The Super – sometimes called the Buick Eight or Super Eight – was the company’s mid-level automobile from 1940 through 1958. It was usually positioned between the Special and Roadmaster. Like all other Buicks from 1931, the 1949-53 editions – including the seller’s car – would be powered by an inline eight-cylinder motor. This 1951 version of the Super has been sitting for ages but can be coaxed to turn with a shot of fluid into the carburetor. Located in Pierce, Nebraska, this field find is available here on eBay for the Buy It Now price of $3,500 and no title. Thanks for the heads up, Larry D!
Fourth-generation Supers would be all-new in 1949 as the prior year’s models were pre-war carryovers. They shared their new bodies with the upper-scale Roadmaster but used a shorter wheelbase. The legendary Buick VentiPorts would be a feature of the Supers, appearing on these cars as a trio. At one time in Buick’s history, the VentiPorts were functional for air induction, but no longer by the early 1950s. 1951 Supers used a 263 cubic inch version of Buick’s inline-8, good for 112 hp with a 2-barrel carburetor. For the model year, nearly 170,000 Supers rolled off Buick assembly lines.
Not much info is offered by the seller on this car. The body appears to be in better condition than the interior, which is a complete mess. The Buick has likely sat outdoors for ages, which includes the harsh winters than can come to Nebraska. There is no visible rust in the sheet metal other than the surface variety, i.e., patina. But we don’t know how well things are on the undersides.
On the plus side, the engine will turn over with a little help, so maybe this can become running after a couple of weekends. But you can’t trust things that have sat for so long, so brakes, tires, etc. all become suspect. The previous title owner passed away, thus the title is MIA. So besides restoring the Buick, you’ll also have to sort things out with the DMV.
Nothing special about this car except that it’s all there but the top piece of the grill. Not sure what you’d do with this car but the price won’t bleed you while you figure it out.
Field find with clean windshield and polished chrome…….
Gotta love that grille!
Let’s hope this old girl can find a loving new home
I’ll take the Corvair.
Looks like a waterfall grille.
Sorry, but this is a Buick Special not a Super. Our family had a Super. The special had a shorter body than the Super. The super had a vent window at the rear corners of the side windows
My Dad’s 1951 Buick Special (model 41d) had vent windows at the rear corners of the side windows. Buick sure had some complexity going on back then…
http://oldcarbrochures.com/new/130211/1951%20Buick%20Brochure/1951%20Buick%20Brochure-05-06.html
http://oldcarbrochures.com/new/130211/1951%20Buick%20Brochure/1951%20Buick%20Brochure-04.html
No, this is a Super Model 51. The Model 52 was the 4 door Riviera with the longer wheelbase and the rear vent windows in the body.
Plus, the Special taillight assembly was different from the ones used on the Super and Roadmaster.
Per the script on the trunk, it’s a Super, nothing Special about it.
Do u know if the chrome will be the same for a 1951 buick special as it is on a super?
I wonder if this Buick or even the Corvair seen in some of the photos were from that Lambrecht Chevrolet auction in Pierce Nebraska.
For a guy on a tight budget, this could be a fun driver hot rod. Brakes, suspension check, 350 with a turbo trans and mild interior help and boom! a car show every weekend. No need for repaint or frills.
Sorry Guys but the Special were 2 different cars. The Special was based on its lower scale car the Oldsmobile. It had no vent windows in the back seat. My Dad bought a Buick Super because it was a step up from the Olds.
GM after the war set up a progression of status of model of cars. The basic was the Chevrolet, then the Pontiac, then the Olds, next the Buick, and finally when you really made it, a Caddy. Too bad they did not continue such a marking scheme to this day and would not only be selling pickups.