I here y'all like Buick

[hydralique]

Olds and Buick Eights . . .

Cadillac and Olds often worked together but Buick hated them and tended to keep to themselves. In '49 Cad and Olds both came out with new overhead valve V8s which gave them some of the fastest sedans in the world. Buick had been using an overhead valve design on their straight eights for decades and had a reputation of building strong and powerful engines; some bus manufacturers even used the Buick eight in commercial applications. However, like most all straight eights the Buick was very heavy and wasn't designed to rev. The new Olds and Caddy V8s were much lighter and more powerful. The four speed Hydramatic was also quite a bit more responsive if not so smooth as the Dynaflow. The result was that in comparison to Olds and Cadillac from '49 to '52 Buick didn't have a chance performance wise. In '53 they introduced the famous "nailhead" V8 which was big and powerful, but emphasized torque over horsepower, most likely to make up for the sluggish Dynaflow. Buicks were still not as quick as the equivalent Oldsmobiles (or Chryslers with their hemi-head V8s), but they were no longer so slow as to be embarrassed.

 

[whirlaway]

53 Buick

In the mid 70s my friend Billy bought a 53Buick with a v8 nice car it had a Banjo Style steering wheel with a large plexiglass medallion in the midlle celebrating 50 years of Buick,this came from an old lady whos sister had a 53Desoto firedome,both cars had around 30,000 miles on them.The Buick had a foot starter,you pushed the accelerator to start it.It was very tempramental,it kicked back and broke the flywheel,he had it replaced and put a pushbutton starter on it.They also had kneeaction shocks on it,when you went around a corner you had to pull your elbow in to keep from scrapping the pavement,but all in all it was a well built car.I had a 54 New Yorker then,with a factory 4barrel and dual exhaust.That car would scream down the road,you could be going 35 punch it and it would screech a tire.Those were great cars.I have a 56 Desoto fireflite now,I dont drive it often enough,but when I get it out,I forget how pwerful it is and such a pleasure to drive.You can see out of these cars so well. Bobby

 

[strongenough78]

Those are beautiful Buicks. And I can see the Continental like look on the back of that 64. That looks like the mid to late 70's Continentals in the back. It's the vertical tail lights. My Great Grandmother had a 75 Riviera. It was about 10 years old when she bought it, she was well into her 70's. She used every bit of power that 455 put out too. She was like the Little Old Lady from Pasadena. My Uncle inherited that car when she died. He got many more good years out of it. He said it was a pleasure to drive in the snow. It would mow through a snow drift with no problem. He finally had to get rid of it eventually. He kept the engine and transmission out of it but scrapped the rest. That 75 Electra is a beauty too. I wouldn't mind one of those, but in 4 door.

 

[strongenough78]

Here's a picture of my Mom's 93 LeSabre she bought last year. She loves it and so do I. Great on gas, good power and very comfortable. She has the Gran Touring Suspension which does help it handle very nicely.