Hi from the UK - INDIAN Board Tracker tribute, my first build

[PeteMcP]

Hey Rocket, The '41 was an absolute bargain buy from Canada at the time. Had been looking for one in the US for over a year, and chased up several, only to find they were sold by the time I enquired. Prices then were usually in the US$25-28k range. A random '1941 Buick' Google search one day threw up a couple of pics of this one located at a modern day Canadian dealership in Toronto. Called them, optimistically asking if it was still for sale and the salesman told me they were holding it for a guy from Texas who currently worked in the Alaskan oil industry. Texas had said he would call that weekend to close the deal. The following Monday, the dealership called me in the UK saying Texas was a no show and the car was mine if I wanted it. Paid the deposit over the phone and told them I'd settle the balance once I'd sold my Morgan Three Wheeler replica. To get a quick sale, I had to accept a grand less than I was asking for my Mog rep, and so I chanced asking the Toronto salesman if they were willing to take a grand less than their ticket price. Sale agreed! - at $17k Canadian. Read that again. Bargain? Heck yeah, considering the exchange rate back in 2015 was 1 UK pound = C$2.04. Even after paying shipping, import fees and VAT (5% instead of the normal 20%) on older, original, un-modified cars, personally importing this Buick was a no brainer. Right place, right time. I doubt I'll ever be that lucky again. How potential buyers in the US overlooked this '41 beats me.
A long-time US pal in Phoenix, who had just about finished up restoring his '40 Buick Convertible, reckoned I stole that car. He was next in the queue for the '41 if I couldn't come through on the deal.
Re-did the interior faux wood-graining, added an imported NOS spotlight to the A pillar, fitted fog lights and a set of steel re-pop fender skirts imported from the US. Much as I loved the '41, I sold it a year later when a guy at a car show made me an offer that meant I effectively doubled my investment.
I still search US eBay motors regularly and there are currently a couple of very similar '41 Buick Sedanettes on there at classic car dealerships. Pricing has rocketed. Somewhere around the US$35-38k mark is the going rate these days.

 

[RocketJ]

Hey Rocket, The '41 was an absolute bargain buy from Canada at the time. Had been looking for one in the US for over a year, and chased up several, only to find they were sold by the time I enquired. Prices then were usually in the US$25-28k range. A random '1941 Buick' Google search one day threw up a couple of pics of this one located at a modern day Canadian dealership in Toronto. Called them, optimistically asking if it was still for sale and the salesman told me they were holding it for a guy from Texas who currently worked in the Alaskan oil industry. Texas had said he would call that weekend to close the deal. The following Monday, the dealership called me in the UK saying Texas was a no show and the car was mine if I wanted it. Paid the deposit over the phone and told them I'd settle the balance once I'd sold my Morgan Three Wheeler replica. To get a quick sale, I had to accept a grand less than I was asking for my Mog rep, and so I chanced asking the Toronto salesman if they were willing to take a grand less than their ticket price. Sale agreed! - at $17k Canadian. Read that again. Bargain? Heck yeah, considering the exchange rate back in 2015 was 1 UK pound = C$2.04. Even after paying shipping, import fees and VAT (5% instead of the normal 20%) on older, original, un-modified cars, personally importing this Buick was a no brainer. Right place, right time. I doubt I'll ever be that lucky again. How potential buyers in the US overlooked this '41 beats me.
A long-time US pal in Phoenix, who had just about finished up restoring his '40 Buick Convertible, reckoned I stole that car. He was next in the queue for the '41 if I couldn't come through on the deal.
Re-did the interior faux wood-graining, added an imported NOS spotlight to the A pillar, fitted fog lights and a set of steel re-pop fender skirts imported from the US. Much as I loved the '41, I sold it a year later when a guy at a car show made me an offer that meant I effectively doubled my investment.
I still search US eBay motors regularly and there are currently a couple of very similar '41 Buick Sedanettes on there at classic car dealerships. Pricing has rocketed. Somewhere around the US$35-38k mark is the going rate these days.

wow you got lucky. To be honest I don't think I'd be able to pass up a morgan 3 wheeler for a buick, but that's probably because I'm a New Yorker and old buicks are a dime a dozen here and there's only 1 known morgan in my state. Where did you manage to find a replica anyway or was it a triking? The classic car market in the states has gone nuts sadly. Few years ago you could grab a chevelle, el camino or charger for a few thousand. Now you can barely find any in this part of the country for less than 5k if they're returning to the Earth.

