Director’s Thoughts, July, 2019

      DON”T ASK WHAT THE CHAPTER CAN DO FOR U, but, WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR THE CHAPTER?!  Enjoy July!!  Happy 4^th!!

                                                                     Your Elected Director,  Sally Getz

“Free Spirit” Chapter Meeting Minutes, Annual “Free Spirit” Picnic, Sunday, June 2, 2019

      NO monthly meeting held due to Summer vacation.  In lieu of a meeting, the annual chapter picnic was held on Sunday, June 2, 2019 under the Weeping Willow Pavilion, Macungie Borough Park, Macungie, Pa.  There were 28 members in attendance.  The weather was sunny and rather warm.  Pastor Martha Kriebel gave Grace. 

      As the chapter provided the meats, drinks, etc., the food selections brought by the members were SCRUMPTIOUS!!  I think there were as many desserts as there were food selections!  Everything, every item brought was so delicious, I swear this chapter has fine chefs & cooks/bakers!!

      As the day got started, Eric Moyer, along with his son, sort of stumbled upon the picnic.  Eric had read about the picnic via his newsletter, but, as most of us do, forgot it was going on this day.  So he & his son came to the park to spend some time @ the playground, only to view a vast number of Buicks congregated around the Weeping Willow Pavilion!!  So they attended & enjoyed their fellowship with the other members!

      During the day, raffles took place by members.  Alfred Paul was a recipient of a 1958 Buick Convertible Model.  Roland Rapp was the recipient of a small scale Buick Station Wagon with a surf board out the back window.  Don Atwood was the recipient of a gold/silver looking Buick watch.  CONGRATS to those lucky Buick players & winners!

      The Lehighton 43 rd Annual Old Car Show flyers were taken care of as far as being folded & stamped, readied for mailing.  REMEMBER, this shows’ location has been moved to PHIFER’S ICE DAMS, 880 MAIN ROAD, LEHIGHTON, PA, formerly held @ Kempton ,Pa.  Please be sure to pass this information along when you speak with other car enthusiasts!

      Sally handed out flyers for an upcoming car event, Ted Maurer’s Antique Auto Picnic, to be held @ Temple United Methodist Church, 1390 Unionville Road, Pottstown, Pa 19465.  Some of the “Free Spirit” members have attended this event in the past.  Howard Kriebel offered more information about the event. 

      By around 3:30 pm, members headed home from the picnic. Many “THANKS” to Sandy/Dan Rieniger & Thomas/Kathleen Duckett for organizing/planning of this picnic With their heads filled w/ Buick stories & their bellies filled with DELICIOUS foods, what more could one ask for, except for a nap once @ home!                                                         Sally Getz 

What Car Colors May Say About Drivers

      Cars & trucks may be modes of transportation, but many people see their vehicles as extensions of their personalities.  The color of a vehicle can say a lot about its driver.  In fact, automotive experts say color affects drivers’ decisions when they’re buying new vehicles.  In 2015, a survey from PPG Automotive Coatings found the color palette of black, silver, gray, & white makes up 75% of new cars on the road.  White has been the most popular car color for years, perhaps because neutral tones tend to look new for years, improving resale value as a result.

      The Pantone Color Institute periodically highlights popular trends in colors for home decorating, graphic design, fashion, & much more.  Their experts know a thing about what color can say about a person.  Here’s a look @ how drivers may perceive themselves (& how others view them)  based on their color choices in vehicles, courtesy of Pantone, NerdWallet, Thrillist, & Today.com.

      WHITE:  this color – perhaps thanks to the popularity of Apple products – can often project a persona of a diligent, hardworking person.  White is a dependable color that is sleek & modern.  Many people who prefer white also like the purity of the color & perceived cleanliness.

      BLACK:  black vehicles have stood the test of time as status symbols.  Those who purchase black cars may view them as classic & powerful.  Black also conveys elegance.  That’s why limousines & hired car are often black.

    SILVER:  silver cars may have futuristic connotations because of their metallic hues.  Silver vehicles also can be elegant & prestigious.  A certain element of modernity is associated w/ silver cars & trucks.

      GRAY:  people who choose gray vehicles may be less concerned about status & more interested in a vehicle that blends in with the crowd.  This no-nonsense hue cold be ideal for cautious, even keeled drivers who like to go w/the flow.

      BLUE:  light blue to mid-blue cars convey a sense of calm & coolness.  Blue is a dependable  color & may indicate the person behind the wheel is friendly.  Dark blue can be a confidence-booster & also signal authority, as many police cruisers & law enforcement uniforms feature deep blue.

      RED:  people who own red cars probably like flash & attention,  They’re likely magnetic personalities who enjoy standing out in a crowd.

      BROWN/BEIGE:  these earth-toned shades may indicate a person who is not pretentious, but easygoing & fiscally responsible.  Reliability & comfort is prized above flashiness for those who go brown & beige. 

