1931 Buick

Retrobuild Other

8 - Cyl.

Manual

2471859

Clear

Gasoline

1931 8-60 SERIES BUICK INDY 500 RETRO BUILD. THIS 1931 BUICK STRAIGHT EIGHT 8-60 SERIES RACE CAR WAS A RETRO BUILD, BUILT MOSTLY FROM THE 1931 8-60 SERIES BUICK AND IT'S PARTS. THE IDEA FOR THE CAR CAME FROM THE RUNNING OF THE 1931 RUNNING OF INDY CARS, MOST NOTABLY PHIL SHAFER'S RUNNING OF #12 AND PLACING 5TH IN THE INDY RACE IN 1933 USING WINFIELD CARBURETORS. THE CAR WAS BUILT BY MY FATHER, THE LATE MALCOLM C. BAUER OF ARNOLD, CA. MY FATHER WAS EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN IN THE BUICK COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY IN THE 1931 8-60 SERIES ERA. HE WAS A TECHNICAL ADVISOR/EXPERT IN THE FIELD, AS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WOULD CALL ON HIM FOR ADVISE. HE OWNED A TOTAL OF FIVE 1931 8-60 SERIES CARS, 3 OF WHICH HE RESTORED COMPLETELY. THIS CAR REPRESENTS HIS FINEST WORK AND WAS ONE OF THE CROWNING MOMENTS OF HIS LIFETIME. THE CAR WAS COMPLETED AROUND 1999 AND WAS DRIVEN PERIODICALLY OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS OR SO, MOSTLY ON CAR RALLY OUTINGS, AND TIME TRIPLED RUNS. THIS CAR IS VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE INLINERS CLUB AND HAS SEEN MANY ROADS THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. I CANNOT HONESTLY SAY HOW MANY MILES ARE ON THIS CAR; MY GUESS IS MAYBE 5,000 OR MORE. THE CURRENT ODOMETER READING IS 75,608 WHICH OBVIOUSLY REFLECTS A RE-USED ODOMETER FOR THE RESTORATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT I DON'T THINK THE ODOMETER IS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY IN TERMS OF HOW FAST YOU ARE ACTUALLY MOVING. THIS CAR WAS BUILT TO BE DRIVEN! IT WAS MY FATHER'S WISH THAT THE CAR BE SOLD TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD ENJOY IT AS HE DID AND KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS SEVERAL MINOR "DINGS", MOST NOTABLY ON THE FIREWALL FROM ROCKS OFF THE ROAD, ETC. I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE CAR WAS BUILT SPECIFICALLY TO FIT MY FATHER, MOST NOTABLY THE SEATS ARE NOT MOVABLE. MY FATHER WAS 5' 8" TALL AND IT FIT HIM VERY WELL. MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, AND HE IS 6' TALL. I AM 6' 5" AND CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THESE HEIGHT LIMITATIONS. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN THE CAR. THE CAR IS IN FINE RUNNING CONDITION AND IS CURRENTLY BEING GARAGE STORED IN COPPEROPOLIS, CA ABOUT 1 HOUR EAST OF STOCKTON, CA. THERE ARE MANY "EXTRAS" INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION THAT WILL GO WITH THE CAR. PHOTOS, PHOTO ALBUMS AND NOTEBOOKS OF THE RESTORATION ARE ALL INCLUDED. THERE ARE SEVERAL ALBUMS WITH EXTENSIVE HISTORY AND RESEARCH DETAILING THAT ERA OF INDY RACING, SPECIFICALLY THE ROLE OF THE BUICK AT INDY AND SEVERAL NICELY FRAMED PICTURES FROM THE SHAFER ERA OF INDY RACING. FINALLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF EXTRA PARTS INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION THAT REALLY DO BELONG TO THIS CAR, FENDERS, EXTRA STARTER, EXTRA 1932 BUICK TRANSMISSION(THIS YEAR WAS USED IN THIS CAR), 2 EXTRA WIRE WHEELS WITH TIRES, AMONGST OTHER MISC ITEMS LIKE SPECIALTY TOOLS, ETC. THE CAR IS TITLED IN MY NAME AND I HAVE THE TITLE IN MY POSSESSION. I WELCOME ALL QUESTIONS, BUT HAVE CERTAINLY PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD IN GIVING OUT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE DECIDED TO INCLUDE AN