☰
conceptcarz.com
✕

1939 Buick Series 40 Special

Buick, one of the oldest automotive brands in the world, was founded in 1897 by David Dunbar Buick, and it soon employed William Durant as its general manager. Within the General Motors hierarchy - during the 1930s - Buick was positioned above Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac, and below LaSalle and the prestigious Cadillac range. Within the Buick model lineup, the Special which started life as the Series 40 was considered the entry-level product, although it was usually better equipped than any top-of-the-line Chevrolet. Beginning in 1936, the Series 40 was renamed as the Special and underwent several changes and improvements throughout each passing model year.

Changes to the 1938 Buicks included the availability of an Automatic Safety semi-automatic transmission, and the use of coil springs for its rear suspension. The following year, the range was restyled with an enclosed waterfall grille and more fully enveloped fenders. Headlamps continued to be mounted on pods, but within a few years, Harley Earl's influence would see its way into the lineup including the fully integrated fenders and lamps. Body styles included a two- and four-door Touring Sedan, business coupe, sport phaeton, convertible coupe, and sport coupe. Prices ranged from $950 for the sport coupe and rose to $1,400 for the Sport Phaeton.

The 1939 Buick Special was very popular, with 109,213 examples of the four-door touring sedan built. 27,218 examples were two-door touring sedans and 14,582 were business coupes. 10,043 were Sport Coupes priced at $950 and 4,569 of the $1,075 convertible coupe. The four-door, five-passenger Trunkback Sport Phaeton proved to be very exclusive, priced at $1,400, with 724 examples built. It had four-doors, a full folding soft top, roll-up windows, and removable pillars.

Powering the Series 40 was an overhead-valve inline-8 cylinder Dynaflash engine displacing 248 cubic-inches with five main bearings and mechanical valve lifters. With the help of a single Carter duplex downdraft carburetor, it delivered 107 horsepower at 3,400 RPM and 126 lb-ft of torque at 1,000 RPM. It used an innovative oil-temperature system that cooled the oil at high engine speeds and warmed it in cold weather. The engine was backed by a column shifted three-speed sliding gear transmission with a single dry plate clutch. Hydraulic brakes and pressed steel wheels were at all four corners.

The Buick Special rested on a 120-inch wheelbase with independent front suspension with coil springs and a semi-floating live rear axle.

Interior changes for 1939 included prominent gauges being positioned in front of the driver except for the clock on the glovebox door. Turn signals were mounted on the shifter stalk and there was a column-mounted 'Handi-Shift' gear change level. Optional equipment included a leather interior, Sonomatic pushbutton radio, Sunshine turret roof, fender-mounted parking lights, fender skirts, and dual sidemounts.

Approximately eighty-percent of all 1939 Buicks were Model 40 Specials.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sport Phaeton

While the country was beginning to emerge from the economic effects of the Depression, the threat of war was on the horizon. Buick sales were on the rise in 1939, up more than thirty percent from the previous year. Industry firsts, like turn indicator lights, and Buick firsts, such as push-button radios, can be found on this Buick Series 40 Special Sport Phaeton convertible. With dual side-mount spares, a new trunk-back body style, and a rare-twin-carburetor engine with dual exhausts, this car was one of only 776 manufactured in the United States.

A styling feature unique to the 1939 Sport Phaeton was a removable 'B' pillar. With the top and 'B' pillar removed, it became a completely open-air car. When the top was up and the 'B' pillar installed, it took on the characteristics of a fully closed car.

Convertible Sport Phaeton
Chassis number: 13418437

This Buick Special is one of only 724 Series 40C Buick Special Sport Phaetons built in 1939. Options include dual side-mounted spares with metal covers, and fender mounted parking lights. There is a red leather interior with Art Deco-influenced dashboard design with clock. Power is from a 248 cubic-inch straight eight engine offering 107 horsepower and 3-speed manual transmission.

by Dan Vaughan

Sport Coupe
Chassis number: 23491052
Engine number: 43699020

This 1939 Buick Special Sport Coupe wears a well-preserved older restoration in dark green over a grey striped interior. It rides on red wheels with trim rings and chrome hub caps wrapped with wide whitewall tires. The rear of the vehicle features light-up turn signals contained within the Buick Eight emblem. The interior houses a heater and electric clock, and a wood-grained dashboard. The wood-grain detailing is continued on the window surrounds. The 248 cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine produces 107 horsepower and is backed by a three-speed manual transmission.

by Dan Vaughan

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 styles to select from, including a Sedan, Sport Roadster, Business Coupe, and Special Coupe in two-door configuration. A Phaeton and Sedan version were offered with four doors, with the four-door sedan with seating for five being the most popular body style on the Series 40. Pricing was rather competitive, starting at $1260 and continuing through $1300. The Phaeton had seating for four or five, and had the lowest sales in the Series 40, total just under 1000 examples.

