A childhood memory is that of going with my father to see the ‘54 Buicks at Birchard Buick in Pittsfield Massachusetts. I was nine but already a car nut. Upon sight, what caught my attention was that these new Buicks had these weird wrap around windshields. I have always liked the ‘54 Buicks. and was delighted when Brooklin came out with a ‘54 Special 4 door sedan followed by a Special Estate Wagon built by Ionia Body works for Buick
Really nice in all forms ! A great looking Buick and Brooklin 1-43 model of it, too. For decades Buick went from strength to strength with their automobiles.
Interestingly the 1954 Buick Estate Wagon was the first all steel Buick wagon which was created by Ionia Manufacturing from sedans. I look forward to the upcoming Goldvarg 1953 Buick wagon in wood.
The Ionia Body Works with Buick and then with other wagons has always fascinated me, I’ve wondered why Buick and then beginning, I think with the ‘59 model wagons, Chevy wagon production remained in house while Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick farmed out their wagons to Ionia even though the body shells were shared by all four name plates.
@david-knight And they did this one year only 1954 Dodge Sierra four door wagon as well. Probably a bit easier as some parts from the factory two door wagon could be used. Was quite expensive so not a big seller. Somewhere I have a photo in a book of a load of these Dodge wagons on an Ionia transporter.
@david-knight I got mine recently, brand-new from Budig in Germany, an excellent seller. Even with the overseas shipping and the exchange rate, the price was pretty reasonable.
Thank you David for bringing up the memories of when my dad and I would go around to all the new car lots especially the Fords to see what was parked in the back parking lot because all the windows have been papered over and you couldn't see any of them in there this was in the early to mid 60s those memories I have always cherished and you have brought those memories back to me so thank you.
My two favorite cars that I remember most from my dad's owning was a 1959 Impala white with that triple or quadruple blue tone interior and then our 1963 Country squire wagon in vintage burgundy those were two of the cars I remember most and I loved the most and if I could buy any of them today as a 1:1 I would in a heartbeat.
@david-knight And they did this one year only 1954 Dodge Sierra four door wagon as well. Probably a bit easier as some parts from the factory two door wagon could be used. Was quite expensive so not a big seller. Somewhere I have a photo in a book of a load of these Dodge wagons on an Ionia transporter.
John, this as a great collection of '54 Dodge and each appears to be Brooklin but I've never seen the hardtop, sedan nor the Sierra wagon. When did they do the hardtop and sedan - or are these specials?
@charles-rockett The '54 Dodge hardtop is an Arena resin kit replica of a Panamerican race car which I built as stock. Arena kits from Italy also include some other Panamerican race car replicas, 1952 Chryslers, a club coupe and a four door. Also a 1950 Lincoln EL (the smaller Lincoln) but I was not happy with the shape of the Lincoln so had to graft the front clip on to a Road Champs Mercury to get the proportions right. Lincoln EL shown.
Chryslers. Sedan and club coupe stock kits built in non racing livery. Wagon, a modification of a sedan, convertible a modification of a club coupe.
And Arena also did a 1953 Chevrolet Belair hardtop.