      GREEN:  green cars indicate owners who have a very strong sense of self & care little about what others think of them.  They may be the people who march to the beat of their own drums.  But the popularity of green cars peaked in the 1990’s, so fewer green cars may be on the road today than in the past.  Vehicle colors may say a lot about the people behind the wheel.

Das Awkscht Fescht, August 4, 2019

      Sally is looking for volunteers, again during DAF, August 4^th to park priceless BUICKS on the show field.  Need to be present by 0700!!  If there are NO VOLUNTEERS, WE WILL BE OUSTED OUT OF the BEAUTIFUL AREA under the biggest shade tree there!!  Please contact Sally before July 30^th to volunteer.  Thank you.  484-464-3418.

      The Buick Special was the last model to receive a new full-width body, in mid-1949 as a 1950 model. Before that the Specials were basically Fisher B-bodies dating back to 1941. The new model was introduced with a “snaggle-tooth” grille, which spilled down over the bumper and was also fitted to Super and Roadmaster models. Specials had three “ventiports” on the hood sides.

      The 1950 Specials were divided into two lines. The base model had no body-side moldings, while the Special Deluxe had trim, bright window outlines and “Special” script on the front fenders. Three body styles were available in the Special line, with four in the Special Deluxe. Each had a fastback, or “Jetback,” two-and four-door, as well as a conventional notchback four-door touring sedan. There were no Special convertibles or station wagons and the top seller was the four-door touring sedan with 141,396 sales. Power came from the 110-hp, 248-cid OHV straight-eight engine, with a three-speed or optional Dynaflow automatic transmission. As Buick’s affordable option, Buick Special prices ranged from $1,800 to $1,983.

The Swigart Museum

      The warmer weather has finally arrived and we, at the Swigart museum, are almost ready to open our doors for the 2019 season. We have finished our re-decorating for this year and are making last minute adjustments to the new displays. This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the 1939 Buick Roadmaster and for the first time in our memory the museum’s ’39 Buick will be displayed in the museum. Some of the students in the restoration class at the Pennsylvania College of Technology have returned the paint to it’s original color and the car looks great! The 1961 Cadillac Elderado Biarritz has been relocated to another part of the museum and the inside of the building has been completely repainted. Don and Dean have been hard at work during the winter break.

      The museum will officially open for the 2019 season on Saturday, May 25th. Kars and Koffee began their season at the beginning of May and have “Great” attendance already, so we are off to a good start. We have several “specials” listed on our website: Fathers Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Etc. and of course our own Swigart car show. Can you believe this is the 50th Meet? Tami Hetrick is working hard to incorporate new and different things for this event. So please mark your calendars and plan to attend this fun day on August 10th. Bring your antique and classic cars or trucks or maybe even your motorcycle. We would be glad to have you and them attend. Please check out our website at www.swigartmuseum.com. You can download the registration form from there. If you have questions please call the office 814-643-2024. We would be glad to help you.    Just to brag a bit – Pat and I drove to Amelia Island in March. The museum’s 1908 International had been invited to participate in the Concourse there. Again the students at the Pennsylvania College of Technology worked on the car to get it running (the first time since I started working here 26 years ago), but no work had been done to the body of the car. It is still all original and it was a proud moment for all of us when we found out it had been awarded the Historic Vehicle Association’s Corporate Award. It was driven up to the judge’s stand by one of the students to receive the award while Pat and I enjoyed our first ever ride in it. And as we were riding back to our place on the field we were given a standing ovation by the people sitting in the reviewing stands.

      These are a few of the things we are looking forward to this year and hope you will join us some time during our open season. Enjoy your summer and thank you for your support and interest.     Marge Cutright, Exe. Director

Sept/Nov Guest Speaker, on Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

      The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is a long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force.^[2] It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. American aerospace engineer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson was responsible for many of the design’s innovative concepts. During aerial reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch were detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outfly the missile.^[3] The shape of the SR-71 was based on the A-12 which was one of the first aircraft to be designed with a reduced radar cross-section.

      The SR-71 served with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. A total of 32 aircraft were built; 12 were lost in accidents with none lost to enemy action.^[4][5] The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including “Blackbird” and “Habu“.^[6] Since 1976, it has held the world record for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, a record previously held by the related Lockheed YF-12

      Again, be sure to attend this presentation on the SR-71 Spy plane, either the month of Sept or November!!                                                      Sally Getz

1994–96 BUICK ROADMASTER ESTATE WAGON

      This elephantine throwback to an earlier age of family wagons with wood paneling and rear-facing kid seats seemed archaic on arrival in 1991, when Buick dug deep into its closet to pull out the Roadmaster name after a 33-year absence from the catalog. It and its considerably rarer Oldsmobile doppelgänger, the Custom Cruiser (there was a cheaper Chevy Caprice wagon, too), were nonetheless streamlined for the modern age, riding on GM’s giant B-body platform and basically being a state police cruiser underneath. Luxury touches for the Roadmaster included pillowy leather sofa seating, acres of faux wood filigree, and the mushy DynaRide rear air suspension.

