Here is what I know about my Buick: It was located in an airport hanger north of El Paso, TX, close to the New Mexico
border. I have traced the ownership back to New Mexico, but the state of New Mexico will not do a title search from
the past archives as Texas does.
The car was purchased by Don Jarrett from El Paso in 1986. It was nick named the "ninety day wonder" as that
is about how long he spent upgrading it to the status that it was when I purchased it. Don was an excellent engineer
and builder. He was the type who could do a great deal with very little to work with. He bought a wrecked '73 Cadillac
and transformed the Buick into a late model "resto-rod" with the parts donated from the Caddy. When I purchased it, the
car had a partial Caddy/Buick front end, a 472CI Caddy engine and Turbo 400 trans. The 10 bolt GM rear end with single
leaf Nova springs were under it. The Caddy front power seat was in it also. The car ran two different GM bolt pattern
wheels front and back. Don made everything actually work quite well, but the cosmetics left something to be desired.
I had the honor of meeting Don at least once that I can remember, but soon after he built the car, he passed away
after suffering a heart attack. His widow moved back to my home town on the Arkansas/Texas border, almost a thousand
miles from where the car had been built. She brought the car with her to Arkansas. After a short time here, health
issues forced her to move out of the high humidity of southwest Arkansas and back to the dry climate of west Texas.
She left the car with her son and daughter and their families to keep and store until it was decided what would be
done with it.
Enter Thomas Davis in 1995; while strolling over to pick up a tractor and bush hog to do some mowing, he passed
by the house where the '40 Buick was being stored. The son who had the car stored talked to Mr.. Davis and the
deal was struck to buy the car for $3000. I was aware the car would probably be sold at some point in time, and
the owner and family knew me. I always assumed that word would get to me before it was sold and how much it would
take to buy it. I figured wrong...it didn't happen that way. But, knowing all parties involved, I patiently waited
until Thomas was in the mood to sell. I bought the car in 1996 for $3700, running and driving and in much the same
condition as Don Jarrett had built it in 1986. I drove it all summer of '96 and began a re-build and upgrade in the
winter of that year. My intentions were to be road ready by spring of '97, but money(lack of) got in the way in it
was April of '98 before I was mobile again. The upgrade continued into '99 with a complete color change from all
white exterior,red interior, to a purple(with blue pearl) exterior called Ford Venetian Blue, and a gray velour interior.
I also changed out the air-conditiong unit to include an a/c/heat/defrost unit and electric wipers. A new stereo
(cassette) was installed also. New wheels, tires, Autometer gauges, and some engine upgrades were put into force.
A high volume water pump and oil pump, chrome valve covers, carb, Walker radiator, electric fans, and lots of minor
cosmetic upgrades were added. I drove the car until winter of '00 in this fashion, making one trip to the NSRA Nats
in Louisville, KY in it.
While at the '00 Nats in Louisville, I purchased an new crate 350GM engine with all the trimmings, billet
and polished or chromed everything. I also bought a Fatman front stub assembly with Mustang II power rack and
pinion. New TCI rear leaf spring suspension was added also. In addition, a new Pioneer am/fm/cd changer was
added and a Dakota Digital cruise control. A complete new UltraLeather interior with a new custom front seat
from Larry Dennis Company was also installed, along with new carpet. New American Racing Torque Thrust polished
aluminum five spoke mags and tires were mounted. Lots of other upgrades were put into effect from that point
even up until now, the car is constantly being upgraded. The car is currently being run without the bumpers.
I have filled the holes and sold the bumpers, they are no longer and will never be replaced by me.
I went to Oklahoma City to the NSRA SouthWestern Nats in '01 (where I bought the new seat and UltraLeather
for the interior), and to the Rocky Mtn Nats in Pueblo, CO in '02. As you can see, the car does not sit idle
for long. In the seven years I have owned it, the car has been apart over two of those years. In the remaining
years, I have managed to drive it over 25K miles, and intend to drive it much more in the future, as I have
really gotten it road worthy, safe, comfortable and fun to drive in the past year. Now it's time to burn up
some asphalt.....
Thanks,
PACO RITTER,
ARKANSAS
CHASSIS
- FRAME:
Stock Buick
Fatman Fabrication front stub assembly
- REAREND/RATIO:
2.73 ratio 72 Nova gm 10 BOLT
- REAR SUSPENSION:
TCI Parallel leaf kit with sway bar
- REAR BRAKES:
1972 Chevrolet Nova 9.5” Drums
- DRIVESHAFT:
Custom built
- FRONT SUSPENSION:
Sub-frame
Mustang II spindles
Tubular upper & lower control arms
- FRONT BRAKES:
11" Disc brake
GM rotors & calipers.
- MASTER CYLINDER:
Power booster/master cylinder with a proportioning valve.
- STEERING:
1995 Mustang power rack and pinion GM Power steering pump
- WHEELS:
American Racing torque thrust II polished aluminium,
15 x 7 Front and 15 x 8 Rear,
Chevy 4 3/8" ON 5 Pattern
- TYRES:
Front: Cooper Viper 225x60x15
Rear: Cooper Viper 255x60x15
Engine
