2011-12-13 56X BUICK

1956X BUICK WORK SESSION - December 13, 2011

Volunteers : Jim Baker, Al Batts, Bob Boorsma, Del Carpenter, Dick Chambers, Ron Elzinga, Don Feutz, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Dick Saddler, Chuck Snow.

Jim continues to fine tune his design and construction on the power driven driver's rotating bucket seat. He is working to lower the mechanism. We did look closely at the area on the body and we found out that the section where the original rotating buchet seat had been was altered and lowered to accomodate the seats.

Al continues to archive all our work including taking a series of photographs where the original location of the console was placed. Chuck Snow layed out measurements on the driveshaft tunnel locating all the original holes where the console was attached. There are eight places where the console was bolted down. This information was requested by the Stylist working with us on this project.

Al also has be archiveing photos of the folks as they work on their parts.

Chuck is also working to re-create the floor pad as was installed in this 1956X Buick. You will note in the attached photo of a typical GM Styled floor pad with the vinyl insert. Our floor pad will look very similar to this but in addition ours has a heal plate for the driver and front seat passenger. The rear seat passengers would have only had the floor pad with the trim and not the heal plate. Chuck has purchased all the materials for all four of the floor pads.

Bob worked on some interior stainless trim to repair dings and also do the final polishing. He also has been sorting through all the electrical parts to determine the interior decorative switches we need.

Dick Chambers and Art worked priming and sanding the engine side of the front inner fenders. Then they worked on preparing the radiator for its final show black. By lunch these large parts were ready for the final show black.

Del worked on securing the gasoline tank on the frame. When we do final assembly it will be fastened to the under body. This is a temporary installation for getting a running chassis. Del also was available after lunch working with Art to do final painting on the engine side of the front inner fenders in their show black. Remember previously these front inner fenders on the tire side were painted the same color of the frame which is Sequoia Red. Later he painted the final show black on the radiator.

Ron and Dick Saddler worked at the weld standoffs inside the bumper bombs so the driving light bezels could be attached. Once the standoffs were tapped they next started working on making the driving light receptacles. After lunch Dick continued to work on the driving light receptacles for holding the lights in place.

Don Feutz worked on taking all the blemishes out of the trim that runs the length of the center of the hood. This piece is odd in that when we received the car this piece was chrome plated. All the original GM Media Archive photos show this trim as painted the upper body color. So this piece will have its chrome removed and painted the same color as the original. Next, with Chuck working with Don, they then uncovered the original holes in the hood and fitted this trim on the hood to assure everything was lined up.

Don M. finished the polishing and also the attachment of all the fastening studs on one hand of the front fender long trim that begins the "sweep spear" look as was typical on many Buicks of the 1950s. Now both right and left parts are ready for chrome plating.

We are working with a retired GM Interior Stylist to capture as close as possible the design of the interior of the car. We have no photographs of the interior except angled photos giving us hints of how the car was originally. Other indications of course is the physical evidence like attachment holes, pieces of parts like the front foot pads and heal plates, photos of styling cars of this era, stylist's memories of VP Mitchell's expectations, and multiple photographs of the 1954 Buick Wildcat and the 1956 Buick Centurian. This deep dive into resulted in other discoveries such as:

1) Finding in the photos of snaps that were for a tonneau cover and according the the Stylist working with us Mitchell would have included a bag to store it in.

2) Finding out that all these cars "did not" use the regular production paints available. VP Mitchell always had special paints mixed as he wanted to look at different effects that different colors had on cars.

3) Discovering that the top convertible mechanism steel parts normally painted black were painted blue. That presents the question was the fabric top blue? We

do not have the original fabric top material.

4) We noticed that when we were taking the photos of the transmission hump that there is a 1/2 moon stamped into each side of the tunnel. This was obviously to make clearance for the power rotating seat. But then looking at the two 1956 Buick Century parts cars which both had the 1/2 moon in the tunner, was Buick intending to introduce the the rotating seat later in this body?

It appears there will be other discoveries as we proceed.

Don