I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful summer! It has been great weather and people have been packing all the cruise nights and car shows! I think the hobby is more popular than ever before! Every event that I attend has a bounty of vehicles and so many people in attendance! Living here on the Island has to be just about the biggest car scene in the country!
I think we even beat Southern California!
I would love to attend more events than I do (and I attend a lot of them) but this summer with work at night and Saturdays, plus family obligations, and a house that has been under construction since early June; I haven’t gotten to all that I would have liked. I enjoy the hobby so much, as do you readers; that I wish it could last year round.
This Spring a friend of mine (who happens to write a Tech Tips Column) and I started a new Mopar club. It has taken off with over 80 members already as of this writing! We plan on holding events through the winter to satisfy our craving for all things automotive. Perhaps this will give us the ‘year round’ enjoyment that our southern and western brethren enjoy. Though of course, they can still take their cars out in December, January, February, and March. They don’t have to worry about road salt and the like.
So enjoy the next few months of this wonderful car season! September has a lot of great shows and August still has some nice hot, sunny days left to go! I for one can wait for autumn. Give me a hot summer and plenty of gas and I am good to go!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Folks, normally we don’t promote individual shows or events in the Newsletter; they are listed in the EVENTS section of the website. However, from time to time, and on occasion, there is something that bears mention in the monthly edition because of its noteworthiness or importance.
Such is the case with the following show. Sandy Kane has been working for over a year to put this thing together to help men in the fight against prostate disease and to raise funds for prostate cancer research. This event promises to be a grand spectacle and portends for even greater things in the coming years. Check it out and do your best to attend.
Long Island Cruizin’ For A Cure, a
classic/antique car show to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research on Long
Island, debuts on Sunday September 17th at Fireman’s Field in
Merrick.
Over 191,000 men will be
diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2006 and 31,000 will lose their lives to this
disease. If detected early enough (with a PSA blood screening) Prostate Cancer
has a cure rate of over 90%. The show is dedicated to educating the male
population of Long Island about Prostate Cancer and to provide on site testing.
The show has been put
together by a dedicated group of volunteers working on this program after work
hours and on weekends with all of the components – from the website www.licruizinforacure.com to the phone number 1-888-LICRUIZ
to the Tee Shirts to the entertainment – all donated in one form or another.
All of the proceeds from the show are being donated to Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory (a nationally recognized research lab) in Cold Spring Harbor, for
Prostate Cancer research. The focal point of the event is free PSA
testing/blood screening and follow up being donated by South Nassau Communities
Hospital.
We have a great goody bag
for the first three hundred cars to register that includes Meguiar’s Quik Detailer and Next Generation Shine, brass dash plates,
Long Island Classic Cars.com flyers, and
a number of other gifts and items.
We also have a great
raffle prize: two tickets on American Airlines to anywhere that they fly in the
domestic United States, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean!
There will be a live deejay
and oldies rock and roll band as well as a planned live onsite broadcast by
WALK radio.
For more information
please visit www.licruizinforacure.com or contact Sandy Kane at 1-888-LICRUIZ (and
leave a message) or at 516-681-7676 during business hours Monday to Friday.
We
look forward to seeing all of you out at the show to support a really great
cause!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Do
you hear that?
It’s
a “theme”.
This
month’s theme is Buick! And, we have a great issue for you indeed! Some nice
Buick car stories and a great article by a man who loves them!
So
“Wouldn’t you really rather drive a Buick?!”
Enjoy!
________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1 Editor’s Introduction
2 Picture Caption Contest
3 Cruise Night Information
4 Guest Writer’s Columns
Lou
Refano
Steve
Goldsmith
Rich’s
Tech Tips
5 My Car Story x 2
6 The Archive
7 Editor’s Closing
________________________________________________________________
Long Island Classic Cars.Com’s
Submit
your caption along with your name and e-mail address to: newsletter@liclassiccars.com
This
contest is open to everyone! (LI Classic Cars.com paid personnel, regular
column writers, and business advertisers are not eligible.)
Winners
will be notified by e-mail and/or phone.
Please
submit all entries by the 7th of the next month. (ex: for August’s contest the
entries are due by September 7th)
No
substitutions of prizes will be allowed.
In
the event of prize choices, winner will be given the opportunity to select the
one they want.
All
decisions are final and are made by the paid personnel of Long Island Classic
Cars.com
Winners
must claim their prizes within 30 days of contest end or forfeit the prize to
the runner up.
