Tomorrow, I'm going to go have a look at a 1952 Buick Super sedan straight 8, that I have stumbled onto by accident. The price is not clear yet and as I know nothing about Buick Super sedans, I have been looking on-line to try and get some idea of comparative prices so I can be a bit forearmed. I see the 4 door versions are less valuable than the 2-door versions and the convertibles commanding the highest prices - nothing I wouldn't expect there but the 'For sale' prices on the Web vary quite considerably for even the 4-door versions. I believe the car is in good original condition with the interior having been re-done. Is there anyone out in forum land I can turn to, to ask advice of once I have looked over the vehicle? Stephen
The 52 Super has the big body and the smaller 263 engine. By 52 it was equipped mostly with a Dynaflow automatic, and with said dynaflow wasn't the quickest off the mark. On starting out from a stop, it may roar like a DC-6 on a take off run; if the Dynaflow is working right, the same pressure on the accelerator will eventually get you to highway speed. Top speed is around 85-90 miles an hour, (130-150 km/h) It has a closed driveline, (ie torque-tube driveshaft) and is sprung on coils all the way around. Power steering was optional in 52, as was power brakes. It was a comfortable car as long as the knee-action shocks are filled up; otherwise it'll bunny-hop itself off the road 1952 wasn't really a great year for Buicks, there was a lot of pot-metal and cheap plastics used, largely due to the effects of the Korean War on the American economy. They were by that time not the most technologically advanced cars, but they were reasonably well built and had the reliability of a Swiss watch. That said, like most cars from the 50s, they rusted like shipwrecks, so be careful and look for rust. patch-panels are not available for that car, so everything would have to be hand made. They were a nice looking car; post pics of it if you buy it.
Thanks guys for the info, unfortunately, the car turned out to be a virtual wreck - all the chrome work was very badly rusted and all the alloy very badly pitted, to say nothing of the rust all over the car, particularly where the guards met the body. It looked like it had lived next to the ocean for all of its life! I got out of my car walked over to it, turned around and walked back to my car and drove off. $9000 advertised price - I wouldn't have given them $2000! Quite a nice looking car though - I'd like to see a well kept / restored convertible some day.
