It’s been a banner week at Barn Finds for fans of Buick’s midrange postwar fastback, the Super Jetback Sedanet. First, there was a beautiful no-reserve ’49 model presented as a Barn Finds Auction, and now there’s this solid but stationary 1950 model. Unlike the almost universally admired ’49, the “Bucktooth” Buick has its detractors, but for Buick fans who want the ultimate interpretation of Flint’s waterfall grille, nothing can beat a ’50. Barn Finder T.J. found this Sedanet on his rounds and sent it our way. Located on Marketplace in Lincoln, California, it has a clean California title (and has “been on non-op”) and an asking price of $12,500.
The Super had a “new” engine for 1950; Buick added 3/32″ to the bore and made a few improvements to the existing 248 and created the 263, which produced 128 horsepower when paired with the Dynaflow as this one is. The Super Sedanet was given the model designation 56S, and was one of two bodystyles to get a 3.60 (actually a 3.61 if you do the math) rear axle ratio. With rear coil springs, a torque tube, and a Panhard bar, big Buicks of the early ’50s were smooth riding cars, especially with a Dynaflow under the transmission tunnel. This 263 will need the intake and exhaust manifolds installed at the very least before the new owner can take stock of what else the Buick needs mechanically. The seller says that the previous owner told him it ran before the manifolds were pulled. Why were they pulled then? Who knows, but chances are decent that there was an exhaust leak. Remflex gaskets are not a bad idea with these long inline engines, and it’s important to loosen everything up (and replace the gaskets) at the heat riser before bolting the manifolds to the head. It’s quite an involved process, and a shop manual is a good investment.
The interior appears to be in decent, usable shape, although the seller has posted a couple pictures where the front floor pans will need some rust repair. A carpet may be in order, and the headliner could probably use a gentle scrubbing.
I think history has proven that car fans either like the ’50 Buick or they don’t, and there are few of us in between; as an inveterate Buick guy, I love it. With the “BUICK” hubcaps and trim rings, the owner will be able to get away with far cheaper black sidewall tires, and the green paint would almost certainly clean up well for a driver with a Comet wash or whatever equivalent you prefer. What green is it? Buick had seven shades for 1950, and this one could fall anywhere between Verde Green, Allendale Green, Cirrus Green, Geneva Green, and Kashmir Green (it was definitely a verdant year). With a turnkey ’49 and a project ’50 on our pages this week, buyers can make a choice; it’s a good week to love those grand cars from Flint.
These Buicks were nice cruisers but slow, especially with the Dinaslush. I’d be tempted to swap it for a late model fuel injected V8 off. Some kind. I think it’s pricey for what you’re getting. Even a basic restoration is going to put the buyer under water.
Good luck connecting any modern drivetrain to the torque tube rear axle, and that axle is supporting coil springs and a panhard bar. The Dynaflow is a smooth transmission, but a rapid take off can be done by starting in low, at most traffic lights the Buick would be in the lead. Highway speeds are nothing for the Buick either, barely working at 70mph. A Buick straight 8 achieved world records at Bonneville also
A straight eight Buick with a Dynaflow may be slow to accelerate, but it will run at 70 MPH all day long. I once had my ’52 Super up to 103 MPH.
Wow, another Fast back!!! I know I’ve said it before, and here I go saying it again. But these are all great looking cars. The body looks solid, its all there, it would look great restored. Especially in the original green colors. Great write up Aaron, and another great find TJ.
I don’t believe I’ve seen one of these previously and I come from a family that only bought Buicks when I was a kid. Although this example was already 11 years old when I was born.
The first thing I see is the huge grill. So many people, me included, think the huge grills of today (looking at you Lexus) are ridiculous, but this Buick is just beautiful.
Too bad Buick only makes boring CUVs today with the engines topping out at four cylinders.
My mom had a joke, “they call me Beaver because I shwim so well”, ignoring the persons malocclusion. And that’s another thing, why do pumpkins have such poor teeth. I should talk.
I’m not sure who actually liked those grills, I think people that wanted the 2nd best car on the road, just overlooked it. It really is a noodle scratcher, and could go either way. Naturally, I say, leave it original, this was the car their Uncle Phil and Auntie Gladys had, and while they probably had no kids, fond memories of going to the ball game of Muskego Beach in these cars should come flooding back. By the time you are finished, be close to $20 grand, if it’s not cannibalized, that is, and be a heck of a ride. They were simply the best, grill aside. Like it or not, it’s got resto-mod all over it, and that’s okay too.
Correction, ball game OR Muskego Beach. Muskego Beach was an amusement park not far from Milwaukee years ago. A popular destination to take the family, and Uncle Phil always offered. We got the whole family in these, seat belts? Nah, 1st, Uncle Phil was an excellent driver from the war, and 2nd, it just wasn’t an issue. Somehow most of us made it.
One of my all-time favorite grilles. I noticed that the car appears to be at a junkyard, I have to wonder if somebody had to clear out Grandpa’s shed and was happy to get “that old Buick” towed away to the yard for a scrap price?
