Director’s Thoughts, OCTOBER, 2019

Name Your Car Day

Date When Celebrated : Always October 2 

Name Your Car Day is October 2.  Does your car have a name? Lots of people name their cars. People with big boats, name their boat, & we think nothing of it. So, why not name your car or truck!? 

Every car has character & personality. We spend a lot of time in our cars, & caring for them. So, it’s only fitting that each car gets its own name. 

Selecting a name should be made w/ care & consideration. Give your car a name that properly reflects its character. What you name your car should be a proper reflection of its character & performance, & your desires for your car. In general, guys names are for guys’ cars, & girl names are for the cars that you ladies drive. Aside from that, selection of a name is wide open. But, be careful….cars have feelings, too. 

Here are some of our thoughts in selecting an appropriate name for your car: 

• Don’t select wimpy names. That might give your car a personality complex & it will perform accordingly. 
• Do give a strong, aggressive name to sports cars & cars w/ powerful engines. 
• Sleek, sexy feline-like cars savor names that begin w/ “lady”. 
• Old junkers are proud just to be around. You can call them just about anything. Try “Tramp”, or “Old Yeller”, “Old Blue”. 
• Pick names to reflect your personality. 
• “Pickemup” trucks must have country names. 
• Don’t give common names (like Joe, Mike or Sue)  to luxury cars. They beam over names like Reginald, Archibald, and Crystal. 

As a child growing up, I can remember my father having called the family vehicles by different ladies names, like:  Bessy, Good Ole Girl, Susie etc. I guess back then, everyone did this. How many of you can remember their parents or father naming the family vehicles?  Do you, call your vehicle by a particular name? Don’t be bashful now. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone.  Be good to those GHOSTS n GOBLINS!!                                                  Your Elected Director, Sally Getz

“Free Spirit”, September Chapter Meeting Minutes

Meeting called to order @ 7:36 pm, 17 members were in attendance.  Motion to accept May meeting minutes as printed in the June newsletter, Shirley Schaffer, seconded by Debbie Brady, so carried.      

Treasurer’s Report = Report for August 2019, motion to accept, Dolores Kennedy, seconded by Bobbie Paul, so carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

A. Historian –  no report  

B. Lehighton Show  – 27 car, 4 outdoor flea market, 1 car corral registrations thus far.  Food vendor booked, flyers are available for members to hand out. Sign-up sheet passed for members to volunteer time to work the show.  Areas in need: Car show field parking

                                       Hand out Pre-registration packets

                                       Day of Show registration

                                       Outdoor flea market spaces assigned

Asked members to think about staying after the meeting to plan a date to plan show field lay-out.  Awards & plaques ordered.  

C. Membership – lost 5 members.  

D. Newsletter – no report

E. Programs –November, guest speaker will be Mr. Joe Iervolino from Bethlehem, Pa.  It will be on “Gary Powers’ U-2 Aircraft, the Lockheed SR 71 Blackbird Spy plane.   

F. Publicity – no report

G. Technical – no report

H. Ways and Means – Blanket sold to Colorado, June, 2019.  Dave/Debbie Brady added 2 items to this department, wooden BUICK items.  

RAFFLE:  Roland Rappe was the proud raffle recipient, a 2003-2000 Buick book.  Congratulations Roland!!

OLD BUSINESS:  Sally “THANKED” those members who parked BUICKS during DAF on Sunday.  Everyone did a SUPERB job that we guaranteed the same area for 2020!!  Shirley Schaffer was present after spending a short trip to the hospital followed by rehab.  Martha Kriebel also was present after having hip surgery without having to attend rehab. Howard Kriebel just had ear surgery performed.  Dave Brady is proud to have had “His/Her” 1932 Buicks on the field during DAF. He acquired the 1 ’32 in 1968, & the other in 1971. Finally, the 2 were shown together on the same day!       

NEW BUSINESS:     Eric Moyer enlightened Sally about a car show he is involved in.  September 21, 2019, show held @ Bethlehem ATVS grounds. 18-21 miles or approximately 25 minutes from Starlite Diner & Lounge.

