Buyers were slowly coming back to new automobiles in 1933 (after the Great Depression), and Buick offered no less than 20 models/body styles. One was the Series 56-S Sport Coupe which this auto appears to be from the photos. Now more than 90 years old, the body of this car appears to be quite solid, though its running condition is unknown. And if it’s a 56-S, only 1,643 are said to have been built that year (the seller states 1,200). Located in Old Fort, North Carolina, this neat old project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $18,500. Congrats to Chuck Foster on another cool tip!
The seller only describes this as a “3-window coupe”, but the 56-6 Sport Coupe might be more like it. The cues are the fender-mounted spare tires and the rumble seat in the back. So at least three people could go for a ride on this thing back in the day. Though no photos of the engine compartment are provided, likely, Buick’s straight-8 is there with a 3-speed manual transmission (with synchro-mesh gearing). When this car was new, is listed for about $1,000.
No history is provided on this Buick, specifically how long it’s been laid up. Being a century old, this automobile probably would have a lot of stories to tell – if it could talk. All we know is that it looks good for the age and we’re told the wood used in the interior is good, although all we see is the steering wheel. The seller speculates this could be turned into an excellent street rod, but I would hope the buyer will restore it to its original condition. It would be a shame to molest such a nice machine.
Russ, it isn’t 100 years old, 1933 V’s 2024, 9 years short, but it’s ok, because it is a car I never thought I’d want till now, damm you, lol.
She’s one beautiful car, (for a GM product)
And I am partial to straight 8’s, torque beats horsepower any day.
I’d restore it to as it left the factory and just enjoy.
Black always looks good. The area where the body meets the bumper brackets looks unfinished.
What, no bullet holes? Buick was the car of choice for gangsters in the 30s, they tore up a few filming “The Untouchables”, I’m sure the straight 8 had something to do with that. You know, I bet I could have been a “wheel man” for some gangster, although the “wheel man” usually had a short part in the movies. To do it right, cars like this are extremely expensive to restore. Years ago, this would have been a great amateur restoration project, when eggs were .59/dozen,,today, I just don’t know if there’s enough interest. Seems nice ones are going for around $25,000, and restoring this, you be underwater faster than an Amphicar in choppy seas. As mentioned, these cost $1030 new, when a Chevy was half that, so yeah, only gangsters in the 30s could have one. It’s still an amazing find.
Way over-priced at $18,000. Parking lights missing, rumble seat handle missing, hubcap missing, Buick emblem on tail light missing, and it looks like the driver’s seat is completely missing. Over-priced at half the asking price, in my opinion.
Lol go find one as nice
Pete that’s a rare one and a good shop will make them parts as long as they find pictures or another one around
Is that daylight coming up through the steering column/foot pedal holes in the floorboard? I think it might be why there are no pics of the engine compartment because it might be missing an engine/transmission as well. Brother was caretaking a ’38 Buick in Reno NV once upon a time and had it parked in his driveway or on the street…that was back when Bill Harrah’s fantastic collection of antique automobiles in Sparks was still intact…not implying anything but the rear fenders soon went missing and conscientiously every bolt holding them on was left screwed into the body. https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/hagerty-insider/harrahs-oral-history-classic-car-sale-part-i/
Russ, if you bought a new Buick in ’33 thinking the Great Depression was over and the boss was going to call you back tomorrow, you had 6 + years of dodging the repo man ahead of you.
The history teacher in me saw that Las night but didn’t have time to comment then.
Things were looking up in 1940 and of course by the end of 41 no one was thinking about the Depression anymore. But, assuming you were over military age you better have kept that Buick in good shape. You weren’t buying any new ones for awhile.
Buyers were definitely NOT slowly coming back to buying new automobiles in 1933. It was the deepest part of the Depression, and automobile production was at its lowest. Yes, this is a very rare car, but I agree with what Pete Phillips says.
The Great Depression was raging full blast in 1933 and was not even close to being over.
I bought a 1934 Buick 3 window coupe with a rumble seat for $400.00 in 1967. It had 48,000 miles and a great body and interior. I spent 3 days polishing the body and the chrome came back like new. This was my daily driver for 2 years. I rented it to a movie being shot in NYC, “The Subject Was Roses”, and made $1,000.00 for 4 days. Finally in 1969 I sold it to a Buick dealer in North Carolina. He flew to NJ , gave me $2,500.00, put on plates and drove home. Many nites I wake up after dreaming it is in my garage. Finally, I recently bought a 1930 Ford Model A coupe with rumble seat, but no comparison to the Buick. The Buick had great power, nice ride, but cable brakes were hard to get used to. These Buicks were well built and fun to own. Also my coupe had suicide doors which I miss.
Back in 96, when I was doing an off-frame on my 66 Chevrolet truck, the shop had a 33 sedan in as well. Look at the length of those front fenders! I took 4 of us to safely reinstall them! Loved the 33 Buick ever since!
People did still have money in the 30’s if they didn’t leave it all in the bank….or had a rich realitive pass on….no different then today when folks inherit money they usually go on a spending spree…..that said – that’s one nice 3 window coupe.