 

[PeteMcP]

Built my Mog replica over a leisurely 4 year period from an Aero Cycle Car kit. Preferred the ACC's predominantly alloy bodywork over the grp Triking's. My 'Guzzi LeMans donated it's V-twin and rear shaft drive. About a third of the cost of an actual (outrageously over-priced) new Morgan Three Wheeler - and nothing beats saying 'I built that'.

 

[indian22]

Yes and it's a beautifully executed piece of work Pete. Does the name Kyle Moore ring a bell, a regular at Meachum's & part time resident of Arizona?


Rick C.

 

[RocketJ]

Built my Mog replica over a leisurely 4 year period from an Aero Cycle Car kit. Preferred the ACC's predominantly alloy bodywork over the grp Triking's. My 'Guzzi LeMans donated it's V-twin and rear shaft drive. About a third of the cost of an actual (outrageously over-priced) new Morgan Three Wheeler - and nothing beats saying 'I built that'.

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that looks amazing. It's my dream to home build a 3 wheeler. Maybe i'll check out aerocycle in the future

 

[PeteMcP]

Nope, that's not a name I'm familiar with Rick. Have several US pals in AZ. My buddy Jan, who owned/sold the '40 Buick convertible I mentioned in the post above, and I have just recently re-established contact with each other after he moved out of Scottsdale, PX to Prescott. Turns out he recently stumbled across my bike builds/cars on this forum purely by accident and PM'd me to talk about our latest projects. Last time we spoke, he was starting out on his most ambitious project to date, a hand formed replica of a one-off vintage Earl's Court Motor Show concept MG - sporting a small alloy Buick V8. This ambitious build is now on the home straight and it's gorgeous. Components are currently split between Jan's garage in Prescott and his painter's shop in PX. Pretty sure Jan will agree if I ask if I can share a pic or two on here. Definitely worth a look see.

 

[PeteMcP]

Hey Rocket,
Arthur Rayner at Aero Cycle Cars is the man to talk to. He's a one man band outfit and he ships crated kits worldwide. There's a very informative website. And a clip or two on YouTube - one of which is a ride-out in a US customer's ACC. Check it out. Built mine in a one car garage. Superb quality kit with a very high fun factor. Complete turn key kits are available but I opted for the body and chassis frame components and pretty much went my own way with everything else.

 

[RocketJ]

Hey Rocket,
Arthur Rayner at Aero Cycle Cars is the man to talk to. He's a one man band outfit and he ships crated kits worldwide. There's a very informative website. And a clip or two on YouTube - one of which is a ride-out in a US customer's ACC. Check it out. Built mine in a one car garage. Superb quality kit with a very high fun factor. Complete turn key kits are available but I opted for the body and chassis frame components and pretty much went my own way with everything else.
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I'll definitely keep that in mind. How much did you pay for your kit?

 

[PeteMcP]

Not that it'll be relevant now, but back in '09 I seem to recall it was in the 5-6k UK pound ballpark.
Thing to be aware of is once you see the quality of the kit parts, you get suckered into the 'I won't cut any corners' mindset. That applies to any kit. Bike, Car or whatever. My 4 year build period on the ACC meant I could spread the cost as the build progressed.

 

[RocketJ]

Not that it'll be relevant now, but back in '09 I seem to recall it was in the 5-6k UK pound ballpark.
Thing to be aware of is once you see the quality of the kit parts, you get suckered into the 'I won't cut any corners' mindset. That applies to any kit. Bike, Car or whatever. My 4 year build period on the ACC meant I could spread the cost as the build progressed.