A few
simple rules:
1) Be funny
and creative!
2) Keep it somewhat
clean!
Here is the
picture for our August “Caption Cut-Up Contest”!!
Go to it!
Send in your funniest, wittiest comments by 9/10/06 and win the prize!
The upcoming prize will again be graciously
supplied by Tom Tardugno at SEARS in Hicksville. Tell him that LICLASSICCARS.COM
sent you and he’ll give you a 10% discount on parts and accessories.
___________________________________________________
“EXTRA
EXTRA! READ ALL
ABOUT IT!!”
The
Cruise Nights are all up and running!!
Here’s the latest on them…
2006 Cruise Night location
updates:
TUESDAYS: McDonald's. Metropolitan Ave. & 69th Road, Forest Hills, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys For Tots
TUESDAYS: Audrey Ave. Oyster Bay, NY
Sponsored by Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce
TUESDAYS: Bald Hill Cultural Center. North Ocean Ave. Farmingville, NY
Sponsored by the Farmingville Fire Department
TUESDAYS: Old K-Mart Plaza. Hempstead
Tpk. Levittown, NY
Public gathering.
WEDNESDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
THURSDAYS: Wendy’s Shopping Center. Montauk Hwy and Locust Ave, Oakdale, NY
Sponsored by Still Cruisin’ Car Club
FRIDAYS: Bellmore Train Station. Sunrise Highway. Bellmore, NY
Public Gathering
FRIDAYS: Massapequa Train Station. Sunrise Highway. Massapequa, NY
Sponsored by the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce
SATURDAYS: *AM Cruise* Steve’s Collision. 618 North Bicycle Path. Port Jefferson Station, NY.
Sponsored by Steve’s Collision.
SATURDAYS: Sonomax Station. 278 Greenpoint Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys for Tots
SATURDAYS: Kohl’s. Corner Grand Blvd and Commack Rd. Deer Park, NY.
Public gathering.
SATURDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY.
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
SUNDAYS: *AM Cruise* Ocean Pkwy, Captree Beach Parking Lot through May, then at OBI.
Public gathering.
PS –
Whoever has information on the early Sunday morning cruise out
near where OBI used to be, please let us know.
Also –
I have had people submit cruise night start up location ideas to me and ask me
to list them here. I will promote every viable and active event, but please
only send me events that are somewhat established and populated since otherwise
people are dismayed when they go and nothing or very little cars are there.
Editing, adding, and deleting all of this takes a great amount of time. Thanks.
___________________________________________________
GUEST
WRITER(S) COLUMN(S)
Lou Refano writes
about one of his favorite subjects: Buicks. Lou was delighted to lend his
expertise on the Grand National. His article fits in nicely with one of our “My
Car Story” features.
Steve Goldsmith is one of those true fans of classic cars. Not only does he own quite a
nice collection of them, but he travels the US going to various shows and
events! This time out he writes about the Chrysler Museum in Michigan. He took
a trip to the Mopar Nats in Ohio this month, and being the die-hard that he is,
drove up to Michigan and back too!
Rich’s Tech Tips returns with a perfectly timed article on A/C. Sit a spell, cool off, and
read this!
In the MY CAR STORY
section we have two wonderful Buicks featured. The first is from JR Rosario who
has an incredible original, survivor Grand National that is well pampered and
documented!
Our second featured Buick
is an amazing tale of what comes full circle in life. Johnny and Marge Bosco
tell us about their ’54 Buick Convertible! Some nostalgia and current
happenings.
Enjoy…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE BRUTE FROM BUICK
by Louis
Refano
by Louis Refano
The Buick Grand National, built from 1982 and 1984-87, was a throwback to the
muscle cars of the '60s. It represented a return of rear-wheel-drive high
performance. It brought a new legion of fans to the Tri-Shield who
appreciate a high-tech, high output turbo V6 mated to crisp classic styling and
a comfortable and quiet ride and interior.
