1917 Buick D-35 Touring Car
For consignment, a 1917 Buick D-35 Touring car in mostly original condition according to our consignor. Some upgrades have been added but there's also opportunity to continue the work on this car, a rare remnant from the earliest days of auto manufacturing.
Exterior
Pale Yellow covers the bathtub shaped body of the car that has plenty of patina, multiple body repairs, and varying shades of yellow. Wide black fenders are connected with a running board and the left front fender is peeling primer gray with some rust underneath. A completely vertical windscreen is dual paned and can pivot while mirrors have been added. 30-inch painted wood spoke wheels present in varying conditions, mostly good, and wear 5.5-inch tires. Buick was a dominant automaker during this period so marketing through emblems wasn't critical. As such, a small Buick nameplate appears on the black radiator. The canvas top and accompanying side curtains are fairly new, according to the consignor, and actually do present nicely, including the plastic rear window. Brake lights and turn signals have also been added and a spare tire is mounted on the back. Blotches, dings, bodywork, and just age all contribute to the patina while possessing good bones.
Interior
The seats are newer according to our consignor and consist of Chesterfield style black vinyl bench seats, front and rear. Door covers are simple vinyl panels with actuators as the only bit of hardware. A robust wood steering wheel features throttle and choke levers in the center and the simple dash is a yellow extension of the body work, containing some switches with embossed plastic labeling, a fantastic antique barrel style Stewart gauge, and a more modern Stewart Warner amp gauge. The shifter is floor mounted and a rubberized mat covers that floor all the way up to the pedals. Inside the canvas cover, conditions are good with only some dirt marring the appearance.
Drivetrain
A 170ci inline 4 cylinder is behind the engine cover and was rated at 35 horsepower and fueled by a 1-barrel carburetor and set into motion with a 3-speed manual transmission transferring power to the rear wheels and 4.08 gears. The clutch was rebuilt recently, and the vacuum fuel system was converted to electric. Mechanical drum brakes were the only option in 1917 and are found here but only on the rear axle.
Undercarriage
The term itself is a remnant of early American automobilia as carriages were the mode of transportation up until just a few years earlier! Anyway, driver quality underneath with plenty of patina, some surface rust, and oil at the pan, transmission, and rear diff. Our consignor tells us grease cups are due for repacking and there are 31 of them. The single exhaust is clean and quickly enters a stock style muffler and exits abruptly under the center of the car. It took manufacturers a few years to realize that out the back was a better option. Meanwhile, components around the wheels are relatively clean and the wood under the running boards has held up very well.
Drive-Ability
With some advice from the consignor and issues with the starter, we were able to get it running and took this centenarian plus out on the test loop. It rolls on its own power and the shifts are short and we are coasting along, imagining what a kingly feeling it must've been in 1917. The limited functions all work, including the added lights. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Good bones indeed on this 107 year old car that would make the ideal restoration project with most of the interior good to go. You won't find parts at RockAuto or O'Reilly auto parts, but you will be able to network with the thousands of people involved in antique cars and also have a great excuse to hit the swap meets! Or tune it up and drive as is because most things that 107 years old don't look this good!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
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