The First Buick

[Bob Alberini]

On a very cold and snowy night exactly 46 years ago today, January 24, 1962, Mom and Dad made the purchase of a 59 Buick LeSabre 4 door hardtop from Bob Daniels Buick at the corner of East North Broadway and N. High St in Columbus, Ohio. Dad had looked at and considered five or six 59 Pontiacs and 59/60 Buicks but the Arctic White with copper Balfour cloth interior (standard on Invictas and optional on LeSabres) won out. This car also had the optional rocker panel and wheel opening moldings and the automatic heater control. It was our family's first Buick purchase after two Studebakers. (Dad's 1952 Studebaker Land Cruiser was the trade-in.) Several Buicks had been owned by other family members and I believe their durability and quality were a strong influence on Dad's decision to buy the Buick. Little would we have imagined that the purchase of that car would have led to a life long affiliation with the marque. Between the two of us, we've had almost 20 of them. But that white 59 LeSabre flattop will always hold special memories for me. It was the car I learned to drive on and also became my first car in 1969 when Dad sold it to me after purchasing a 66 LeSabre.

[Centurion]

Bob, that's a great report! That first Buick was something very special and is still significant. It's great to be reminded again of the ways in which those fabulous Buicks in our past have shaped our collector car interests for the decades that followed.

I'm glad your dad bought the Buick instead of a Pontiac, or we might never have met you.

I had not realized that this car had the automatic heater control option!

Thanks for sharing this story.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

I agree Bob, great story.



I'm glad your dad bought the Buick instead of a Pontiac, or we might never have met you.
Thanks for sharing this story.

Funny you say that. My parents bought new a 1965 Buick Skylark 2-door coupe. I was about 7. I ended up getting that car as a hand me down when I turned 17. I kept it mint condition until I got rear ended in 1977. Sold it, and bought my 70 GS455, the same one I own today. So I too had Buicks engraved in my brain at an early age. I just thank God my parents didn't buy a Ford or Pontiac too:tonge2:

[Bob Alberini]

Thanks for sharing your story too, Rick.

It is obvious that for a number of us, things that happened long ago and over which we had no control (but definite interest) helped to shape our interests through the years and have forged memories, made numerous friendships and seen lots of car related activities become an important part of our everyday lives.

[RFortuna]

Those are great stories! I think it's funny that so many of us Buick guys grew up that way. My Dad's Buicks were a huge part of my life. It's weird that I remember them better than he does. Here's his list.

54 Super 2HT Lt green, Dk green roof
58 Special 2HT Black, White roof
63 Electra sedan, White, Aqua interior
67 Electra 4HT, Saphire blue, Black V top
72 Electra 4HT, Seamist green, Green V top - (I learned to drive in this one)
76 leSabre 2HT, Blue, White V half top
80 Electra Limited Coupe, triple Black.

Switched to Caddies after this. He wasn't having V-6 Buicks.