The heart of the Grand National, the turbo V6, can trace its roots back to
1962, when Buick introduced the brand-new V6 (non-turbo) in its compact
Special. The '61 Special offered a V8, but Buick management soon realized
it needed to offer a smaller, more economical, more appropriate base engine for
a compact. So in '62 a V6 was developed as the best choice so it could
fit into the engine bay, and it also shared tooling with the V8. When
this engine hit production, Buick became the first high-volume American car to
offer a V6 engine. Its 198 cubic inches produced 135 horsepower, and was
offered in the base Specials. This smaller powerplant gave the Special
better fuel economy and a lower price than its '61 counterpart. Buick had
this engine in its stable until 1968, when it was sold to Kaiser Jeep
Corp. However, it was reacquired in 1973 during the energy crisis when
Buick only offered V8s in its mid-size cars. The V6 made its return in
the
1975 Century and Regal with 231 cubic inches (3.8 litre). In 1978 the
first turbo version made its debut in the downsized Regal Sport Coupe and
LeSabre Sport Coupe. This motor developed 150 hp and 245 ft-lb. net
torque in the 2-barrel version and 165 hp and 265 ft.-lb. in the
4-barrel. The Regal Sport Coupe was also equipped with a special firm,
ride-and-handling suspension, power brakes, automatic tranny, oversize radials,
and a special domed hood.
In 1981 the Regal line was restyled with a sportier flare to the squared off
styling that debuted in '78. The coupes went to separate flush
"opera" rear quarter windows. The rear window became slanted
more, and the front shovel nose and fenders were canted more dramatically.
It was edgy and sporty, and a stark contrast to today's "jellybean"
or organic designs. With Buick's signature mags and a solid (non-vinyl)
roof, it's hard to beat, and it's one of my all-time favorite designs.
And need I mention? Looks awesome in black!
Here's how Buick described its turbo in the 1981 sales brochure:
"Outwardly, the turbocharged engine appears different because of the
compressor and intake and exhaust piping surrounding it. Driving one
gives you the feeling that you're driving TWO different engines. Under
normal conditions, it behaves much like a normal 3.8 liter V6. When the
situation demands more power, pressing the accelerator causes the
exhaust-driven turbocharger to speed up and the engine to increase its power.
Lift your foot, the turbocharger slows down, and the engine returns to its
normal mode. The turbocharged engine is equipped with an electronic Turbo
Control Center' to control spark, compensate for fuel octane, atmospheric
conditions, load, altitude, and other driving conditions. Clearly, this
technology has made turbocharging practical, judging by the way other
manufacturers are following suit. But you can drive an original,
now."
You could have driven that original with a handsome Decor Package, which
included choice of two-tone black or three other colors over a silver lower
portion, black grille accents, turbine-styled wheels, and a Sport steering
wheel. And with the available T-Tops, you just couldn't go wrong.
The first
"Regal Grand National" production car (named in honor of the NASCAR
stock car series) made its debut in February, 1982, at Daytona Beach. It
was built to commemorate Buick winning the prestigious manufacturer's trophy in
the 1981 and 1982 NASCAR Winston Cups. In an attempt to attract younger
buyers, Buick painted this Regal spin-off in an attractive two-tone combination
of charcoal gray upper and lower and silver mist mid-section, accented with red
pinstriping and "Grand National" lettering on the fenders. It also
featured T-tops, all power equipment, and Gran Touring suspension. A
total of only 215 units were built, making it extremely rare. But in
spite of the race related name, this Grand National was far from the beast it
would become. Power came from a 4.1 litre turbo V6 that developed a modest 125
horsepower and a sluggish 0-60 time of 15-16 seconds. Similar to the
sporty trim packages offered in the late '70s, the car was more show than go at
this point.
Buick would not offer a Grand National in 1983, deciding to put it on hiatus for
one year while Buick engineers were working behind the scenes to offer
something a bit more substantial in terms of performance.
The Regal Grand National reappeared for 1984 as an option package available on
the Regal Sport Coupe. Option code WE2 gave you a more serious all-black
paint scheme including black bumpers and rub strips, front air dam, deck lid
spoiler, aluminum wheels with black paint, Lear Siegler front and rear seats
with the famous orange "Turbo 6" logo, and Grand National identification.
No longer just a trim package, this car had serious performance to match its
look. Under the hood was a Turbo Port Injection turbocharged 3.8-litre V6
pumped up to 200 horsepower and 300 ft-lb of torque. Car and Driver
magazine (7/85) reported a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 121
mph. In true muscle car fashion this car could smoke the tires. The '84
had a simpler, vertical billet-style grille compared to the '82. Buick built 2,000 of these '84s. The
'85 Grand National was essentially unchanged, except for seven evenly-spaced
chrome vertical lines put in the black grille. Production of the '85 was
around 6,000.
