I'm excited about this one. I think it must be a pretty rare car...? Just found and aquired this car. Maybe I should hot rod it? Its all complete... Decisions, Decisions.... PS. It looks to be an old Police Hiway patrol car as the painted emblem on the door indicates. It has the wood bracket and wiring for the cherry on the interior roof. Speedo goes to 130 MPH? Rumble seat and 3 Window. Weird... Any suggestions?
Wo man. What an AWESOME sleeper that would be. I would research and see if you could have the original Highway Patrol decals duped, then implant a healthy BBB and kick some a$$. That thing would make magazines with it's history.
I have nothing but hot rods in my blood, but if that car is all ther eand original, you should restore it. The fact that it was a police car would only add value to it as an original. Plus, you could probably trade this car for an incomplete car and some coin for building if you really want a hot rod.
I remember reading somewhere about Buick really pushing their police cars in 36. I think Indiana had a perticularly large fleet of them. What makes it a McLaughlin, Canadian built?????
Thanks Adam, Ken, Dan and Skip for the input. It is a really hard decision as (restored) $22K compared to.... Well, correct me if I'm wrong but i've heard that nicely restored origional steel body Roadsters (Hot Rods) could fetch upward of $80-100K Canadian. Obviously, It would take probably 50-60K to build a fantastic rod (which, in its own right, one wouldn't really want to sell anyway)..... I do work in the oil and gas industry and could probably afford to Rod it... Hmmm, what do you guys think this thing worth as it stands? Its actually in great shape for its age. No bondo and very straight. Also have all the chrome and spare parts it came worth... Just pondering... GG
BTW All the parts you can't see are in boxes and racks, including new glass, pistons and I can't remember what all for the 8 pass.
What series is the 36? If it is a century, you should restore it, as it will run with the traffic . If it is a small series, you may want to drop in a 455. If the exhaust manifold is a three piece unit( a center and two ends that fit into the center piece) it is the big series. Are you sure it is a Mc Laughlin? It appears to have five lug wheels, and the 36 mcLaughlin had six. They used the same wheel as the old Chev pickups.
Graham That's an exceptional piece. Good looking body lines too. I feel your pain, I wouldn't know what to do either. I'd probably 'rod it'. Great find.
I'm not totally sure which Series it is. I think Its a Century Series 60. Here is a pic of the steering wheel emblem which reads Mclaughlin Buick 8 Canada.
OK, after hours of searching, I finally located a pic of another 1936. Here it is. I wonder how many of this body style were built?
