1950 Buick Other

Wood-bodied station wagon

"Fireball" straight-8

Dynaflow automatic

15967802

Clear

Gasoline

This 1950 Buick woodie is an authentic, well-maintained, solid automobile that is in extraordinarily original condition and runs, drives, and looks great. It was pulled out of a storage facility in El Centro, CA by my neighbor in 2005, and was treated to a full (an expensive) mechanical restoration at that time. I acquired it in 2010 when his son, a high school senior, decided he preferred to be seen in a BMW 2002 rather than a 1950 woodie. So much for teenagers... This is a nice example of what Buick called the "Model 59 Super Estate Wagon" for 1950: "Crafted of seasoned wood and sheet metal - with room for golf bags, fishing tackle, trunks, or what-have-you - or for six people going to a party." The car wears its correct "Royal Maroon Metallic" paint color, but the paint is old and, while it retains a decent shine, it shows faint spider-webbing in a few areas and has been touched up with a brush on the top right front fender of the car, as illustrated in one of the photos. There is no evidence of paint over-spray or masking tape, which leads me to believe this could be the original paint. The wood is in good condition, with no rot, and has been lightly sanded in anticipation of fresh varnish. There are a few areas around the joints that have been filled; these small areas should be gone over with a stainable wood putty and refinished. The tailgate is in fine condition and appears to be correct and original; its framing is in excellent shape, while the paneling needs to be varnished. On both sets of doors, Di-Noc vinyl inserts were installed at some point on the recessed sections, and this should be replaced with a more correct material. The car's red upholstery has been redone at some point in its life, and the seats were recovered ion a quality, grained, leather-like material that looks proper for the car's vintage. The red carpeting has also been renewed. The rear seat folds down for additional cargo space. The dashboard and gauges are excellent, although there is a small paint chip on the left side of the driver's door. All interior wood is sound and in excellent shape. The enormous chrome grille, bumpers, hubcaps and trim are in excellent condition. The 5 wide whitewall tires are old, but not deteriorated. The chassis of the car appears dry and sound. The 8-cylinder engine fires up easily and runs well, with no smoke. The "Dynaflow" automatic transmission shifts smoothly, and the brakes work as they should. The car handles and stops like a - well, like a 1950's American car. The suspension is comfortable rather than overly firm. In the past two years it has received a new fuel pump, water pump, a rebuilt radiator, fresh transmission gaskets, a new battery, and plenty of waves and smiles. It's fun to drive. The pictures illustrate the car far better than I can describe it. Better yet, if you or a friend are near the San Diego area, I encourage an examination of the car. I welcome questions about it and can send specific photos as needed. The car spends time in the garage a lot more than it gets driven, and it's time it found an owner who wants to drive and enjoy it more often. Its current condition is quite acceptable for a driver, yet with a reasonably small amount of work, it could become a stunning display piece. It's calling out for a hobbyist - can you hear it?