I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful summer! It has been great weather and people have been packing all the cruise nights and car shows! I think the hobby is more popular than ever before! Every event that I attend has a bounty of vehicles and so many people in attendance! Living here on the Island has to be just about the biggest car scene in the country!

I think we even beat Southern California!

I would love to attend more events than I do (and I attend a lot of them) but this summer with work at night and Saturdays, plus family obligations, and a house that has been under construction since early June; I haven’t gotten to all that I would have liked. I enjoy the hobby so much, as do you readers; that I wish it could last year round.

This Spring a friend of mine (who happens to write a Tech Tips Column) and I started a new Mopar club. It has taken off with over 80 members already as of this writing! We plan on holding events through the winter to satisfy our craving for all things automotive. Perhaps this will give us the ‘year round’ enjoyment that our southern and western brethren enjoy. Though of course, they can still take their cars out in December, January, February, and March. They don’t have to worry about road salt and the like.

So enjoy the next few months of this wonderful car season! September has a lot of great shows and August still has some nice hot, sunny days left to go! I for one can wait for autumn. Give me a hot summer and plenty of gas and I am good to go!

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Folks, normally we don’t promote individual shows or events in the Newsletter; they are listed in the EVENTS section of the website. However, from time to time, and on occasion, there is something that bears mention in the monthly edition because of its noteworthiness or importance.

Such is the case with the following show. Sandy Kane has been working for over a year to put this thing together to help men in the fight against prostate disease and to raise funds for prostate cancer research. This event promises to be a grand spectacle and portends for even greater things in the coming years. Check it out and do your best to attend.

Long Island Cruizin’ For A Cure, a classic/antique car show to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research on Long Island, debuts on Sunday September 17^th at Fireman’s Field in Merrick.

Over 191,000 men will be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2006 and 31,000 will lose their lives to this disease. If detected early enough (with a PSA blood screening) Prostate Cancer has a cure rate of over 90%. The show is dedicated to educating the male population of Long Island about Prostate Cancer and to provide on site testing.

The show has been put together by a dedicated group of volunteers working on this program after work hours and on weekends with all of the components – from the website www.licruizinforacure.com to the phone number 1-888-LICRUIZ to the Tee Shirts to the entertainment – all donated in one form or another. All of the proceeds from the show are being donated to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (a nationally recognized research lab) in Cold Spring Harbor, for Prostate Cancer research. The focal point of the event is free PSA testing/blood screening and follow up being donated by South Nassau Communities Hospital.

We have a great goody bag for the first three hundred cars to register that includes Meguiar’s Quik Detailer and Next Generation Shine, brass dash plates, Long Island Classic Cars.com flyers, and a number of other gifts and items.

We also have a great raffle prize: two tickets on American Airlines to anywhere that they fly in the domestic United States, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean!

There will be a live deejay and oldies rock and roll band as well as a planned live onsite broadcast by WALK radio.

For more information please visit www.licruizinforacure.com or contact Sandy Kane at 1-888-LICRUIZ (and leave a message) or at 516-681-7676 during business hours Monday to Friday.

We look forward to seeing all of you out at the show to support a really great cause!

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Do you hear that?

It’s a “theme”.

This month’s theme is Buick! And, we have a great issue for you indeed! Some nice Buick car stories and a great article by a man who loves them!

So “Wouldn’t you really rather drive a Buick?!”

Enjoy!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1 Editor’s Introduction

2 Picture Caption Contest

3 Cruise Night Information

4 Guest Writer’s Columns

Lou Refano

Steve Goldsmith

Rich’s Tech Tips

5 My Car Story x 2

6 The Archive

7 Editor’s Closing

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Long Island Classic Cars.Com’s

AUTOMOTIVE PICTURE CAPTION CONTEST

Submit your caption along with your name and e-mail address to: newsletter@liclassiccars.com

This contest is open to everyone! (LI Classic Cars.com paid personnel, regular column writers, and business advertisers are not eligible.)

Winners will be notified by e-mail and/or phone.

