Volume 57, Issue 6 June-July 2015 My 1918 Buick Center Door Sedan By Bill Thomas was desirable and went over and looked About a year and a half ago I answered an ad at the center door. He said it would on Craig’s List listing some old cars. It was actually run! That made it more only about fifteen miles from my place. So I interesting. It was an older restoration drove over to New Waverly. Well, when I but appeared to have been kept inside arrived, the place was out in the woods and most of its life. The roof has some not very developed. There were old parts and issues but that was expected. The rest pieces of cars everywhere. I thought it looked of the car was tight and could be more like a junk yard than restorable cars. refinished without too much work. Finally we found the owner and he took us to a couple of old barns and there were some So, I worked out a deal on all three cars that had potential. vehicles and gave him a check for the An AACA Award Winning Newsletter Winning Award An AACA Gulf CoastGulf Region, Houston, Texas full amount. He said, “I have all the Outside was an old T fuel truck that caught titles,” which again, I found unusual. The Antique Expression my attention. So, we marked that one. Once Normally the title on cars this old can inside, there were two old Buicks. One was a be an issue. 1918 roadster, the other, a closed car, also a (Continued on page 2.) 1918 which I never knew Buick made, a center door sedan! Well, I knew the roadster Inside this issue: Lots of Birthdays 3 Big Hats & Little Whispers 7 Picnic & Party Info 10 The Antique Expression (Continued from page 1) books and found out both of these 18 Buicks apparently are very rare. Very low production numbers, center I only brought one trailer so we had to leave one door 700, and only 463 of the four-door were manu- car there. We left the roadster. I told him we factured. I also inquired with the Early Buick Club and would try and get back within the next week to the Buick Club of America, and they confirmed my pick it up. He said that was not a problem. findings. On the center door, we can document my car and one other in the Buick museum in Flint: only two So the week went by and back to New Waverly we left. went. Surprise, when we got back, the roadster was gone!.......... “Oh, I forgot, I sold that car The four-door, which will face restoration in the next about three weeks ago!” Really now. I have the year, is a six-cylinder on a 118 inch wheel base, and I title and the other buyer took off without asking cannot find any record of another 18 four door on the for a title! That’s interesting. I said, “You 118 wheel base. Is it the only one left? I don’t know accepted my check for the car and you forgot it for sure. So far, it appears it is. had already been sold?” I am not sure I buy that. One other interesting thing. The title on the 18 roadster But, he said, “I have another 1918 Buick four door had Willie Kruger on it. Do any of the old time I will let you have for a couple of hundred dollars members of the Gulf Coast remember Willie and did he less.” Well, under the circumstances, I thought ever own a Buick roadster? I don’t know but found what other option is there, sue for the roadster? I that interesting as well. By the way, I did give the title did not want to get wrapped up in all that mess so I back. I have no idea who finally got the roadster, but I took the four door. The center door came out of know I didn’t. Virginia I think. The four door out of Nebraska. So, in conclusion, apparently I wound up with two very We spent about ten months working on the center rare Buick autos just by happenstance. door, body off, etc. The clutch was stuck so we pulled the engine. We were able to get the engine running in about half a day. It ran so nicely we Don’t forget! decided just to clean it up and paint the outside. Sent the clutch to Houston to be rebuilt. With the The Antique Expression four cylinder engine, Buick used a cone clutch. Publication Changes We sand blasted the clutch and got it relined. We did have to replace some of the top wood because of rot. We completed replacing all the bad wood After this June issue, we will not have an AE for July. in our wood shop and in a couple of months, added We