1934 Buick Series 90

The hallmark Valve-in-Head Buick engine was the work of engineer Walter Lorenzo Marr, with the design placing the valves directly above the pistons in what is generally known as 'overhead-valve' configuration. This setup provided better breathing resulting in more power and improved performance. But by the late 1920s, eight-cylinder engines had become de rigeur, particularly for upmarket vehicles. Buick remained loyal to its sixes and was late in coming to the new fashion. When Buick switched to eights, it did so in a massive way, launching not one, but three straight-eight engines in 1931. Moreover, the three engines shared almost no parts or tooling.

The design work for the new engines was delegated by chief engineer Dutch Bower to his protégé, John Dolza. The smallest 221 cubic-inch unit was installed into the Series 50. The intermediate-sized 272.6 cubic-inch version was placed into the Series 60, and the Series 80 and 90 shared the large 344.8 cubic-inch powerplant that developed 104 horsepower at 2,800 RPM. Buicks would build exclusively eight-cylinder engines for three decades.

The new engines, however, were not enough to combat the deepening Depression, and Buick sales fell markedly. The 1932 sales were barely half of those of 1931, and 1933 continued the trend, falling farther still. In 1934, Buick's guardian angel arrived in the form of Knee Action independent front suspension and Harlow Curtice.

The Knee Action system is often confused with the setup installed on 1934 Chevrolets and Pontiacs, but Buick's was completely different. The Chevy/Pontiac setup was an oil oil-filled spring-shock absorber developed by French inventor André Dubonnet, and licensed from him, while the Buick/Olds/Cadillac Knee Action coil spring setup was a short-and-long arm design by British-born engineer Maurice Olley. The two systems were different but used the same trademark, leading to inevitable confusion, but it saved General Motors lots of backtracking when the Dubonnet system was found troublesome and the Olley design was extended to the lower-priced nameplates.

Harlow Curtice became president of Buick on October 23rd of 1933 and guided the company through the difficult Depression and war years. By the time he became GM vice president, he had transformed Buick into the fourth best-selling car line.

The 1934 Buick
The 1934 Buick lineup included the new-for-1934 Series 40, the Series 50, Series 60, and the Series 90. Buick prices ranged from $795 to $2,145. Along with Knee Action, the 1934 Buick models received several other engineering features, including a starter switch operated by the accelerator pedal, which would remain a feature for decades. Additionally, there was a cowl-mounted fresh-air ventilator and safety glass. The Series 90 had safety glass all around, and it was optional on other series. The Bendix vacuum power brake booster was another Series 90 feature.

Closed-bodied Model 40s were trimmed in either mohair velvet upholstery or cord, while the open body styles were trimmed in leather. The Series 90 interiors had mohair velvet plush upholstery.

1934 Buick Series 90
The Series 90 was the largest, most powerful, and most expensive model within the Buick lineup, resting on a 136-inch wheelbase and riding on 16x7.50 tires, and powered by an overhead-valve eight-cylinder engine with a cast-iron block, five main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, and delivering 116 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. All 1934 Buicks used a three-speed sliding gear, synchromesh transmission, and four-wheel mechanical brakes.

Pricing
The two-door rumble seat coupe had a factory base price of $1875, the victoria coupe listed for $1895, the four-passenger sedan and convertible coupe with rumble seat at $1945, and the two-door club sedan with built-in trunk at $1965. The four-door convertible phaeton with built-in trunk was priced at $2145, the seven-passenger limousine at $2175, and the seven-passenger sedan at $2055.

Production
The most popular Series 90 body style was the two-door club sedan with built-in trunk, with 1,477 examples built. Next was the seven-passenger sedan with 1,151 examples built, followed by 635 of the four-passenger sedan, 347 of the victoria coupe, and 262 of the limousine. 137 examples were sport coupes with rumble seat, 119 were the four-door convertible phaeton, and 68 were convertible coupes with rumble seats.

The sport coupe, convertible phaeton, and convertible coupe were previously Series 80 body styles, but after the Series 80 was dropped, the body styles were moved to the Series 90.

The Series 90
Prior to the onset of World War II, Cadillac executives lobbied General Motors brass to discontinue the 90 Series Buicks, arguing that they were taking away sales from its sister division. Following World War II, the Series 90 (by then called the Limited) did not return.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021