We just saw a Buick mirror dash for sale at a swap meet at Goodguys in Scottsdale. Very cool, it was odd that GM printed everything (backwards?) so it could be seen correctly through the mirror.
Oh, yes. My dad bought a '57 with the J2 engine...always loved that dash! Thanks very much for reminding me. Obviously this car has "upgraded" carpets and seats, but they kept the beautiful dash! Cheers!
Yes, it was, and it didn't work very well--not down here in SO FL, anyway, BUT, the car was beautiful to look at and great to drive since all those older MB cars had incredible seats. I have had a bad back since HS (stupid football) and could drive one of their cars all day and never have an issue. Now, don't misunderstand. They couldn't get out of their own way--heavy and under-powered, but the 4-speed automatic and comfort and looks made up for a lot of that. Also, the trunk was huge and the hardtop went on easily even though it was very heavy. It was also watertight (both tops). Sad that American cars of the same era can't say the same thing, but that was then. Today, MB doesn't have the same philosophy thus their cars are nice, but you probably need to trade them every couple of years. Cheers!
As a kid and into Muscle cars, Vettes, Camaro's or any Full Size car with a BB etc.. we always heard about these MB's and BMW's having orthopedic seats and silver lined electrical contacts. Just saying I guess that they were built like a fine watch. I knew a kid that bought a kinda rust bucket BMW Model 2002 back in the early early 80's, just to claim that he bought a BMW.. He even started smoking a tabaco pipe! and bought a derby hat like he was a professor, it was comical! Everything started breaking down or apart after time "or was broken some when he bought it" and he couldn't come close to afford to fix the issues. The car ran fine but it was the little things like sticking seats, windows, knobs falling off, key locks jamming etc. The saying seamed true that it was overly engineered. How would you put your 280 SL as far as alot maintenance? Yes though my Fathers brand new 66 Wildcat started leaking water front window and back after a year.
Well, the 280 was a great car, but when I got it (on a trade for stuff from my shop) the tranny was broken, which is why he traded it to me. That was @1974, so the car was 5-years old and the tranny went out. I had a local guy I knew get me a new (rebuilt) one for $900.00, which was a ton of money back then, but I had it at the time, so... The valve guides were "soft" metal and had to be replaced, and the FI pump (mechanical) broke and had to be rebuilt. The A/C didn't work very well and needed constant service of some kind--not exactly sure what as it was a long time and a lot of cars ago. I tried several tires on it. Pirelli's were the best, as I remember, but it might have been Michelin's. Back then, a set of tires mounted, etc., was pretty cheap believe it or not. Car needed premium gas, but back then it wasn't that expensive. One of the center-dash controls broke off the "tab" where you move it, I think. Dash was impenetrable, so never fixed that. Things back then were a lot less to fix and I had $$ coming in from my business, so I just drove the car and loved every minute of it. My girlfriend and I drove it to Tampa to see the 2nd best concert I have ever seen--Loggins and Messina, Fleetwood Mac (Rumors), and The Eagles (Hotel California) on July 4th, 1976, Tampa Stadium. MEMORABLE event, to say the least. I sold the car to a funny guy from CA. Took him a while to pay me, but I think I got $15,000 for it. LONG time ago, and I did love the car. Had a gray market 1985 280SL that had pretty much the same issues, but also a really solid car. My buddy, who was my mechanic back then, told me years later that the mid-1980's were the last years for what he called, "the REAL MB cars." I have never owned a newer one, so I don't know. When I visit him at his shop these days it is filled with the newer ones and he enjoys showing me all the bad things they do now. Glad I had the older ones, and I loved every minute of owning them. Cheers!