As impressive as the GN was, Buick engineers weren't done...they got even more
out of their original cast-iron V6. For 1986 they added an air-to-air
intercooler to the turbo, a kind of air radiator that lowers the temperature
and raises the density of the air entering the cylinders. The upper and lower
intake manifolds were modified and the exhaust system was redesigned. This
boosted the horsepower to 235 and torque to 330, and created one of America's
most legendary muscle cars. When Car and Driver tested this more muscular
Grand National, they reported an astonishing zero to 60 time of 4.9 seconds, or
faster than all of the world's production cars available in North America
except the Porsche 911 Turbo, which did it in 4.6. The reported top
speed, although the car was capable of more, was 124 mph. The engineers limited
it to that speed with the engine management computer because that was the
maximum rating of the tires. Turns out there was some controversy over
the advertised horsepower rating...Car and Driver felt it should have been
rated much higher, considering the car's speed. Buick engineers admitted
they understated the horsepower...possibly not to get the insurance people
upset, possibly not to upstage GM's Corvette. Production of the '86 GN
was 5,512.
For 1987 the grille was once again modified. The top chrome band was
removed and the vertical teeth were made wider, and the Buick nameplate was
brought down inside the grille on the lower right. Power was increased
again to 245 hp and 355 lb-ft. Production skyrocketed for the year to
20,193 Grand Nationals included in a total of 26,555 Turbo Regals.
But before it was all over, and the last Grand National rolled off the assembly
line in December of '87, the powers that be at Buick pushed even harder...the
final kick of the Grand National was its evolution into the even more
outrageous, limited-edition GNX in 1987. The GNX was a true, no-holds-barred
supercar rated at 275 horsepower and 360 ft-lbs of torque; Car and Driver
reported a zero to 60 time of 4.7 seconds for the prototype. In a cool nod to
Buick heritage, the car had four slanted portholes in the front fenders which
were actual heat vents, and the GNX logo in the grille resembled the Skylark
GSX logo of the '70s. The cars were factory-fresh Grand Nationals that
were modified at ASC/McLaren Specialty Products. Modifications included a
more efficient Garrett air-to-air intercooler and a special pipe that connected
the intercooler to the engine coated with CERMATEL for increased heat rejection
and dissipation. The turbo itself was also a
lighter version to decrease turbo lag. To handle the extra power, the
transmission was beefed up, and extra structural reinforcements were added to
the body. In addition, special 16-inch rims were added (the only time
they were used on a rear-drive Regal) with lightweight alloy wheels, with the
rear wheels wider than the front. Special welded in fender flares were
added to the wheel wells to make room for the larger wheels and tires, and to
make the car look a little more menacing. All GNXs received a special
numbered dash plaque, special GNX decals, and hidden ID stampings to help
prevent fakes. The GNX option added $10,995 to the cost of a Regal Sport
Coupe, resulting in an MSRP of $29,900. Only 547 drivers enjoyed the
privilege of driving this home brand new.
In December of 1987 the Grand National was consigned to automotive history,
despite the fact that it developed a huge following among those reveling in the
return to glory of the muscle car era.
In a decade of conservative transportation, the Grand National made a
tremendous statement about American style and performance. Buick's ad
theme in the mid '70s and early '80s was "Free Spirit", and no
vehicle epitomized that Free Spirit theme better than the brutish yet classy
Grand National.
Sources: canadiandriver.com, musclecarclub.com, Buick: The Postwar Years by Jan
P. Norbye and Jim Dunne, Illustrated Buick Buyer's Guide by Richard M.
Langworth, 1978-1982 Buick sales catalogs
(Ahhhh, so that’s how it all began. The Regal had regal beginnings!) Pete
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A Visit to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum
By Steve Goldsmith
This past weekend while doing my annual visit to the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, I decided to skip the show on Sunday and head north to Auburn Hills, Michigan just outside of Detroit to visit the famous Walter P. Chrysler Museum.
This is a museum that will not only be of interest to Chrysler fanatics like myself, but to anyone who is interested in the history of the automobile.
The museum housed many milestone cars, trucks, and Jeeps as well as race cars, concept cars, and fine artwork.
Upon entering the museum you are submerged in Chrysler paraphernalia and engineering displays through the decades with a special emphasis on Chrysler’s rich military performance and engineering history. Videos can be viewed in the Imperial Theater showing highlights of Chrysler’s many contributions to the history of the automobile as well as the world.
Special displays are featured on the top floor with the current theme being “Hot Rods and Cool Mods”. This showcases many historic race cars, customs, and concept vehicles and runs through the end of August. There are usually about 70-80 cars at any given time in the museum.
