May 2024 Newsletter

DIRECTOR’S THOUGHTS, MAY, 2024

April showers bring may flowers! Do you buy and plant your flowers (annuals) every year, or do you have flowers (perennials) that come back every year? Flowers come in all types of shapes and colors. Whatever type you have, if any, flowers seem to make a house a home. They provide a nice variety of color, right? Just like Buicks! Buicks come in all styles and colors, too! Now the car show season begins. Just about every weekend now, both on Saturdays and Sundays, one can find a car event to attend whether it’s a show or cruise! I find it hard to believe that the season is upon us already! For those of you who do attend car events, please remember to distribute our October car show flyers to other event participants. Flyers are taken to the chapter meetings every month, or you may contact Sally to receive flyers in the US mail, or I can e-mail a flyer to you for you to print out.

This year, Memorial Day will be celebrated on Monday, May 27, 2024. I would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank you” to those members who spent any time in any of the armed services. “Thank you” for your service to this country in keeping us safe and free! Your Elected Director, Sally Getz

“Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes –April 2, 2024

Meeting called to order @ 7:30 pm. 19 members are present. Sally “Welcomed” everyone to tonight’s meeting. She asked if anyone would like to share any special events anyone did the past month.

Todd/Andrea Kriner are thoroughly enjoying their grandson. Sally asked how the members enjoyed the April Fools story. Gary Hiller texted Sally, he attended the Philadelphia auto show and the Wildcat concept car was there. See the following:

John Malone shared a publication of which featured his 1938 Special Buick, #47, on the front cover, followed by an article inside. Congrats to John/Gail Malone! Eric Hunsberger shared a picture of his 1955 Buick Super 4 door Sedan, #52, from the Motorama Mid Atlantic show at the Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks PA. Congrats to Eric!

Motion to accept March meeting minutes, Kathleen Duckett, seconded by, Todd Kriner , so carried.

Treasurer’s report: Report given for March 2024, motion to accept, Kathleen Duckett, seconded by Shirley Schaffer, so carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Historian; no report

Lehighton: Sally has this year car show flyers for the membership to take to pass out.

Membership: William Hallman collected monies from members not wearing their chapter badge. William announced to the membership that member, Dini Vigliano, has suffered a medical emergency last month which she required invasive emergency measures. A “Get Well” card was passed around for everyone to sign and Sally will Mail out to Dini who is presently in rehab: Dini Vigliano, Roon 251, Holly House, Meadowood, Lansdale 19446

E-newsletter/newsletter: Advertisers J C Taylor and Wood Naturally were removed from our advertiser sponsor list, they did not renew.

Publicity: Car show flyer was sent to web master to be placed on the web site.

Technical:

Ways-n-Means: Sally sold a Buick Coverlet to a BCA member in Connecticut.

OLD BUSINESS: Position for Assistant Director remains open for someone to volunteer. Contact Sally if you would like to fulfill this position.

NEW BUSINESS: Future Buick National Meets:

2024 = Cleveland, Ohio
2025 = Concord, North Carolina
2026 = California vs. Ohio?
2027 = Albany, New York?

John Scheib, along with some Eastern Seaboard Chapter Directors, met for a zoom meeting on March 19^th to discuss hosting another Tri-Regional Buick Meet possibly in 2026 if the National Meet may be held in California.

Bob Miles presented a talk on an upcoming National Cadillac Meet to be held at Gettysburg, Pa in June 10-15^th, 2024. During that time, day trips will be taken by participants. He encouraged members to attend. He had all the necessary information one needs to register.

The Annual Chapter Picnic is Sunday, June 9, 2024 under the Weeping Willow Pavilion, JHNUKNM;PMacungie Memorial Park. As in the past, the chapter will supply the meats, condiments, paper products, utensils, and beverages. Members are asked to bring the following depending upon the first letter of their last name:

A – G = dessert H – O = hot item P – Z = cold item

Now, if you are not a baker, please bring something scrumptious for everyone to enjoy! Plan to eat around 12:30 pm.

Sally encouraged everyone to read their April issue of the Buick Bugle to vote for 3 Board of Directors, then to mail in their ballot by June 1, 2024.

