Finding a classic car with low mileage is not out of the ordinary, finding a classic with mileage below 1,000 is unusual. Finding a pre-war car with less than 1,000 miles is very unusual. This 1926 Buick is in original, unrestored condition and the odometer reading of 891 is believed to be accurate. If the claims on this car prove to be accurate, this one is special. Check it out here on eBay in Marshall, WI with bidding at $611 reserve not met. Thanks to BarnFinds reader Darrun for the tip!
I think something is not correct with the listing. The Buick Series 40 was not produced until 1930, so if this car is indeed a 1926 model it is not a series 40. From 1925 to 1928 Buick called these cars either the Standard Six or Master Six depending on the engine size so most likely this car is one of those models. The Standard Six was powered by a 242CI engine while the Master 6 got a 255CI. Whatever this thing is I hope the claims are accurate, from the side view the paint is worn and dull, but if its original a careful polish would be time well spent. The chrome around the radiator is rusted but shows some potential.
The seller is the second owner and he seems confident the mileage is correct, the first owner used the car only for parades. Considering the car is 92 years old, it would be impressive if the ownership and mileage can be documented. A long time has passed since this car was new so its possible the car was restored at some point. If you look closely at the tires, they look like more than 891 miles of wear but who knows maybe they were taken off another car. Currently, the car is not running but it was when the owner parked it 10 years ago, hopefully, the engine is not seized.
Very old cars like this have a certain mystique and when one comes along like this it leaves me wanting to know more of the story. I wonder if the original owner bought the car just for parades, maybe it was restored and the mileage was reset, maybe the odometer was replaced, maybe it rolled over? These are all what-if scenarios that would explain the mileage.
The interior is in sad shape. According to the seller, Racoons with an affinity for classic Buicks made themselves at home. The seats and door trim panels will need some work for sure. Other than the interior the car is described as very solid, the only problem mentioned is something to do with some wood around the door which is understandable for a 92-year-old car.
Everything looks complete under the hood, maybe a Buick expert can help us out on the engine size, it should be either a 242 or a 255CI inline 6. Hopefully, the engine will run with minor work. If the claims of this car are correct, it should be kept as original as possible. The paint can probably be saved but the interior will need an experts touch. What do you think, is this the real deal?
Lack of tread on the tires says otherwise, IMO.
Broken odo?
If you pay close attention the odometer reads89.1 miles and the trip meter shows more miles than the odometer.As mentioned the wear on the tires and other areas seems to point to the car having 100,089.1 miles on it…..
To me the odo reads 891 miles, not 89.1. It’s a 5 figure odo so it wouldn’t have tenths of a mile.
Ask the mice that ate the seats if they can document the mileage ??🤣
Agree it reads 891 miles. Guess it is possible. Do you think original tires would last this long? I have a 52 Dodge with 8000 miles. Kept the original tires, but had to put new ones on the car for safety.
Not looking like original 891 miles. The presence of a modern worm-drive hose clamp and a 1950’s oil filter housing (that’s been welded/repaired) speaks to far more use. Then there’s the bald tires and obviously broken speedometer…nah.
Very complete old Buick though and still quite desirable.
Absurd to think this car has only 800 miles.
No Fing way 891 miles, did anyone notice the entire wood portion of the roof is missing!
“The original owner used the car only for parades.” Sure. Cause someone bought a plain Jane transportation car in the days when this car was nothing special, for parades.
Bullfeathers. Anyone with a lick of common sense knows the entire, BS story falls apart with that statement right there, and I’m a little disappointed that a supposedly knowledgeable auto writer would even perpetuate that obvious myth.
“Only used for parades”……………Someone bought a new car in 1926 just to use in parades? The current owner is the second owner and it was parked 10 years ago with 891 miles? Yeah right.
The engine looks like it’s been out and in with new paint as well….
No way this has low mileage. Judging by the mud and dirt on the tires, this old Buick spent some time outdoors but maybe covered with a tarp. Seems to me the surface rust is a little too prevalent to have been stored inside. Unless the building/shed/carport had a dirt floor and was somewhat open to the elements.
Still, lots of potential but restoration to bring it back to it’s former glory might be pricey. If you could get it cheap, it’s probably worth throwing some money at it.
The seller’s comment “I thought I made it clear that…”
Yeah, Mr. Grumpy Guts, you lost me right there. This isn’t a Bugatti or a Duesenberg, it’s a 1926 Buick that needs a full restoration. Someone who wants something like this can easily find one, for not much money, without having to deal with a cranky seller.
OK, maybe I’m a cranky old fart myself…
No he didn’t “make it clear”, he never mentioned the wood above the windshield in his initial write-up. He said nothing about the roof, and doesn’t provide photos of the roof.
I notice the first picture above shows a pooper-scooper leaning against the running board. Perhaps its purpose is to pick up the copious amounts of bullcrap accompanying the mileage claim?
Apparently, judging by the picture of the speedometer/odometer above, not only has the car travelled a mere 891 miles from new but incredibly, it is still traveling at the amazing speed of 75 miles per hour – and it’s still in the barn!
Yes the seller made it clear that after sending him numerous emails asking about the extreme amount of roof damage he admitted the entire structure needs to be replaced. The photos do not show the true condition of the vehicle.
BUYER BEWARE
I almost placed a very high bid on this car! I have decided to watch it for a while! I just might jump in and buy it! Love the look of the car!
Be careful. It just might look a lot better on your computer screen than in your garage.
The car is a tudor sedan, not a coupe.891 MILES? No way.
Here is one that still has a roof:
https://www.allcollectorcars.com/for-sale/1926-Buick-Sedan-/2230557/
That one has a claimed 1700 original miles which I find more believable than this one. That one looks like a nice car. This one, not so much.
It’s gotta be original mileage. That odometer looks impossible to tamper with.
Maybe not some older cars could be backed up by putting the speedo cable in a drill and running it backwards like in reverse and back the odometer up ….. that’s likely why the speedo is stuck on 75 mph
George,
Many years ago I tried to back-up a speedometer using a drill. If you want to remove about 10,000 miles you’re going to burn up a couple of drills to do it. I almost burned down the garage letting a drill run for hours without being watched.
With these early cars, it’s a simple job to R & R the speedo, take it apart & re-set the numbers again. Back then, they were designed to be repaired. Many car dealerships re-set the speedo to 0.0 and claimed the car was “reconditioned as new”. It was perfectly legal.
I remember looking at used cars with my dad in 1963, at the local Cadillac-Oldsmobile dealer in Bethesda, MD. ALL the cars on the lot had no mileage on the speedo. [Dad ended up buying a 1960 Olds 98 4-door hardtop from them.]
It wasn’t until 1968 when the Feds required all new speedometers to have anti-tamper features. A skilled “speedometer repair” guy could quickly change the numbers within about 10 minutes, without pulling the speedo out, if the car was 1967 or earlier.
So this original owner was likely a Great Great Grandfather of those low mile Grand Nationals owners? Sounds like a better yarn than his story.
Regardless of mileage condition is everything. The body on these cars are framed in wood and wrapped with sheet metal. When this wood frame is rotted like this one is you have some serious work ahead ,I will pass on this beaut.
I’m thinking this has 891 miles on a restoration, long ago, where they zeroed the odometer when completed.
I happen to like being a cranky old fart…..founding member of and in good standing of the trashy bas..rd club. It’s nice to be old
And I totally agree sir, we have earned the right to be in that club! :-)
Amen to that, indeed!
I would like to invite you to join my club:Old Farts Unanimous. AKA:OFU
I think this is the same car I just bought the other day do you no what state title is