The museum store is well stocked with die cast cars, toys, books, videos, apparel, posters, and artwork. You will be amazed at the fine selection of merchandise available for all ages and budgets.
The museum is located on the beautiful grounds of Chrysler’s North American Headquarters. General admission is $6 and there are senior and child discounts, plus kids under 5 are admitted free. It is open daily except Monday and holidays.
If you are near Detroit you should go see it. Enjoy and take lots of pictures! It is well worth the trip.
You can visit the museum online at: www.chryslerheritage.com
(Stevie, wish I could of been there with you! Someday I gotta go!) Pete
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
By Rich Fiore
Keep Cool Baby .... Only If You Are
Lucky
So we are well into the dog days of
summer ( 100 degrees plus ) and its looking mighty uncomfortable. Yep you
remember those days we were begging for in January? We finally got
what we wanted! ( Personally I will still take this over the cold anytime
). And some of us are fortunate to have our rides equipped with factory
installed air conditioning. So lets look at some of the basics:
For
vintage air conditioners ( pre-late 1980's ) the gas used on these systems
was good ole R-12. The buzzword for the change over of these systems today
is retrofitting. Although R-12 can still be found by some professionals and do
it yourselfers, it can be veeeery expensive. I have seen the old re-fill cans
go for as much as 30 dollars a pop. Yikes !!! Keep in mind that R-12 is not
supposed to be used except by the professional since it is considered bad
for our environment.
So fast
forward to today: The replacement freon is R-134A. This is the new
environmentally safe freon. Keep in mind R-134A must never be mixed with R-12.
All sorts of components can get schmutzed up due to the incompatibility of
the 2 gases. So lets get back to that word retrofit again. Simply put we are
taking and older system of R-12 and converting it to R-134A.
R-134A
systems are different from the older R-12 systems. These systems produce higher
pressures so heavier duty hoses are usually used. They made changes in the
O-rings & compressor oils used. The new oil is usually Ester, which by the
way is compatible with R-12. So what this means is that the old
O-rings and mineral should not be used with R-134A. Nor should you use
the old receiver/dryer since it is probably saturated with mineral oil.
You can get by with the old hoses only if they show no signs of oil leakage (
porosity ), cracks, swelling or the tubing portions showing excessive corrosion.
Original replacement hoses are very tuff to find and probably quite
expensive. Custom made hoses can be made but don't have a factory look
and are also pricey.
So I have given you some of the things to look for along with the
basics but lets look at what your options really are before jumping
into repair. Option #1. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
But if cooling is marginal you can either add a can of freon ( if your lucky
to find it ) or have it recharged by a pro. You can think about converting
at this point. If you opt for the recharge and it doesn't hold very long, I
would convert.
Option #2. If it is broken ... meaning all of the freon has leaked
out and moisture has entered the system it is time to do the conversion. But
first you must find the source of the leak. There are leak detector kits
available and I have even seen some even fill the system with dry air
temporarily and check the system with soapy suds. A leak
will usually be spotted with an oily residue. While the system is open to
do the leak repair, it is a good time to do the replacements of the
receiver dryer, O-rings and the compressor oil. Obviously the new style
fittings must be installed for the low and high pressure sides.
Now that
you have gotten to this point, there is a tough money decision to be made. Once
everything in the system is sealed, a specialized vacuum pump is required and
it can be expensive. The pump will pull an almost perfect 29 inches of
vacuum to remove the air and moisture from the system. The system should hold
vacuum for a good 30 minutes. You should also have a set of gauges to check
system pressures while recharging.
Option
#3. Pay someone to do the complete conversion since the cost of the pump
and gauges might make it cost prohibitive.
So
that's basically it. The nuts and bolts of your basic R-12 air conditioning
system and what it would take to do a conversion. Keep in mind it is
always a great idea to have your shop manual around as a reference to understanding
the specifics of your system.
Keep it cool and under 190 boys and girls !!!!
Quick
and dirty:
When was the last time you checked your A/C components for leakage and put in a
good oil charge ?
(Great Richie! Now if you would only come to my house and get my Charger running cool!) Pete
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
J.R.
Rosario: 1987 Buick Grand National
Greetings all! This is JR. Rosario, I am in my 40’s now, married (14 Years) and have 2 kids ( daughter age 19 & son age 7). I have owned a total of 4 Grand Nationals. My first was back in 1986. It was an '85 Grand National with only 9,000 miles. I used to live in Sunset Park Brooklyn at the time and when I first came out with it not many people knew what it was, people thought it was a Black Regal with painted bumpers. I kept that car until 1991 when I sold it and bought my 2nd Grand National, a 1987.
