Cars
July 15, 2014 11:09 AM
Little Red Buick
With only 76,000 original miles on its odometer, Westerman's brilliant red '62 Buick Special convertible began its journeys as an Oakland, Calif., car, but is now happily at home in central Kansas.
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Colleen Westerman
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Colleen Westerman fell for her `Little Red' Buick Special convertible the minute she saw it at a swap meet and took it home with her. The body and interior remain original, but she rebuilt the transmission and aluminum V-8 engine herself, with a bit of help from her husband and dad and says, `It's a happy little car now.'
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The lightweight 215 cubic inch aluminum V-8 engine had a high-performance cam installed when Westerman bought the car. When the engine was rebuilt, she had to have world-famous cam grinder Iskendarian manufacture a factory-spec camshaft for her Buick.
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The rear of the '62 Buick Special presented a super-clean rear design, with sleek horizontal tail lights joined by an understated brushed aluminum panel. Note the appropriate vanity plate.
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Buick styling underwent a major change in 1961, with both the compact Special and larger cars treated to similar spear-like design elements. The basic look continued through the 1963 model year.
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The unpadded dash is finished in satin black and red, with a horizontal speedometer. A tachometer and underdash accessory gauges were added to supplement the `idiot lights' originally installed in the car.
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The triple-shield Buick logo appears repeatedly on the compact Special, even being embossed into the outside rear view mirrors. One of the owner's favorite elements is the 1966 Buick Club of America decals affixed to the inner corner of the windshield.
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The option list in 1962 did include a swing-out tissue dispenser, complete with Buick badging.
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Side trim consists of a single, thin chrome strip that flows from the front of the convertible to the rear, making a subtle dip just ahead of the rear wheel well.
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Westerman believes the red vinyl bucket seats and matching rear bench seat are factory originals. Headrests were not an option in the early 1960s.
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The sporty little Buick rides on vintage Cooper thinline whitewall radial tires, accented by conical full wheel covers featuring the triple shield Buick emblem. Westerman says the car came supplied with 16 extra hub caps, just in case.
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Even the floormats appear to be original factory-issued Buick items.
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