1951 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon 59815 Miles Sharon Green Woody Wagon 320 cubi

1951 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon Description

Incredible original car in storage since the early ‘60s. 59,815 original miles. Recently serviced with fresh brakes, hoses, belts, fluids, etc. Outstanding original wood, beautiful leather interior, good paint & trim. The definition of survivor.
From the looks of the car today, this wagon didn't have to suffer through harsh winters or wet summers, and as a result the wooden bodywork is in exceptional condition. There's not a soft spot, crack, or discolored piece anywhere on it and the wonderful honey-colored framework around the mahogany panels has a look that only age can create. The doors close with a solid THUNK and it still takes some effort to get them to seal properly—the wood isn't shrunken and dry. You'll note that the car is wearing 100% original code 8 Sharon Green paint and there's nary a ding, rust spot, or ripple anywhere on the body, more proof that it has lived a good life. Yes, there are some thin spots, some micro-blisters, and some signs of age, but as someone who loves original cars, it's my professional opinion that repainting this car (or restoring it) would be a mistake. We cleaned the paint and gave it a light coat of wax, and you could probably take it up a notch with a deeper cut and buff, but we decided to let the next owner decide which path he wants to take. The stainless trim is likewise in excellent condition, while the chrome ranges from very good to mediocre, with pitting on the "mustache" above the grille and hood ornament, and bumpers that are a little scuffed.
The handsome green leather interior is wonderfully well preserved, with smooth leather seating surfaces that show no wrinkles, cracking, or dryness that comes with age—storage must have been nearly ideal. The original floor coverings, headliner, and matching green door panels are likewise excellent and can be put into service without any additional effort. There is one split seam on the passenger's side of the front seat, but it is only the thread that has given up so it can surely be stitched and repaired rather than replaced—we may contact our upholsterer and have him look into it. From the driver's seat, the controls are excellent—bright chrome on the dash, fully operational gauges, and a beautifully preserved black plastic steering wheel without any cracks or fading. Even the low-nap carpets in the cargo bay are excellent and we believe that's the original spare tire still tucked into the well under the floor.
Although it has been in storage for many years, this Buick runs superbly. It has been fairly comprehensively serviced, including fluids, cooling system flush, and new belts and hoses throughout (including nearly 30 feet of new heater hose!). There's also a new battery and the brakes were recently rebuilt with a fresh master cylinder, new wheel cylinders, flex hoses, and shoes. The engine bay has been cleaned but nothing has been restored or repainted, and you can still see original finishes and decals throughout, from the traditional Buick Turquoise engine enamel to the bright orange lid on the AC oil filter. It starts quickly and easily, idling like a sewing machine with plenty of oil pressure and no hiccups or stumbles. Thanks to hydraulic lifters, which were standard in Buicks by 1951, the idle is silky smooth and the big 320 cubic inch straight-8 remains one of the most reliable and potent engines of the period.
Buick's Dynaflow automatic transmission wasn't known for performance, but it is a great partner for the silky straight-8. No shifts, just a smooth wave of big torque that pulls the big wagon up to speed and holds it there all day without any apparent effort. With 3.90 gears out back, this should be an easy 65 MPH cruiser. Yes, there's some surface rust on the bottom of the car, but our advice would be to just leave it alone and drive. Don't get hung up on it, because that kind of casual usability is why untouched cars are so great. Original steel wheels with standard hubcaps are the right look and it's wearing 8.00-15 Firestone wide whites that date to the early '60s. They look good, but we'd recommend replacing them before the next road trip.
If perfection is your goal, this isn't your car ut owning and driving a car like this is incredibly liberating because you don’t have to worry about it out in the real world. And once you feel the silky smoothness of a car that has never been apart, well, you might have to reconsider your obsession with perfection. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.