Cover Story
by Lea Ellen
The owner of this ‘54 Buick Century Station Wagon, Bill Gordon is originally from Newoxford, PA outside of Gettysburg. Bill had a shop on Lincoln Way East where he dabbled in antique automotive toys and other vintage toys, if Bill wasn’t tending shop you could find him at the Carlisle shows. Bill traveled between PA and Florida for years, but has since retired to Florida where he bought himself a modest home that could use a little fixin up.
While traveling around the area in his ‘66 Nova he noticed a brown and tan ‘54 Buick wagon parked at someone’s home. Bill found himself rubbernecking at the car. While attending a car show in Spruce Creek Fly-In he saw the wagon again and realized the impact the car had on him. He tried to buy the car, but the owner said flatly that the car was not for sale. Bill was hooked on a Buick wagon from that day on, there were others out there somewhere and the hunt was on.
The ‘54 Buick Century is a rare wagon, only 1,497 of these cars were produced, you could buy one new for $3,900 smackers. Bill surfed the net looking for just the right one on and off for over two years with no success. One night years later Bill was hanging out at the Bellair Plaza during the Turkey Run in Daytona and a Buick wagon rolled in the lot catching Bill’s eye. It was the type Buick wagon that Bill had been hunting for.
Before the event was over Bill located Rick Sawyer, the owner of the car, after some serious looking over and negotiation Bill left Rick with a deposit. The following day they met again counting out the final money transaction in the back seat of the wagon. Bill’s hunt was over, the ‘54 Buick Century was his.
Bill drove the car home anxious to show his friend Bob, when Bob saw the car he said to Bill, “What did you buy that ugly thing for?” Well ... Bill was gonna show him. Bill said you just wait and see when I get done with her ... “you’ll see.” Bill began to re-work the wagon in old school style bringing out the personality that he had invisioned for his wagon. Almost a year later Bill was finally ready to show Bob what he meant by “you’ll see”, the Buick was ready for its debut.
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