Please submit all entries by the 7th of the next month. (ex: for August’s contest the entries are due by September 7th)

No substitutions of prizes will be allowed.

In the event of prize choices, winner will be given the opportunity to select the one they want.

All decisions are final and are made by the paid personnel of Long Island Classic Cars.com

Winners must claim their prizes within 30 days of contest end or forfeit the prize to the runner up.

A few simple rules:

1) Be funny and creative!

2) Keep it somewhat clean!

Here is the picture for our August “Caption Cut-Up Contest”!!

Go to it! Send in your funniest, wittiest comments by 9/10/06 and win the prize!

The upcoming prize will again be graciously supplied by Tom Tardugno at SEARS in Hicksville. Tell him that LICLASSICCARS.COM sent you and he’ll give you a 10% discount on parts and accessories.

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“EXTRA EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!”

The Cruise Nights are all up and running!! Here’s the latest on them…

2006 Cruise Night location updates:

TUESDAYS: McDonald's. Metropolitan Ave. & 69^th Road, Forest Hills, NY.

Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys For Tots

TUESDAYS: Audrey Ave. Oyster Bay, NY

Sponsored by Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce

TUESDAYS: Bald Hill Cultural Center. North Ocean Ave. Farmingville, NY

Sponsored by the Farmingville Fire Department

TUESDAYS: Old K-Mart Plaza. Hempstead Tpk. Levittown, NY

Public gathering.

WEDNESDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY

Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club

THURSDAYS: Wendy’s Shopping Center. Montauk Hwy and Locust Ave, Oakdale, NY

Sponsored by Steve’s Collision.

SATURDAYS: Sonomax Station. 278 Greenpoint Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.

Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys for Tots

SATURDAYS: Kohl’s. Corner Grand Blvd and Commack Rd. Deer Park, NY.

Public gathering.

SATURDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY.

Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club

SUNDAYS: *AM Cruise* Ocean Pkwy, Captree Beach Parking Lot through May, then at OBI.

Public gathering.

PS –

Whoever has information on the early Sunday morning cruise out near where OBI used to be, please let us know.

Also – I have had people submit cruise night start up location ideas to me and ask me to list them here. I will promote every viable and active event, but please only send me events that are somewhat established and populated since otherwise people are dismayed when they go and nothing or very little cars are there. Editing, adding, and deleting all of this takes a great amount of time. Thanks.

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GUEST WRITER(S) COLUMN(S)

Lou Refano writes about one of his favorite subjects: Buicks. Lou was delighted to lend his expertise on the Grand National. His article fits in nicely with one of our “My Car Story” features.

Steve Goldsmith is one of those true fans of classic cars. Not only does he own quite a nice collection of them, but he travels the US going to various shows and events! This time out he writes about the Chrysler Museum in Michigan. He took a trip to the Mopar Nats in Ohio this month, and being the die-hard that he is, drove up to Michigan and back too!

Rich’s Tech Tips returns with a perfectly timed article on A/C. Sit a spell, cool off, and read this!

In the MY CAR STORY section we have two wonderful Buicks featured. The first is from JR Rosario who has an incredible original, survivor Grand National that is well pampered and documented!

Our second featured Buick is an amazing tale of what comes full circle in life. Johnny and Marge Bosco tell us about their ’54 Buick Convertible! Some nostalgia and current happenings.

Enjoy…

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THE BRUTE FROM BUICK

by Louis Refano

by Louis Refano

The Buick Grand National, built from 1982 and 1984-87, was a throwback to the muscle cars of the '60s. It represented a return of rear-wheel-drive high performance. It brought a new legion of fans to the Tri-Shield who appreciate a high-tech, high output turbo V6 mated to crisp classic styling and a comfortable and quiet ride and interior.

