1915 Buick Model C-36 Roadster

In 1899, David Dunbar Buick sold off his plumbing business to the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company and organized the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company. The purpose of this new venture was to produce gasoline engines for marine and farm use. It was re-organized in 1902 to Buick Manufacturing Company. Walter Marr joined Buick's venture along with Eugene Richard. Together, they built the valve-in-head engine with testing performed in 1903. Financial backing for this new project was Detroit sheet-metal manufacturer Benjamin Briscoe.

In 1903, the company was re-organized into the Buick Motor Company. A prototype Buick was shown in the summer of 1904 with the first sale of a Buick following in August. Within a few short months, the company had orders for sixteen Buicks. By the close of the year, a total of 37 examples were produced.

By 1915, the company enjoyed a record year of production. Body styles included a roadster and tourers in several trim levels with power being supplied from four and six-cylinder units. Prices were lower and many important mechanical improvements made the 1915 Buicks very desirable. They were given cantilevered rear springs on the 6-cylinder models and an improved electric starter on the 4-cylinder engine. The bodystyles became more streamlined due to concealed door hinges.

The original owner of this Model C-36 Roadster was Ralph 'Doc' Wilkinson, of Trevorton, Pennsylvania. 'Doc' retired his Buick in his barn long before he passed away in 1961. It was acquired from his family by Lee R. Kauffman, a local businessman from the nearby town of Dornsife, and a talented antique car restorer. With the help of his son Ned, Mr. Kauffman restored the Buick to original condition between 1963 and 1966.

This Buick has red wooden artillery wheels, folding windshield, jaunty top, and Macbeth headlight lenses. It has a cream paint scheme, a 1914 Buick Delco electrical system manual, a vintage Sunoco spark plug cable set, and two of Doc Wilkinson's medical bags.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2015