It’s not often that I get to play with older cars in my collision shop. Had some fun with this 30’s Buick frame a while back. Apparently had been wrecked long ago, leaving a bit of a diamond in the frame. Had to break out ye olde centerline gauges to check it out. It took a LOT of pressure to get the tweak out of that thing. Four of us had all we could do to move it from the trailer to the frame machine and back.
What are you gong to do with the frame? Is the rest of the car still around?
@alsancle I was just straightening out the frame for the owner who is restoring it. The door gaps were off on one side before he took it apart and it was likely from the twist on the frame. Really cool car. 1935 series 60 convertible sedan. If the work he had done cleaning up the frame is any indication of his workmanship, it’s going to be beautiful when it’s finished.
@Hupp31 Considering google can't find me a single picture of one I would say that car is worthwhile.
@alsancle He showed me a photo so I know it exists. Not sure if Buick called it a convertible sedan or something else, but I know it was a four door with no roof.
@Hupp31 I think there is one in the Bulgari collection. But they seem to be ultra rare.
@alsancle I think you’re right. I was surprised when he showed me the photo because I had assumed it was a sedan. It was a very decent looking car he started with. I would have had a hard time taking it apart to restore, I’ll put it that way. Pretty sure it was this body style.
@Hupp31 The only ones I could find were two like the one you posted that had been resto rodded. The series 60 is supposed to be the Century I believe? Google is saying 700 convertible sedans which I find hard to believe as it looks like none exist.
@alsancle I think they started using Century 60 in ‘36. It was a 128” wheelbase. Can’t be many of them, that’s for sure.
Cool. How much frame straightening you do these days? Seems like cars are totaled quickly.
@1980Z28Man Very little. Mostly just prepulling sheet metal to relieve it before cutting off and replacing it. Most of the time if they get bent into the frame rails, they’re goners. Sometimes all it takes is a headlight to total them these days.
@Hupp31 Travis, do you still have any bondo hanging around the shop or is that a lost art?
@alsancle If we use a gallon of filler in a year, I’d say that’s a lot. But there are still a few shops out there that apply the “Thicker is Quicker” philosophy.
@Hupp31 oh my - that's the reason wd need a laugh emogee here...
Looks like an awsome job! Glad it worked out we need more prewar cars on tge backroads here in CT!
@SteveMackCT Agreed. Let me see if I can do something about that.
@SteveMackCT Thanks again for the referral on that job, Steve. It was fun playing CSI Detroit to figure out what happened to the thing so many years ago and then correct it. I seem to remember something about it hitting a bridge abutment, and frankly, that’s what it would take to bend that beefy-ass frame.
In a bizarre twist of fate, when he came to pick up the frame, he hands me a Hupmobile emblem that he had laying around. Same exact emblem as my ‘31 and was only used a few years. Go figure.
To demonstrate how long this frame machine has been around, it’s been around since it was acceptable to advertise a product in this fashion. 😀
@Hupp31
I've been a mechanic my whole life and never, ever has anything like that happened in a shop I worked in.
Advertisers are liars.
@ShawnG Hope springs eternal. But obviously she didn’t know what she was doing. Note where two of the chains are attached. Are they trying to pull the steering wheel and door mirror off?
@Hupp31
I have to confess, I didn't see any chains.
@ShawnG 😂
@ShawnG Once again, we need the laughing emoji up vote.
@Hupp31 My dad had an Eldorado fethish and I can't tell you how many we had. Here I am with my college girlfiend circa 1984.
@alsancle Nevermind the Eldorado. Look at that suit!😂
