Built to Last: A Love Story

This Buick was born in 1950.

What drew me in were the red rims of promise flanking its gray body. As an old friend used to say, art is where you find it.

The hood was raised and a guy was leaning over the engine -- he was wearing two-tone gray clothes and looked just like his car, like how people match their dogs. As I passed by I remarked "You're perfect together -- all you need are red shoes." So Sean King and I got to talking and he told me about how he found this car in a field in Kansas, all rusted and dented, its future dim till he showed up.

He said the car is a magnet for conversation -- people stop to talk with him all the time, but that most of all he loves talking with older men, especially WWII vets, because of the stories they tell him about their life and in particular their own adventures with this model, back in the day. (He pointed out the extra-wide back seat, provenance of many a boomer.)

A thirty-something himself, Sean remarked, "I love the concept of old and young learning from each other -- but there aren't so many opportunities to have that kind of give and take. When you strip all the stereotypes away there's so much to learn from one another: the older generation was selfless - they worried about each other more than themselves -- the younger generation tells the older what's going on now, what's new, so they can stay up to date."

He fills in the dents with a putty called Bondo, and explains to me how "the dents are still there underneath, like scars, but the Bondo just smoothes out the imperfections."

A soulful guy, leaving the patina as he brings a new chapter to this car's life, restoring it to all it can still be. Even after being junked out there in the field, forsaken to the elements, he said, "It started right up!"

(Just like a heart.)

Love is where you find it.

1950 Buick Super Sedan

Sean King of the Buick

Carburetor sitting on intake manifold. On top of carburetor is the air cleaner. The intake sucks air mixed with gas provided by the carburetor into the combustion chamber to get the car moving

The intake manifold on the inside, and the exhaust manifold on the outside

The horn

Mechanics of the door handle

Interior controls

Front end

"These cars were made so simple, in that everything about them is mechanical, physical, direct, visible." - SK

Bondo

A work in progress..

2011 Rose-Lynn Fisher

 

 

 

Comments

[trailerguy]

10:11 AM on 10/14/2011

america built the best then.( until the late 60's) many of these cars are a work of art. It also amazes me that after a tough life how many of them still run.

[Bellla]

09:27 AM on 10/14/2011

Don't I know Bondo! That old car is soo much better than the plasticized unibody disposable skateboards of today!

[jeffhintx]

07:39 AM on 10/14/2011

Why doesn't he put a headlight in that hole, wouldn't that be the very first thing a sane person replaces if they're going to drive it?

[waldopepper]

01:07 AM on 10/14/2011

I have a 68 Mustang coupe. A nice ride - but a lot of work. New cars are undoubtedly better,safer - etc. Sadly I and my attitudes are aging. :)

[VoteObama2012]

09:09 PM on 10/13/2011

Nice car, I would fix it up and drive it also. I would ditch the red wheels though, it would look good with some chrome 20s on it.

[Tully Hoover]

08:57 PM on 10/13/2011

That's gonna be sweet when he gets finished!

[Iheartniki]

08:32 PM on 10/13/2011

The station wagon version of this Buick, beautifully restored, is in the movie Julie and Julia. It shown driving through the streets of Paris and the French countryside.

[Stu Graff]

08:29 PM on 10/13/2011

Saving an old car is like saving history. Keep up the good work Sean.

[Areyoukiddingg]

08:21 PM on 10/13/2011

When I was 15 I had a '53 Olds 88 that I brought back from being used as hay storage. Rocket V8, Automatic, and a real lead sled. When I mashed on the gas I could see the fuel gauge start to creep toward empty. But with gas at 19 cents a gallon who cared?

[Harvee Wallbanger]

07:12 PM on 10/13/2011

Cool old ride. He really should take it easy with the bondo though.

[Ark Trucker]

06:53 PM on 10/13/2011

I'm not a GM man but, I've always been a Buick lover. There was just something about Buicks that wasn't like other cars.. even other GM models. From starting the engine by pressing the accelorator to the floor, the Dyna-Flow transmission and the Fireball engines they were the whole package.
My dream Buick now would be a 1956 Special 2 door blue and white two tone.

[Harvee Wallbanger]

11:10 PM on 10/13/2011

I see you are not a GM man. Or your fave Buick would be the 1970 GSX like mine is - LOL.

[HB Rantings]

08:44 AM on 10/14/2011

My dad was a Buick man too. He had one similar to the one in the article; I don't remember what year it was, but it was green. He loved that car and I have so many pictures of him standing next to it with a polishing rag. I inherited his '64 Special (2 door, blue, 3 on the column) and drove it til the frame caved in. He taught me how to patch the holes when it rusted too. The Fireball engine was then put in a jitney and I wonder if it's still running today (It was 10 years ago). He got a 3rd Buick before he passed. There are many endearing memories attached to these cars and I love seeing the ones that have been restored. It brings back good memories. Thanks.

[DushanRadovic]

06:48 PM on 10/13/2011

pollutionmobile

[bluerednot]

06:12 PM on 10/13/2011

You know, it you focus just right as you scroll through these pictures, you can smell the oil and gas in the engine bay shots & you can get a whiff of that slightly musty scent that the interior of old cars from the 40's & 50's tend to have.

[Edward Standley]

08:47 PM on 10/13/2011

I had a stinky old '62 VW bus. Reading your post, I got a whiff. :)

[Massconfusion]

06:11 PM on 10/13/2011

Car and Photos...Both Lovely

[Kiri the Unicorn]

06:08 PM on 10/13/2011

I drive a 1982 Mercedes 240D; not quite a classic, but in my care he'll get there. His name is Gunther.