The Super was a popular Buick entry from 1940 to 1958, with a break in production during World War II. It was a hybrid vehicle (no, not like you think), sharing the longer wheelbase of the top-line Roadmaster with the smaller displacement powerplant of the lesser Special. It was sometimes called the Super 8 due to the number of cylinders in the engine. This edition has spent the last 40 years in a barn but is now on the mend and could have as few as 5,300 miles (or 105,300). Located now in Cherry Hill, New Jersey this survivor is available here on craigslist for $5,500 OBO. Another “super” tip coming to us by way of Shan.
When the Supers were redesigned in 1949, they would receive three of Buick’s VentiPorts (the Roadmaster with its bigger engine got four on each front fender). The company’s sales hype said they would help ventilate the engine compartment – and maybe they did – but after a few months Buick sealed them off for good. Buick’s Dynaflow automatic transmission was new in 1950 and the seller’s car is so equipped, witness the script on the rear fenders. Out of 190,500 Supers built that year, for than 55,000 were 4-door sedans, like this vehicle.
This automobile looks good for being in hibernation for four decades. It has patina galore on the body but is otherwise rust-free. The front floorboards, for example, look so good they could be replacements. What we see of the interior comes across as tidy and may only need some detailing to be driven and shown in its present condition. The green/silver paint looks attractive enough not to be redone (clearcoat?).
The Super was powered by a 263 cubic-inch “straight-8” with a 2-barrel carburetor that assisted in producing 112 hp. These cars were capable of doing 90 mph with the Dynaflow which used a torque converter to couple the motor to a single-gear ratio. These 1950s Buicks were big and comfortable, and this car should turn heads anywhere you took it.
I don’t know if any of you follow the TV series
“The Craftsman”,but Eric Hollenbeck,the star of the
show runs the Blue Ox Millworks in Eureka,CA,&
does a lot of interesting woodworking for older
houses,buildings,etc.
Anyway,he also has a ’50 Buick that was his
daily driver until a while ago.He told me that he was
going to get it going again if they had a second season
of the series,which they did,so I hope he gets it back
on the road shortly.
I think it’s cool when guys like this daily drive old
vehicles like this.
Have almost same car stored the same 40 years working on right now to get running. The difference is a car stored in Colorado the fuel-vacuum metal lines are shiny like new, but this Pennsylvania car the lines appear to be rusted in two. Should be illegal to store a car in a damp wet Pennsylvania barn. And all the other metal parts exposed to the atmosphere are rusted.
My grandmother had a 1949 Supper with Dynaflow transmission that was bought new. That was the first year for that trans. I drove the car my senior year in highschool. Car would do 110. There were small dents all around the car and on both bumpers. That was because of no power steering and small parking spaces in K-Mart parking lot. It had a split windshield with the antenna mounted just above the split on a knob to aid in reception for the am radio. With the antenna collapsed it would rotate 360 degrees. Friend’s father killed a fox on their farm. I took the tail and tied it to the end of the antenna and drove it that way.
What great memories. My first car was a 61 thunderbird for $225.00. Glad I grew up then instead of now when nothing a high schooler can afford is interesting
Buick introduced Dynaflow in 1948 on the Roadmaster, and it may also have been available on the Super (not sure about the Super),
Your grandmother’s Buick was the same year and model as my very first car, in 1965. And yes, it would do 110 mph without breathing hard. Its chrome and black lacquer paint each shone brilliantly, and several times a year, I’d spend entire days applying Simonize to it. To my teenaged self, this was not work. Indeed, it was a labor of love.
Just remembered it had vacuum operated windshield wipers. Sitting at a red light in a rainstorm they worked fine until the light turned green and I hit the accelerator that caused them to stop. When the windshield needed to be cleared, had to take my foot of the accelerator, let the wipers make a couple of wipes and then back on the gas.
The chrome by itself is worth more than the asking price. Someone needs to steal this car now!
My parents bought the same car brand new in 1950. I was 4 years old and remembered that black beauty. He traded it in for a new ’55 Century.
I did buy one of these cars just just to get the grill and front bumper for a 50 2dr htp I built. Some genius had cut the top off to make it into faux convertible.
For a little bit off the asking price this wouldn’t be a bad car just to drive around a bit and enjoy as it is.
Back in the day I bought a 1948 Sedanette parked in a drveway near Ft.Sheridan. I paid $75.00 for it plus $ 29.95 for an Earl Scheib paint job. Absolutely loved the car and drove it all over. When I was transferred to Europe overnight, I parked the car and asked a High School buddy to do me the favor of storing it in South Bend. Well, the guy picked up the car and sold it for an alleged $25.00 to cover ¨his expenses¨. Never saw him again, good bye and good riddance.
My dad had a ’50 Super like this, before he married my mom. The model is a 51, which is a four-door sedan. My first car was my granddaddy’s ’52 Super Model 52, which was a bit longer and had the rear vent windows in the body instead of the door frame.
The Dynaflow transmission was an option in the 1948 Roadmaster and became an option in Roadmaster in 1949 and optional in the Super that year as well.
If I could dig up $5495, I’d drive to Jersey and buy this one. :)
My dad bought a 1950 Buick Special with Dynaflow in 1952; a 2-door that was painted Olympic blue. He drove it until 1967. We kids always wanted a newer car, so he traded it for a ’62 Olds. The dealer said he could keep it for $100.00. We were glad to see it go. I wish we had had the foresight to keep this classic. I am currently restoring a 1964 Riviera.
I bought this Buick and got it shipped to Finland.
Nice patina. Some work on getting everything working after the long time of standing.
We renewed all brake cylinders and lines. The inside of the engine was like tar. Several engine washes were done. Carburator and fuel pump needed compelete cleaning.
Got the engine running with a boat fule tank because the original tank has a hole. Ordered a new tank, waiting for that.
Put new whitewalls on it. Runs nicely, 55 on the highway.
Greetings from Finland!
Harri, are you saying you bought our 1950 Olympic Blue Buick? We lived in Kannapolis, NC and traded it there. Or, are you saying you bought one like the one offered for sale on Barn Finds?
David