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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.
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 Special Model 46 Coupe Chassis#: 13283713 Sold for USD$11,000 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
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 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 |
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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