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1938 Buick Series 40 Special

During the 1930s, Buick's 8-cylinder-only model line was a combination of outstanding styling and sophisticated engineering. Positioned below Cadillac and LaSalle in General Motors' hierarchy, the Buick models were attractively priced in the low-to-mid $1,000 range, with wheelbase sizes of 122- to 140-inches, and engine output of 107 to 141 bhp. Two- and four-door bodies in open and closed configurations catered to a host of uses, and the range-topping Series 90 had seating for up to eight passengers in its touring sedan and limousine.

1938 Buick Series 40 Special photo
Special Opera Coupe
Chassis #: 33307949
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
Harley Earl modified the styling of the Buick Series 40 for 1937, with wings that were squared-off at the end and the roofline lowered by nearly two inches. The 1936 models had a single grille with vertical bars, while the 1937 models had horizontal bars and a divider down the center, painted to match the body. The straight-eight overhead valve Dynaflash engine displaced 248 cubic inches (4,064cc) and was paired with a three-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh. Hydraulic drum brakes at all four corners were standard, and the list of options included a heater, defroster, grille guard, dual side-mounted spare wheels, and whitewall tires.

The Buicks of 1938 featured all-steel 'Turret Top' Fisher bodies, a more rigid girder X-Type chassis frame, front and rear stabilizer bars, a thermal circuit breaker that eliminated the need for fuses, and an Aerobat carburetor. The aluminum rockers and rubber shims between the body and chassis promoted quiet operation. The standard torque tubes on the live rear axle gave the car a very comfortable ride and responsive on-road behavior. The 'Torque Free' springing utilized coils all round with independent 'knee action' up front and rear radius rods.

The design of the 1938 Buicks was similar to the redesigned 1937s, with long, swept-back lines, scalloped hubcaps, and a very distinctive grille. High-quality upholstery and trim could be found in the interior, with a state-of-the-art radio in the center of the dashboard.

Mechanical Specification
The Series 40 had the shortest wheelbase size in the Buick lineup for 1938, measuring 122 inches. It had an overall length of about 200 inches and rode on 15x6.50 tires. There were hydraulic brakes on all wheels, a standard three-speed sliding gear transmission with a single dry plate clutch, and floor shift controls. Oldsmobile introduced the Automatic Safety Transmission semi-automobile transmission in June 1937 and was offered by Buick in 1938 as an $80 option. This system required the use of a clutch only when the car was started or stopped. The operation of the transmission was controlled via a steering column-mounted lever with options for reverse, neutral, low-range and high-range forward positions. The Low Range used first and second gears with an automatic upshift. The High Range used first, third, and fourth gears.

1938 Buick Series 40 Special photo
Special Opera Coupe
Chassis #: 33307949
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The overhead valve inline eight-cylinder engine displaced 248 cubic inches and had a cast-iron block, mechanical valve lifters, a Marvel or Stromberg dual downdraft carburetor, and five main bearings. Compression increased to 6.15:1 over the previous engine, boosting output from 93 to 107 hp at 3,400 RPM.

Body Styles
The two-door business coupe (Series 46) was priced at $945, and a total of 11,337 examples were built. The two-door sport sedan (Series 44) was slightly higher at $980 and 5,943 were built. The four-door touring sedan (Series 41) was the most popular body style of the Series 40 Special, priced at $1,047 with 79,510 examples built. The convertible phaeton (Series 40C) was priced at $1,400 and was the most exclusive, with 776 examples built. A total of 2,473 examples of the Convertible Coupe (46C) were built at a base price of $1,100. The two-door sport coupe and four-door sport sedan (47) were similarly priced, at $1,000 and $1,020, respectively, with 5,381 of the former and 11,265 of the latter. The two-door touring sedan (48), priced at $1,010, was the second most popular Series 40 body style, with 14,153 examples built.


by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2019

Related Reading : Buick Series 40 History

Buick introduced the Series 40 in 1930 as a replacement for the Series 116. The Series 40 rode on a 118-inch wheelbase and powered by a 258 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine which produced 80 horsepower. Braking was through mechanical drums found on all four corners. The suspension was comprised of semi-elliptic springs and Lovejoy hydraulic shock absorbers. During its first year, there were six body....
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1938 Buick Series 40 Special Vehicle Profiles

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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1938 Series 40 Special
$1,406-$9,500
1938 Buick Series 40 Special Price Range: $945 - $1,406

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Other 1938 Buick Models

Series 40 Special

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
113,097
118.00 in.
8 cyl., 223.00 CID., 93.00hp
$765 - $885
152,773
122.00 in.
8 cyl., 248.00 CID., 100.00hp
$895 - $1,302
130,838
122.00 in.
8 cyl., 248.00 CID., 107.00hp
$945 - $1,406
166,349
121.00 in.
8 cyl., 233.36 CID., 95.00hp
8 cyl., 248.00 CID., 107.00hp
$849 - $1,406
112,974
121.00 in.
8 cyl., 248.00 CID., 107.00hp
$895 - $1,355
238,618
121.00 in.
8 cyl., 248.00 CID., 115.00hp
$735 - $1,463
34,870
121.00 in.
8 cyl., 248.00 CID., 110.00hp
$1,020 - $1,450

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