DIRECTOR’S THOUGHTS, AUGUST, 2023

Well, I feel we will survive 1 more month of very warm weather.  I have been told, the month of August, is better known as the ”Dog Days of Summer.”  Then, before you know it, the Holidays will be upon us, right?

As the summer months begin to wind down, in only 2 more months, the Lehighton Old Car show will be taking place at Phifer’s Ice Dams, 880 Main Road, Lehighton, Pa.  I am asking that you make yourself a promise to come to help out in any way that you can, especially with helping to park the cars in their respective classes.  Last year we had 1 volunteer park 3 classes!  This cannot happen for this year’s show!  If there is nothing else you come out to that this chapter holds, please come to this event to help out.

Over the summer months, a “Buick Coverlet” was sold and sent to a gentleman from Huntington, NY.  A new member signed up to be a part of our membership; Stephen and Barbara Oravitz,    BCA #52900 – Ringtown, Pa 17967 – 1937 Buick Special

Welcome them when you meet them!  In talking about membership, if you still have not renewed your dues, please do so.  Please submit your $12.00 to Dolores Kennedy by August 31, 2023.  This will be your last reminder to renew your dues.  If you have already renewed your dues, please disregard this reminder. 

On a Saturday in October, Kathleen/Thomas Duckett are opening their home for an “Octoberfest” event.  Kathleen is asking everyone to bring chairs and BYOB (bring your own BEVERAGE).  If you want to provide a food selection, feel free to bring along to share with others. 

Next month, September, our monthly chapter dinner meetings will reconvene at the Starlite Diner and Lounge, Rt. 100, Allentown, Pa, dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting following @ 7:30 pm.  Hope I will see you there! 

                                                                                                                                            Your Chapter Director,  Sally Getz  

“Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes – July, 2023

 NO monthly meeting held.  Happy Summer Vacation!!

12 Classic Buick Cars That’ll Soon Be Worth A Fortune

Thanks to their timeless designs and growing desirability, the prices of these classic Buicks are likely to rocket soon, so grab one while you can.  Buick has evolved in many ways since its establishment in 1899. While General Motors’ luxury division is generally known for making mild-mannered family transportation, it also has a deep motorsport history, proving its performance on racetracks. Buick has made beautiful cars that collectors covet and hot-rodders hunt for. Some of these cars are still very affordable, especially when it comes to classic cars, but don’t expect them to remain so for long. Once the market becomes fully aware of the panache, poise, and punch these classic Buick cars possess, you can be sure their value will be off the charts.

Every car enthusiast wants to get in on the ground floor of cars that will soon command more attention than they currently do. Buick has the unique ability to be both inexpensive and show the best of American car engineering from decades past. The classic Buicks on this list have a lot going for them, including affordability. That may not be true as time goes on and more gearheads take note of how desirable owning a vintage Buick can be. Is now the time to invest? We’ll let you be the judge.

1955 Buick Super Model 52 – The Buick Super Model 52 is a big, classic car with design cues from the 1955 Buick Century and the Century Riviera hardtop. It comes with a host of luxury items, including a deluxe steering wheel and a power bench seat. The Buick Super Sedan gets its power from a smooth 322 cubic inch V8 engine with an output of 236 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. The Model 52 is one of the most comfortable passenger sedans, offering more than enough room for six people.

The price history of the Buick Super from 1954 to 1956 was steady for the past few years. That is, until about 2021 when this Buick’s price shot up a few thousand dollars on average. The 1955 Buick Super Model 52 sits at a great sweet spot for this fourth-generation Buick, and you’ll want to get your hands on one before prices increase even further.

1958 Buick Roadmaster Model 75– You may be familiar with the Buick Roadmaster name, but perhaps not with this model. With about 10,505 units that came to be of the Buick Roadmaster Model 75, the sedan is quite rare, and the market is taking notice. You can still get a 1958 Buick Roadmaster Model 75 for about $17,900, but hurry because the most recent one had a sale price of about $57,200.

The Roadmaster sedan works with a 364 cubic inch Fireball V8 engine that spits out 300 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. With its sturdy powertrain and power assist features, the 1958 Roadmaster Riviera sedan makes even the longest road trip fun. This classic example of American finesse will soon be worth a fortune once more classic car enthusiasts catch on.