The heart of the Grand National, the turbo V6, can trace its roots back to 1962, when Buick introduced the brand-new V6 (non-turbo) in its compact Special. The '61 Special offered a V8, but Buick management soon realized it needed to offer a smaller, more economical, more appropriate base engine for a compact. So in '62 a V6 was developed as the best choice so it could fit into the engine bay, and it also shared tooling with the V8. When this engine hit production, Buick became the first high-volume American car to offer a V6 engine. Its 198 cubic inches produced 135 horsepower, and was offered in the base Specials. This smaller powerplant gave the Special better fuel economy and a lower price than its '61 counterpart. Buick had this engine in its stable until 1968, when it was sold to Kaiser Jeep Corp. However, it was reacquired in 1973 during the energy crisis when Buick only offered V8s in its mid-size cars. The V6 made its return in the
1975 Century and Regal with 231 cubic inches (3.8 litre). In 1978 the first turbo version made its debut in the downsized Regal Sport Coupe and LeSabre Sport Coupe. This motor developed 150 hp and 245 ft-lb. net torque in the 2-barrel version and 165 hp and 265 ft.-lb. in the 4-barrel. The Regal Sport Coupe was also equipped with a special firm, ride-and-handling suspension, power brakes, automatic tranny, oversize radials, and a special domed hood.

In 1981 the Regal line was restyled with a sportier flare to the squared off styling that debuted in '78. The coupes went to separate flush "opera" rear quarter windows. The rear window became slanted more, and the front shovel nose and fenders were canted more dramatically. It was edgy and sporty, and a stark contrast to today's "jellybean" or organic designs. With Buick's signature mags and a solid (non-vinyl) roof, it's hard to beat, and it's one of my all-time favorite designs. And need I mention? Looks awesome in black!

Here's how Buick described its turbo in the 1981 sales brochure:
"Outwardly, the turbocharged engine appears different because of the compressor and intake and exhaust piping surrounding it. Driving one gives you the feeling that you're driving TWO different engines. Under normal conditions, it behaves much like a normal 3.8 liter V6. When the situation demands more power, pressing the accelerator causes the exhaust-driven turbocharger to speed up and the engine to increase its power. Lift your foot, the turbocharger slows down, and the engine returns to its normal mode. The turbocharged engine is equipped with an electronic Turbo Control Center' to control spark, compensate for fuel octane, atmospheric conditions, load, altitude, and other driving conditions. Clearly, this technology has made turbocharging practical, judging by the way other manufacturers are following suit. But you can drive an original, now."

You could have driven that original with a handsome Decor Package, which included choice of two-tone black or three other colors over a silver lower portion, black grille accents, turbine-styled wheels, and a Sport steering wheel. And with the available T-Tops, you just couldn't go wrong.

The first "Regal Grand National" production car (named in honor of the NASCAR stock car series) made its debut in February, 1982, at Daytona Beach. It was built to commemorate Buick winning the prestigious manufacturer's trophy in the 1981 and 1982 NASCAR Winston Cups. In an attempt to attract younger buyers, Buick painted this Regal spin-off in an attractive two-tone combination of charcoal gray upper and lower and silver mist mid-section, accented with red pinstriping and "Grand National" lettering on the fenders. It also featured T-tops, all power equipment, and Gran Touring suspension. A total of only 215 units were built, making it extremely rare. But in spite of the race related name, this Grand National was far from the beast it would become. Power came from a 4.1 litre turbo V6 that developed a modest 125 horsepower and a sluggish 0-60 time of 15-16 seconds. Similar to the sporty trim packages offered in the late '70s, the car was more show than go at this point.

Buick would not offer a Grand National in 1983, deciding to put it on hiatus for one year while Buick engineers were working behind the scenes to offer something a bit more substantial in terms of performance.

The Regal Grand National reappeared for 1984 as an option package available on the Regal Sport Coupe. Option code WE2 gave you a more serious all-black paint scheme including black bumpers and rub strips, front air dam, deck lid spoiler, aluminum wheels with black paint, Lear Siegler front and rear seats with the famous orange "Turbo 6" logo, and Grand National identification. No longer just a trim package, this car had serious performance to match its look. Under the hood was a Turbo Port Injection turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 pumped up to 200 horsepower and 300 ft-lb of torque. Car and Driver magazine (7/85) reported a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 121 mph. In true muscle car fashion this car could smoke the tires. The '84 had a simpler, vertical billet-style grille compared to the '82. Buick built 2,000 of these '84s. The '85 Grand National was essentially unchanged, except for seven evenly-spaced chrome vertical lines put in the black grille. Production of the '85 was around 6,000.

