DIRECTOR’S THOUGHTS,  MAY 2026

To me, the month of May is the most beautiful month of the year, second to Christmas, of course, do you agree?   There is one thing we all can agree on, NO SNOW!!!  Just nice warm weather to bring the green grass, budding trees, flowers, gardens, and, last of all, CAR EVENTS!  If you have and use a computer, laptop, smart phone, you can look up so many car events, not only on weekends, but during the week, too!  While most car cruises are held on weeknights, actual car shows are held on both Saturdays and Sundays.  I truly believe that attending car events are 100% back to normal since Covid, what do you think? 

I recently received an e-mail from a Buick gentleman looking for some 1942 Buick Special Eight parts.  If you can help him out, please see his request in the Car/Parts For sale/ISO section of this newsletter.         

                                                                                                                                                                 Your Elected Director, Sally Getz

 “FREE SPIRIT” Chapter Meeting Minutes, APRIL 7,  2026

Meeting called order 7:18 pm with 12 members in attendance plus 1 guest.  Sally “WELCOMED” everyone to tonight’s meeting, and asked if anyone would like to share any activities from the past month.       All present reported having a good Easter, and being too old to play APRIL FOOLs jokes!      Sally reported having had a very good experience with LKQ Salvage when purchasing a new but used heated driver’s seat for her 2005 Buick Rainier CXL. They were reasonably priced and of a good quality seat.

Motion to accept March meeting minutes as printed in April newsletter, Isabel  Lenny, seconded by Bill Hallman, so carried.

Treasurer’s report:     Report for February was presented by John Moore with a motion to accept by Shirley Schaffer, seconded by Dan Reiniger, so carried.  As directed last month, John opened  4  – 7 month CD’s.  All will come due in September and will report interest each month.

Ed Lenny suggested contributing to the Buick National Museum which will be located in Hershey as an extension of the AACA Museum. General agreement that it is something we should do, probably waiting until October when our CDs come due.  (In April’s Bugle, Buick Museum potentially to coincide w/ AACA Museum, Hershey, Pa.  Negotiations continue and now in fundraising stage.  (page 6 in Bugle).

COMMITTEE REPORTS:     Historian: no report          Lehighton:. Show flyers are available for the taking to be handed out wherever you think someone might be interested. As far as something special for this year’s 50th anniversary show, Sally looked through the Club inventory and found the following:      16 –  Tri-shield logo paper weights;       95 –  “Free Spirit” License plates;   125 –  36” “Buick” Yardsticks;        275 –  15” rulers;        “Buick” cleaning rags:    23 – TRI-shield,      26 – B U I C K,      250 – plain, and 108 – yellow cleaning rags.  These items were passed around. Everyone agreed we can use these in some manner during the show.   

Membership: Everyone had their badges, so no money was collected!

E – newsletter/newsletter:   There are no concerns, and everyone received the newsletter. Bill Hallman reported still receiving Dan G’s newsletters.           Publicity:  no report                 Ways-n-Means:  no report           

OLD BUSINESS:  Items of interest from the National Meet Planning Updates Board of Directors meeting held 3/31/26:      Approved the 2027 National Buick Meet to be held in Spearfish, South Dakota.

As you may have read, John Scheib passed away. There is no one, yet, to fill the NE Region Coordinator position under Anne Gibson, who is the Chapter, Region & Division Coordinator.

NEW BUSINESS:    Be sure to vote for up to 3 board member candidates by JUNE 1, 2026.  Found in your April issue of the Bugle. 

The annual chapter picnic will be held on Sunday, June 14th under the Weeping Willow pavilion, Macungie Memorial Park.  We will eat around 12:30 pm.  Held RAIN or SHINE.

Bill Hallman reported there was an AACA event in Puerto Rico and he was told everything was terrific: hospitality, trip coordination, outings, everything.

There is a new machine shop on Union Blvd in the Bulgari complex. Dini Vigliano says if you haven’t been there you have to go.

Sally had noted two day tours, but they are Monday-Friday only. She was not sure how that would suit those still working. One is Herr’s potato chip factory, and the other was a Hand Bell manufacturer. General discussion with the Hand Bell manufacturer sounding like a unique possibility.

Motion to adjourn: Shirley Schaffer, seconded by Isabel Lenny, so carried. Time 8:01. Respectfully submitted, Linda Cluck, Secretary

IT’S TIME FOR OUR ANNUAL CHAPTER PICNIC, SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2026

Macungie Memorial Park, Weeping Willow Pavilion, Macungie, Pa.  This event is held RAIN or SHINE!  The chapter will be supplying meats, condiments, paper products, utensils, beverages, and a hot plate.  Will gather and eat around 12:30 pm.  This year we will do things a bit differently as far as the menu.  I challenge all you “CHEFS and BAKERS” to bring a scrumptious dish to share with everyone.  Let’s see what you can come up with this year.  So, dust off your cookbooks and see what you cook/bake to bring and share.     

