Kentucky man buys old 1936 Buick Roadmaster for $7,000 from Copart with major issues and breaks down tough restoration costs

After buying a 1936 Buick Roadmaster from Copart, a Kentucky mechanic embarked on a long car restoration project to bring the forgotten classic back to life.

The nearly 90-year-old Buick arrived with dents, rust, mechanical issues, and plenty of mystery under the hood.

Still, the team at NKY Auto believed the forgotten luxury car could be brought back to life.

Armed with plenty of patience and creativity, they embarked on a surprisingly tough car restoration journey.

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The Copart car came with plenty of hidden problems

At the beginning of the video, when the 1936 Buick Roadmaster first rolled into the shop, it didn’t even start.

The car had been listed as a non-runner at the auction, and early troubleshooting revealed multiple problems.

After replacing ignition components and installing a fresh battery, the engine finally fired up, only to reveal another issue.

The gasoline smelled like turpentine, and a quick inspection showed the fuel tank was nearly empty and badly rusted.

Things got worse once the team flushed the tank.

Rust poured out in alarming amounts, confirming the tank itself was unsalvageable.

As a temporary fix, the team patched several holes with epoxy so they could run the car briefly, but the long-term solution required replacing the entire tank.

Mechanical repairs continued throughout the project.

The brakes needed attention after the stuck wheel cylinders prevented proper braking.

Electrical issues also popped up, forcing the team to install a new ignition switch and rewire several lighting components.

At one point, a cracked fuel pump caused gasoline to spray from the engine bay, sending the crew scrambling for replacement parts.

The Buick Roadmaster actually managed to move

The car’s body presented an even bigger challenge.

Several large dents had crushed the roof, forcing technicians to remove the headliner just to reach the damaged metal.

Because the car was built with wooden structural elements inside the door frames, even simple repairs required rebuilding sections of rotted wood so hinges could mount correctly.

Fabrication work also played a role.

One damaged taillight assembly had to be rebuilt using parts from another vintage unit.

The trunk lid required cutting open the inner panel just to hammer out a deep dent before welding it back together.

Once the bodywork was complete, the Buick was repainted, transforming its appearance dramatically.

A fresh headliner was installed by a specialist upholstery shop, solving one of the most complicated interior repairs on the car.

After weeks of work, the restored classic was finally ready for a test drive.

The vintage Buick ran surprisingly well, even spinning its tires thanks to its rebuilt carburetor.

In the end, the numbers told the full story.

The initial purchase price was $7,024, with $750 spent on shipping.

Parts, labor, and paint pushed the total investment to $15,584.

After a standard markup, the final build cost reached about $18,700.

For a revived 1936 Copart car, the team considered that a pretty good deal.

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