As impressive as the GN was, Buick engineers weren't done...they got even more out of their original cast-iron V6. For 1986 they added an air-to-air intercooler to the turbo, a kind of air radiator that lowers the temperature and raises the density of the air entering the cylinders. The upper and lower intake manifolds were modified and the exhaust system was redesigned. This boosted the horsepower to 235 and torque to 330, and created one of America's most legendary muscle cars. When Car and Driver tested this more muscular Grand National, they reported an astonishing zero to 60 time of 4.9 seconds, or faster than all of the world's production cars available in North America except the Porsche 911 Turbo, which did it in 4.6. The reported top speed, although the car was capable of more, was 124 mph. The engineers limited it to that speed with the engine management computer because that was the maximum rating of the tires. Turns out there was some controversy over the advertised horsepower rating...Car and Driver felt it should have been rated much higher, considering the car's speed. Buick engineers admitted they understated the horsepower...possibly not to get the insurance people upset, possibly not to upstage GM's Corvette. Production of the '86 GN was 5,512.

For 1987 the grille was once again modified. The top chrome band was removed and the vertical teeth were made wider, and the Buick nameplate was brought down inside the grille on the lower right. Power was increased again to 245 hp and 355 lb-ft. Production skyrocketed for the year to 20,193 Grand Nationals included in a total of 26,555 Turbo Regals.

But before it was all over, and the last Grand National rolled off the assembly line in December of '87, the powers that be at Buick pushed even harder...the final kick of the Grand National was its evolution into the even more outrageous, limited-edition GNX in 1987. The GNX was a true, no-holds-barred supercar rated at 275 horsepower and 360 ft-lbs of torque; Car and Driver reported a zero to 60 time of 4.7 seconds for the prototype. In a cool nod to Buick heritage, the car had four slanted portholes in the front fenders which were actual heat vents, and the GNX logo in the grille resembled the Skylark GSX logo of the '70s. The cars were factory-fresh Grand Nationals that were modified at ASC/McLaren Specialty Products. Modifications included a more efficient Garrett air-to-air intercooler and a special pipe that connected the intercooler to the engine coated with CERMATEL for increased heat rejection and dissipation. The turbo itself was also a
lighter version to decrease turbo lag. To handle the extra power, the transmission was beefed up, and extra structural reinforcements were added to the body. In addition, special 16-inch rims were added (the only time they were used on a rear-drive Regal) with lightweight alloy wheels, with the rear wheels wider than the front. Special welded in fender flares were added to the wheel wells to make room for the larger wheels and tires, and to make the car look a little more menacing. All GNXs received a special numbered dash plaque, special GNX decals, and hidden ID stampings to help prevent fakes. The GNX option added $10,995 to the cost of a Regal Sport Coupe, resulting in an MSRP of $29,900. Only 547 drivers enjoyed the privilege of driving this home brand new.

In December of 1987 the Grand National was consigned to automotive history, despite the fact that it developed a huge following among those reveling in the return to glory of the muscle car era. In a decade of conservative transportation, the Grand National made a tremendous statement about American style and performance. Buick's ad theme in the mid '70s and early '80s was "Free Spirit", and no vehicle epitomized that Free Spirit theme better than the brutish yet classy Grand National.

Sources: canadiandriver.com, musclecarclub.com, Buick: The Postwar Years by Jan P. Norbye and Jim Dunne, Illustrated Buick Buyer's Guide by Richard M. Langworth, 1978-1982 Buick sales catalogs

(Ahhhh, so that’s how it all began. The Regal had regal beginnings!) Pete

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A Visit to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum

By Steve Goldsmith

This past weekend while doing my annual visit to the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, I decided to skip the show on Sunday and head north to Auburn Hills, Michigan just outside of Detroit to visit the famous Walter P. Chrysler Museum.

