Car of the Week: 1908 Buick Model F

[dodgechargerfan]

Don Obermeyer’s 1908 Buick has been in the family since long before he came along.

And if he has his wish, it will still be in the family long after he’s gone.
Don and his brother Jim have made sure the old Buick has been treated right in recent years, teaming up to have the car restored not long after it celebrated its 100th birthday a few years back. These days the car is the toast of Valparaiso, Ind., where Don keeps it in a heated and air-conditioned garage.

That’s probably better treatment that the Buick ever got from Henry Obermeyer when he bought the car new in 1908 in Lafayette, Ind.

Read more.

 

[69.5CUDA]

thats AMAZING..tho...its hardly the same car with so much lost damaged and replaced..but the sheer fact its been in the family for over 100 years is NUTS

 

[68R/T]

The value that the car holds to the family far exceeds any possible market value. And sadly the marketability of cars from the brass era is waning far too quickly. The number of people that can relate to these are dying.

A few years back I was talking to a guy at a car show that had a 1905 Olds. He had bought out a body shop business and the car came with it.....in pieces. He painted & assembled it and was only asking $3,000. He said that many people admired it but no one was interested in buying. :huh:

 

[69.5CUDA]

exactly true...and i think its due to the fact that they are simply too crude and styleless....even to one of the bellybutton crew to chop up..there just usnt enuf to use

now dont get me wrong..i adore the brass era stuff..at the end of the day..these examples are where we came from

 

[Not A Duster]

See this is why I could never win a lottery.

After the two dozen or so muscle era cars I would gather, there would be half a warehouse of duesenberg/cord/auburn...... And then another building for stuff like this.

Anybody who appreciates automotive styling over cupholders and infotainment systems also digs automotive beauty no matter what era it comes from. Sadly - much of our youth doesn't care about cars at all, much less the history behind them.

This doesn't apply to just examples of automotive art either, museums and art galleries are falling victim to the lack of interest from the video game generation where the only thing of value is that which is new....

 

[restoman]

See this is why I could never win a lottery.

After the two dozen or so muscle era cars I would gather, there would be half a warehouse of duesenberg/cord/auburn...... And then another building for stuff like this.

Anybody who appreciates automotive styling over cupholders and infotainment systems also digs automotive beauty no matter what era it comes from. Sadly - much of our youth doesn't care about cars at all, much less the history behind them.

This doesn't apply to just examples of automotive art either, museums and art galleries are falling victim to the lack of interest from the video game generation where the only thing of value is that which is new....

Yup.

 

[69.5CUDA]

yup and yup..but in all honesty..i blame the parents and the friends parents and the parents parents..cause ive changed alot of "next generation" minds to see things in the old light

 

[Stretch]

The people who care for/ own these antique cars are a rare breed. You need three things to do it right. The love for the cars, deep pockets, and the love for the hunt of the parts. If you think you will never get your investment back on a muscle car and doing what it takes to keep it going makes you think twice about why your in it then your not ever going to enjoy a antique car. You cant just run down to the parts store for what you need to repair it. You need it you find a repairable used one or you make or have it made. Thousands go into them. Most arnt worth much more then $10,000 to $20,000 in the end. It's all about the love of the car and its history.

I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work on some of these cars. I love every minute of it! If I could afford it I would have a barn full of them too. Right next to my barn full of muscle cars.

It's very cool that this car has been in their family all these years. I hope the next person to care for that old girl has what it takes to love it just as much as these people do.

 

[69.5CUDA]

you are a lucky bastard indeed

i will say this tho..it takes an extra special person to DRIVE them..and not just fix em and park em

 

[Stretch]

You have no idea how much fun it is to drive them. It gets interesting in traffic. It's like driving a tractor with all of the controls in all the wrong places on a super speedway in the middle of a race. Damn they are slow but it sure feels like your flying! Then you get passed like your standing still.

 

[68R/T]

Character....it's all about character, the older they are, the more they have.

I recently put 50 miles on a late model Caddy CTS. Nice car, like being in a refrigerator. No road noise, it warmed my hands and my ass. No bumps to be noticed, and that Northstar dual OHC has some hair............and NO character.

 

[69.5CUDA]

agree all about the character..its why i keep to my old stuff..tho not realy what i meant about driving them....many get restored and parked perminantly...the truely special drive them

this is the sole reason i want to restore one of my lloyds to stone stock..cause i know its gunna have alot of caracter..just be slow lol

 

[restoman]

The people who care for/ own these antique cars are a rare breed. You need three things to do it right. The love for the cars, deep pockets, and the love for the hunt of the parts. If you think you will never get your investment back on a muscle car and doing what it takes to keep it going makes you think twice about why your in it then your not ever going to enjoy a antique car. You cant just run down to the parts store for what you need to repair it. You need it you find a repairable used one or you make or have it made. Thousands go into them. Most arnt worth much more then $10,000 to $20,000 in the end. It's all about the love of the car and its history.

I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work on some of these cars. I love every minute of it! If I could afford it I would have a barn full of them too. Right next to my barn full of muscle cars.

It's very cool that this car has been in their family all these years. I hope the next person to care for that old girl has what it takes to love it just as much as these people do.

I couldn't have said that better myself.
The only people who make money on old cars are the ones who get paid to fix them... and even then, more often than not, it's done for the joy of fixing them than it is for the sake of money alone.

Working on oldies like that Oakland are a treat few people will ever get to experience.

 

[Stretch]

"That Oakland" has turned into "those Oaklands" Last year I did the '28 American six. This year I'm working on the '29 Sport Roadster, And it looks like Mark just made a deal on a '29 Oakland Cabriolet. The Cabriolet comes with a ton of extra parts. The guy who sold Mark the '29 Sport Roadster called and offered him the other car and all the parts he has collected over the years. It looks as though I'll be "Mr Oakland" before to long. Mark also has a 1933 Pontiac he wants me to do some work on and a Cord he wants me to change the CV axles in. After that who knows, His 1914 Maxwell.