Here we have a 1949 Buick Clock – one of the coolest I have ever worked on. I have installed a German Quartz carriage clock movement in place of the broken Electro Mechanical one. The cost for this conversion was £119 as it required a fair amount of 3D printing (for internal frame to hold the movement in the case). The remote battery is installed to make it easier to change the battery / alter the time. The front time change dial is now redundant – but present for originality.
Buick Clock – as received
The image below is a photo of the 1948 Buick clock as received by me in January 2025. The customer asked if I could clean it up as best as possible without losing too much of the original patina. The main aim of all my classic car clock conversions is to keep the clock looking as original as possible.
To change the time on this conversion the customer has two options. 1) Remove the clock and use the new quartz movement’s thumbwheel – as shown in the video or 2) remove the battery from the remote battery holder – wait for the time on the Buick’s clock to synchronise with the actual time – then re-install the battery.
The Conversion Process
The next set of images show the clock throughout the conversion process. I had to use the 3D printer to print 4 major components on this project – I don’t know what I’d do without it!
Finished – the Buick’s clock ready to return
And that’s a wrap. I really enjoyed working on this customer’s clock. The Buick’s clock is such a statement of classic design – not quite Art Deco – not quite neo Futuristic – but definitely SUPER COOL.
Let me Convert your Dashboard Clock
If you would like to start the process of converting a vintage dashboard clock to a battery powered movement – please contact me today. Send me a few pictures of the clock and give me some dimensions ( diameter, depth etc) and I’ll get back to you with a quote. If you’re on a mobile phone – please use the WhatsApp button