1930 Buick Series 40

The 1940 Buick Series 40 was the company's entry-level model, with body styles that included a sport roadster, business coupe, and sport coupe all with two doors. A two- and four-door sedan was also part of the body style lineup, along with a four-door phaeton with seating for five. The two-door sedan was priced at $1,270, the sport roadster and phaeton at $1,310, the sport coupe at $1,300, the four-door sedan at $1,330, and the business coupe at $1,260.

The most popular body style on the Series 40 was the sedan, with 47,294 examples built. Next was the sport coupe with 10,719 sales, followed by 6,101 of the two-door sedan, 5,695 of the business coupe, and 3,476 of the sport roadster. The four-door phaeton was the most exclusive with 972 examples built.

1940 was the final year for the inline overhead-valve six-cylinder Buick engine. It had a 257.5 cubic-inch displacement, mechanical valve lifters, four main bearings, and delivered 80 horsepower at 2,800 RPM. The engine powering the Series 50 and Series 60 was a 331.4 CID inline-6 with 99 horsepower. Both engines were backed by a three-speed sliding gear transmission with multiple disc clutch and floor shift controls. Stopping power was provided by mechanical, internal expanding brakes on all four wheels.

The Buick Series 40 replaced the previous year's Series 116 and its wheelbase measured 118-inches, two-inches longer than the Series 116. The 1929 Buicks had been the first year of the styling created by General Motors' Art and Colour department, and those designs were carried into 1930 with minor updates. The height of the Series 40 was reduced by two inches, flatter hubcaps were placed at all four wheels, and the body gained a beltline.

Optional equipment included wire wheels, side mounts, white sidewall tires, wind wings, luggage rack, fog lights, and chrome grille guard.

Above the Series 40 was the Series 50 offered as a coupe priced at $1,510 and a sedan at $1,540, both resting on a 125-inch wheelbase. The Series 60 had a 132-inch wheelbase and prices ranged from $1,600 to $2,070.

The entire 1931 Buick line was powered by an overhead-valve eight-cylinder engine with five main bearings and mechanical valve lifters. Displacement sizes included 220.7-, 272.6-, and 344.8-cubic-inches. The Buick Series 40 was retired in 1930, with the Series 50 positioned as the new entry-level model, joined by the Series 60 and Series 80. A Series 90 joined the lineup in 1932. Buick's Series 40 re-appeared in 1934 and in 1936 became known as the Series 40 Special.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021