1960 Buick Invicta – With the Buick Invicta coming all-new in 1959, the following year witnessed only subtle changes. The grille of this classic Buick, which originally donned concave vertical bars, shows off a more subdued look than before in the 1960 model. Another subtle difference with this classic Buick compared to Invictas of the year prior? The quad headlights of the 1960 Buick Invicta are now placed side-by-side.

Under the hood of the 1960 Invicta lies a 401 cubic inch V8 Nailhead engine paired with Buick’s Twin Turbine automatic transmission to produce 325 hp. As of October 2022, the 1960 Buick Invicta was up 20.1%, commanding $36,400. The latest sale demanded $44,625.  Sales of the first-generation Buick Invicta have gone up rather sharply, but remain affordable. It stands to reason that this Buick may increase in value, looking at the numbers.

1963 Buick Riviera – The Riviera is one of Buick’s longest-running nameplates, produced from 1962 to 1999, lasting over eight generations. Adorned with Formula Five chrome-look steel wheels and whitewalls, the Riviera was born as a result of America’s attraction to European luxury cars such as Aston Martin and Jaguar. The 1963 Buick Riviera is a standout that will soon be even more coveted than it already is.

The furnished interior of the 1963 Riviera comes with front bucket seats and bucket-style rear seats. Powering the 1963 Riviera is a 401 cubic inch Nailhead V8 engine with an output of 325 hp. With the Nailhead V8, the Riviera hits 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and reaches a quarter-mile in 16.0 seconds. The 1963 Buick Riviera remains pretty easy on the wallet, but because this Buick is so iconic, that affordability may not last long.

1972 Buick GS – Buick introduced the Gran Sport in 1964 as a response to the Pontiac GTO. Although it ended up phased out by the year 1972 due to engine rating regulations and dwindling sales, the Buick GS is now becoming increasingly popular as one of General Motors’ premier muscle cars.

The 1970 Buick Gran Sport 455 may have a lot of the glory, but gearheads shouldn’t overlook the 1972 version. Under the hood of the 1972 GS lies a 5.7-liter V8 engine that’s joined to a three-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission to crank out 190 hp.

The 1972 Buick Gran Sport is a way to buy into the iconic classic American car club at a price that isn’t too shabby. Hagerty values a good 1972 Buick GS two-door Convertible to be in the region of $15,000.

1975 Buick LeSabre Custom Convertible – The Buick LeSabre Custom is one of the earliest General Motors vehicles to use unleaded gasoline, following the introduction of the catalytic converter. The 165 horsepower for the 1975 LeSabre Custom comes from a 350 cubic inch V8.

For more power, Buick offers an optional 7.5-liter V8 engine with a four-barrel. Collectors looking for a classic American convertible for driving in town or through the country can get the 1975 Buick LeSabre Custom Convertible for $18,300. The price may skyrocket soon, as the value of this classic Buick is currently experiencing an upward trend.

1985 Buick Regal Grand National – We’ve given you 10 reasons why gearheads should consider buying a Buick Regal Grand National, and let you in on the fact that the 1985 Buick Regal Grand National may soon be worth a fortune. Here are a few more reasons why this affordable classic Buick may not be so affordable for long.

Following the significant changes to the 1984 Buick Regal Grand National, the 1985 iteration only saw a new front grille update. The major design elements that distinguished the Grand National from the Buick Regal were the rear spoiler and the aluminum wheels with black inserts.

The rear-wheel drive Grand National boasts a strong turbo V6 that would win over a devout V8 enthusiast. The 231 cubic inch V6 pumps out 200 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Hagerty currently values the 1985 Buick Regal Grand National at $19,000, but the price may soon go up, thanks to its relative rarity and strong performance. Purchasing a cheap 1985 Buick Regal Grand National that needs some work is a great investment, if we take a peek at just how much restored versions of this classic Buick go for.

1987 Buick Regal GNX – The cream of the crop in terms of classic Buicks that are worth your investment dollars while they are still obtainable has got to be the 1987 Buick Regal GNX. Buick unleashed the limited production Buick GNX in 1987, featuring performance improvements such as a Garrett T3 turbocharger, performance suspension with torque bar, and GNX-only rear differential cover. Powering the GNX coupe is a 3.8-liter V6 engine.