I have loved the Grand Nationals since they were first produced in Black back in 1984. In 1992 when I got married, we had the usual 3 white Limos and there were 9 Grand Nationals following the limos! My car and 8 of my buddies, it was an awesome sight. Anyway, I had that car for a year and sold it in 1993. Reality kicks in and sometimes you have to let go of the things we call "toys" to get more realistic things in life like a house.
Anyway, we purchased our house in 1996 and after a few years I realized that what was missing for me was "my toy". Well, after reminiscing with my wife about all the great times we had in the GN, she suggested that if I were to get another one it would be for keeps. Well, after searching for over a year to get the right car, (I wanted a low mileage, one owner, original, unmolested car) comes 2003 and BAMMMMM! I found it, I had to travel to Virginia to get it and it was well worth the trip. It was like 1987 all over again for me.
My "1 HOT 87" is a one owner, unmolested Buick GN that still retained its original wires and plugs. The owner had given me every piece of paperwork to the car including the window sticker!
I have been into the Buick Grand Nationals since 1985. It is a shame that Buick has not made any real noise since they phased them out back in December of 1987. Back in 1987 The Buick Grand National was hailed as "The Quickest Production Car Built" even smoking the Chevy Corvette.
My "1 HOT 87" which is what my license plate reads will stay with me for a long time.
(JR, nice car! A super ride to be sure....and a definite keeper!) Pete
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
John & Marge
Bosco: 1954 Buick Super Convertible
Back in May of 1954 my then boyfriend (now husband) who was 21, bought a brand new ’54 Buick Special Convertible right out of the showroom. I was only 17 at the time and we already loved the car. The color was Ocean Mist with a black and yellow interior. A very cool car to be sure.
I gave Johnny $300 that I had saved towards purchasing the car. It was $3,200 back then. Well, we went to the prom together, graduated and eventually got married. That was August 25th, 1956. We then drove the car to Florida for our honeymoon! We had a great time.
Unfortunately in the 1960’s the car was stolen from a fire department parking lot. We found it two weeks later stripped completely. The insurance company offered us “book value” of only $350!! Imagine that!? We were very upset. John had just repainted the car, put in a new transmission, and had a new top installed. Someone along the line had their eyes on it.
Years went by as they do, and we started looking for another one. In May of 2004 (50 years after it all started) we found this 1954 Buick Super Convertible in the same Ocean Mist color! The car was in Illinois. The couple that owned it had it for 18 years and it was in excellent condition inside and out. Obviously we bought it and have loved it since.
To come full circle; we drove it to my 50th class reunion at Bellport High on Long Island. Everyone enjoyed the car and it brought back so many memories of the first time we had our Buick together. This is our gift to each other for our 50th wedding anniversary. August 25th, 2006.
Dreams do come true! “Happy Days” to all!
(Marge and John – great
story. What a cool ending! And the tale will continue......) Pete
______________________________________________________
Here is where you can access previous editions of the Long
Island Classic Cars Online Newsletter.
October 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct03.html
November 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov03.html
December 2003 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Dec03.html
January 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan04.html
February 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb04.html
March 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar04.html
April 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr04.html
May
2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May04.html
June 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun04.html
July 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul04.html
August 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Aug04.html
September 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Sep04.html
October 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct04.html
November 2004 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov04.html
January 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan05.html
February 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb05.html
March 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar05.html
April 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr05.html
May
2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May05.html
June 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun05.html
July 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul05.html
August 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Aug05.html
September 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Sep05.html
October 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Oct05.html
November 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Nov05.html
December 2005 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Dec05.html
January 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jan06.html
February 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Feb06.html
March 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Mar06.html
April
2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Apr06.html
May 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/May06.html
June 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jun06.html
July 2006 http://www.liclassiccars.com/Newsletter/Jul06.html
You can also access the previous Newsletters through a
link on the main page of the website.
___________________________________________________
That’s it for this
month boys and girls!
Send in your comments
for the picture caption contest along with any articles and features for the
Newsletter and the My Car Story
section!
I remind everyone that the
PARTS section is free for all that you might want to sell!
Go ahead, load all your stuff
up there for all to see!
Pete Giordano
Long Island Classic Cars.com