1934 Buick Series 50 Sedan

Buick established itself as a maker of premium cars and, as such, was hit hard by the Great Depression. In 1933, sales sank to little more than 40,000 units. Harlow Curtice was placed in charge in late 1933 and sales for the 1934 model year rebounded to 78,000. Curtice began his career at AC Spark Plug as a bookkeeper, becoming a comptroller by the age of 21. He became president of General Motors in the mid-1950s.

The 1934 Buick Series 50 rode on a 119-inch wheelbase, the same as the 1933 Series 50. The 1932 Series 50 had rested on a 114-inch platform. Body styles for the 1934 Series 50 remained the same as the 1933 model year, consisting of a business, convertible, and a sport coupe, a sedan, and a Victoria Coupe. Pricing began at $1,110 for the business coupe and rose to $1,230 for the convertible coupe. The Series 50, like all the other 1934 Buicks, had narrow horizontal hood louvers and safety glass in their vent windows and windshields.

Power was from an overhead valve eight-cylinder engine displacing 235 cubic inches and offering nearly 90 horsepower. There was a three-speed sliding gear transmission with synchromesh and mechanical brakes at all four corners. Of the 78,757 Buicks produced in 1934, the Series 50 accounted for 19,233 of those.

This car features many of the options available in 1934. They include dual side-mount tires, radio, heater, front bumperettes, whitewall tires, long bugle horn, trip lights, special hood ornament and a luggage box. The taupe paint is the original factory color.

This car was originally sold in Meriden, CT, where it was in storage for 35 years. It underwent a frame-off restoration in 1987. In 2002, it was stripped, re-chromed and repainted. It has been in numerous shows in New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and the Carolinas, winning two Best of Show awards.