      The first “Roadmonsters” wafted their way up the driveways of the best antebellum estates with a 170-hp, 5.0-liter V-8, but the 1994–96 wagons are the ones to go for, having come standard with the 260-hp LT1 V-8 from the Corvette. Sure, the Roadmaster can shroud a whitewall in smoke—just one, because of the open differential—but the last great American road hog is best when it exudes a certain old-fashioned southern charm (hey, they were assembled in Texas) while lazing down the freeway on a wave of whipped buttermilk. Today’s buyers who want size XXL go for pickups and SUVs, which makes the big American car a rapidly disappearing animal. But a Roadmaster Estate looks far more swish than any pickup while swallowing a four-by-eight sheet of plywood through its tailgate, which folds down and also opens to the side. Not to mention it can tow up to 7000 pounds. Take that, crossover lovers!

      Owner Jack Thomas’s Roadmaster in Light Driftwood Metallic is proudly unsporty, with doughy tall-sidewall tires that absorb bumps like punches to a fat roll. A retired insurance broker who has driven his Roadmaster daily for years, Thomas’s business card now advertises “used cars, whiskey, land, chicken manure, nails, fly swatters, racing forms, bongos, & oysters. ”Meaning he’s exactly the kind of guy GM had in mind when it built this car.

1994 BUICK ROADMASTER
Engine V-8, 5733 cc
Power 260 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque 335 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
Weight 4300 lb
Power-to-weight 16.5 lb/hp
0–60 8.1 sec
Top speed 118 mph
Price when new $26,400
Hagerty value $13,300–$18,300

Calendar of Event

JULY  2019               “Happy 4^th of July”

13 – St. Joseph the Worker School Show, Orefield, Pa

13-14 – Wings & Wheels Extravaganza. Bethel, Pa

13 – New Holland Antique Car Show, New Holland Community Park, Pa

14 – U w/ the Angels Car Show, Moravian Tile Works, Doylestown, Pa

20 – 6^th Annual Enola Emmanuel United Church Car Show, Enola, Pa

20 – 43 rd Annual Nazareth Show, Nazareth, Pa

21- 12^th Annual Downtown Media Car Show, Media, Pa

27 – Car Expo, Easton, Pa

27 – Eastwood Summer Classic & Swap Meet Show, Pottstown, Pa

AUGUST  2019          Happy Summer!

2-4 – DAF, Macungie Park, Macungie, Pa

10 – 50^th Annual AACA Swigart Museum Regional, Huntingdon, Pa

10 – 11New Hope auto Show, New Hope, Pa

11 – 44^th Annual Collector’s Car Show w/ Flea Market, Macungie Park

24 – Living Branches Car Show, Souderton, Pa

SEPTEMBER  2019           HAPPY LABOR DAY!

3 – Monthly chapter meeting, Atarlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.

8 – Strausstown  Lions Club Car Show

21 – Coatsville Vintage Grand Prix, Coatsville, Pa

22 – 20^th Annual GTO Association of PA Show, Star Dealership, Easton, Pa

CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”

1967 Buick Skylark 4 Dr Sedan 340 2-barrel, ST 300 Switch Pitch, PS, manual brakes, cassette player, no air.  70,100 original miles.  Maroon color ext., cloth maroon/int.  Was repainted.  Interior still original!  Garage kept! $10,000.  610-377-6130

1967 Buick Skylark Special Deluxe Sport Coupe 2 dr, 300 2-barrel.  Spruce Green exterior w/ vinyl top, black interior.  68,305 original miles.  Power steering, manual brakes.  RH mirror, AM/FM radio.   Spinner wire wheel covers.  UNRESTORED.  Garage kept! $8,500.  610-377-6130

1987 Turbo Regal HT, 73k original miles, 100% rust free, original dark blue ext & int, chrome trim, factory aluminum wheels, drums, & bumper inserts.  A/C, PW, tilt, cruise, posi, original exhaust.  $20k.  Steve Perry 914-262-9965, Carmel NY. sep440@aol.com   

1991 Chevy Suburban, 2500,  Big block, 454 engine, 111,530 original miles.  2×2.  Turbo 400 transmission.  Black w/ gray interior, 3^rd seat, AC (front/rear), AM/FM radio, tow package, cassette player, power door locks/windows, vent shades, tailgate window, in GREAT condition.  Garage kept!  Very powerful!  $8,000.  610-377-6130

1917 Buick Six Cylinder Series Reference Book in fair condition, $30. Call Bruce at 610-866-1611. 

1925 Buick Master Six Shop Manual in good condition, $30. Call Bruce at 610-866-1611.

1925 Buick Standard Six Reference Book in fair condition, $25. Call Bruce at 610-866-1611.

1959 – 1963 Buick Reground Crankshaft with all new bearings, for 401ci & 425ci V8, $100. Call Bruce at 610-866-1611.

1971 Cutlass / 442 Assembly Manual in new condition, $20. Call Bruce at 610-866-1611.

In Search Of

1967 Buick Electra Conv. 610-730-4599, dwebster80@gmail.com1976 Caddy Eldo 500 ci – Pete Stoki, 609-915-9948