This is a museum that will not only be of interest to Chrysler fanatics like myself, but to anyone who is interested in the history of the automobile.

The museum housed many milestone cars, trucks, and Jeeps as well as race cars, concept cars, and fine artwork.

Upon entering the museum you are submerged in Chrysler paraphernalia and engineering displays through the decades with a special emphasis on Chrysler’s rich military performance and engineering history. Videos can be viewed in the Imperial Theater showing highlights of Chrysler’s many contributions to the history of the automobile as well as the world.

Special displays are featured on the top floor with the current theme being “Hot Rods and Cool Mods”. This showcases many historic race cars, customs, and concept vehicles and runs through the end of August. There are usually about 70-80 cars at any given time in the museum.

The museum store is well stocked with die cast cars, toys, books, videos, apparel, posters, and artwork. You will be amazed at the fine selection of merchandise available for all ages and budgets.

The museum is located on the beautiful grounds of Chrysler’s North American Headquarters. General admission is $6 and there are senior and child discounts, plus kids under 5 are admitted free. It is open daily except Monday and holidays.

If you are near Detroit you should go see it. Enjoy and take lots of pictures! It is well worth the trip.

You can visit the museum online at: www.chryslerheritage.com

(Stevie, wish I could of been there with you! Someday I gotta go!) Pete

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By Rich Fiore

Keep Cool Baby .... Only If You Are Lucky

So we are well into the dog days of summer ( 100 degrees plus ) and its looking mighty uncomfortable. Yep you remember those days we were begging for in January? We finally got what we wanted! ( Personally I will still take this over the cold anytime ). And some of us are fortunate to have our rides equipped with factory installed air conditioning. So lets look at some of the basics:

For vintage air conditioners ( pre-late 1980's ) the gas used on these systems was good ole R-12. The buzzword for the change over of these systems today is retrofitting. Although R-12 can still be found by some professionals and do it yourselfers, it can be veeeery expensive. I have seen the old re-fill cans go for as much as 30 dollars a pop. Yikes !!! Keep in mind that R-12 is not supposed to be used except by the professional since it is considered bad for our environment.

So fast forward to today: The replacement freon is R-134A. This is the new environmentally safe freon. Keep in mind R-134A must never be mixed with R-12. All sorts of components can get schmutzed up due to the incompatibility of the 2 gases. So lets get back to that word retrofit again. Simply put we are taking and older system of R-12 and converting it to R-134A.

R-134A systems are different from the older R-12 systems. These systems produce higher pressures so heavier duty hoses are usually used. They made changes in the O-rings & compressor oils used. The new oil is usually Ester, which by the way is compatible with R-12. So what this means is that the old O-rings and mineral should not be used with R-134A. Nor should you use the old receiver/dryer since it is probably saturated with mineral oil. You can get by with the old hoses only if they show no signs of oil leakage ( porosity ), cracks, swelling or the tubing portions showing excessive corrosion. Original replacement hoses are very tuff to find and probably quite expensive. Custom made hoses can be made but don't have a factory look and are also pricey.

So I have given you some of the things to look for along with the basics but lets look at what your options really are before jumping into repair. Option #1. If it ain't broke don't fix it. But if cooling is marginal you can either add a can of freon ( if your lucky to find it ) or have it recharged by a pro. You can think about converting at this point. If you opt for the recharge and it doesn't hold very long, I would convert.

Option #2. If it is broken ... meaning all of the freon has leaked out and moisture has entered the system it is time to do the conversion. But first you must find the source of the leak. There are leak detector kits available and I have even seen some even fill the system with dry air temporarily and check the system with soapy suds. A leak will usually be spotted with an oily residue. While the system is open to do the leak repair, it is a good time to do the replacements of the receiver dryer, O-rings and the compressor oil. Obviously the new style fittings must be installed for the low and high pressure sides.

Now that you have gotten to this point, there is a tough money decision to be made. Once everything in the system is sealed, a specialized vacuum pump is required and it can be expensive. The pump will pull an almost perfect 29 inches of vacuum to remove the air and moisture from the system. The system should hold vacuum for a good 30 minutes. You should also have a set of gauges to check system pressures while recharging.

