Alright, tumblr friends, I’m revealing this to you first… I have just bought myself another fine motor vehicle. She’s a 1959 Buick LeSabre four door hardtop, and is an ex-California car shipped over here to Australia four years ago.
She hasn’t started for two years, so a very careful inspection of the motor will be done in a minor pull-down before any attempts. She’s a 2 spd column shift Dynaflow auto (I think, but if she turns out to be a twin or triple turbine, then WOO HOO!), running with a V8 364cu Buick Wildcat motor putting out 250 horsepower (190 kW in the new money, but who uses that figure for classics??). No oil leaks anywhere, not sure how the door rubbers would cope with rain but she’ll be tucked away undercover for a good while yet, I imagine.
Interior has been fully done (thank God, because that’s not something I wanted to tackle), she has minimal rust, and was running reliably before being stored away by the seller, who owns an automobile museum. He’s had to sell five cars to make space, which is why and how I managed to score this little gem for my own.
Luckily I have a friend who does miraculous chrome trim straightening and dent removal, because she’s going to need a fair bit of that, along with significant body prep and painting. She’s a very faded Wedgewood Blue (original Buick paint code) with that special ‘old’ patina but I’ll probably go with a two-tone paintjob, mid metallic blue with a white roof turret and boot/trunk to match the interior, but that stage is a long way off yet. I kind of like the ‘rat rod’ look of her as she is now, but up here in humid QLD, that kind of thing is just asking for trouble and I’m not about to clear coat her just for the hell of it only to have to sand it all off again in a year’s time.
She’s not strictly ‘rare’ in the USA - they made 46 000 of this model, but here in Aus, she’s unusual for sure.
She’s a big girl, roughly 5.5m long and 2m wide, weighing just over 2 tonne, and her turning circle will be atrocious (14 metres, haha). She’s got power steering and power brakes too not sure about air con. I’m having her brought to me for a very reasonable price ($400) as Glen is also delivering another car to Brisbane and my gal will be riding shotgun.
Dig that instrument panel/dashboard, hot damn, I’m in love…. and the same goes for the bench seat.
Now bask in her Buick-filled glory. You may genuflect when ready. ;)