• 2020 = Buick National Meet, July 15-18, 2020, Strongsville, Ohio. (6 hours from Allentown.)3 members are planning in attending at this time. 
• 2021 = Buick National, Concord, North Carolina  (8 hours from Allentown)
• 2022 =  Chicagoland chapter has submitted a proposal.
• 2023 =  Buick National, June 14-17, 2023, Gettysburg, Pa.   Proposed activites: AACA Museum 

•                    Boyertown Auto Museum
•                     Hershey Story
•                     Hershey Library
•                     Hershey Theatre
•                     Eastern Museum of Motor Racing, York Springs, Pa
•                     American Treasure Museum, Oaks, Pa
•                     Fort McHanry
•                     Utz Factory/Outlet
•                     Hanover Factory/Outlet
•                     Baltimore Harbor
•                     Washington, D. C.
•                      Battlefields

Motion to adjourn = Isabel Lenny, seconded by Martha Kriebel, so carried @ 8:13 pm.                                     Respectfully submitted, substitute, Sally Getz  

WELCOME, NEW MEMBER

      Let’s “Welcome” new member, Jerry Hall, Northampton, Pa.   He comes to us w/ his multiple Buick Reattas: 1990 Convertible, 1990 Reatta Coupe (3), & 1991 Reatta.   Please “WELCOME” Jerry hall when you meet him!!

November 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!!  

Ten Forgotten Classic Buick Models That Probably Deserved Better:  Old Buick Models That Should Have Been Given More Credit    (Part 2)

1986 Century Gran Sport

Century stands out as one of the most memorable classic Buick nameplates in history but not all Buick Century’s were equally impressive. However, whenever Buick combined this nameplate w/ the Gran Sport – another recognizable Buick moniker used on high performance cars – you knew you had something great. Sadly, they’ve only done it twice. First time between 1973 & 1975, & later during Century’s fifth generation run. Latter model was introduced for 1986 & quickly disappeared after only 1,029 of them were made. Maybe that was the exact reason why Buick had stopped offering the package. They then proceeded by discontinuing all of their sporty models, but that happened later on. Anyway, the Century Gran Sport offered a respectable performance, albeit without the turbocharged engine. Plain naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 mated to a 4-speed auto did get a fuel injection, though. It was good enough for 150 horsepower & 200 lb-ft of torque. But that was far from everything. Black paint & blacked out grille coupled with larger 15-inch wheels & Goodyear Eagle GT tires elevated Century GS in status. Coupe also received heavy-duty suspension & a tuned exhaust system for more menacing note.

      Yet, as already stated, Buick quickly discontinued the offering. Buick’s sporty car buyers were already few & far between, & performance car without the turbo was probably too anemic for them. Maybe the Buick Gran Sport deserved to be offered w/ a turbocharger, but Buick probably feared it would cannibalize Regal’s sales. What’s certain is that Century GS had definitely deserved better than one year only outing.

1988-1991 Reatta

Reatta is another short-lived Buick that could have achieved so much more. But we also have to be realistic here. In the era of Cadillac Alante, Pontiac Fiero, Ford EXP & numerous imported 2-seaters, Reatta never really stood a chance. Especially considering Buick wasn’t known for offering such setups in their cars.

      2-seater was initially offered as a coupe, but convertible also joined the lineup in 1990. Reatta boasted an unusual manufacturing process where series of stations were comprised of specialized teams of workers. Each team was responsible for a single process and Reatta’s moved from one team to another. Despite being offered w/ 3.8L naturally aspirated V6 engine, Reatta still packed a healthy amount of heat. Most models were rated at 165 hp & 210 lb-ft of torque, while last year models saw an increase of 5 hp & 10 ft-lbs. Disk brakes on all four corners, fully independent suspension & highly advanced, at the time, touch screen dash interface were all standard. Even CD player joined the list as 1990 option.

      However, Reatta didn’t meet the unreasonably high sales figures estimated by Buick. Tri-shield badge bean counters expected they’ll push up to 20,000 units a year. Instead, they needed four years to pass the intended mark. Buick sold north of 21,000 Reatta’s in total, including less than 2,500 convertibles. Not nearly enough to justify the nameplate, hence Reatta got the axe.

1979 Buick LeSabre Palm Beach

Buick rarely dabbled with special edition packages, & it’s a pity. Especially considering how beautiful LeSabre Palm Beach is. Part of the downsized 5th generation LeSabre lineup, Palm Beach coexisted w/ turbocharged Sport Coupe models. Yet, Palm Beach appearance package only came w/ naturally aspirated models.

      That might just be the main reason Buick only offered it for one year. Then again, it’s such a special edition cars’ nature to disappear the same way they had appeared – abruptly. In any case, the Buick Le Sabre Palm Beach could have been had either w/ standard Buick 231 cu in V6, or optional Pontiac 301 cu in V8 or Buick 350 cu in V8. There was also the infamous Oldsmobile 350 cu in diesel V8, but only in California of all places. LeSabre Palm Beach’s pride, however, were its 2-tone White & Yellow Beige (pastel yellow) paintjob & corresponding “Palm Beach cloth” & woodgrain-riddled interior. Even standard wheels were painted pastel yellow.