Option #3. Pay someone to do the complete conversion since the cost of the pump and gauges might make it cost prohibitive.

So that's basically it. The nuts and bolts of your basic R-12 air conditioning system and what it would take to do a conversion. Keep in mind it is always a great idea to have your shop manual around as a reference to understanding the specifics of your system.

Keep it cool and under 190 boys and girls !!!!

Quick and dirty: When was the last time you checked your A/C components for leakage and put in a good oil charge ?

(Great Richie! Now if you would only come to my house and get my Charger running cool!) Pete

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My Car Story J.R. Rosario: 1987 Buick Grand National

Greetings all! This is JR. Rosario, I am in my 40’s now, married (14 Years) and have 2 kids ( daughter age 19 & son age 7). I have owned a total of 4 Grand Nationals. My first was back in 1986. It was an '85 Grand National with only 9,000 miles. I used to live in Sunset Park Brooklyn at the time and when I first came out with it not many people knew what it was, people thought it was a Black Regal with painted bumpers. I kept that car until 1991 when I sold it and bought my 2nd Grand National, a 1987.

I have loved the Grand Nationals since they were first produced in Black back in 1984. In 1992 when I got married, we had the usual 3 white Limos and there were 9 Grand Nationals following the limos! My car and 8 of my buddies, it was an awesome sight. Anyway, I had that car for a year and sold it in 1993. Reality kicks in and sometimes you have to let go of the things we call "toys" to get more realistic things in life like a house.

Anyway, we purchased our house in 1996 and after a few years I realized that what was missing for me was "my toy". Well, after reminiscing with my wife about all the great times we had in the GN, she suggested that if I were to get another one it would be for keeps. Well, after searching for over a year to get the right car, (I wanted a low mileage, one owner, original, unmolested car) comes 2003 and BAMMMMM! I found it, I had to travel to Virginia to get it and it was well worth the trip. It was like 1987 all over again for me.

My "1 HOT 87" is a one owner, unmolested Buick GN that still retained its original wires and plugs. The owner had given me every piece of paperwork to the car including the window sticker!

I have been into the Buick Grand Nationals since 1985. It is a shame that Buick has not made any real noise since they phased them out back in December of 1987. Back in 1987 The Buick Grand National was hailed as "The Quickest Production Car Built" even smoking the Chevy Corvette.

My "1 HOT 87" which is what my license plate reads will stay with me for a long time.

(JR, nice car! A super ride to be sure....and a definite keeper!) Pete

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My Car Story John & Marge Bosco: 1954 Buick Super Convertible

Back in May of 1954 my then boyfriend (now husband) who was 21, bought a brand new ’54 Buick Special Convertible right out of the showroom. I was only 17 at the time and we already loved the car. The color was Ocean Mist with a black and yellow interior. A very cool car to be sure.

I gave Johnny $300 that I had saved towards purchasing the car. It was $3,200 back then. Well, we went to the prom together, graduated and eventually got married. That was August 25^th, 1956. We then drove the car to Florida for our honeymoon! We had a great time.

Unfortunately in the 1960’s the car was stolen from a fire department parking lot. We found it two weeks later stripped completely. The insurance company offered us “book value” of only $350!! Imagine that!? We were very upset. John had just repainted the car, put in a new transmission, and had a new top installed. Someone along the line had their eyes on it.

Years went by as they do, and we started looking for another one. In May of 2004 (50 years after it all started) we found this 1954 Buick Super Convertible in the same Ocean Mist color! The car was in Illinois. The couple that owned it had it for 18 years and it was in excellent condition inside and out. Obviously we bought it and have loved it since.

To come full circle; we drove it to my 50^th class reunion at Bellport High on Long Island. Everyone enjoyed the car and it brought back so many memories of the first time we had our Buick together. This is our gift to each other for our 50^th wedding anniversary. August 25^th, 2006.

Dreams do come true! “Happy Days” to all!