The name 'Series 40' remained dormant for a few years, making its re-appearance in 1934. They were again Buicks entry-level vehicle, though much had changed in these few short years. The Series 40 lightweight vehicles powered by an eight-cylinder engine that measured 233 cubic-inches and produced nearly 100 horsepower.

The name 'Series 40' would stick with Buick until 1959 when a new series naming scheme was introduced. During this time, the Series 40 would be powered by eight-cylinder engines which grew in size in power throughout the years.

For 1934, the Series 40 rested on a 117-inch wheelbase and had an entry price of a mere $795. The top-of-the-line Series 40 would set the buyer back $925. The four-door Club sedan continued to be the most popular of the Series 40, selling nearly 11,000 examples in 1934. Five body styles were available, including a two-door Touring Sedan, Sport Coupe, and Convertible Coupe.

For 1935, little changed. A few extra colors were added and the trim was revised slightly. Mechanical problems from the 1934 Series 40 were resolved, such as clutch and timing chain issues. A new body style was added, the Convertible Coupe.

Changes occurred both visually and mechanical for 1936. The car now rested on an enlarged, 118-inch wheelbase. Over 77,000 examples of the four-door sedan were sold, which was a drastic improvement over the prior year's sales figures. Much of the vehicle's aesthetics received attention. The windshields and roof lines became more rounded. The spare tire was mounted discretely in the trunk for some body styles and mounted on the left-hand side of the vehicle for others.

Sales continued to be strong throughout the 1930s for the Series 40. The car grew even larger in 1937, now sitting on a 122-inch wheelbase. The engine now measured 248 cubic-inches and produced 100 horsepower. Production continued until the onset of World War II, when the American automobile producers switched to aid in the production of war-time materials.

When production resumed in 1946, the Series 40 was the only model in Buick's lineup to utilize the prewar Fisher B-body styles of the postwar era. There were two body styles available, both resting on a 121-inch wheelbase and had seating for six. The four-door version cost $1,580 while the two-door version was priced at $1520. These were Buick entry-level vehicles, just as they had been in prior to World War II. Sales were slow, with around 3000 examples produced from the combined sales of the two- and four-door versions. The 248 cubic-inch engine was rated at around 110 horsepower.

Major changes did not occur on the Series 40 until 1950, when the cars were given changes to their styling. The styling was modern and memorable, with the grille being one of the more distinguishable features on the car. Three vent-ports were now located on the side of the engine bay. The public approved of these changes, and sales were strong, reaching over 200,000 for the Series 40 and Series 40D. The Series 40D was a Special Deluxe model that had the same styling and size as the Series 40, but added improvements to the interior, adding trim and molding, and 'Special' on the front fenders.

In 1954 the Series 40 was given a new body that was lower and wider than it previously had. The front had a new grille design which many termed as the 'electric shaver' design. The front and rear windows were curved and there was enough glass throughout the drivers and passenger's view to provide a nearly 360-degree view. Mounted under the hood was a new 264 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced over 140 horsepower. The vehicles outfitted with the Dynaflow gearbox had even more power. A new steering linkage and suspension gave the vehicle a smooth ride, complementing the car's appearance.

By 1956, the Series 40 was given visual changes to its grille, ornamentation, and headlights. New bumpers were added to the front and rear of the vehicle. On the inside, the instrumentation was the same as other Buick models, a trend that had not been seen on Buicks since the pre-War era. Improvements to the engine meant an increase in horsepower, now rated at over 220 for the Dynaflow version. Sales were strong with the 2-door Riviera Hardtop being the most popular, with over 113,000 units sold in 1956. The price ranged from $2410 to $2775. The most expensive Series 40 was the six-person Estate Wagon which saw over 13,700 units being purchased.

There were many changes in 1957 to the Series 40, including a new grille insert, the 'B U I C K' name on the front of the car, chrome wings in the rear, along with a slew of other changes. In the back was a single exhaust pipe, with dual exhausts being offered for an additional cost. The three portholes on the side signified 'Super' while other models received four. Horsepower for the Dynaflow version had now reached 250 with 380 foot-pounds of torque. Sales continued to be strong, though they dipped a little from the prior year.

For 1958 the Buick Series 40 were given dual headlights in the front and an exorbitant amount of chrome. There was a circular ornament with a 'V', symbolizing V8, placed on the front and in the center of the hood. Dual horizontal moldings ran along each side of the vehicle, from front to back. Sales were strong, but they were still on the decline.

For 1959, Buick introduced their Series 4400 as a replacement for the Series 40. The Series 4400 was a very wide car with a modern style indicative of the era.

The Series had served Buick for many years, as their entry-level vehicle. The V8 engine found under the hood (except for the initial years) was more than adequate to carry the large and elegant bodies. Offered in a variety of body styles, the cars were versatile and accommodating to many individual's wishes and needs.

by Dan Vaughan