      Although LeSabre Palm Beach failed to offer anything more than previously stated, it still represents one of the most memorable Buick special edition options from the late seventies. Especially considering it came from Buick. Whether it deserved more time in the market or not is barely important here. The fact that Buick probably should have offered more similar offerings is what counts.

1984-1987 Skyhawk T-Type and Sport Hatch

Maybe 1^st generation Monza-derived Buick Skyhawk didn’t offer a turbocharged engine, but tri-shield badge took precautions not to make the same mistake again. Second generation J-body Chevy Cavalier-inspired Skyhawk corrected that mistake. It did have to wait 2 years before receiving a turbo, but better late than never. Especially since 1.8L in-line 4 delivered 150 horsepower in that setup. Quite a bump compared to naturally aspirated counterpart’s modest 90 ponies.

      Skyhawk T-Type continued on without any major changes into 1985, while 1986 brought a facelift and a hatchback version of the car. Hatchback could have been ordered with optional louvered window at the back, while frontal fascia benefited from new stylish pop-up headlights. What’s more, in 1987, Brazilian-built 1.8L four got replaced by 2.0L in-line four from the same country. Coupled with Garrett T-25 turbocharger & multi-point fuel injection (minus the intercooler), it produced a whopping 165 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. I say whopping because Skyhawk only weighted less than 2,500 pounds. However, Skyhawk T-Type was already gone by then. New turbocharged engine was only available with also new Sport Hatch.

      Although turbocharged Skyhawks suffered from well documented J-body car problems, these obscured and forgotten Buicks deserved much more considering their pivotal role in the hot hatch development. Shelby Omni GLHS, for instance, only packed 10 ponies more, yet everyone remembers it. Skyhawk T-Type & Sport Hatch clearly deserve the same.

1978-1981 Century Sport Wagon

Although Buick discontinued larger wagons in 1964 and only reintroduced them for 1970 model year, smaller mid-size Sport Wagons were still available. However, the same way they axed the full-size wagon, Buick also discontinued the smaller option after 1972. Sport Wagon would, however reappear once more between 1978 & 1981, before completely disappearing from the map. Last of the Sport Wagons, unlike its predecessors, was offered on the Buick Century.   As expected, engine lineup was rather colorful & anemic at the same time. Riding on a 108-inch wheelbase, Century Sport Wagon sported a Buick’s V6, a number of V8 options, & the Oldsmobile diesel mill. 3.8L V6 generated 105 hp, 115 hp & 110 hp respectively for 1978, 1979 & the last 2 years.1978 model year also offered optional 5.0L & 5.7L V8s w/ anything between 135 hp & 170 hp. for 1979, the lineup was joined by 4.9L Pontiac V8 making 140 ponies in 2-barrel and 150 horses in 4-barrel form. 5.0L V8’s output was increased by 5 hp, while 5.7L engine lost the same amount. Largest 5.7L V8 left the stage for 1980, while smaller 4.3L V8 entered the fray. It made 120 horsepower. Finally, 1981 yet again saw the introduction of 5.7L V8 mill. Only, this time, it was a diesel. Olds diesel only produced 105 horses, but compensated with 200 lb-ft of torque.

 Buick Century Sport Wagon is one of the rarest sights on the road today. W01 option code used to order them wasn’t ticked too many times. What’s more, precious few of them remain alive today. Whether these classic Buick wagons deserved better; you be the judge.

Final Thoughts

      There are countless other classic cars that could be added to this list of forgotten old Buick models, but as the leading luxury cars division from General Motors, many of Buick’s vintage cars are very well remembered & seldom forgotten. Anyone who knows a thing or two about the classic car world can conjure up images of the Buick Grand National, Buick Roadmaster, Buick Riviera & more!

Calendar of Events

OCTOBER 2019            HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

• 1 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite diner & Lounge, dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting 7:30 pm.  Guest speaker may be a gentleman to talk about the “Lockheed SR 71 Blackbird”. This will be a program you won’t want to miss.  
  
• 2-4 – Fall Carlisle Show
  
• 8 – AACA Library Yard Sale, Hershey, PA  (Before the big move!)
  
• 9-12 – Hershey Region AACA Fall Meet, Hershey, Pa 
  
• 19 – Chariots of Fire Indoor/Outdoor Car show, Classic auto Mall, Morgantown, Pa
  
• 25-27 – Berkshire Mall Fall Indoor Car Show, Wyomissing, Pa
  
• 27 – 43 rd Annual Old Car Show, Phifer’s Ice Dams, Lehighton, Pa  
  

NOVEMBER                    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

• 5 – Monthly chapter dinner meeting, starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa.  Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm. Presentation will be given on the “Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird”.  Please join us for an intriguing evening!

DECEMBER                     HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

• 3 – Annual “Holiday Gathering”, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, 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

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 

In Search Of

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