That's honestly not bad at all. I'm sure the price is probably double that now, but still very fair compared to the ridiculous 40k+ for a genuine morgan.

 

[PeteMcP]

I'm sharing some pics of US pal Jan's tribute to the one-off coachbuilt MG Park Ward concept car. Original no longer exists - so this was tackled with the bare minimum of sketchy info. Couple of photos for reference and Jan's artistic flair and perfectionism (Jan's a pro artist) and this is the result. Don't know 'bout you, but I take my hat off to a home builder tackling something like this. I'm awestruck how 'Encore' is turning out.

 

[indian22]

Yes that's a real project with the MG a work of love.

Kyle actually lived with his wife in Scottsdale . He was an incredible automotive collector of both British and American cars. He also accumulated the worlds best collection of vintage gas pumps and oil company signage. No junk all totally rebuilt to original specs millions and millions of dollars in oil company memorabilia.

Rick C.

 

[PeteMcP]

Jan's a real petrol head so I'm betting he was familiar with Kyle. I'll mention it next time we chat.

 

[indian22]

Scottsdale is a really nice area.

Sequestered in space isn't a terrible prospect till "limited confinement" is added. It will be nice to just be able to roam and socialize again without the need for distancing.

Rick C.

 

[PeteMcP]

Progress these last couple of weeks on BLUE BAMBOO has slowed to snail pace. Delivery times on almost all orders - even the small ones - are now taking much longer. eBay sellers are understandably making far fewer trips to the post office thanks to Covid lockdown regs.
The good news is the paint I ordered from the outfit I use in Ireland, who mix paint to order, turned up yesterday. Opted for Midnight Blue Pearl from the RAL range of colours. This particular high gloss paint is cellulose based, requiring no clear lacquer. Always used paint with a final clear coat in the past, so wasn't sure how this would pan out. As a tester, I primed and top coated BAMBOO's pair of headlight bowls yesterday and the Midnight Blue sprayed super. Very pleased with the colour and finish. Instructions said 'dries in 10-25 minutes'. They weren't lying. Left overnight, headlight bowls dried perfectly glossy.
Also managed to find someone who can help with sourcing the sheet aluminium bodywork. I just purchased a couple of cool polished stainless panels for the Kawasaki Drifter from a UK eBay seller and by good fortune discovered the seller was a member of the UK Drifter owner's chapter. We got talking and he's volunteered to get BLUE BAMBOO's side panels laser cut from my master artwork. Work on these is already underway.
When they arrive, next job is to drill some mounting holes for the aluminium bodysides in the lower frame and then I can tear down the bike prior to repainting the frame in Midnight Blue Pearl, after which I get to the fun part - airbrushing the frame's shadows and highlights to create its bamboo vibe.

 

[curtisfox]

Oh Kool, can't wait to see it..........Curt

 

[indian22]

Slow pace or not ,sounds as if progress is significant. "They also serve who only stand and wait" much motion isn't always necessary to provide actual advances to ones goals.

Rick C.

 

[RocketJ]

Even expedited deliveries are at a hault. I'm expecting around 6 different packages. They're all either super late or have a far delivery date.

 

[fasteddy]

Like the parts that I ordered from Australia. It will be two months tomorrow and still no show. They said they will resend them if they don't show up.

As soon as they send more the first bunch will appear of course.

Steve.

 

[RocketJ]

Like the parts that I ordered from Australia. It will be two months tomorrow and still no show. They said they will resend them if they don't show up.

As soon as they send more the first bunch will appear of course.

Steve.

It's funny how much we took for granted. 50 years ago people would have called us insane and selfish to expect entire frames and engines shipped 5000 miles in 2 days. Regardless I do hope at least some of my stuff comes soon. None of my tracking numbers work. Everything is stuck in limbo.