Well, the 280 was a great car, but when I got it (on a trade for stuff from my shop) the tranny was broken, which is why he traded it to me. That was @1974, so the car was 5-years old and the tranny went out. I had a local guy I knew get me a new (rebuilt) one for $900.00, which was a ton of money back then, but I had it at the time, so... The valve guides were "soft" metal and had to be replaced, and the FI pump (mechanical) broke and had to be rebuilt. The A/C didn't work very well and needed constant service of some kind--not exactly sure what as it was a long time and a lot of cars ago. I tried several tires on it. Pirelli's were the best, as I remember, but it might have been Michelin's. Back then, a set of tires mounted, etc., was pretty cheap believe it or not. Car needed premium gas, but back then it wasn't that expensive. One of the center-dash controls broke off the "tab" where you move it, I think. Dash was impenetrable, so never fixed that. Things back then were a lot less to fix and I had $$ coming in from my business, so I just drove the car and loved every minute of it. My girlfriend and I drove it to Tampa to see the 2nd best concert I have ever seen--Loggins and Messina, Fleetwood Mac (Rumors), and The Eagles (Hotel California) on July 4th, 1976, Tampa Stadium. MEMORABLE event, to say the least. I sold the car to a funny guy from CA. Took him a while to pay me, but I think I got $15,000 for it. LONG time ago, and I did love the car. Had a gray market 1985 280SL that had pretty much the same issues, but also a really solid car. My buddy, who was my mechanic back then, told me years later that the mid-1980's were the last years for what he called, "the REAL MB cars." I have never owned a newer one, so I don't know. When I visit him at his shop these days it is filled with the newer ones and he enjoys showing me all the bad things they do now. Glad I had the older ones, and I loved every minute of owning them. Cheers!
1941 Packard was the first with AC. I remember reading an article many years ago that said that everything that was required to air condition a car had been invented by 1912.
The standard Olds engine in 1957 had a four-barrel carb. The J2 had trips. There was also an "economy" 2 bbl version available. If you ordered the 2 bbl option, you got the J2 intake manifold with blockoff plates where the two end carbs would have been.
Yep. I always wondered how that salesman talked my dad into the J2. Of course, back then gas was 21 cents/gal. I THINK the car was a 4-door. I remember riding in it going back and forth to school, which was a 4-hour drive on 2-lane roads (Williamsburg to Fork Union). He got tickets as I remember. My older brother used to take it over to Norfolk and race people for $5 or $10 and he always won--not "his father's" Oldsmobile, indeed! Cheers!
I had a friend that had a '57 J2. That thing was hot (for it's day). I don't actually expect anyone to believe this - I wouldn't if I wasn't there - but he (his name was John too) beat some kind of mid-50's Ford at a stoplight Grand Prix. He was towing a race car on an open trailer when he did it.
I'm guessing he told your Dad that it only ran on the one carb on in the middle 90% of the time for good fuel economy.. How did that make shift 2 bbl intake run? Did all the cylinders still get air?
For me, the best Buick interior came in the 1975 Buick Electra Limited hardtop sedan with the optional Park Avenue package and the optional centre console. Those seats were also available in leather, and for 1975 only there was even an Park Avenue DeLuxe option package (W18). (very rare, only 37 cars came with that option) Together with the 1976 model year, these were the biggest cars Buick ever made and also the biggest hardtop sedan GM ever produced.
My aunt’s boss in Canada had a ‘75 Park Avenue, I remember sitting in it in ‘76 thinking “ WOW this thing is a palace” I was 11 in ‘76, made quite the impression on me
A really good question. I think the two-barrels were actually rarer then the J2 setup. Why would you but a big car with a big V8 engine, then worry about a mile or two per gallon? I have only seen a couple of the two-barrel carbs on '57 Oldsmobiles, and I wondered the same thing. It must have been OK, because the J2 was running on a single two-barrel most of the time.
You are probably right. There weren't many interstates that we drove on in those days, so he probably also told my dad that it had "extra power when he needed it." Of course, my mom drove it as well--we were always a one-car family and a new Olds every 2 years until my brother bought them a new Caddy for their 50th anniversary. (Probably felt guilty for racing that '57 back then!) I was just a kid, so didn't realize what it was until one day at the gas station the guy commented on it. I was into cars, but it was the first time I ever saw 3-deuces in person and I won't forget it. When he put his foot in it I do remember it taking off. The car was heavy, but it ran pretty well compared to the previous '53 and red and white '55 we had. I think the '55 had a similar dash, by the way. Cheers!
I remember my dad pointing out a pagoda Mercedes when I was a boy and saying 'that's the nicest looking car ever built". Many still agree. I also remember my Mom's 1962-3 (not sure) T-bird, which was a light metallic blue with a silver interior. Man the interior on that car was fantastic. Wrong color, but close.
IF interested I have a '62 All Blue T-Bird with White convertible top for sale in EXCELLENT condition. Known it since the car was 5 years old. Tom T.
