1929 Buick Series 129

Buick celebrated its 25th year of automotive production in 1929, and Buick's built during the model year were affectionately known as the 'Silver Anniversary' cars. In celebration, Buick offered a total of forty-three exterior color options.

1929 was also the first year that Buicks wore styling by General Motors' Art and Colour department. Among the new design features was a one-year-only distinctive styling element of a 1.5-inch bulge around the beltline, earning it the nickname 'The Pregnant Buick' for its bloated appearance. Other design elements included a slightly slanted windshield on closed body models, flowing fenders, a sturdy bumper of two or three bars, wooden spoke wheels with detachable rims, and a Buick nameplate placed on the center of the radiator. Closed models received a new dual electric windshield wiper feature and side cowl ventilators. A mechanical fuel pump replaced the previous vacuum tank. The frame was built using thicker steel with deeper cross-sections, adding to the strength and rigidity of the platform. Additionally, suspension components were further strengthened, perhaps in preparation for a larger and more powerful eight-cylinder engine released in 1931.

The previous models of recent years were the 'Standard' and 'Master'; 1929 introduced new model names known as the Series 116, Series 121, and Series 129 - in reference to the wheelbase measurements.

The Series 116, with a wheelbase of 116-inches and an overall length of 167.75-inches, was priced from $1,195 to $1,320. Its engine was an inline-6 with overhead valves, four main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a Marvel three-jet updraft carburetor, and delivered 94 horsepower at 2,800 RPM and 172 lb-ft of torque at 1,200 RPM. All Buick engines received steel-backed main bearings. Standard equipment on the Series 116 included ashtrays and cigarette lighters.

The Series 121 was the intermediate level Buick model for 1929, priced higher than the Series 116 and lower than the Series 129. Body styles included a close-coupled sedan priced at $1,450, a business coupe at $1,395, a sport roadster at $1,325, and a sport coupe with a rumble seat at $1,450. The coupe was priced at $1,445 and the sedan topped the list at $1,520. Although the most expensive in the Series 121 line, the Sedan was the most popular with 30,356 examples built, followed by 10,110 of the close-coupled sedan, 6,638 of the sport coupe (with rumble seat), and 6,195 of the sport roadster. Both the business coupe and coupe had similar production figures with 4,339 and 4,255 units respectively.

The Series 121 and Series 129 shared a 309.6 cubic-inch inline-6. Similar to the 239.1 CID inline-6, the 309.6 CID had mechanical valve lifters, four main bearings, and a Marvel three-jet updraft carburetor. Both the 239.1 CID and 309.6 CID engines were larger than the previous year, which measured 207 CID for the Standard Six and 274 CID for the Master Six. Buick engineers continued to strengthen and enlarge the engine going into its final year of use - 1930 - with displacement growing to 257.5 CID for the entry-level Buick model and 331.4 CID for the higher-lever series.

All 1929 Buick engines used a three-speed sliding gear transmission with multiple disc clutch and floor shift controls. Stopping power was provided by mechanical external contracting brakes on all four corners. Optional equipment included front and rear bumpers, clock, side mounts, wire wheels, wide-spoke artillery wheels, spare tire/tube, spare tire cover, disc wheels, and spare tire lock.

The Series 129 was offered in a range of eight body styles with prices that began at $1,550 and rose to $2,145.

If the Buick was not stately enough for the buyer, General Motors had the new LaSalle in its arsenal. Offered solely as the Series 328 for 1929, it came equipped with a 328 cubic-inch V8 engine installed in a 125- or 134-inch wheelbase platform. Prices ranged from $2,295 to $4,900 (or higher depending on the coachwork and options selected). For buyers seeking even more power, prestige, and elegance, General Motors offered its Cadillac Series 353, powered by a 353 cubic-inch V8 with 96 horsepower at 3,000 RPM. Both 'Fisher' and 'Fleetwood' custom bodies were offered in one of the most extensive catalogs on the market. Prices ranged from the mid-$3,000 range to the low $6,000s.

Alternatively, General Motors offered more utilitarian and modest means of transportation in the form of the Chevrolet International Model AC equipped with a 194 CID engine producing 46 horsepower. Its 107-inch wheelbase carried a wide range of two- and four-door body styles with prices in the $525 to $725 range. The Oakland Model 212 was also a suitable alternative, with a 117-inch wheelbase, a six-cylinder engine, and prices that range from $1,145 to $1,375.

General Motors had the market covered, with the Buick models serving the discerning clients seeking durable, reliable, and stylish transportation but without 'breaking the bank.' The model sizes were stately without being flamboyantly excessive and the engines were more than adequate to carry the all-new bodies and sturdier frames. The 26,390 examples produced of the Series 129 accounted for approximately fourteen percent of Buick's total production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021