ARTICLE WHICH MY FATHER WROTE FOR THE BUICK BUGLE MAGAZINE THAT SHEDS MORE LIGHT ON HOW THE CAR CAME TO BE AND HOW IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED. 1931 SHAFER-EIGHT BY MALCOLM C BAUER BCA #7388 ARNOLD, CA I WILL OPEN THIS STORY WITH A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS IN THE EARLY 30'S. STARTING IN 1930 RACING RULES WERE CHANGED IN ORDER TO GET AUTO MANUFACTURES BACK INTO RACING COMPETITION AND MOVE SOMEWHAT AWAY FROM THE RACE PURPOSE CARS, WHICH DOMINATED THE 20'S. HARRY AND JAMES BUTCHER WERE THE FIRST TO ENTER A BUICK POWERED CAR IN 1930 USING THE BIGGEST SIX-CYLINDER ENGINE BUICK BUILT FOR 1930. IN 1931 VETERAN INDY DRIVER PHIL SHAFER BUILT A RACER USING A RIGLING FRAME AND BODY, POWERING IT WITH THE NEW 60 SERIES STRAIGHT EIGHT ENGINE. WITH THIS CAR HE FINISHED 12TH IN 1931 AND 11TH IN 1932. IN 1933 INDY VETERAN STUBBY STUBBLEFIELD DRIVING A SHAFER-EIGHT, PLACED 5TH, AND IN 1934 AL MILLER DROVE A SHAFER-EIGHT TO 6TH PLACE. IN 1935 STUBBLEFIELD AND HIS RIDING MECHANIC WERE KILLED WHEN THEIR SHAFER-EIGHT WENT OVER THE WALL DURING QUALIFICATIONS, HOWEVER CLIFF BERGERE DROVE THE LAST SHAFER-EIGHT TO ACTUALLY RUN THE 500 TO 13TH PLACE. SHAFER ALSO RAN STRAIGHT EIGHT CARS AT PIKES PEAK FOR MANY YEARS AND IN 1933 HE WON THE ELGIN, ILLINOIS ROAD RACE WITH HIS 1931 INDY CAR. MY OWN INTEREST IN THE SHAFER-EIGHTS HAS RESULTED FROM OVER 35 YEARS OF WORKING WITH AND RESTORING 1931 60 SERIES BUICKS. IN 1991 I REALIZED THAT I ALMOST HAD ENOUGH EXTRA PARTS TO TRY BUILDING A COPY OF THE 1931 SHAFER-EIGHT. BUICK HISTORIAN TERRY DUNHAM WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE AND PROVIDED ME WITH GREAT PHOTOS OF THE ORIGINAL CARS. I SPENT ABOUT A YEAR ROUNDING UP A FRAME PLUS MORE ENGINES, TRANSMISSIONS AND DIFFERENTIALS. I THEN FOUND A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE MACHINIST WHO TOOK AND INTEREST IN THE PROJECT AND AGREED TO MASTERMIND THE BUILDING OF A PERFORMANCE ORIENTED '31 60 SERIES ENGINE. MEANWHILE, I STARTED ON THE CHASSIS BY SHORTENING THE FRAME 13 INCHES TO GET THE CORRECT WHEELBASE. THIS LED TO SHORTENING THE TORQUE TUBE AN MAKING AN ENTIRE NEW DRIVE SHAFT. NEW DIFFERENTIAL GEARS WERE INSTALLED TO GIVE THE CAR A 3.57 TO 1 AXLE RATIO. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE SLIGHTLY LOWERED IN THE FRAME AND THE STOCK '31 RADIATOR SHELL WAS LOWERED FOUR INCHES. A LARGE OIL COOLER WAS FITTED IN FRONT OF THE SPECIALLY BUILT RADIATOR CORE. AFTER ABOUT THREE YEARS THE ENGINE FINALLY STARTED TO COME TOGETHER. MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE A SPECIAL DELONG RACING CAM, INSERT ROD BEARINGS, SPECIAL HIGH DOMED PISTONS, LIGHTENED FLYWHEEL AND AN ENTIRELY REDESIGNED VALVE TRAIN USING BIGGER LIGHTER VALVES, KEEPERS AND SPRINGS ALL OPERATED BY A COMPLETELY REBUILT HARD CHROMED ROCKER ARM SHAFT AND REBUILT ROLLER LIFTERS. THE PORTS IN THE HEAD WERE SLIGHTLY OPENED UP AND THEN I DESIGNED AND BUILT A FOUR CARBURETOR LOG INTAKE MANIFOLD PLUS COMPLETE HEADER SYSTEM THAT GOES INTO A FOUR INCH EXHAUST PIPE THAT RUNS ALONG THE DRIVER' S SIDE OF THE CAR. NOW THE REAL CHALLENGE WAS AT HAND, BUILDING A BODY. I STARTED BY ESTABLISHING AN ALUMINUM FIREWALL AND A COWL FRAMEWORK. A SORT OF "HEADER BAR" BEHIND THE SEATING AREA MARKS THE START OF THE BOBTAIL SECTION. THIS TURNED INTO A MAJOR PROJECT AND I ENDED UP BUILDING AN ENGLISH WHEEL TO FORM THE 27 STEEL PANELS THAT MAKE UP THE BODY THAT ACTUALLY BOLTS TOGETHER RATHER THAN BEING WELDED INTO ONE UNIT. MANY PROBLEMS AROSE CONCERNING