Hi all,
I am in the UK, just stumbled onto a car on Ebay, labelled:
Buick Straight Eight Fireball 1948-Restoration Project Item number: 320314627995


DIRECT LINK (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Buick-Straight-Eight-Fireball-1948-Restoration-Project_W0QQitemZ320314627995QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem320314627995&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A7%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318#eb ayphotohosting)

I am not normally a fan of older cars, but I am smitten by this one. Can someone hand-hold me through this for me? Can parts be still gotten for this model - where do I start looking? What is the actual model name for these? Suspension still gettable? I would probably end up changing engine & Gearbox to something very modern (fuel is apr $8.00 a gallon here...)

Could someone sneak a peak and tell me if these originally came with a soft top, if so can I still get the bitsies to make it waterproof (yes, it rains here 95% of the time, snows the resot of the 5% :( )

Apologies if this is a baby-Q for you all, but I need to make some leaps in Straight-Eight education so I can make an informed decision on bidding or not.

Warmest Regards
Udhi

There were 11367 convertible Roadmasters made in '48. No parts are not readily available for any car of that age, but they can be found. If your going custom that make it a lot easier.

With those few pictures, its hard to see if the top frame is even there.
They do have nice lines!

You can get new parts for everything mechanical on this car here in the states at several different places. Check out "Bob's automobilia" on the internet and download their catalogue. You'll be amazed at what's available.

It is a relatively difficult car to modernize because it uses a closed, torque tube, type drive line. It does not use an open drive line.

One option is to obtain something like an early 70s Buick Estate wagon and use its entire suspension, drive line and drive train. So basically you would transplant the body and interior on to a more modern auto set up.

Hi guys,
Thanks for the info. I was thinking of installing a 3.5V8 via a 5 speed manual G/B and simply weld-up an altered propshaft with the flanges from the current prop....looks like that is not going to happen?

I will have a look into this again...

Hi guys,
Thanks for the info. I was thinking of installing a 3.5V8 via a 5 speed manual G/B and simply weld-up an altered propshaft with the flanges from the current prop....looks like that is not going to happen?

I will have a look into this again...

I have a 1947 Buick Super convertible I tried to sell a couple years ago that I still have. It is a very solid and complete car that I started to convert to Pro Street. It has an Art Morrison chassis with a Mustang II front end and Ford 9" rear, so you can add whatever engine you like but it currently has a big block Chevy. I am asking $15,000 OBO for it and I can forward some pictures if you are interested.

Hi Art,
I am out in the United Kingdom, mate. And I am worn out after my last attempt of export (from Japan, via well travelled lines). So I might not be the best candidate for sale!

HOWEVER, I would appreciate a link/piccies, for sheer inspiration? :laugh_4:

Regards
Udhi

Send me your E-mail address and I will gladly send you some photos of my car and some of a gentleman in Sweden that also has one and may be of further assistance. Nice looking car. Did you buy it?