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Restored 1939 Buick Coupe

My father, who owned a grocery store in Long Beach, California, at the beginning of WWII, was saddened by the young Navy lieutenant who walked into his store one day and said, "Dave, I guess I am going into action in the Pacific. My only concern is what to do with my ‘39 Buick. It's the first of its kind and a beaut. I can't just leave it anywhere and I don't have time to sell it". My father said, "Why don't we take a look at it. Maybe I can find a buyer for you." They went out to the front of the store and there it was, a beautiful gray two-door Buick, just like new. My father fell in love with it. "You know," he said, "I'm going to buy it. That way I will give you what it is worth and when you come back from the war you can buy it back." They shook hands, my father bought the car and the Navy lieutenant went off to war. He never came back and my father never heard from him again.

That car stayed in the family until 1953 when we sold it. My husband had just returned from Korea and was being stationed in Louisiana. It is too bad we let it get away because it was the best car we ever had. I remember one Sunday night in 1951, my husband, who was in the Air Force and stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, had me drop him off so he could get a ride back to the base. I was staying with my parents in Inglewood, California, at the time. I had just dropped him off and started back home. It was about 10:00 p.m. and had been raining. I started driving down one street that had been partially flooded and had to slow down to almost a complete stop to get through the water. As I came out of the flooded street, at the other end, on a side street a car was waiting filled with teenage boys. It appeared that they were just waiting for an opportunity to cut off a car, probably one with a female or females in it. They drove out of the side street at breakneck speed trying to cut me off and stop me. I just floorboarded my Buick and their car (whatever it was) just bounced off the ‘39 Buick's left front bumper. That car was also built like a tank and probably saved my life that night.

We have always had Buicks. They are just better!!! In 1968, we pulled an 18-foot trailer (Prowler) across Canada and down into Wisconsin with a 1963 Riviera with no problems. We have had mostly Rivieras including a 1963, 1980, 1985, 1988 and 1990. It is too bad that GM does not make Rivieras any more.

We now have a 1994 Buick and a 2006 Buick and are still happy with Buick.

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