Rumor: Buick Might Bring a Sedan Back to America

Buick hasn’t fielded a sedan in North America since the Regal left the market in 2020. That may change, however, as GM Authority has reported that Buick is considering bringing a sedan back into its North American lineup as new buyers show openness to the idea of a traditional three-box design. Currently focusing on crossovers, the biggest automotive segment in the U.S., Buick has seen its sales in the United States and Canada double since 2022. Buick offers a more varied lineup overseas, as the Regal has lived on in China, where Buick also offers the Electra L7, Verano Pro, and LaCrosse sedans.

We’d love to see a Buick sedan make a comeback alongside the next generation of Cadillac’s CT5, which is set to be updated shortly using an evolution of GM’s excellent Alpha platform. Would it be too much to ask to get a new rear-wheel-drive Buick Sedan and maybe a wagon while we’re at it? Speaking as an armchair auto exec, a Buick platform mate could offer turbo four-cylinder powertrains in base models, making a more affordable entry price than Cadillac’s brand positioning would allow. It could also make room for Cadillac to position the CT5 as a more premium product. Cadillac currently offers both 3.0-liter and 3.6-liter turbocharged V-6s, making them the logical powertrain for a high-performance Grand National variant, should that ever come to fruition. Of course, we wouldn’t be offended if a RWD Buick sedan is offered with GM’s upcoming Gen VI V-8.       Buick showed off the Electra Orbit concept last year.

Unfortunately, it was just a rendering. The sleek, fastback sedan does have some interesting lines. The brand also showed off a wagon version of the Electra L7 that’s currently in production in China that would make a great Sport Wagon on this side of the Pacific.

With all this conjecture about a new car, it’s tough to forget about the highest-volume Alpha platform car that GM had: Camaro. If anything would help with economies of scale of a rear-wheel-drive platform, it would be a new Camaro, although perhaps a new RWD Buick sedan could signal a sea change and help make the case for Camaro to return on the updated Alpha chassis as well. Anyone who’s driven a performance variant of the Camaro or several Cadillac coupes or sedans that share the Alpha platform will tell you that enthusiasts should be cheering for as many applications as we can get.                                       Thank you Linda/Brent

“FREE SPIRIT” Chapter,   Membership Renewal Form

Please fill in the following information and include a check for $15.00, made payable to “FREE SPIRIT” Chapter. 

Submit with your renewal of $15.00 to:   

                            William Hallman, 23 Prospect Ave., Norristown, PA 19403-3239             610-329-7375    wfh23@comcast.net

NOTE:    Are you a member of the National Buick Club:      ______ Yes     ______  No             Your BCA number  _____________________

                 Signature  ________________________________________

MEMBER NAME________________________________________SPOUSE’S NAME  __________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS  __________________________________TOWN, STATE, ZIP CODE  ______________________________________

CELL PHONE  (OPTIONAL)  ___________________________EMAIL ADDRESS  (OPTIONAL)  _________________________________

BUICK(s) OWNED    Year/Make/Model__________________________________________________________________________________    

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE submit completed form to William Hallman by June 30, 2026!

 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY  2026                                                                  HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!                                                                          

• 2 – 42^nd Car Show, Bicentennial Park West, Bethlehem, Pa
• 5 – Monthly dinner meeting, Starlight Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa.  Dinner @ 6 pm, meeting @ 7:30 pm.   
• 9 – Wheels for Victory Show, Kempton, Pa
• 17 –   Special Olympics Show-AD Moyer Kutztown, Kutztown. Pa
• 30 – Classic Auto Mall Show, Morgantown, Pa

JUNE 2026                                                                          HAPPY SUMMER!

• 6 – Chalkpalooza Car show, Reading, Pa
• 7 – 47^th Annual GM On Display Show, Macungie, Pa
• 13 – Cool Cars In School Yard, Hatboro, Pa
• 14 – Annual chapter PICNIC, Weeping Willow Pavilion, Macungie Memorial Park
• 14 – Cars N Cookies 2026, Macungie, Pa
• 19 – 20 – Carlisle GM Nationals, Carlisle, Pa

JULY 2026                                                                       HAPPY 4^TH OF JULY!