There is a good chance that happened. Clearing an estate can be incredibly time consuming, people are busy and often don’t live close by. I have several friends that spend over a year clearing a parents house, 2 weekend a month and half their vacation. It’s never fair to draw a conclusion without any pertinent information.
Steve R
Steve R. You definitely struck a chord with me there. We had to take in my wife’s Dad with Dementia and Alzheimers. We had to clear out his apartment. Mind you, an apartment, we didn’t think it would be that bad, but we were wrong. Its a lot. And definitely not looking forward to dealing with my patents place. Theres so much involved, even legally that can slow you down. If this was indeed someones prized possession who is no longer with us, all the more so I’d hope it gets brought back onto the road.
Could be a fun project, but for 12,500, it better run and drive. Move the decimal point to the left one notch.
Jim- not sure about $1,250, but $12.5K is way to high as a starting point. So many people today don’t seem to realize where the build costs have gone in recent years.
Mike and duaney I know my figure is low, just trying to make a point. It all depends on what you want as a finished product/project, how much you can do yourself and how well you deal with the fallout if things go sour. Like I said, I think it would be a fun project. My opinion is the starting price seems high, but it’s just that, my opinion.
I don’t think the price is too high. Consider, it’s a 2 dr. It’s a fast back, It’s complete, nice interior. Big factor, it’s a California car, so the frame isn’t rusted away, and every metal piece corroded. The body is straight, in fact it appears perfect. I’ve seen Cadillacs this body style, worse condition, go for over 20K. And that was years ago.
cool but way is it sitting in a junk yard?
If someone buys a house or clears an estate, or just doesn’t want a car that’s laying around and considers it a nuisance that’s who they call. The junk yard comes and hauls it away and might even pay a few hundred dollars. Not everyone want to deal with tire kickers and low ballers, I stopped placing ads for cars I was selling 20+ years ago and only sell something through word of mouth, you might not get top dollar, but you don’t have to deal with random people, who are often idiots.
Steve R
Wondering about the junkyard myself. Not a good look. Cool car though
Very cool. That front bumper/grill weigh more than a Kia.
My personal physician and fellow Hudson car club member made a resto-mod out of a 1950 Hudson coupe and ruined the appearance by using the toothy grille from a Buick.
I don’t think the dark green color is appropriate for this 1950 fastback. Lighter colors will accent the streamline style. I think that goes for any car. The asking price for this car seems rather unreasonable.
@Steve Mehl
Just like today, dark bland colors were your basic choices for cars of the 40s and early 50s. It wasn’t until the mid fifties that we had a color explosion. Something I wish would happen today! I am so sick of black, dark gray, light gray, silver, white, with the only splash of color of dark red, dark blue. Give me sunshine yellow, butter yellow, Salmon, Coal, pink,
Aqua, even colors of the 60s, purple, Lime Green, Mango Orange, Gold, candy Red.
While away at college, my father called a junk yard to dispose of a car. The dealer wanted fifty bucks to remove it. Pop paid. The junkman put plates on it and drove it to his yard. This was in ’57 and the car was a ’37 Special 4-door which I had fresh lacquer-sprayed two years prior, had less than ’75K miles, had a new master cylinder and three wheel cylinders and the fourth was in the glove box which was faced by a clock that WORKED! Oh, the OEM radio worked and that straight-eight ran like a top.
Pop said he didn’t want the liability of selling it to a friend.
Was I ever PI$$ED!
We have an Appleman pottery cookie jar signed on bottom in 1987. It’s big and heavy about a foot long convertible 1950 Buick. That’s what i thought of when viewing this. He made quite a few other cars from 50s and 40s as well.
Funny you should mention that, Dave. I have a pink 1950 Cadillac convertible cookie jar.
Angel, yes there are some jars for sale on eBay or Etsi ranging from $300 to around $1000. They were collectible when new almost 40 years ago, but we may have paid about $300 for the jar back then. My nephew is the one who should inherit this one along with whatever tools he may want, thinking of the future. Who knows, with all the collections?
My favorite post WW II straight eight grills are, in order-’47 & ’48, ’52, ’51, ’46, ’49, ’50 and ’53.
But any Buick straight eight is GOOD!!!
The beaver mouth, buck tooth Buick. Absolutely love it. Someone please save this car
In the “toothy” grill competition, this year Buick was the hands down winner. Out-toothed my 1950 DeSoto. It looks like the manifolds and carburetor are in the trunk. Better look them over carefully. Especially the exhaust. My money is on finding a crack. Otherwise why take it off the engine? As per my 2025 resolution; I won’t comment on the price. Other BF readers have mentioned it. In any case this can be a really nice ride and I personally love these fastbacks. GLWTS.
The first family car I really remember well was our 1950 Buick. I was in love with cars from a very early age because my Dad was in love with cars. Whether or not our ’50 Buick was fast, and whether or not the Dynaflow was inefficient, the “hummmmm” sound of the Buick Fireball 8 was beautiful (to me) and unforgettable. So was the grille and the dashboard with the big chrome center section. Many memorable drives standing on the floor in the back holding on to the robe holder on the front seat back.