SEAT HEIGHT, PLACEMENT OF PEDALS AND THE LAYOUT OF A RATHER ELABORATE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MEANWHILE, BACK ON THE MECHANICAL FRONT A NINE MONTH SEARCH RESULTED IN OBTAINING AND REBUILDING FOUR DOWNDRAFT WINFIELD CARBURETORS OF THE EXACT TYPE PHIL SHAFER HAD USED. IN MARCH 1997 I GOT IT RUNNING BUT SINCE IT WAS ONLY A RUNNING CHASSIS I COULDN'T REALLY TEST DRIVE IT. SO THE SHAFER-EIGHT WAS LOADED ONTO A CAR TRAILER AND HAULED 500 MILES TO A DRY LAKE WHERE DRIVING WOULD BE UNLIMITED. WHAT A BLAST, AFTER SIX YEARS OF WORK, TO FEEL THE TRICKED OUT ENGINE COME TO LIFE- NO LONGER A LUGGER...THIS ENGINE WANTED TO GO! SEVERAL DAYS OF THE DRY LAKE SHOWED ME THAT THERE WAS BASICALLY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, COOLING, HANDLING OR BRAKING. BACK AT THE SHOP AND OVER THE WINTER OF '97-'98 A REAL PUSH WAS MADE TO FINISH THE CAR. BODY PANELS WERE ROLLED; FENDERS BUILT AND DUNLOP RACING TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON BRIGHT RED BUICK WIRE WHEELS. THE BODY PANELS WERE FINALIZED, PRIMED AND PAINTED GRAY. FINAL DETALING CAME IN AUGUST 1998 WITH RED LEATHER UPHOLSTERY, A VINTAGE TACHOMETER, ALUMINUM HUBCAPS, AND FINALLY NUMBERING AND LETTERING. AS A FINAL TOUCH I INSTALLED A BRASS PLAQUE ON THE FIREWALL THAT READS "THIS CAR DEDICATED TO THE DRIVERS AND THEIR MECHANICS THAT DROVE THESE MACHINES AT THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 FROM 1931 TO 1935." AS MENTIONED EARLIER, I AM MAKING MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR THE DURATION OF THIS AUCTION FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM BASED ON WHAT I KNOW OF THE CAR. PLEASE SEND YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION. ALSO, ANYONE INTERESTED IN ACTUALLY SEEING AND DRIVING THE CAR COULD DO SO DURING THE AUCTION PERIOD. THE CAR IS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ABOUT AN HOUR EAST OF STOCKTON ON HWY 4 IN COPPEROPOLIS, CA. PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY FOR A POSSIBLE MEETING TIME. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SELL THE CAR THROUGH MAGAZINES AND THE LIKE, AND ACTUALLY HAD THE CAR SOLD SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BUYERS BACKED OUT BEFORE EVEN COMING TO SEE THE CAR! I UNDERSTAND DURING THESE HARD TIMES, ONE CANNOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE TOP DOLLAR FOR ANYTHING, AND MY VERY FAIR AND LOW RESERVE PRICE REFLECTS THAT. NOW FOR THE LEGAL STUFF:I HAVE THE TITLE AND WILL HAND IT OVER TO THE WINNING BUYER UPON PICKING UP THE CAR AT YOUR EXPENSE FROM THE LOCATION MENTIONED AND DELIVERING PAYMENT IN FULL IN THE FORM OF A CASHIER'S CHECK OR CHECK/PARTIAL CASH PAYMENT. I AM NOT ACCEPTING PAYPAL PAYMENTS ON THIS ITEM DUE TO THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT PAYPAL WILL MAKE ON THIS TRANSACTION. I WOULD SUGGEST AN ENCLOSED CAR TRAILER OR A NICE FLAT TRAILER AT THE VERY LEAST FOR TRANSPORT. DON'T FORGET ALL THE EXTRAS MENTIONED WILL TAKE UP SOME ROOM TOO. I APPRECIATE ALL BIDS, BUT REALLY WANT TO BE DEALING WITH THOSE THAT WOULD BE SERIOUS ABOUT BUYING THE CAR. I WOULD EXPECT THE WINNING BIDDER TO HAVE A GOOD EBAY RATING AND COMPLY WITH MY REQUESTS ABOUT THE SELLING TRANSACTION. ANY INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTACT ME FIRST BEFORE BIDDING, NO EXCEPTIONS. THANK YOU. THANKS TO ALL FOR LOOKING! I HOPE THIS CAR FINDS A NEW HOME WHERE IT CAN BE APPRECIATED FOR WHAT IT IS. JOSHUA BAUER CELL 209-768-0222 HOME 209-736-4295 BAUER@CALTEL.COM