will have one every second month: August, a new interior and paint job. Took it out for some October, and December. We will be sending a road test and pronounced it, done! postcard to remind you of upcoming club meetings and events in the interim months. Our first outing was the Texas tour where we received a second place award. Attended La HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ALL YOU JUNE Toretta and received a class award. The last AND JULY COUPLES! outing was Keels and Wheels where the car received a best in class award. So, over all, we have been quite pleased. I now had some time to do some background research on these two cars. I researched two Buick Page 2 Volume 57, Issue 6 BIRTHDAYS in JUNE From The President Chuck Crane 6/1 Leon Ahlers Donna Sanford 6/4 John Sweney 6/13 Volunteerism... it's a big word, but it's latest AACA Texas Tour, have been Joan Eyssen 6/18 a big job. If not for volunteers, this outstanding. It has recently been Carrie Huber 6/18 country would be in a more wretched brought to my attention that some " Sandra Johnston 6/21 state than presently exists. Fire Monday morning quarterbacking" Barbara J Wahlberg 6/21 Robert Wheeless 6/26 departments, hospitals, churches, has occurred regarding our latest and civic associations are largely effort. I am asking folks to bring your composed of volunteers. Most of us critiques to the board meetings volunteer for the simple reason that it where all of us can learn from your JULY is the right thing to do; step up and observations, rather than address BIRTHDAYS help where you can. There is no the matter directly with the tour remuneration, but the feeling of chairman. As President, I lead the satisfaction is rather nice, especially directors and general meetings and when the job goes well. Our Gulf try to keep matters between the Elaine Bullard 7/7 Coast Region would be non-extant lines. It is my sincere hope that any Ron Sanford 7/8 without a strong core of volunteers. comments on events, tours, etc,. be Alton Hues 7/11 Our newsletter, tours, programs, and kept on a positive note because it is Ferrell Moore 7/18 even the tasty treats that tempt our at best, difficult, to find volunteers Carl Sharon 7/23 taste buds at the meetings, are the who feel unappreciated. Volunteering Ellen Ericksen 7/24 products of volunteers. My reason should make you feel good, sort of Frank Guseman 7/26 Nell Willis 7/27 for mentioning this topic is that all of like wetting your pants in a dark suit; Cheryl Malpass 7/29 us who volunteer our time and effort you get a warm feeling although no Bonnie Peterson 7/30 are not professionals and as such, one else notices. Thank all of you Mary Ellen Doyle 7/31 an occasional oversight occurs, a who have given your time and effort Robert Hoff 7/31 stitch is dropped here and there, but these past few decades. the overall product, as in the JUNE Anniversaries Ron & Sally McMillan 6/11 (21 years!) Tom & Evelyn Timmins 6/16 (48!!!) Ferrell & Norma Moore 6/18 (60!!!!) Here’s A Good One……………. Jerry & Dot McCurry 6/22 (19!) Glenn & Floy Haddox 6/23 (25!!) Ralph & Verniece Brady 6/28 (46!!!) From time to time I will have some sayings from this Average for the month: 36.5 years booklet that Stan Ericksen gave me. Coleman Cox wrote it in 1932 and it was given out by the Amarillo Hardware Co., most likely on a tour, don’t you think? JULY Anniversaries Automobile drivers frequently do not realize how Chris & Jamie Baccaro 7/2 (14!) fast they are traveling until wrecked and that is Steve & Dee Wanderman 7/4 (40!!) often true of boys and girls. Barney & Louise Calvert 7/5 (63!!!!) J.T. & Betty Gorrell 7/11 (28!!) “All are born equal..” Maybe so, but equal to what Larry & Carrie Huber 7/12 Bill & Nancy Womack 7/14 (27!!) or to whom remains the unanswered question. Danny & Sherri Kurtz 7/17 Charlie & Jerria Worthen 7/19 (31!!!) Politeness pays compound interest. Timothy & Joan Eyssen 7/22 Average for the month: 33.8 years Page 3 The Antique Expression Secretary’s Column A.A.C.A. Gulf Coast Region Secretary’s Report instruction, “Debits on the left; cred- late chips, and that special blend of AACA Gulf Coast Region its on the right.” It was funnier when butter, sugar, and flour that us General Meeting Tom said it.