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Subject: 56 X BUICK SESSION DEC 10 2013 THE BLUES
VOLUNTEERS -Jim Baker, Al Batts, Jerry Bush, Del Carpenter, Dean Tryon, Stu Allen, Connie DeJong, Ryan DeVries, Don Feutz, Don Mayton, Art Miedema, Chuck Snow.
Al has a great set of photos here that tells "THE BLUES". The story is not negative just interesting. Just follow along!
When I first was investigating VP Bill Mitchell's car long before I purchased it I found out that Bill loved the color blue and it was one of the signatures of his cars. This was told to me by folks from the GM Styling Studio.
Later, in conversation with Larry Faloon, GM retired stylist, when I ask him if VP Bill Mitchell used production colors on the concept cars and the other special cars the Bill Mitchell had built Larry stated "never".
Photos #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 shows a sequence of photos. When we were deciding to paint the metal pieces that raise the convertible roof it was discussed whether the pieces other than the chromed pieces should be a color?
After consulting Larry Faloon he advised us that these parts would be what the designer specified and unless we had the original roof bows we could not be sure. We assumed that the original roof bows did not come with the car since so many parts were missing.
So we decided to paint all the components of the roof mechanism we were working with black. We had disassembled this roof mechanism and prepared and painted all the non-chrome metal parts black.
Just this past week while working in the barn we found in a corner, well covered up, the original roof mechanism and as the first photo shows it is blue! That discovery meant that the black had to be changed to blue.
Connie and Art then removed the front header off of this convertible top. They buffed the area where the paint was in good shape and then got out all the different color blue paints that we had previously identified with this 1956X Bill Mitchell Buick. They then painted a small section on the header to check for a paint match with the other blue colors on the 56X. None matched! The only option remaining was to get a match of this original blue on the interior top metal parts.
Photo #1 shows the found original "blue" convertible top mechanism. Next was the paint matching as mentioned above. When none of the colors matched it was decided to take the header directly to the local paint supplier to obtain a color match. We loaded the header into my truck and stopped at the paint store on the way to lunch. The person that has all the paint matching on the 56X just shook his head as we told him we need another paint. After not finding
any color matches in their book he stated go to lunch and by the time you get back I will have a paint match.
Photo #2 & 3 shows the color match. Although the sample in the photo shows a slight difference when the sample is compared to the area that was buffed it is right on!
Photo #4 shows the black paint on the header that must be changed.
Photo #5 shows the header now in its correct shade of blue.
Connie and Art did all the preparing and painting of the 56X convertible top header.
Photo #6 through 9 shows the work that Chuck has been doing at home. The rear seat console was checked for fit and behind the two rear bucket seats is the fabricated panel that has been checked to fit. There is still a lot of work to do here.
Jim Baker continues to work on the right, passenger seat. He is now in the process of mounting the anchors that will hold the seat to the body supports.
Don Feutz continues to work on preparing parts for the chrome plater. He currently is working on window frames.
Del and Jerry Bush are working on trying to ferret why the 1917 Buick will not run for more than about 20 seconds. I believe they have identified the source of the problem and now they are working to find out the why!
Dean and Stu are working via phone and e-mail to find all the components to restore 4 YH Carter side draft carburetors. Dean is doing all the physical work in his shop in North Carolina. Dean had just previously built a carburetor test stand for different types and various manufacturers carburetors. Dean is also making a temporary manifold to mount each YH Carburetor onto his 1929 Buick with an up draft Marvel. Although it will not be used for driving he wants it to run the 1929 with each of the four carburetors, of course one at a time.
We really had bad weather here on work session day which kept Dick Saddler away as the weather was really bad in his area and Dick has to drive the furthest distance.
Disaster update. I mentioned in the previous weeks work report of us breaking the center "BIRD". The next day we dropped it off for Ryan DeVries to take a look at it. It is now repaired and back in the shop. I think we all failed in our metallurgy. I, for one, had metallurgy and either I was bored, not paying attention, or I simply forgot. Maybe it was a combination of all three plus it was a few years ago, sometime in the 1950s, that I had that class. Ryan simply stated you do not heat brass to bend it. You bend it cold!
THE BLUES - I mentioned the fact that VP Bill Mitchell liked the blue color. So far we have identified and painted samples of the different blues that are on this car.
1) Body - Dark blue on lower part of body. This dark blue is also painted in the casting grooves on the pieces on the four corners of the bumpers, front and rear.
2) Body - Light blue on upper or center of body running from the hood to the trunk.
3) Instrument panel. - Medium blue on lower portion of metal panel.
4) Instrument panel. - Very light blue in aluminum insert that is near top of instrument panel.
5) Flooring carpet. - Dark blue.
6) Interior door pads, 1/4 pads, and kick pads. - Medium blue
7) Upholstery - Blue.
8) Upholstery - Red accent in right and left doors. Bright red.
9) Steering wheel - Medium blue.
10) Steering wheel column - Medium blue.
11) Under body, wheels, inner fenders. - Bright red, Seminole Red
12) Engine side of fire wall. - Black
As we move forward I am amazed at the talent that exists to restore a car where parts have to be made by hand and parts restored by hand. We continue to move forward. I thank the Lord for the talents of all those mentioned here plus those that have had a hand in this restoration or just providing the counsel and their verbal expertise.
Don Mayton
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