Ken Wegleitner is the current owner of a survivor 1951 Buick Model 41 four-door sedan purchased new from the dealership 75 years ago by John Kroeger.
He just happened to be Ken’s great grandfather.
Ken had his grandson with him when MyStarCollectorcCar interviewed him at a car show earlier this year and assured us the family legacy vehicle will remain within his family for yet another generation in the future.
Jim Suherland
A 1951 Buick Model 41 was an affordable member of the upscale GM family, and Buick is still considered to be a quality brand in 2026.
The prestige of Buick ownership was clearly not lost on Ken’s Great Grandfather John, so an opportunity to buy one at a decent price was part of the attraction for him in ‘51.
Great Grandfather John was a dairy farmer and sold enough cream to pay for half the then-new 1951 Buick at the time. The car was affordable because it did not have a giant list of creature comforts typically found in Buick models.
For example, the ‘51 Buick did not have a radio when John bought it, and the car still does not have a radio. But it does have a three-on-the-tree manual transmission, a common feature on less pricey vehicles in 1951.
However, it was a luxury sedan equipped with an inline eight-cylinder known as a straight-8 and, in the case of Buick, labeled as a “Super Eight” to separate it from other inline 8-cylinder engines in 1951.
Additionally, the Super Eight was an overhead valve engine and stood out in a crowd of flathead engines during that bygone automotive era.
Ken is well aware of the 1951 Buick’s deep connection with his family and honored to be its current caretaker. Ken has been around the car hobby for most of his life and learned how to drive a three-on-the-tree car at a very young age.
He told MyStarCollectorCar the Buick was parked about 40 years ago when Great Grandfather John lost his driver’s license because of health issues. Consequently, the family stored John’s beloved Buick but fired it up every year to stave off the damage of long-term storage on a vehicle.
The car wears its history on its outer skin, but the interior looks brand-new because Great Granddad John covered the seats and protected the fabric from abuse.
The driving experience is excellent, according to Ken, adding it “shifts beautifully” on the road. He had just reintroduced the family legacy Buick and was still working out the kinks when MyStarCollectorCar interviewed him in late spring this year.
Ken’s goal is to preserve Great Grandfather John’s beloved Buick and not tinker with major changes because of the car’s long history in his family. As a result, the 1951 Buick still has its vacuum windshield wipers and a six-volt electrical system to help preserve the car’s originality.
The car represents a first for us here at MyStarCollectorCar because it connects a dearly departed great-great-great-grandparent with his great-great-great grandson via a 1951 Buick.
That is the greatest number of generations in one family we have ever encountered that are linked to one heirloom car.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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