Classic Buick Prices and questions

Hey Guys,
I am only slightly new to the forum, but not to Buicks. My first car was a '68 Special Deluxe and instead of selling her like I almost did 2 years ago, I am in the process of bringing her back to life.

But this post isn't about that Buick.

I have always loved 50's cars whether they be Mercurys, Buicks, Chevys or Packards. I have dreamed of owning a late 40's early 50's car but always thought they were so far out of reach. That is until I stumbled across some cars on the internet and now I feel like I've been stuck in a classic car twilight zone.

In the past I always thought a "decent" drivable 50's car would start around $20k and just go up and up from there. Maybe this is true of Chevy's and Fords but I seem to be finding loads of Buicks and few other 'sleepers' that are going for way less. I have to ask, is there no market for old Buicks?

Or have they just slipped through the cracks? Do other people not love the huge chrome teeth on the '49-'53 Buicks?! Those grills get me excited! Doing a little lurking and researching I have seen (in my eyes) some quality Buicks that needed little to no work and they were all drivable with a price tag from $4500 - $10,000. Is this the normal price range or are these cars 'hunks o' junk'?


Here are a few examples:

From our very own forum this was on a few months back..it 'ended' so I suspect it sold but it seems like a steal for $6,000 to have a rebuilt carb, engine, transmission! If this hasn't sold someone let me know!
http://www.v8buick.com/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=2669

This car is beautiful and seems to have everything going for it and they're asking $10k (obo)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...eName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This poor guy put this car up 4x before he finally ended it...I assume after selling it locally or giving up. The car looks all original and "supposedly" runs well. Sure I can see some things wrong with it, but it seems like a great deal for only $4500!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...me=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649


Anyways my question is to those that know, are these prices normal/median for Buicks in this condition? I can see paint chips, or surface rust on a bumper here or there, or maybe some worn interior, but overall they look like solid, drivable cars yet the price tags feel way less than other manufacturers. I look on Ebay under chevy or Ford and $6,000 will buy you a rusted heap of a car or a car with only 3 tires and half a steering wheel. haha. :beers2:

I'm wondering also if the Buicks were always more in the background for classic/collector cars or perhaps the economy has taken a toll on the market?
I know for some that cars with rebuilt anything aren't as collectible but to me I don't mind, I think it is one less thing to worry about.

My final question is, for those that own or have owned early 50's Buicks, do you feel there are enough places/resources on the Internet to find parts for your car when you need them or are you often left looking for months unable to find what you need?

Sorry for the long-winded post and thanks for your help!

 

My Buick was bought and first restored by my Dad and I 40 years ago (the current restoration was done ten years ago)

It's a lot easier to get parts now than it was pre-internet let me tell you. Today the entire interior can be reproduced.

But, the price gap has NOT changed. The Chevys and Fords brought more $ years ago as they do now.

 

+1. An equivalent '59 or '60 Belair would have cost at least twice what my '60 LeSabre cost. I realize that there is a large difference in parts availability and cost of things ike engine rebuilds. That is a big factor for some. Can't blame 'em. But the price disparity does seem to be a little much even in the face of that. Heck, more for us!

 

:gp: :TU:

 

I agree with Jason,

Before I bought my 58 Buick (4-door hardtop) for well under $10k, I had a 57 Chevy Belair 2-door hardtop that I pretty much bought as a basket case 8 years ago. At that time I had also looked at a 57 Chevy model 210 4-door in decent driver condition - the seller wanted $3,000 back then. When I look now through the classifieds, even the 4-door 57 Chevy's are beyond the $10k mark. Same for 53, 54, 55, 56. The 58's are getting more expensive too, especially the Impalas.
For the tri-five Chevys you can buy almost every part as a reproduction part and due to the fact that the 283 engine was used for so many years, you can still go to your local auto parts store and buy parts there. Heck, they started to reproduce complete bodies for the 55 and 57 Chevy. If you are willing to spend about $30k for the naked body alone (without chassis, drivetrain, interior, glass, trim etc) you can build a whole new car. But....you will be one of many at every car show.
If you show up with an early 50's 4-door (of almost any brand) you are most likely the only one. You also don't see a lot of 58's - I have not seen another 58 Buick in our region. And I personally prefer to see different cars of multiple brands at a car show.
And speaking of 4-doors: I always hear that 2-doors are more sporty or sexy, but strapping the baby seat for my 2 year old in the 2-door hardtop was a lot more cramped than putting it in my 4-door hardtop.
Just my 2 cents.

Chris

 

The market is down on all "old cars" regardless of what they are. Nobody can afford a "toy" car anymore so they get dealt to cover mortgage bills. Guys pick them up and try to flip them for a profit based on the cars value 5-6 years ago and after a few months end up just hoping to break even on the deal. Ask the Hemi guys what their 100k Superbirds are selling for these days.

Add that to what people say about the "lesser" brands being less money. I got an Electra in decent shape for half what a rotten Impala would have cost me. I also passed up a Lesabre and Delta 88 that were even cheaper. I've seen a guy selling a pair of cars in his yard as he was moving. One was an almost mint Skylark for $1,200 and the other was a Chevelle for $8,000 minus the interior, engine, trans, glass, or original wheels.

