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1938 Buick Series 40 Special Sport Sedan

    By the late 1930s, Buick's role in the General Motors prestige hierarchy was solidly established at number three, trailing Cadillac and LaSalle, but ranking ahead of Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Chevrolet. It had come to be known as 'the doctor's car,' an enviable nickname that reflected Buick's essence: not quite ostentatious, definitely a cut above common, and dead solid reliable - a critical factor in an era when house calls were still part of a physician's routine.

    However, it's unlikely that Buicks such as this 40-Series four-door convertible saw much service with doctors. There were eight body styles in the 40 Special inventory, plus a bare chassis version for coachbuilders. All were propelled by Buick's familiar in-line eight: 248 cubic-inches in the Specials, rated for a modest 107 horsepower - not much in the Phaeton, the heavyweight of the lineup at 3,705 pounds.

    This car was acquired by the current owner in 2006, ending 25 years in storage. The car was restored in 2010 by Doug Saybold's Buick shops in Elyria, Ohio. Of the 141,301 Buick Specials produced for the 1938 model year, 946 were four-door convertibles. How many have survived is unknown, but this example is just one of four registered with the Buick Club of America.

    No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.

    1938 Buick Series 40 Special Auction Sales

    Recent Sales of the Buick Series 40 Special

    (Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
    1938 Buick Series 40 Special Touring Sedan
    Sold for USD$34,100
      2023 Mecum : Glendale
     
    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 Series 40 Special image  1938 Buick Series 40 Special image  
    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 Series 40 Special image  1938 Buick Series 40 Special image  
    1938 Buick Special Series 46C Convertible Coupe
    Sold for USD$59,400
      2010 Gooding and Company : The Amelia Island Auction
    1938 Buick Series 40 Special image  1938 Buick Series 40 Special image  
    1938 BUICK SPECIAL
    Sold for USD$29,000
      2010 Silver Auction - Arizona in January
     

    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.
    VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
    1938 BUICK SPECIAL 2021 Carlisle Auctions : Spring   
    1938 Buick Business Coupe 2020 Mecum : Indy$31,000  
    1938 Buick 8 Special trunk-back Coupe133772042020 Bonhams MPH March Auction   
    1938 Buick Coupe 2019 Collector Car Productions The Manitoba No Reserve Collection$45,000  
    1938 BUICK SPECIAL COUPE232456382018 Premier Auction Group$31,000  
    1938 Buick Special Sport Coupe233261992015 Mecum : Monterey$55,000  
    1938 Buick Coupe233065332013 Mecum Auctions Monterey$32,500  
    1938 Buick Special 2012 Branson Auction Spring 2012$50,000  
    1938 Buick Business Coupe86266930032011 Silver Portland$12,000  
    1938 BUICK 38 SPECIALAZ2982142011 Russo & Steele Scottsdale, Arizona   
    1938 Buick Special Convertible133523422009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia $55,000$65,000
    1938 Buick Series 40 Business Coupe132826042008 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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