2011-04-19 56X BUICK

Post date: Apr 24, 2011 3:57:50 PM

VOLUNTEERS - Jim Baker, Mike Ball, Al Batts, Bob Boorsma, Jerry Bush, Del Carpenter, Dick Chambers, Les Dewey, Ron Elzinga, Don Feutz, Don Mayton, Art Meidema, Dick Saddler, Chuck Snow, Howard Sullivan.

Al again supplied us with a running pictorical account of the restoration.

Dick Saddler continues to work on the parts to be chromed. The Buick medallions Dick is holding is the center of the "SKYLARK" type wire wheels. Later there is a photo of the "SPINNER" that mounts on the wire wheels. Both the medallions and the spinner is made from brass. Also the photo with the letters; "BUICK" and "CENTURY" Dick has been preparing for chroming.

Shortly after I purchased this car I went to GM's Styling Center and interviewed several folks that worked on this car. I inquired how they made the letters. I was told they machined a bar of brass with the contour of the letters in a north-south direction, laid out each of the letters on the brass bar and proceded to hand cut and file each letter. Also included in these photos is other hand made trim that Dick has worked on.

There are several photos of Jim Baker doing the design work for the powered swivel seats. He is taking a swivel mechanism (non-powered) from a 1970's GM "A - Body" and designing it to operate with a 1956 Buick 12 volt window lift motor.

This car as built by Bill Mitchell had a front bucket type seat that was powered to turn 90 degrees. The right front passenger powered seat was designed to turn 180 degrees so the passenger could turn and face the rear seat passengers.

During the time I was spending hours documenting this car I ran accross the owner of Cobbledick Buick that was located in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He told me the following story which I have shortened.

"There was a Buick Dealers meeting in Flint, Michigan. Prior to either a dinner or another event at the Durant Hotel in Flint a group of Buick Dealers were standing in front of the hotel. Up drives a 1956 Buick convertible (top down) that was highly modified. The driver simply parks it in front of the hotel. It was observed by those standing there that the driver swiveled the seat as he exited. As soon as the driver entered the hotel, one of the dealers climbed in the driver's seat and started, under power, swiveling the seat. Then another dealer climbed in the passenger seat did the same thing discovering the seat turned 180 degrees. The dealers played with the seats until the battery went dead.

At that time everyone vanished! "

Some of the non photograph work occuring includes extensive work assemblying the front and rear suspension. Del, Ron Elzinga, and Les worked on the suspension. A lot of progress has been made here. In fact on Saturday April, 23 Del came to the house to complete the suspension work. Del's goal is to have the engine installed by the end of May. Les had to go outside in blowing and rainey 40 degree weather to remove more parts from our spare 1956 Buick chassis. Les got so involved in his work when we all left to go to lunch he got left behind. At lunch everyone was asking where was Les? After Al made numerous calls to his cell phone he finally answered. We ended up bringing back a burger for Les's lunch.

Also Bob Boorsma did a big home work job of building a another work bench. He has volunteered to work on the instrument panel and it was determined that we needed another work bench to perform the work. We have currently seven work areas. The additional work bench will be in the room with the car hoist. Chuck Snow helped install the bench and they then installed an 8' peg board behing this bench. Next they removed the steering wheel assembly and steering box from the original car. The steering box was cleaned up preparing it for paint.

Dick Chambers and Art Meidema continued to repair the bottom of the floor pan and shortly after lunch had the floor pan in primer. As I mentioned previously the bottom of the floor pan will be painted in its original Seminole red paint.

The photographs here include the spinners that go on the Buick Century 56X. Don Feutz has been working weeks to remove the severe hammer blow damage on the ears of these spinners. Apparently some time in this cars life someone thought the spinners were the key to get the wheels off. Jerry Bush in addition to doing silver soldering for some repairs on the spinners has also been doing this work for Dick Saddler. Don F.has done a great job repairing the damage and they are now ready for chrome. plating.

Notice two photos show the relative size of the original production "SKYLARK" spinner and the "BUICK CENTURY 56X" spinner. They are quite different in size.

Don Mayton