OK, I’ll admit it, I like to make fun of the “Brougham” designation as it applies to cars. But I have to tell you, I thought it was a machination of the ’70s commonly found on massive two-door coupes festooned with a landau top and irons, opera windows, a stand-up hood ornament, park bench sized bumpers, and a huge wheezing, underpowered V8 engine. Oh yeah, and finished in brown… But no, apparently that’s not the entire story. For today’s review, we have a 1927 Buick Model 51 Brougham so this broughamness-thing has been going on for almost 100 years. And this Buick Brougham even has opera windows of sorts! Let’s check it out more closely. It is located in Centralia, Washington and is available here on craigslist for $5,500. Thanks to Russell for this tip!
Buick offered a multitude of body styles in ’27, all perched on one of three different length wheelbases, 114.5, 120, and 128 inches. Specifically, our subject car is a model 27-51 which is a 128″ wheelbase, five-passenger affair and the image above will give you an idea of how this Buick appeared when new. So, how did Buick do in the 1927 sales race? It came in fourth with 255K copies, behind Hudson, Ford, and number one, Chevrolet.
This Brougham is a bit forlorn-looking. You have heard of the expression, “getting your doors blown off” and that’s what looks like happened here. There is no reference as to what happened to the missing appendages or to the headlights either. In spite of being stored inside, the seller does note that the woodwork needs to be redone but the wooden wheels are still useable and not in need of attention. What remains of the body, and that is most of it, looks pretty sound with no distress other than some surface rust; it’s even wearing its original coat of paint. The tires, which are claimed as new, seem oversized and a curious investment made on a non-running car. But then perhaps the previous set was totally unusable. In conclusion, the seller states the obvious, “Needs complete restoration“.
There are no included images of the engine but research tells us that it is, or should be, a 77 HP, 274 CI, in-line six-cylinder unit coupled to a three-speed manual gearbox. And there is, however, a spare engine, with parts, included in the sale! Clearly, this is a non-runner, and even though “Horseless Carriage” license plates come with this Buick, an actual horse would help too.
The interior is referenced as being original and intact though the included image is limiting. Being a “Brougham” it was probably rather upscale at one time; there’s no telling how the last 94 years have treated it. The instrument panel is showing most of the instruments to still be in place as there is only one noted vacancy.
As usual, there are pluses and minuses. The pluses include this being a non-Ford – nothing against Model A’s but they hog all of the late ’20s attention and it’s nice to find something other. The minuses are, it’s not a Ford and the missing parts are probably going to involve an arduous scavenger hunt. And, there are just so many unknowns here with the wood structure, engine, and interior. So, what do you think, does that one plus, outweigh the minuses?
Might require a few trips to pick-n-pull
Cool. Curious as to why was a tank bolted on in front of the windshield? Washer fluid maybe?
It looks to me to be the vacuum tank that belongs on the firewall.
Looks like the vacuum fuel pump.
That vacuum tank is to assist the vacuum wipers. It SHOULD be on the firewall but someone got creative.
Whatever it costs, you will have something unique.
Regarding carriage references; I had a great-great-aunt that lived on Jersey who had a Mini-Metro that she referred to as her barouche.
No way to make money on this but…..
If someone really wanted a really cool car, had mad skills and a lot of money, this has “good bones”.
I think you would have to make two new doors but you would have a model, albeit from the other side, to work from.
No, the “bones” are not good. The seller admits the woodwork needs to be redone. And I’m sure you can’t buy a kit for a ‘27 Buick. It will have to be hand crafted. Missing doors, rotten wood—sadly, a parts car.
MikeH
Exactly! I was damn fool enough to buy a similar condition 1929 Pontiac in 1960, and had the misfortune that my father was a master wood craftsman. I say misfortune because the car should have been cut up for razor blades instead of the object of a holy crusade that ended in 1979. I was 14 when I bought it and thought I had just robbed Fort Knox. It’s been done now for 42 years with the exception of upholstery which would cost more than the value of the car.
This model 50 might be a much better deal: http://topclassiccarsforsale.com/buick/406405-1927-buick-master-six-model-27-50-not-60-7-passenger.html
I’d be mostly concerned about all the wood framing inside that body. The doors could be easily made if you had the measurements for the frames. Nice old car.
Maybe the existing doors could be removed and used as molds for fiberglass replacement OR they could be used to make patterns that a really good metal person could create replacement doors.
I have seen 4 door cars converted to 2 doors, but not like this.
Maybe the existing doors could be removed and used as molds for fiberglass replacement OR they could be used to make patterns that a really good metal person could create replacement doors.
Regarding that word: “Brougham”, Jim, do your homework. Webster defines it as below. The word is a LOT older than this 1927 Buick. And whoever first called this car a “Brougham” was being pretty careless with vehicular terminology. It is not a braugham. Manufacturers have always done this, it seems. Any two-seater car with a soft top is called a roadster – even if it has roll-up windows. Then in the 1990s we see Mustang GTs offered as convertibles! That’s an oxymoron. By definition a GT (Gran Touring) car is a closed coupe.
So, here is a “brougham”:
brougham noun
\ ˈbrü(-ə)m , ˈbrō(-ə)m \
Definition of brougham
: a light closed horse-drawn carriage with the driver outside in front
First Known Use of brougham
1851, in the meaning defined above.
Joe posted a really beautiful one for $18.5.
You could never fix this one for 8500. But who knows. Maybe someone gets off on building these rare beauties and this one is perfect for him.
So “…someone gets off on building…”!? You’re assuming everyone else in the collector car hobby has just a platonic interest in the cars they buy and restore? Even rare ones? Unusual ones? Or, heavens to Betsy, ones they can afford.
Doors for this one will not be easy to make or find. If it were a Ford yes. That being said its a nice parts car.
light restomod?