The 231 cubic inch engine with the backing of a Turbo-Hydramatic 2004R transmission produces up to 276 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. The 1987 GNX has 16-inch aluminum mesh wheels and launches from 0-60 mph in less than 5.0 seconds. You can find one of the 547 GNXs produced in 1987 for about $115,000. Okay, so that’s not exactly as affordable as some of the other Buicks on this list. But the 1987 Buick Regal GNX has such good bones and with restomods so popular they could fetch even higher prices. And even standard versions of the 1987 Buick GNX are seeing their prices increase. A 1987 Buick Regal GNX just makes sense to invest in before it gets even more expensive – if your bank account can keep up.

Buick Special Skylark – In the early ’60s, downsizing was the trend in the American car industry as automakers tried making their popular models sportier. As such, Buick redesigned the Special sedan to make it more competitive against the Ford Falcon and Chevy Corvair.

Not too long later, Buick went back to the drawing board and developed an even more special version of the Special sedan – the Special Skylark. The Skylark was an instant hit, loved by many for its sleek two-door coupe design and innovative all-aluminum V8 cranking out 200 hp.

Buick Reatta – Buick has always had a reputation for making boring, everyday cars. However, in the ’80s, Buick decided to flip the script by building a sports car – the Reatta.

The Reatta seemed to have a bright future when it debuted in the ’80s. It had an intriguing wedge-shaped design that almost made it look European, especially with the pop-up headlights on. The Reatta also had advanced features like a touchscreen computer interface, fully independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Sadly, the Reatta’s V6 only made up to 170 hp, which wasn’t enough for a car that cost $25,000 at the time. Hagerty values the Reatta at around $11,000, which is a steal.

Buick GSX Stage 1 – Buick largely missed out on the muscle car craze in the ’60s. However, Buick still managed to create a model to face off against the top dogs in the horsepower wars, and it came in the form of the 1970 GSX Stage 1.

The GSX Stage 1 turned out great and is easily one of the most underrated muscle cars ever. Equipped with a 455ci engine dishing out 360 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, the GSX Stage one gave the likes of the Pontiac GTO Judge and Chevelle SS a run for their money. The 1970 Buick GSX is worth around $55,000 according to Hagerty, but its prices will rise as muscle cars go extinct.

1994 Buick Roadmaster Wagon – In the early ’90s, Buick decided to revive the Roadmaster nameplate after a 33-year hiatus. The 1991-1996 Roadmaster was available as a sedan or wagon, but the wagon is the one that most gearheads remember.

The Roadmaster Wagon was nothing special. It was a large wagon with an unsightly design featuring woodgrain panels – the kind of car your grandma would love. However, in 1994, Buick decided to equip the Roadmaster Wagon with a Corvette-sourced 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine dishing out 260 hp, turning it into one of the best American sleeper cars of the day.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

AUGUST 2023

• 4-6 – Das Awksht Fescht, Macungie, PA

SEPTEMBER 2023                                HAPPY LABOR DAY!

• 3 – Car show, Slatington Airport, Slatington, Pa
• 5 – Monthly chapter meeting, dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting 7:30 pm. Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa
• 10 – Strausstown Lions Club Car Show, Community Park, Strausstown, PA
• 24 – Star Car Show, Star Buick GMC, Easton, PA

OCTOBER 2023                                       HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

• 10 – Monthly chapter meeting, NOTE DATE CHANGE DUE TO HERSHEY AACA MEET.  Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting following at 7:30 pm.  Hope you can make this meeting.  Nominations to be taken for Director, Assistant Director, Secretary, Treasurer, and 2 BOD’s. 
• 29 – Lehighton Old Car show, Phifers Ice Dams, 880 Main Road, Lehighton, PA

CARS/PARTS FOR SALE

1964 Riviera, #2 body condition.  Exterior color = Surf Green, Interior color = black leather w/ NO rips.  Is a plain Jane: No A/C, NO PW.  Radiator Re-cord.  Runs but needs to be finished, $17,500.00, OBO.  267-680-5116, ask for Don.