A Place Called Buick (Second Edition)

A Place Called Buick

For anybody interested in this second (expanded) edition it is now available for purchase. I have been contacted by readers who have wanted to purchase the original. Now here is your chance to own the revised version. I'm sure these will go fast once the word gets out, "SO DON'T WAIT" for your chance at owning one. For more information, or to purchase, contact the author: Don Bent 21 Tree Top Lane Columbus, NC 28722You can always email him at: the bents33@aol.com phone # (828) 318-5625payment by: check, money order, or direct PayPal through his email. To purchase in or near Flint, Mi contact: Leroy Cole at leroycole2@aol.com P.S. If you

would like your book signed, let Don know.

Roadmaster 1952

Buick Roadmaster 1952.

Buick in 1952 had a lower production run than they were used to because of a steel strike and the Korean war was also causing shortages. Total calender year production was 321,048. The Roadmaster series saw production at 46,443 total units produced. 'This' Riviera model 72 sedan owned by a reader of this blog know only as Zig is one of the 32,069 of the Roadmaster (Riviera) series (notice the 4 vent-ports). Another identifying feature of this car is the extensive use of chrome around the window frames and center post. This car he explained is "Ready for show". This was also Buick's first year for power steering. And also the last year for the straight eight engine. This vehicle 'by the way' is located in Poland. A long way from home. But home is where you hang your hat, and my hats off to Zig for this fine example. He even has the extra cost wheel covers and correct (wide) side wall tires. He also owns a Super 50 which I hope to see in the near future.

Looks as good inside as out with the duo-tone upholstery and the two tone dash.

My Cars

I love having this Buick Park Avenue. When I worked at Buick I would have never imagined myself owning one. Like my father before me I always bought the lower priced Chevrolet. Actually I love the Chevy also. I first learned to drive with a new 66 Chevy "Bel Air" model with a 283 cubic inch engine. My brother who was the original Buick historian in the family, always bought new Buick's. Both of these automobiles are well detailed "top to bottom".

This is a special "Celebration" model Buick which is why it has the rare two tone paint. The hand painted pin stripe of the Hopi Indian flute player (I think) was added by the dealer under a special campaign.. The (Kokopelli) drawings date to 500 A.D. This symbol is found in Arizona & New Mexico. This Buick was bought new in Arizona. The lower gold paint "is" listed on the paint code under the spare tire cover. The Buick was built at the Lake Orion plant in Michigan. The Chevrolet was built at the Van Slyke rd. factory in Flint Michigan. The Buick with the air ride suspension has a very smooth ride, whereas the Chevy has a bit stiffer suspension, due to the fact that I added station wagon (cargo) springs at the rear (for more lift) and  it also has a Poly-graphite front suspension now. They are both fine highway cars but the gas mileage is the main difference. The Buick on average is 23 mpg and the Chevy is 15 mpg. The Chevy also burns premium. I wish the Chevy had a 4 speed automatic instead of the 2 speed powerglide, but the powerglide is the preferred transmission (almost bullet-proof) and is still being built (after market) to this day. The Buick 3800 (engine) also has the "Bullet-Proof" reputation. The best thing about taking care of the Buick is the way it was originally built. The undercarriage has aluminum and galvanized metal plus plastics which do not rust. Also the body being submerged in a dip-tank at the factory keeps moisture from entering places it should not be. I have now done the Chevrolet like they should have done in 66. Like all car guys "I HATE RUST". The Buick took me two months to find on the web. It was fresh off the truck from Arizona and I purchased it in Greenville, Michigan. The Chevrolet was purchased from my next door neighbor in Kawkawlin, Michigan in 1995 when she was 93 years old. I am the second owner of both vehicles. The Chevrolet has one Buick accessory. The (knee-knocker) tachometer is from a 1966 Buick Gran Sport which my brother always had me transfer into every Buick he bought until his 92 Regal which had a built in tach. Besides sentimental reasons the original Chevy tach. (of this type) usually sells between 3 to 5 thousand dollars. The Buick version is less rare and sells between 5 to 8 hundred dollars.

 Follow this link for all the photos. Gerry Godin Myspace

Buick factory Kearsley Street

This postcard dated March 14th 1910 shows workers inside the original factory on west Kearsley st. in Flint Michigan. I tried to translate the writing on the back but it is a combination of Danish, Norwegian and broken English. Basically it started out as "Dear Faithful Neooter" and speaks about an upcoming Easter visit and that all are healthy. This would have been during the transition of engine work moving over to the big new factory on the north side of town.

New Buick

The Buick

Buick 1909.

This view of Buick is facing north, looking up Division street. Hamilton Avenue is running east and west in front. The Pere Marquette rail line is visible in the foreground. This was at the time the covered walkway was in use for office personnel. Factory #01 is directly behind the office with factory #06 assembly trailing off in the distance.

Industrial and Hamilton

I personally have five of these in postcard form with the title "Noon Hour At Buick and Weston-Mott factories Flint Michigan. 'But it is nice in original form'. You are looking east up Hamilton Avenue with the (yet to be placed) sewer pipe along Industrial Avenue.

Factory #40 1980.

This photo, dated July 10, 1980 ran in the Chicago Sun-Times July 13, 1980. The caption as it ran in the paper stated: "Buick Assembly Plant Worker Chris Molina, "A woman's job". The back story was: Chris Molina, age 25, works for Buick A-car assembly and is quite happy about it. His brother, however, has been laid off by Chevy and both Chris and brother blame Chevy management for hiring too many workers.

Gerry says: This is the second floor of factory #40 building 16 and the view is facing north, near the area called the "hairpin". As far as the woman's job (jab) goes, women worked everywhere when I was there, just about any job on any assembly line will haunt you forever. Even to this day I still have horrible nightmares about my time on the line. There always the same. And even though different locations and some jobs that I have never even done. It seems like I can never get out of the hole and I'm always falling behind. So for all the people who think auto workers are over paid, have never walked in our shoes.

The Early Years.

An early 1904 advertisement for a single cylinder Buick engine.










This shows the original Buick factory #1 on west Kearsley st. in Flint, Michigan after it became Mason Motor Company.


Link Link











This story from the Flint Journal was dated September 11, 1903.












September 19, 1903.







The first products built at Buick in Flint were stationary and marine engines. First Flint Buick announced.