished in Ohio in a blinding rainstorm. I was just a kid at the time and asleep in the backseat. Next thing I knew I was sliding down the road on my side. If we had less metal around us we probably would have all been killed.

I remember my Dad being really upset because that jet black beauty was his baby.


Don

[Packhorse32]

Great find!!! Congratulations brother. I think it best you do a cleen sweep RECON of that farm and tell the wife your looking look for ahem.....The car keys you lost(or something)...be sure to check out the barn and any other old structures...


looks like a great project...

[kustom_oz]

heres an example of the hood action. pretty sweet. and Packhorse, I already did a quick sweep of the place and found the front end of a 39 chevy. both fenders have some large dents, and one of the headlights is rusted through, but other than that it's in good condition. here's the grille I snagged while we were there. any bidders?

[Big Tracks]

P.S. Side opening hood?

Yep, the early Buick hoods would open from either side and swing sideways.

I'LL BE DARNED! I DID NOT KNOW THAT! ....... And for a long time I have been going around telling people that I know everything!

That's a very interesting feature. Thanks, Don.

Jim

[kustom_oz]

don't feel too bad. I didn't know either. good thing I didn't have a pry bar with or I would have tried to free up that "stubborn back hinge" . and all these import guys think they come up with new things to do to their hoods. hah.

[GTO389]

to be really cool you should redo the old straight 8 or drop in a nailhead