Motion to adjourn, Bob Miles, seconded by William Hallman, so carried. Time 8:40 pm.

Submitted by: Kathleen Duckett

A Look at Classic Buick Models Through the Ages

Building beautiful vehicles is something that Buick has always been known for. Since its founding in 1899 by David Dunbar Buick and Walter L. Marr, Buick has stood for quality, a value the brand has upheld for over a century. Today’s Buick is known for a lineup of amazing SUVs; responsible for vehicles such as the Encore, Enclave, and Envision, with the Avenir class being the pride of the pack.

If you stop into your local used Buick dealer you may be able to find some of the classic models that built this brand and gave it the reputation it still holds to this day. While it’s true that most of the original models can only be found today in museums, you can still find some on the used market that are direct descendants. These models helped carry the name and legacy into the 21st century, showing that Buick has provided drivers with luxury, performance, and styling for more than 100 years. Let’s take a closer look at Buick’s evolution over the years and the classic models that helped shape the brand into what it is today.

It All Started With Two Sedans: Buick may have started in 1899, but four short years after its initial launch, it looked like it would end before it even began. The company was on the brink of bankruptcy when the plucky little automaker from Flint, Michigan, was taken over by automotive pioneer Bill Durant and General Motors. In 1908, Buick would go from obscurity to the best-selling car brand in America. The key reason was that the innovations of Buick finally had the financial backing and stability provided by General Motors. One of the biggest was the overhead valve engine, which provided unparalleled power not seen before in other automobiles.

Those early years of innovation and perseverance created two of the most iconic models in the pre-war era. If you are a fan of old movies or modern films depicting the 1930s or 1940s, then you’ve probably seen a 1938 Buick Roadmaster Series 80 Touring Sedan and a 1939 Buick Roadmaster Series 80 Phaeton rolling down the street. The Roadmaster featured those iconic long-running boards seen in movies like “The Grapes of Wrath,” running all the way up to movies like “The Godfather.”

The Roadmaster survived the war and went on to be one of the most popular Buick models of the era. It presented to the buying public a sedan that provided power and ample room, all at an affordable price. The original model was even cheaper than the least expensive Cadillac, making it a worthy competitor in the growing automotive industry. The last Buick Roadmaster model rolled off the assembly line in 1996, attached to a full-size luxury sedan and a large station wagon.

Cruising Into the Fifties: Buick cemented its reputation in the post-war era as a leading auto brand in America thanks to the 1953 Skylark and the 1955 Century. Sporting a V8 engine and sporty Kelsey-Hayes 40-spoke chrome wheels, the Skylark was the vehicle of choice for teenagers in love who wanted to go cruising and park at “Lover’s Lane.” The Skylark convertible of the 50s remains an icon of the era, representing a much simpler time.

The Buick Century became known as the car every highway patrolman wanted after this hot rod coupe was featured weekly on the popular Highway Patrol television show. The classic Century sported a set of four VentiPorts on each front fender, giving the Buick a look of a fighter plane. These design features would show the flashing lights created by the engine’s spark plugs firing in synchronization. Form followed function with the VentiPorts as they allowed additional airflow to reach the Century’s engine.

You can still find a used Buick Skylark or Century on the used market. However, these are most likely models from the sixth generation of the Skylark, built until 1996, and the fifth generation of the Century, also available until 1996. The later models of both vehicles were now four-door sedans, which sadly didn’t continue the unique tradition of the VentiPorts.

Buick’s Swinging Sixties: If there was any automaker poised to conquer the Swinging Sixties, it was Buick. No other automaker had the styling and power quite like Buick, with the automaker building luxury sedans and coupes that also featured powerful engines, giving motorists the performance they desired in a vehicle the whole family could love. These muscle cars helped define the era, with a trio from the mid-60s standing out among their class.

