Tonight the Buick Heritage Association had a banquet where they honored Nicola Bulgari with their special award for all he had done for the restoration and preservation of Buicks. He is the host of this BCA 50th celebration on his 26 acre estate that was formally a drive in movie. His restoration shops and car displays are on the property. It is an awesome facility and hopefully we have 4-5 hours of rain free weather tomorrow morning so the cars can be on the show field in their glory. I met Tom Zickefoose (Ziggy) and wife today at the event to buy some parts and then dropped them at the swap meet to look for parts and later register with BCA. It was fun to finally meet someone you have done business with over time and solidify the bond. Tom on the left and Chuck on the right. Good looking and healthy guys!!
Back from the BCA show and I have to say it was an amazing day. The quality of the cars ranged from driver to survivor to pristine and there was something for everyone. I love muscle cars, but I love antiques too, and saw about 100 Buicks I'd love to own! Following are just a few examples of remarkable cars. Example 1: 1915 Buick 3/4 ton truck. Older restoration, looks well used, as it might have looked a few years after it was built. The owner and his wife run this truck so often at home it doesn't even draw attention anymore. DQ, Walmart, Cosco, wherever. He offered to start it up just so I could hear it run. Great conversation, interesting truck. Example 2: 1909 Open car, I forget the model. This is a perfectly restored brass era car from Illinois. It's spectacular in every way and has been to many shows, Concours de elegance events etc. Currently the engine is out for repairs which requires custom engineered and fabricated parts. No matter, the owners loaded it up and hauled it all the way here just to show it. Great conversation with the owner discussing polishing. Example 3: Nick ( Ivyland Collision) 69 ( I think) Stage 1 GS400. Impeccable restoration, painstaking attention to detail. Black and stunning, dead flat and shiny, a major dirt magnet. This is a stripped down race car with Stage 2 prototype heads, massive headers and dual quads. Profoundly rare parts there just for anyone to walk up and see. Nick loves to share his experience and knowledge on this car. Example 4: Chuck Nixons '32 Model 67S sedan. I met Chuck, he's even nicer in person than on the phone, the funny thing is, every person we met and spoke to throughout the day was just as nice and friendly as the last. My dealings with him have been regarding 67 GS parts and projects but this guy is multi-cultural! His '32 is amazing! Elegant is an understatement when describing this car, It is perfect, the detail and quality of the restoration is to be coveted.The upholstery seams line up straight, the pin stripes are symmetrical and artistic at the same time. The stainless, the chrome, the body lines and gaps, the paint...all flawless Example 5: I don't even remember exactly what the car was, maybe a 1935 or so sedan. It was a little dull here and there, and maybe a little worn around the edges. What struck me was that according to one of the medallions on it, it was an AACA 1'st place winner in 1965. That's 51 years ago! Rivs, Wildcats, Roadmasters, GSX's, Reattas, Park Avenues, Invictas, Skylarks, Centurys,and more. All there. Millions and millions of dollars of cars and history just waiting to be shared. There wasn't a single car there that wasn't unique and impressive in one way or another. It was a pleasure to walk freely around all the and not contend with ropes, nor did I see even one " look but don't touch " sign. Respectful behavior was simply the order of the day. If you get the chance, GO TO THIS SHOW! Buicks are not a large segment of the collector market, and there are more in captivity here than anywhere else I've seen. Tom
I have hundreds of photos but will take a few days to load best of the lot. Took lots of 67-70 cars as well as Brass to Reattas. Had good weather for the complete show until 1:00 PM and then the rain came but all judging done by then and folks had a great time from 8 AM to 1:00 PM. Ed Welburn, former head of GM design was introduced at the Buick Heritage Association banquet last night Today, Ed with Nicola Bulgari riding shot gun, drove the rare Y Job Buick shown in the photos above, all around the show circuit with the Buick Bug following driven by Keith Flickinger, the head of Precision Motors who does all the Bulgari restorations. GM sent the two latest Buick Concept Cars and they were also driven around the circuit behind the Bug. I have photos of all but again will take some time to sort as we are on the road back to Texas tomorrow. This was a one-of-a-kind event and I don't see how it will ever be duplicated. Over 650 Buicks, all years and models all in one place. I need to decompress
It was a nice turnout but there were a lot of empty spots with no-shows, 650 was the initial registration but I Estimate at least over 100 empty spaces if not more. There have been several larger BCA nationalS. I was shocked that there were no 53 or 54 skylarks there. But the 30s and 40s cars had a fantastic showing with excellent quality. I am OCD and would never consider putting a car on the show field Dirty though and there were lots of them, I realize that there was bad weather all week but I would've been up at five in the morning washing mine for the show. The parade with the Y job, the Buick Bug, the Avista and the Avenir was awesome I sure would not have wanted to be driving a vintage Buick on the way home, I ran wicked torrential rains on the PA Turnpike, even the tractor trailers were pulling over.
