1939 Buick Series 90 Limited

David Dunbar Buick was a Scottish-born inventor who built his first automobile in Detroit, Michigan in 1903. His skills as an engineer and designer far exceeded his business sense, a shortcoming that led to a number of changes of ownership in the firm's early years before its founder was eventually eased out in 1908. With his departure, the Buick Motor Company became the cornerstone of new owner William C Durant's General Motors. Under Mr. Durant's leadership, production rose dramatically from 750 cars in 1905 to 8,802 in 1908 when Buick's $900 four-cylinder Model 10 became a direct competitor for Ford's Model T. In the immediate post-World War I era, Buick wasted no time introducing its first six-cylinder model as part of the 1916 lineup, and the flexible and refined overhead-valve engines would continue to foster's Buick image as a quality automobile. Six-cylinder models continued through the end of 1930 when Buick adopted an all eight-cylinder range for 1931.

Buick's lineup for 1931 consisted of four series in varying wheelbase lengths with the largest of which is the Series 90 resting on a 133-inch frame and powered by a 344.8 cubic-inch overhead-valve engine. By 1939 the Series 90 was powered by a smaller 320.2 cubic-inch engine that delivered considerably more power and had a wheelbase of 140-inches. The engine, shared with the Roadmaster and the Century, had overhead valves, a 320.2 cubic-inch displacement, a 6.35:1 compression ratio, five main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a Stromberg carburetor, and offered 141 horsepower at 3,600 RPM and 130 lb-ft of torque at 1,000 RPM. It was backed by a sliding geat transmission with three forward speeds plus reverse, a single dry plate clutch, and column controls. Hydraulic brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power.

The 4-door touring sedan had seating for six and would set the buyer back $2074. There were two other body styles offered on the series 90, one was a limousine and the other a touring sedan, both with seating for 8. The limousine was the highest priced Buick for 1939, costing $2,450, and featured a movable glass partition in the back of the chauffeur's compartment. A speaker system allowed the passenger and driver to communicate. A vanity case and rear compartment cigarette lighter could be found in the rear.

Styling updates for 1939 included a new two-piece 'waterfall' grille, larger doors, and increased glass area.

The Buick Series 90 was an exclusive automobile, built in limited numbers, with 650 examples being Touring Sedans, 423 of the Limousine, and 378 of the six-passenger Touring Sedan.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020