The trick is to buy the "off-brand" from someone who has kids going off to college. You'll get it for way less than book value. My car right now is registered and insured at a value of $6k and I bought it for a grand and put about a grand into it. Of course on top of being an outcast in the GM world for driving a Buick, I'm also an outcast in the Buick world for not having an A/G body ou:

 

Thanks for the response guys, you bring up some interesting points. It's good to know I wasn't stuck in some Classic Car Twilight Zone.
While I do love a beautiful '57 Chevy, '64 Impala or '49 Mercury as much as the next guy, I agree that they are often over done and perhaps a bit overpriced. No worries, bring on the classic Buicks! This new (to me) discovered fact that quality classics can be had for less than $10k gives me thoughts of saving up my $$ picking one up and parking my Kia (sorry) as my daily driver. Driving to work would be a helluva lot more fun in a '53 or '55 Buick :laugh:

Also, IMHO a 'no frills 4-door 50's car' is much more fun, cool, awesome than a 2-door modern car! And the way prices on cars go, they are practically more affordable!

Now to find the right one......

 

That is exactly how I ended up with a 4-dr Buick. I couldnt' find a decent 2-dr (of any make really) in my price range, that wasn't total trash or just a roller.
The 4-dr has really grown on me in just the few months I've had it, it's defently unique and just screams sleeper :beer

I wouldnt' mind getting my hands on a 4-dr '57 Bel Air, just becasue my dad had one as his first car.

 

My parents first car was a 4-door hard top '57 Bel Air. They loved that car and wanted to keep it, but it was getting older, leaking a little oil and they were newly married with no money to keep it up. So they sold it....for $200 or $300 (early 70's). Man oh man. ou:

I agree with you on the 4-doors. Although on 60's muscle cars the 4-doors are noticeable and take a little way from the look, but on the 40's and 50's I barely notice when they have more than 2 doors. The swoopy body styles make it all blend so nice.

My '68 Special is a 4-door that I bought with 45k original miles for $1700. It was a screaming deal all because it had 2 extra doors.

 

I tend to see nice early 50s Buick HTs in the $10-$15,000 range. I bought mine nearly rust free for $6500 in 2005, but since then it's been painted and I've done a lot of mechanical work to it. It's now worth nowhere near what I have in it. Seems to be my pattern. But I literally love it more than almost anything on the planet, so I'm OK with it.

 

We have to ask ourselves if we're in this as a business or hobby...hard to put dollar amt on hobby value...as for OP's Qs...demand for '50s cars on the wane, due to age of collectors. This and economy puts buyers in stronger position. There are iconic cars in every group that are for serious or lucky collectors, but otherwise...

 

This pretty much sums up my philosophy on cars...If I didn't have it, I'd have another anyway.

 

OK V-8 Buick People: I happen to like 4 doors but................ there is little man inside my head that gets a lot more excited when the center post is gone and that guy gets even more excited when the extra doors are gone too.

It's kind of like looking at a mid 50's car that was available in a 6 or V-8. I see that 6 or V-8 emblem and this same little guy in my head excited when it's a V-8, if any of that makes sense. Mitch

 

Makes sense to me! There is similarly excitable little man in side my head.

 

OK James: Perhaps we are related? I wonder if there is an entire civilization out there with that same little guy running around. Let's name him. Mitch

 

The little man in my head is named, Epanamondus

 

"Yes the Deals are riding on Buick Wheels - Buy Buick - Buy real Steel !"



Hey, the Buicks for these years are hands down much more individualistic, stylistic and futuristic compared to their contemporaries. The engine, electrical, frame, brakes, well you can just name any system and they are of a greater quality build and by a much higher engineered standard as well.

Personally, where are ya gonna see sculptured chrome art beyond 49-58 Buicks? Take a look at what ford and chevy were putting out during those same years. All look like shopping carts and just as inspiring. BTW, they were just that. Shopping carts for the masses.

I don't know, but it appears to me if your gonna go to the prom then make it a point of not wearing what everyone else has on. But apparently many never grow out of this junior/high school click mentality and MUST just fit in.

The chevy/ford tri-5 thing, is just another mass response for all these same potato chip thin unfortunates as noted above. They are just older now is all, instead finding group assimilation and peer approval now just as before but with their :boring: fuzzy dice, stuffed animals, and 22 inch wheels all packaged and polished in their look-a-like chevy and fords.

There is nothing wrong with a nice 4-door Buick in these years and serves many more advantages than just a 2-door can offer. So you are right. There are great deals on these big Buicks now.

In regards to the pricing of both Buicks and the chevy/ford markets, I think it is either the lack of a "real" economy is finally taking it's toll or perhaps it's just that the sandal clad norseman crowd are just raiding the 2-door market, for now, and are simply following the same mantra as the potato chip crowd has been doing here for years regarding the chevs and fords.

 

OK Buick 57: The pricing of the market is the only way I can determine what the most popular models are and of course the Chevs certainly seem to be the most popular. Go to a swap and the lion's share is Chevrolet, look at the car mags...Chevrolet on the front cover. I have often wondered how Car Craft and Hot Rod even existed before 1970 because the Malibus and first-gen Camaros are what they feature, but.............

We are a small minority, the ones who like a Buick, especially a 4 door. I looked at a silver 4 door recently and didn't get it only because of the price (we were both pig headed, stubborn and unwilling to budge). Unfortunately, even me, who has a vision of how something can look was very limited with this particular vehicle which was very clean.

I'm thinking it will be years before the 4 doors and 6-cylinders will come into their own as the converts, wagons and hardtops have already done. The people, like myself, who like a particular model because of the fact they had that attachment to it while it was in daily service are slowly but surely fading. The people who like an old car because they see it as it is today are by far the majority. Sure it's too bad that the 4 door, plain Jane, 6-cyl types that were the staple of many American families for many many years are at the bottom of the pile but that's show biz. Mitch