Sounds like it was a great week. I was unable to make it due to last minute issues and I regret not being able to see some folks that I have not seen in years. As I am easing back into the hobby, I was hoping to reconnect with Carl, Jason, Adam (Smartin), Alan, Bill, and more, and meet some new folks. Hope to get to Cecil and try again! Was that Yardley's Riv on the field? Looking good! Was there any support for V8Buick from the BCA? Any mention or interface? Stay safe out there!
Bill, Why would there be any support, mention or interface of V8 at a BCA function? Many V8 forum members are BCA members but there is no tie between the groups past that.
I was one of the no shows when the torque ball seal dumped trans fluid( about a pint + ) on the drip pan . I did have a flea market space . GLAD I didn't bring my beautiful (to me ) Buick that has no holes anywhere on her body and still has some of her original paint, not pretty but has some of the best original chrome I have even seen !!!!!! And she has all her SHOTS !!!! Bill
If you were referring to my comment about dirty cars, it had nothing to do with condition but obvious lack of caring enough to present the cars to their best even in the worst of conditions. A simple bath would have made many look much better, there was obvious fresh dirt and film from running in the rain, dirty whitewalls and wheels, etc. A car does not need to be a show car to show pride of ownership. Is a simple bath the morning of the show to much to do? I have been known to wash and clean my cars up multiple times at shows with that type of conditions. The picture of your car show a work in process but with definite pride of ownership
The BPG division won the new membership award last night at the Awards Banquet for bringing in over 30 new members. I did see one 1964 Buick Skylark ( I thought?) and want to say it was blue but should check my hundreds of photos in a few days. We left at 9:00 AM this morning and headed west to Butler, PA on I-80 to pick up 45 boxes of all remaining Buick Bugle magazines from the first to current. Spread the boxes out in my F-250 rear seat area, truck bed and a few in the trailer with the 1932 Buick. North Texas Chapter of BCA are going to take over the selling of the Bugles when requested and do some indexing and digital work to make it easier to find a particular car of a particular year and what ever has been published about it over the years. This will take some months but Pete Phillips, Editor of the Bugle is a North Texas Chapter member and will maintain the Bugles for those who want past copies. All I have to do is get the 45 boxes to him once I get home to Fort Worth in a few days. Great trip so far and will get the 67 Vista Cruiser ready to take to the Wisconsin BCA National meet, July 5-8 in a suburb of Milwaukee. Make your plans now and check the BCA site.
I hauled many of those same boxes years ago when the Pittsburgh chapter started selling the back issues. Had the back of my utility trailer full of them. Unless things have changed in the inventory since I was involved, most of the early ones are out of stock.
I also was one of the no shows. One of the few times that owning a business is sometimes not so fun. Thanks for sharing and posting pictures for us to see what some of us missed out on. I would think that everyone that attended this event (at any level of participation) showed their "pride of ownership" for their Buick. All dirty wheels aside, don't you? Tony
