1935 Buick Series 60

The 1935 Buck Series 60 accounted for approximately eleven percent of Buick's total production, with the most popular body style being the two-door club sedan with 2,762 examples built. Next was the sedan with 1,716 examples sold. In comparison, the most popular body style within the 1935 Buick lineup was the sedan found in the entry-level Series 40 with 18,638 examples built. Pricing on the Series 40 began at $855 and rose to $925, and the Series 50 was priced from $1,100 to $1,230. The Series 40 had a 117-inch wheelbase and the Series 50 was two inches longer, at 119-inches.

All 1935 Buick models were powered by an overhead-valve inline eight-cylinder engine with a cast-iron block, mechanical valve lifters, and five main bearings. The Series 40 had a 233 CID version with 93 horsepower and the Series 50 had a 235 CID eight with 88 hp.

The Series 60 was above the Series 40 and Series 50, but below the Series 90 for 1935. The convertible coupe was the least expensive body style, priced at $1,375 and 111 examples were built. The two-door Victoria Coupe had seating for five, was priced at $1395, and 597 examples sold. The four-door sedan had a $1,425 price and 1,716 examples built, and 256 examples of the four-door convertible phaeton were built with a base price of $1,675.

Powering the Series 60 was a 278 cubic-inch inline-8 with 100 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. All engines were backed by a three-speed sliding gear, synchromesh transmission with a single dry plate clutch, and floor shift controls. Mechanical brakes at all steel spoke artillery four wheels provided the stopping power.

The Series 90 was priced at $1,895 to $2,175 and came equipped with a 344.8 CID inline-8 with 116 horsepower.

Buick vehicles had been powered exclusively by six-cylinder engines beginning in 1925 and continuing through 1930. In 1929, the entire Buick line received styling from General Motor's Art and Colour department. The 1931 model year introduced the eight-cylinder engine used to power the entire lineup.

The Series 60 was introduced in 1930 and it served as the top-of-the-line model resting on a 132-inch wheelbase and powered by a 331.5 cubic-inch engine that it shared with the lower Series 50. The 1931 lineup included the entry-level Series 50, the intermediate Series 60 and Series 80, and the range-topping Series 90. This lineup continued through 1933, and for the following year, the Series 80 was dropped and the Series 40 added to the lineup. In 1936, the Series 40 received the 'Special' name, the Series 60 the 'Century,' the Series 80 the 'Roadmaster', and the Series 90 the 'Limited.'

Buick would continue to use the Century name for many years, off-and-on through the mid-2000s, representing six generations of vehicle designs with various trim levels, sizes, and performance.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021