The Tale of 2 Buicks

I have driven Highway 162 between Orting Washington and South Prairie, many times and seen these two Buicks parked end to end. The rusty beasts have caught my attention so many times over the years. Each time I passed these two early 50's gems; I plotted and schemed how to legitimately grab proper photos.

The cars sit about 50 feet from a busy highway, shooting from the road would not work; I would need to be on the property, a low light kind of day, and hopefully a chance to speak with the owner. The day came, I got my weather, grabbed cameras, tripods, and other gear, and set out for the Buicks.

30 minutes later I was there. I drove by slowly looking for any sign of life around the adjacent derelict farm building. I made another slow pass in the opposite direction, but still no one. Barn doors open, cows grazing nearby, but zero humans!

So now I stopped, across the road, grabbed my gear, and started to make my move, I needed to find someone and ask if it was ok. At the very moment, my feet stepped into the roadside grass, an older, grey-haired, shaggy sort of guy came running out of the barn, with a shotgun in hand. Greeting me with "I got some buckshot fer ya."

I slowly laid my gear down, offered a handshake, and said "Just want to speak with ya, my name is Gordy" He saw I wasn't a threat and lowered the shotgun. I explained that I was looking for the car owner, and he said "That would be me, what do ya want." I told him, "I loved the cars and want to some photos." He said "Go ahead" and filled me in about the day they were parked.

He told me about another family member "Uncle Spike" who had owned the cars and parked them there in the mid 70's, or about 50 years ago and put them up for sale. Both cars have massive rust and water damage from our soggy climate might be too far gone.

I published photos a while back which resulted in a few loyal gearheads and Gordy followers stopping and asking the magic question...."How Much?" As the "For Sale" signs were still there...gotta ask, right? The price was 25K each, the shaggy grey-haired guy, was so offended by the counter offers, the signs were removed and a 5-foot wire fence installed!

Not a great end to this story, the cars remain, rusting quietly....with memories of cruising through Puyallup and other local hot spots, the hounds-tooth seat covers, definitely point to a more sexy time for these cars!