1914 Buick B-25

Touring Car Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

10823

Clear

Gasoline

1914 Buick Model B-25 Fantastic Restoration - One of the last truly brass Buick automobiles Out of the restorer's private collection after many years Runs, drives and tours just as well as its' good looks suggest Now we're having an auction, folks - ending Thursday before Amelia Island with a new owner! Celebrating its 98th birthday this year, this 1914 Buick Model B-25 5-passenger touring car exemplifies most of the best attributes of the Horseless Carriage era in a fantastic running and driving automobile. Many Buicks of the early teens wore nickel and not brass by this time, but this car's electric lights and brass trimmings make it a very rare example even among pre-World War One Buicks. Little is known about this particular example, chassis 10823, prior to a restoration that was completed to a very high standard some years ago. Amazingly, apart from light use the car then never saw the show circuit at any level to the best of our knowledge. Unlike many cars of this sort, this Buick would not only stand very close scrutiny on the show field today but will also not be recognized as a past contender. Such a distinction indeed helps its chances in today's competitive Concours circuit as well as offers any new owner the pride of competing with the car without competing against the same car's past glories. If the show circuit happens not to be your thing, the car's top is easy to erect with two people on hand or put down for a day out on the road. The car features great brakes on the rear axle and a conventional 3-speed manual transmission with cone clutch, obviating potential confusion found in other period cars like the Model T. The Buick provides somewhat more room for driver and passengers than a T, yet is in many ways much easier to operate and considerably more pleasant as it is a more-refined automobile. The single demountable spare wheel and rim makes a flat tire something very easily solved. All correct brackets and straps are present. The car also offers a stop lamp and a provision for a license plate. Note how nicely-detailed the suspension springs and shackles remain in contrast to the finely-finished body. As attractive down its right-hand side as from any angle, the B-25 cuts quite a dramatic pose against this beautiful 1890s house. The car's folding windshield offers wind and weather protection and can be adjusted to suit driver and passenger's preference. Once more close in on the front of the car. You'll note the operational speedometer's drive gear on the right front wheel. Apart from high-quality carpeting and an ampere gauge to monitor charging, the Buick's simple dashboard and steering wheel remains as it was when new nearly a century ago. Brass levers on the beautifully-finished steering wheel control throttle and spark advance for ease of starting and running under differing conditions. Fuel is pumped into the globe on the dashboard before going to the carburetor. We just resealed this, hence the dampness picked up by the camera in this shot. The speedometer works and the odometer reads a mere 32 miles of use, possibly all that has accrued since restoration. The combination starter/generator/ignition unit has been modernized in some way as starting the car with the 'Delco' switch on the dashboard does not require switchover from battery to magneto any longer, note the little toggle under the original switch. A closeup of the speedometer/odometer following a nice little 2 mile trip around downtown Canton. The car has a fantastic interior done to the original patterns. The interior of the body is trimmed in period leatherette while the seats are a very high-quality leather that remains very supple and unmarked. There's plenty of space for two or three back here with a lap robe and a picnic basket to hit the small roads and enjoy the countryside! Buick was one of the first to employ overhead valves in their four-cylinder engines, and this is no exception. (In fact, the only flathead Buicks were of this same vintage, fitted to the prototype Buick Cyclecar and some trucks!) There's not much here that can go wrong, part of why this car runs and drives so well! Some light cleaning and some touchup is all that remains to do to put this engine compartment on par with the rest of the car. A red light is all that stops this Buick from going along its merry way! who am I/why am I selling? I'm Chip Lamb, automobile journalist and jack of all trades among collector automobiles. In my capacity as chief cook (or is it bottle washer?) at Classic Motorcar Auctions, LLC of Canton, Ohio, I managed to buy this car from its consignor at one of our recent auctions during the Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles last fall. It had been my intent to send the car down to Amelia Island to help one of our partners in the high-end auction business, but their intake of a large collection of racing Porsches put them over capacity, so I thought I'd give this car a go on eBay prior to enjoying the car myself over the next year or two. The car is not just striking, it is mechanically very capable. With its electric starter and modernized ignition, it springs to life very easily. It takes a little while to acclimate to the 'grabby' nature of the cone clutch as any old time car guy will tell you, but this one is far easier to operate than a 1919 Buick I have some time on. It is my hope that a serious brass car enthusiast will take a real liking to this particular example and add it to their collection before it becomes a more long-term part of my own assortment of unusual automobiles! inspection/payment/shipping terms My Buick is currently in the climate-controlled showroom of Motorcar Portfolio beneath the McKinley Grand Hotel in historic downtown Canton, Ohio and is available for close inspection during regular business hours or by appointment, talk to Bob or Tom at the Motorcar link above. It's very nice having a high-quality hotel right above the showroom with great service and it's just a short elevator ride downstairs to the car the next morning should you want to drive or fly in the night before for a look. I'll be in Amelia Island, FL from Wednesday morning until the auction closes, but someone's always at the showroom during business hours and we'll set up whatever you need. Professional inspection is always encouraged if you cannot make it in person, I recommend Jason Phillips of Auto Appraise - 810-694-2008 - he and his agents are not strangers at Motorcar. The showroom features a drive-on service lift to facilitate any under-car inspection you would like to do. I don't think I need remind any bidder on this car that it is sold as-is, where-is and that it has been described above to the best of my ability to do so; your successful bid is a contract to buy, not to look - and all that, right? Payment is expected in full within seven days of auction close (winning bid at end of auction or Buy it Now, whichever comes first) unless alternate arrangements are made with me in advance. If you would like to inquire about financing prior to placing any successful bid, Bob and Tom have some great contacts in the collector automobile financing world and will assist you with this if you require their help - call them on 330-453-8900. Here's a fun twist - if you happen to be in Amelia at auction close, call me at the number below and I'll buy you a drink at the Ritz! On receipt of payment, paperwork will be sent to you at no additional charge (no fees added, et.c.) to complete the transaction through Motorcar Portfolio. Shipping/pickup is expected within fourteen days of auction close unless alternate arrangements are made with me in advance. If assistance is required locating a quality enclosed car shipper familiar with brass-era automobiles, Bob, Tom or I will be more than happy to assist you in locating a shipper and putting the car on the truck if required. Most times, you need only pay the driver on receipt of the car. Arranging international shipping of the car is also something we are accomplished in. Feel free to ask! Likewise, an extension on pickup is not normally a problem though we do have another auction coming up towards the end of March and we need to make some room for new consignments and showroom vehicles as well, so let us know that you need another week or so if that is an issue.Questions? Comments? Concerns? E-mail Me or Call +1-804-357-4926