Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Automotif XXVIII...

Seen while out and about: '61 or '62 Buick Special parked up at a local transmission joint. I found it interesting that this early '60s Y-body compact, one of GM's early adventures in unibody construction, is not terrible huge even by the yardstick of the Audi A4 it's parked beside.
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13 comments:

billf said...

I vaguely remember somethng about those Buick Specials,(somebody will surely correct me if I'm wrong),having aluminum block V-8's that later were used in the Triumph Stag and Land Rover.
Anybody?

6:23 PM, May 20, 2014
drjim said...

Yep. Some of them were turbocharged, too.

GM sold the tooling to Rover in the mid '60's, and it was also used for the REPCO Formula-1 engine.

GM tried to buy the tooling back, and Rover told them no.

6:49 PM, May 20, 2014
Tam said...

Yup. It was also available with the first mass-produced domestic V6.

Pontiac's version of the platform had a rear-mounted transaxle and independent rear suspension, and the Oldsmobile variant was available with a turbo version of that future Rover engine.

6:55 PM, May 20, 2014
tickmeister said...

I had one, pretty sweet car. Black, aluminum 215 V-8, 4 speed. It wouldn't out-run anything, but it was good for bluffing.

7:58 PM, May 20, 2014
Jay Bee said...

First car I ever drove that didn't belong to my dad was a 1965 Buick Special. I believe it was equipped with the 4.9L v8.... I lusted after it, but the asking price was $500 over what my 16-year old self could afford.

Ah, memories...

8:00 PM, May 20, 2014
Anonymous said...



The 'Rover' V8 powered a lot of English vehicles. Start at 11m45 here to see them all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC07c-DoV5Q

Al_in_Ottawa

10:04 PM, May 20, 2014
Nate said...

I owned the Olds F85 variant back when I was 16. Compared to the Corvair with the bucket seats and a 4 speed that I originally wanted, 4 doors, bench seats and an automatic were pretty boring until I started dating. But that all aluminum V8 was an oil burner without equal!

11:22 PM, May 20, 2014
DOuglas2 said...

History of Rover's acquisition of the Buick 215:
http://www.britishv8.org/articles/rover-autocar-article.htm

11:25 PM, May 20, 2014
gamachinist said...

I'm not surprised it is at a transmission shop.
That was it's biggest problem as best I remember.
I have a wagon parked at my place that was bought new by my late friends' parents.
I don't recall oil consumption being high with that one.
It was often our "Vista Cruiser" in our high school years (early to mid 1970's).
I guess it's mine now.

The Stag OHC engine was different btw.
It was used in the TR 8's though.

8:18 AM, May 21, 2014
leaddog said...

My grandma had a 64 with a 410 Wildcat V8. She drove it like she stole it! It would scoot. Later, when she could no longer drive, I was her designated Chauffeur. I loved the way that little car handled.

8:35 AM, May 21, 2014
Chuck Pergiel said...

DQ? (License Plate)

10:10 AM, May 21, 2014
Will said...

I have a vague recollection that that all aluminium engine was used in some kit type aircraft. Scaled down P-51, maybe?

3:35 PM, May 21, 2014
Terrapod said...

Put some round tail lights on it and it kinda looks like my old 62 Ford Falcon ;)

8:54 PM, May 21, 2014

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