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Sound
A couple of
dual cone speakers "stealth"
hidden under the speaker grill
will be a major improvement.
I didn't like
the idea of bulging after market
speaker grilles on the rear
shelf, but I still have to have
some tunes when cruisin', so I
made spacers, that will "counter
sink" the speakers below the
surface.
 
Then I made a
new shelf board and covered it
with speaker cloth.
 
Using the
original vinyl trim that goes
against the back seat, it looks
quite original.
More
stealth...Nobody would know
there are two high powered
Pioneer speakers here.
Door Panels
Door panels
are in good shape, but very
warped. Start by removing the
vinyl from the old board
(carefully!!) Use a heat gun to
soften up around corners.
Remove the
steel top support from old
panel.
Using the old
panel as template, outline the
shape on new door panel
material. Choose the waxed kind,
it repels moisture. Cut panel.
Position the
top metal support at the correct
place, and rivet it to the
panel.
Apply a layer
of 1/4 inch "landau padding",
(Yes, the stuff that's under
your mother's Cadillac roof) and
then put the vinyl side back
over. Use spray adhesive, mostly
in the corners. It is better to
let the vinyl stretch, that be
glued down everywhere, it will
stretch better and look more
straight.
Tadaa...
The LeSabre
didn't have the shiny trim
around the head liner, so I had
a good set polished to chrome
finish.
I hate this!
 
After
installation of head liner (puh!)
I can install the shiny stuff.
The art deco
courtesy light from are way
cool...
Trunk
After much
searching, I found a repro
houndstooth material that
matched the trunk liner. The old
pieces were intact but faded and
soiled, but they make great
patterns.
Some companies
offer a 5 piece set for LeSabre
and a 7 piece set for Invicta. I
have no idea what they are
talking about, since my LeSabre
liner consists of TEN pieces,
plus five cardboard panels. So,
let's just do it ourselves...
The old pieces
were used as pattern. I used a
tar paper like material and
covered it with the houndstooth
material.
I should have
some more trunk pictures, but
they may have been erased.
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Dash
All dash and
steel interior trim was
repainted. Use an acrylic
lacquer for this. Since it dries
semi flat, you can leave the
parts you want flat (matte)
finish, and hand rub the parts
you want shiny. This way the
paint matches perfectly.
Instrument
cluster...This thing weighs 20
lbs.!!! It was disassembled, and
restored. The background faces
and the black trim was redone,
and some fluorescent paint from
the hobby shop makes the dials
and arms look like 1959 again.
We also added an optional clock.
The radio and
glove cover plate was painted
white on the LeSabre. A dip in
the chrome tank and a Electra/Invicta
Buick shield brightens things
up.
 
After 40 years
of opening the door, the map
light had given in the the heat
from the bulb. Clear Plexiglas
was used to reproduce the lens.
 
Some
steel-wool treatment on both
sides duplicates the frosty
look. Voila! I can read my maps
again!
Glass
 
Since I
replaced the rear window with
tinted, all side glass was also
replaced with matching tinted
glass in re-chromed frames.
The channels
in the front door that holds the
window frame straight was
recovered with velvet material.
Power switches
was installed...
Tinted glass
installed, and power operated to
boot! Took about a week to line
and adjust everything to work
nice.
Upholstery
New pad was
installed before carpet.
New carpet and
shiny repro door sill plates.
"Body by Fisher" (Body by
Rolf??)
Fresh repro
rubber all around ensures a
rattle and leak free Buick
All seats were
re-upholstered with NOS original
material. Looks great. The side
panel were in very nice shape,
and they have an embossed Buick
crest, so I was lucky.
If you ever
forget your Buick is equipped
with power steering, look in the
center of the steering wheel to
re-confirm!
Looks like we
need to go for a ride.
Postcard from
Carmel "by the sea"
Wouldn't you
like to get one of these in the
mail? Those were the days...
Hope
you liked this visit, and maybe
I shared something useful, or
inspired you to start your own
restoration...
Good
Luck
So... How
did it come out?
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