New member in Texas, 64 LeSabre Estate Wagon

Just popping in to say hello and introduce myself as a new member of the forum. I've got a long history with Buicks, my first car ever being a 1972 Buick LeSabre Custom that belonged to my grandma. Over the years I've also had the pleasure of owning two 63 LeSabres, one 63 Special Wagon (what a sweetie that one was!) and a 63 Special four-door.

I've moved around quite a bit with work and life changes and such, and I've generally had to let go of a car or two each time I move for purposes of practicality. Shipping cars around all over the country gets EXPENSIVE!! I've always considered it a bit of a catch and release program, though, and take solace in the fact that the cars I've had to part with are probably making another owner happy as can be. And I trust that there's another one waiting around the corner somewhere like a new adventure.

The most recent adventure has presented itself in the form of a 1964 Buick LeSabre Estate Wagon that I've just brought home. It's a bit rougher than the ones I've owned in the past and I've definitely got some work to do, but it seems to have a great personality and I'm SO happy to have another Buick back in the family ... and a nailhead at that!

Looking forward to meeting you all and taking advantage of the collective wisdom of the group!

Chris
Lockhart, Texas

 

Welcome to the board. Post some pictures of your Buick.

 

Welcome aboard from NY. 64 wagon is unusual. They usually got used up by the families that owned them.
Fred

 

Thanks for the welcome! Will post a few pics as soon as I can, carmantx. And you're right, gsfred, there surely aren't many around. This one hasn't quite been used up, but it can certainly use some love - it was owned by the same folks since '67.

The last time I remember seeing a similar car to this one on the road was on my honeymoon up in Bar Harbor, Maine in 2002. It was a '63 LeSabre Estate Wagon parked by the side of the road with a for sale sign in the window. I nearly gave my new bride whiplash turning the car around to go check it out. But in true Maine fashion it was a real rustbucket. Never forgot about it though.

Chris

 

Welcome and congrats on the new to you wheels.

 

Checking in to post a couple of photos. As usual, the photos look a little better than real life ... but the real thing isn't so bad either.

Larger versions of the pics (and a couple of others) are on flickr at http://bit.ly/1NCWkeH

Those side view mirrors have GOT to go!

Chris

 

Nice! Welcome from west Michigan. (I agree on the mirrors!)

 

Sister ship is here in Cincinnati!



Welcome aboard.

 

NICE, Ted! And thanks for the welcome. Great to see that there are others still alive and kicking out there. Incidentally, I'm sorting out some tailgate window issues and would love to ask you a few questions if this is something you've delved into on yours.

I also really like those cornering lights and the Wildcat trim on yours - guessing yours is a bit more heavily optioned than mine.

Thanks again,

Chris

 

Thanks!, as with anything on the tailgate window I would start with lubrication and contact cleaning. I have the tailgate apart now to fix a rust issue - no mechanical problems back there.

You are right about the options on this- picture is after I took the rack off roof for cleaning. This guy came with
-Super Wildcat engine 425 dual quad, A/C, posi, PS/PB, Cruise, PW/Power tailgate, 4-note horns, AM/FM/power antenna, rear speaker, and Tailgate Wiper! But it is a 2 seat wagon, cloth seats.

I need the time to finish a brake job and engine swap, then cruise it to a paint job.
Ted

 

Welcome. There are remarkably few Buick people here in Texas, but this is a good group.

 

Thanks for the welcome, austingta! Odd that there aren't many old Buicks around ... seems like they'd be well suited to the Texas culture and temperament. I've seen a couple of Rivieras cruising around here in Lockhart (one in a particularly shocking color that I could only describe as a creamy electric purple!) but not too many aside from that. Haven't seem many in Austin at all.

Best regards,

Chris

 

Nice wagon! I have a 67 Sportwagon. It needs some work to get her on the road though.

 

Hey Ted -

I PMed you about my tailgate problems - hope you don't mind. Your car is amazingly equipped - I think it would be easier to list the options it doesn't have! I think mine may be more the disadvantaged step-sister to yours than its sister ship.

You say yours has cloth seats as an original option? That's interesting - mine has cloth seats as well, but I assumed they were recovered (though the PO claimed they're original). I'm wondering now if mine might be original after all. They look good (and certainly not very recent) but I still have my doubts.

-Chris

 

Hi Ted,

Greetings from Los Angeles. Your car looks great. Please keep us up to date on all your progress and work with the car, all the little details really matter.

 

Welcome to the board! There are a few Buick's down around the Houston area if you ever get down here. They are spread kinda thin around town, but they are here. Actually I just saw a Buick Wagon similar to yours out on the road the other day about an hour north of Houston, northwest of the Woodlands between the Woodlands and Magnolia. Was surprised to see an old Buick wagon roaming around for sure. Maybe once I get my Skylark back on the road the Uncle and I can cruise a couple of the Skylarks up around your area or meet somewhere in between.

 

Thanks for the welcome and heck yeah - get a few old Buicks together and come on up! Lockhart has some truly exceptional barbecue.

Chris

 

I got some pics on phone, the tailgate latch on the driver's side has a switch built into it.
The dash switch is like the antenna 2 way...mine is broken too.

 

Aha! Just went out and looked at the driver's side tailgate latch and I see a small hole right behind it that I'm pretty sure is where that switch is supposed to be. I also found a single black wire floating around in that area that I'm guessing went to it. Do you recall which wires feed in to your switch? I'm hoping it's just a simple grounding switch and I can just run that black wire to a ground and be good to go.

Meanwhile I did manage to get my hands on a dash switch for it, and I've got two of the correct motors for the tailgate that came with the car. Gotta test those to see if either work.

One day I *will* get this tailgate working again.

Best regards,

Chris

 

Chris:



Please don't forget to put yourself on the V8Buick board members map of the world :beer