1942 Buick Century Series 60

The Buick Series 60 of 1930 through 1935 became the 'Century' for 1936, wearing all-new streamlined styling that would continue into the shortened 1942 model year. Its 320.2 cubic-inch straight-eight was shared with the Series 80 Roadmaster and Series 90 Limited for 1936 and rode on a 122-inch wheelbase. Aerodynamic features included a rounded grille with vertical bars, bullet-shaped headlamps, rearward sweeping lines, and a sharply slanted Vee-type windshield. The wheelbase grew to 126-inches in 1937, allowing for additional space for passengers behind the front seat. A two-piece 'waterfall' grille with thin vertical bars was applied to all Buicks for the 1939 model year, along with thinner front door pillars, larger hubcaps, and a narrower hood.

Twin carburetion was introduced for 1941, with the 320.2 cubic-inch engine shared by the Century, Roadmaster, and Limited rated at 165 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. The 'Fireball' engine had dome-shaped pistons and combustion chambers, and all models were available with a choice rear axle ratios as a no-cost option. The two-tone color combinations were also no-cost options. The two-way opening hood was a new feature and the Sedanette body style joined the Century and Special lines.

Civilian automobile production ended in February of 1942 as North American was thrust into the Second World War, and factories turned their attention towards supporting the war effort. Although brief, Buick produced 94,442 for the 1942 model year, with the Century accounting for approximately five percent of that total. 3,342 examples were sedans while 1,229 were the Sedanette fastback. Both were priced similarly with the Sedanette at $1,300 and the sedan at $50 higher. One of the distinguishable features of the 1942 Buick Century compared to its previous years was the side trim in the rear fenders.

The 1942 Buick Century was positioned above the Series 40A and 40B Special and the Seris 50 Super. The Series 40A had a 118-inch wheelbase, the Series 40B was slightly larger at 121-inches, and the Super used a 124-inch platform. Most of the body styles within the Special line were priced from $990 to $1,200, with the eight-passenger estate wagon tipping the scales at $1,450. The Series 50 listed for $1,230 to $1,450.

The Century rested on a 126-inch wheelbase and continued the use of the 320.2 inline-8 shared with the Roadmaster and Limited. The Roadmaster had a 129-inch wheelbase and the Limited had a 139-inch platform. Prices on the Roadmaster ranged from $1,350 to $1,465, and the top-of-the-line Limited was in the low-to-mid-$2,000 range.

When peacetime returned and civilian automobile production resumed in 1946, the Century nameplate did not immediately return. When it was revived in 1954, it was given the smallest and lightest platform with the Buick lineup coupled with the most powerful 322 cubic-inch 'Nailhead' V8 engine available. The second generation of the Century remained in production through 1958, before becoming dormant again, only to be awoken briefly for another four-year stint that began in 1973. The name would continue to be used off-and-on through 2005.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021