Old Car Trivia #3

[dwasson]

What did the portholes on old Buicks represent?

[Blackened300a]

The new Buicks have them too but Im stumped

Good Questions!!

[Breadfan]

The exhaust outlets on older 20's and 30's cars? (You know, where the styled headers would come out the side of the hood.

Or were they Homer Simpson "Speed Holes"?

Oh, actually, it could also be gun portals from a WWII fighter, since everyone was trying to design cars to mimic planes.

[KillJoy]

I would have to say Airplane Windows of that era.

KillJoy

[SergntMac]

The exhaust outlets on older 20's and 30's cars? (You know, where the styled headers would come out the side of the hood....Oh, actually, it could also be gun portals from a WWII fighter, since everyone was trying to design cars to mimic planes. I agree with "mimick planes" and you are half right on your second guess.

Faux exhaust ports is the common think, but not from earlier automobiles. Buick fender portals were inspired by WW-II fighter plane exhaust ports.

[dwasson]

Why were there 3 and 4 holers?

[Breadfan]

Designated by engine size?

[dwasson]

Designated by engine size?
Indirectly

[SergntMac]

Why were there 3 and 4 holers? Is this a second question?

If so, 8 cylinder vs. 6. I had a 1953 Buick with a "straight 8".

[dwasson]

Is this a second question?

If so, 8 cylinder vs. 6. I had a 1953 Buick with a "straight 8".

What I was really shooting for was, the big cars were 4 holers and the small cars were 3 holers.

[Bluerauder]

Why were there 3 and 4 holers?
Represented 6 cylinder (3 each side) and V-8 cars (4 each side)

[dwasson]

Represented 6 cylinder (3 each side) and V-8 cars (4 each side)

There ya go, and the big cars (Roadmasters and such) had the 8s and the small cars (Centurys) had the 6s.

[Breadfan]

There ya go, and the big cars (Roadmasters and such) had the 8s and the small cars (Centurys) had the 6s.

That's what I was thinking, though back in the day the straight 6 was much more popular than the V6.

Cool, these are fun. :)

[ctrcbob]

Buick Special ----- Three Port Holes, - Smaller Body, Smaller Engine.
Buick Century ---- Three Port Holes, - Smaller Body, Larger Engine (Faster)
Buick Super ----- Three Port Holes - Larger Body, Larger Engine
Buick Roadmaster - Four Port Holes - Larger Body, Larger Engine (Luxury)

I'm old enough to remember these cars. No kid in his right mind wanted a Special as it could not get out of it's own way. Always wanted the Century.
(Not that we could afford one).

[Bobby Clobber]

Since you guys are stuck on Buicks for the moment,
What was different from the 1953 to 1954 Buick "Special" under the hood?:beer:

[ctrcbob]

1953 Special, Straight 8.
1954 Special, V8 (but smaller than the Century, Super and Roadmaster).

God, I'm old. :cry:

[Bobby Clobber]

Man that's good

The 53 was a torque monster, maybe 150- 175 HP , but I remember climbing a very steep hill in third gear ( My dad was driving ) without a beat.

It was actually a funeral procession, so you can appreciate the power in that Strait eight.:burnout:

Bob

[jerrym3]

My dad had a 48 red buick Super convertible, three speed. We lived in NJ and went to northern NH on summer vacations ($1.50 per night for a cabin.)

He was always complaining that we paid more for gas than for food.

His best buddy had a yellow Buick convert, same car, and then, in 1957, he added a DeSoto Fireflite (Firedome?) yellow and white two door hardtop. He would only use these cars on a Sunday to travel up and down the local "boulevard".

I had the chance to buy his DeSoto (cracked winshield, cloth interior in pretty bad shape, gigantic tailfins, solid motor and trans) when it was sitting on a used local car lot back in the late 70s, but, instead, I decided to restore my 1964 Galaxie because it was a convertible, and the manufacturers had just stopped making them.

Taking that big DeSoto for a test drive sure did get a lot of attention, even back in the 70's.