Special Opera Coupe
Chassis #: 33307949
This 1938 Buick Special Series 40 Special Opera Coupe was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook. It is powered by a 248 cubic-inch engine that produces 107 horsepower which is sent to the rear wheels with the help from the three-speed manual gearbox. There are hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels and the elegant two-door coupe body sits on a 122-inch wheelbase. This aerodynamically crafted vehicle is finished in Botticelli Blue Metallic paint and is an original factory color. It has been treated to a comprehensive restoration and was offered without reserve and estimated to sell for $40,000 - $50,000 at auction. It is equipped with two fold down jump seats, dual side mounted spares with hard covers, radio, clock, twin driving lights, windshield wipers, and red steel wheels with chrome covers and rings wrapped in whitewall tires. For 1938 Buick offered a broad line of vehicles including the Special, Century, Limited, and Roadmaster. This wide range of vehicles catered to many buyers' requests that ranged from engine size, price, bodystyle, and type of vehicle. Even during the market stagnation of the 1930s, Buick was able to sell 170,000 examples of their vehicles in 1938, and earned an overall fourth place within the American automobile industry in sales.
This Special Opera Coupe did find a new owner at auction with a winning bid of $33,000 including buyers premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2010
1938 Buick Series 40 Special
Buick
2007 Vintage Motor Car Auction at Meadow Brook Hall
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $40,000-USD $50,000
Sale Price :
USD $33,000
1938 Buick Series 40 Special Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Buick Series 40 Special
(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 Buick Special Sedan Sold for USD$9,900 2022 Mecum : Houston | |
1938 Buick Special Sport Coupe Sold for USD$79,200 2021 Mecum : Glendale | |
1938 Buick Model 41 Sold for USD$15,950 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1938 Buick Special Sold for USD$17,500 2020 GAA : July 2020 | |
1938 Buick Series 40 Phaeton Convertible Sold for USD$46,200 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee | |
1938 BUICK SPECIAL SERIES 40 ALBEMARLE DROPHEAD COUPÉ BY CARLTON CARRIAGE COMPANY LTD. Chassis#: 844160001 Sold for USD$24,659 2019 Coy's - London Classic | |
1938 Buick Business Coupe Custom Chassis#: 13282604 Sold for USD$24,640 2019 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1938 BUICK SPECIAL SERIES 40 ALBEMARLE DROPHEAD COUPÉ BY CARLTON CARRIAGE COMPANY LTD. Chassis#: 844160001 Sold for USD$24,112 2018 Coys - True Greats 2018 | |
1938 Buick Special Sold for USD$39,000 2018 Carlisle Auction : Fall Carlisle | |
1938 BUICK SPECIAL CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#: 23370153 Sold for USD$33,000 2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1938 Buick Special Sold for USD$19,000 2017 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1938 Buick Special Sold for USD$8,500 2016 Mecum : Harrisburg | |
1938 Buick Special Phaeton Chassis#: 13290457 Sold for USD$60,500 2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Buick Business Coupe 248/107 HP, 3-Speed Sold for USD$36,000 2013 Mecum - Houston, Tx | |
1938 Buick 46S Sport Coupe AACA National 1st Prize, Frame-off Restored Sold for USD$39,000 2012 Mecum - Dallas, TX | |
1938 Buick Series 40 Special Coupe Chassis#: 23241401 Sold for USD$26,304 2012 H & H Donnington Priory | |
1938 Buick Special Series 46C Convertible Coupe Chassis#: 13272028 Sold for USD$57,750 2012 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Buick Special Series 46C Convertible Coupe Sold for USD$59,400 2010 Gooding and Company : The Amelia Island Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1938 BUICK SPECIAL Sold for USD$29,000 2010 Silver Auction - Arizona in January | |
1938 Buick Special Series 46C Convertible Coupe Chassis#: 13272028 Sold for USD$66,000 2010 Gooding and Company - Scottsdale Auction | ![]() ![]() |
Buick Series 40 Specials That Failed To Sell At Auction
1938 Buick Series 40 Special's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1938 BUICK SPECIAL | 2021 Carlisle Auctions : Spring | ||||
1938 Buick Business Coupe | 2020 Mecum : Indy | $31,000 | |||
1938 Buick 8 Special trunk-back Coupe | 13377204 | 2020 Bonhams MPH March Auction | |||
1938 Buick Coupe | 2019 Collector Car Productions The Manitoba No Reserve Collection | $45,000 | |||
1938 BUICK SPECIAL COUPE | 23245638 | 2018 Premier Auction Group | $31,000 | ||
1938 Buick Special Sport Coupe | 23326199 | 2015 Mecum : Monterey | $55,000 | ||
1938 Buick Coupe | 23306533 | 2013 Mecum Auctions Monterey | $32,500 | ||
1938 Buick Special | 2012 Branson Auction Spring 2012 | $50,000 | |||
1938 Buick Business Coupe | 8626693003 | 2011 Silver Portland | $12,000 | ||
1938 BUICK 38 SPECIAL | AZ298214 | 2011 Russo & Steele Scottsdale, Arizona | |||
1938 Buick Special Convertible | 13352342 | 2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia | $55,000 | $65,000 | |
1938 Buick Series 40 Business Coupe | 13282604 | 2008 MidAmerica Auctions National Sports Center | $12,500 | ||
1938 BUICK 48 TWO DOOR SEDAN | 2003 Kruse Auctions Las Vegas, NV | ||||
1938 BUICK SPECIAL CONVERTIBLE | 2003 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN | $39,000 | |||
1938 BUICK SERIES 40 SPORT COUPE | 2001 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN | $25,000 | |||
1938 BUICK SPECIAL CONVERTIBLE | 2001 Kruse Auction Flint, MI | $22,000 |
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1938 Buick Series 40 Special
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