1931 Buick Series 60

David Dunbar Buick began building gasoline engines by 1899, however, it wouldn't be until 1903 that the company was incorporated and moved from Detroit to Flint. It went from near bankruptcy in 1940 to become the number 1 producer of automobiles in 1908, with output that surpassed the combined production of Cadillac and Ford, its closest competitors. Early historical automotive talents include Billy Durant, Charles W. Nash, Walter P. Chrysler, and Harlow H. Curtice, a GM President and Chief Executive in the postwar era. Even Louis Chevrolet, the co-founder of the Chevrolet automobile, had earlier achieved fame as a Buick race team driver.

Since the beginning, Buick has been a product innovator, beginning with its creation of the overhead valve engine (later advertised by Buick as the valve-in-head engine), which earned an unsurpassed early reputation in competitions around the world. They became the financial pillar on which General Motors was created, and has served as a premium automobile brand for much of its existence, with luxury vehicles positioned above GM's mainstream brands, but below the flagship Cadillac division.

Buick held steadfast to its big overhead-valves sixes as much of the industry went to eight-cylinder power. Reluctantly, the escalation of the cylinder wars during the late 1920s and early 1930s brought about the new Buick 8. Three new straight-eight engines were introduced for 1931, with the smallest (a 220 cubic-inch version with 77 hp), installed in the Buick Series 50. It rested on a 114-inch wheelbase and was priced from $1035 to $1100.

All three engines had overhead valves, a cast-iron block, mechanical valve lifters, and five-main bearings. None of the engines, however, shared any interchangeable parts. Designed by John Dolza, they were all backed by a fully synchromesh transmission, and noted by the distinctive 8 on the radiator cap. At high speeds, an oil temperature regulator cooled the oil warmed it in cold weather.

The Series 80 had a 124-inch wheelbase and the Series 90 had a 132-inch platform. Both shared a 344.8 cubic-inch engine that developed 104 horsepower. The series 80 was offered as a coupe priced at $1,535 and the sedan at $1,565. The Series 90 was offered in both open and closed configurations with seating for up to seven passengers. Prices range from $1,610 to $2035.

1931 Buick Series 60
Approximately thirty percent of Buick's 1931 production were the Series 60 with the majority being sedans priced at $1,355. Buick built 30,665 examples, the second most popular Model and Bodystyle combination in the lineup - the first being the 33,184 examples of the Series 50 sedan. In a distant third was the 14,731 examples of the Series 80 sedan.

Other body styles in the Series 60 included a sport roadster and four-door phaeton both priced at $1,335. The sport coupe listed for $1,325 and the business coupe sold for $1,285. A total of 6,489 examples of the sport coupe were built, 2,732 of the business coupe, 1050 of the sport roadster, and 463 of the phaeton.

Series 60, 80, and 90 Buicks were equipped with a passenger-side windshield wiper. The interior of the Series 60 was of higher quality than its Series 50 sibling, finished in either mohair plush or cloth. Other models, except the Series 50, received leather.

The Buick 60 had a 118-inch wheelbase, which was the same as the previous year's entry-level Series 40. Buick had introduced the Series 50 for 1931, riding on a shorter wheelbase but with a larger engine, and priced at over $100 less. It was a strategic move to stimulate sales during the difficult Depression-era and to appeal to a wider audience of buyers. Buick had produced over 235,000 vehicles during the 1928 model year, nearly 188,000 the following year, and over 181,000 units in 1930. During the 1931 model year, Buick produced 138,965 vehicles, falling to 55,086 units the following year as the Great Depression continued to tighten its grip.

The Series 60 would be apart of the Buick lineup for many years, gaining the 'Century' name in 1936.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021