• 7 – GM On Display, Macungie Memorial Park
• 13 – Chariots of Fire Show, Classic Auto Mall, Morgantown, Pa
• 19 – 20 – Carlisle GM Nationals, Carlisle, Pa

ISO/CARS & PARTS FOR SALE

I have recently purchased 1942 Buick Special Eight.  I am reaching out for help sourcing some parts.  The wiper motor was missing and I bought an electric motor kit from Bobs Automobilia. When I received the motor, I realized I am missing the wiper motor transmission rods. The wiper spindle / wiper arms are intact on the windshield.  I also need the following parts … if possible;Heater Control Unit (my one is leaking);    Dashboard Gauges (mine are in poor condition);    Rear Wing Panels ??? (I think there is a panel missing on both sides at the rear of the rear wheels).    I would be most grateful if someone could help me sourced these parts.  Please contact:  Gary Keville of Ireland, gary.keville@gkt.ie, Telephone: 353-667-4322;   Mobile: 353-248-4503

BUICK ELECTRA/LESABRE/WILDCAT ORNAMENTS/MISC.  (all pins intact)  (Sally @ 484-464-3418)

#1037    1963 Electra/LeSabre Grille Center, NO PITTS!    

•               NOS  2 – 1963 Electra/LeSabre/Wildcat Trunk Lock
•               NOS  3 – 1966-71 Electra/LeSabre/Wildcat Roof Pillars
•              1978 Electra/LeSabre/Estate Wagon Hood Ornament #1253777, #1255161

 #1038   1964 Electra/Wildcat Dash Control Panel, NO CRACKS!

•               2 – Sets 1969-70 LeSabre/Wildcat 4 door Vinyl Roof Molding, Sail to ¼ panel, #8731678, 2 sets             
•               1970 Letter “U” Hood/Trunk Letter

#1039   1966 Electra/LeSabre/Wildcat Headlamp Switch Knob, #1376891

•              1968 Electra/LeSabre/Wildact Trim Piece
•              1969-70 Electra/LeSabre/Wildcat Upper Fender:  1 set

MISC BUICK ITEMS       #1135    1966-67 Riviera LH door chrome end cap DELUXE INTERIOR ONLY

#1050    1959 Grille Ornament: Invicta/Electra/LeSabre

•               1979-85 Riviera Trunk Lock cover
•               1981-87 Regal Sail Roof Panel Emblem
•               Buick Tri-Shield Badge
•               NOS  2 – Front Hood Scripts/Emblems, #4423519, 1 broke pin

#1051    1939-66 GM Buick/Chevy/Cadillac/Olds/Pontiac coat hooks

•               1967 Skylark Front Grille Housing, #1378953
•               1975-76 LeSabre Hood Ornament
•               NOS  Small Buick Badge
•               Buick Column Tilt Lever

#1052    ?1964 Electra/WC/LeSabre Emblem

•               2 – ?1964 Electra/WC/LeSabre Emblem
•               ?1970’s Emblem
•               2 – Deep Tri-Shield Emblems

 #1053   1940 Buick Super Radio Delete Plate

•               1941 Buick headlight Lamp Bezel Top Medallion, #5931652
•               1948 Buick Interior Door Housings
•               Inside Dome Light Cover
•               Steering Column Lever
•               1950 Buick Roadmaster Trunk Emblem
•               NOS   Spinner Cap Fin
•               1968 Skylark/GSA 350/400/LeSabre/Electra ¼ Panel Reflector w Mounting Clip, #5960386 CAV8
•              1968 Side Marker Housin #5960386 CAV7

#1067  1966 – 67 RIVIERA LH door switch plate cover, #4544819;  #7581869

#1124  1963-65 Riviera Front License Plate Mounting Bracket

#1126  1966 Riviera rear flip down license plate bracket

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS       (Sally @ 484-464-3418)  (L =TOTAL LENGTH,  B = BLADE,  A = ARM)

#1198         1966-70 Ford Mustang, #2804639, l=22”, b=15’, a=14”

#1199         1967 Electra, NO BLADES, l=23”, b=17.5”, a=15”

#1200         1967 Electra, only 1, NO BLADE, l=25”, b=17”, a=17”

#1201         1967-68 Camaro/Nova/Corvette/FB, l=22”, b=15”, a=14.5”

#1202       1968 “A” body, l=22”, b=15.5”, a=14.5”

#1203       1968 Riviera, 1 arm missing bottom, l=28”, b=17”, a=20”

#1204       1971 “A” body, have 2 pairs, l=22.5”, b=16”, a=14.5” #1205       GM TRICO, #3247540/#334458;    #3378874/#3418878;  l=22”, b=15.5”, a=14.5”