Buick had introduced the Electra and LeSabre in 1959, but the ones that truly helped popularize the lineup were from the mid-60s, specifically the 1964 Electra and 1965 LeSabre. This pair was joined by another upstart Buick, the Riviera, which was introduced in 1963. Gone were the tailfins, big grilles, and large whitewall tires of the Fifties Buick, replaced by lower profiles, sloping tails, and tight grilles. These gave the LeSabre, Electra, and Riviera a more aerodynamic look, like a fighter jet, as opposed to a propeller bomber. The Riviera even featured its own design specification; an angular frontend that came to a point. No matter which model you chose, you and your family were sure to be getting a superior driving experience.

These three models were so popular that they lasted well into the future. The Riviera went through eight generations until 1999, while the Electra lasted until 1990, with its sixth generation. Still, the most enduring and popular of this trio was the Buick LeSabre, with the eighth generation of the sedan being sold up to 2005.

The Modern Classics: The term modern classic seems like a paradox. Modern implies the future, while classic usually refers to something from the past. However, starting in the Seventies, Buick began developing a number of cars that have become just that. This can be seen in the Gran Sport version of popular models, which started with the 1965 Buick Skylark. Had Ralph Macchio bought a ’65 Skylark instead of a ’64 model in the film “My Cousin Vinny,” he could have proven Mona Lisa Vito wrong when she said that nobody could confuse a Buick Skylark with a Corvette.

The Gran Sport program hit its stride in the Seventies with models like the GSX, a two-door hardtop equipped with a Wildcat V8 gas engine. These rivaled other muscle cars in performance and blew past them in looks and luxury. Buick also introduced another very popular model in the Seventies that was truly fit for a king. The Buick Regal hit the road in 1973 as a four-door midsize sedan that put others to shame. The Regal proved so successful that Buick continued to build them until 2018. As a result, you can probably find a great deal on a used Regal TourX or Sportback, giving you a royal dose of luxury features and comfortable appointments in an exceptional vehicle.

This commitment to giving drivers the ideal combination of styling, performance, and luxury features continues to this day. One of the last sedans developed by Buick was the LaCrosse, which made its debut in 2005 and continued through 3 generations until 2019. The LaCrosse won accolades for its standard safety features and superior fuel economy, and like the Regal, you can find used models of the Buick Lacrosse for sale, giving you the opportunity to drive a great car at an affordable price.

Owning a Piece of the Past, for Your Future: All of the great innovations and performance advancements developed over these 100-plus years are the reason why today’s Buick SUVs represent the ultimate in automotive excellence. While Buick no longer makes sedans and coupes, many later models of these classics like the Skylark, LeSabre, Regal, and Riviera are still available on the used market for those interested in a piece of history. Buick has built on its past, all while maintaining a focus on innovation, which is precisely why they are such a dominating force in the auto industry and have over a century of automotive ingenuity to back that up.

CALENDAR of EVENTS, 2024

MAY 2024 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

4 – Blue Mtn. Classics, Bicentennial Park, Bethlehem, Pa
5 – Cars & Cookies Colorectal Cancer Awareness Show, Macungie Park, Macungie, Pa
7 – Chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.
11 – Wheels For Victory Car Show, Kempton, Pa
26 – Lehigh Valley IronPigs Car Show, Coca – Cola Park, Allentown, Pa

JUNE 2024 HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!

8 – 1^st Annual Gasket Goons Spring Showdown In the Park, Macungie, Pa
9 – Annual chapter picnic, Weeping Willow Pavillion, Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, Pa

JULY 2024 HAPPY 4^TH OF JULY

13 – Rock n Rescue, 1375 Oak Grove Drive, Lehighton, Pa
14 – 6^th Annual Hanoverville Roadhouse Car Show, Bethlehem, Pa
20 – Not Your Father’s Car & Bike Show, 2100 Bushkill Park Drive, Easton, Pa
27 – 9^th Annual NASD Student Council Car Show, Bicentennial Psrk West, Northampton, Pa

CARS/PARTS FOR SALE

1955 Buick Special 2 door htp: cascade blue and temple grey, 264 Nailhead engine, 4 BBL carb, power steering, original front/back seats, headliner and working am radio. Show condition: top 40 winner Wildwood Boardwalk 2019 Classic Car Show. Asking $37K. Contact Rich Eberhart FMI (215-409-5195 Pennsburg, Pa.)