1930 Marquette Series 30 Phaeton

As a result of the Great Depression, the Marquette Phaeton, manufactured by the Buick Division of General Motors (whose president, at the time, was Edward Thomas Strong) was limited to a thirteen-month production period. This companion car was intended to compete with Oldsmobile and the Cadillac LaSalle, which were more costly automobiles. Only 889 Phaetons rolled off the assembly line. Of that total, only twelve are believed to still be around, although only the existence of five has been documented. Of the five, two are in the possession of Mr. Giokaris of Lima, Ohio and fully restored as of June 27, 2021.

The original owner of this car was the U.S. Ambassador to Chile, William Culbertson (1884 - 1966), a renowned and respected intellectual in the Diplomatic Corps. Ambassador Culbertson served as the Chilean Ambassador from 1928 to 1933. Upon his death, the car was passed to his daughter and son-in-law who remained in Chile.

This Model DX351 (Domestic Export) serial number 23643, has a 212.8 cubic-inch engine and 67.5 horsepower @ 300 RPM, is capable of accelerating from 10-60 mph in 31 seconds, and features a three-speed floor transmission. The original list price was $1,020. The frames were manufactured in Flint, Michigan. However, seventy-two of those frames were shipped to Cape Town, South Africa, where they were assembled by the Stewart Body Company. The odometer and the speedometer are measured in kilometers, while the gas gauge is measured in imperial gallons.

Although the Valve-in-Head engine has been used in all Buicks dating back to 1904, a special engine, an L-head, was made for the Marquette. The total cost for the engine rebuild was $8,200.

The restoration was completed on June 27, 2021. All parts and components are as original as possible, with the exception of the windshield which was replaced with modern safety glass. This Marquette Phaeton embodies a slice of history preserved for future generations and enthusiasts alike.