There comes a time in life when many people wonder whether they are too old to use the word “cool.” I probably fall into that category, but I can’t think of a more appropriate way to describe this 1939 Buick Special. It hails from a more relaxed and uncomplicated era, with its presentation and condition allowing its next owner to rewind the clock whenever they slip behind the wheel. It needs nothing and features enough interior space to accommodate an enthusiast with a growing family. The seller wishes to send it to a new home, listing the Buick here on eBay in Polk City, Florida. Handing them $16,500 could see you become the next owner of this cool classic.
Buick’s Series 40 Special became the company’s entry-level full-size model in 1936, remaining in production until the outbreak of World War II. It returned to showrooms in mildly updated form in 1946 before being replaced for the 1950 model year. This 1939 example presents impressively. Its Code 530 Black paint shines beautifully with no serious issues or defects. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and potential buyers can rest assured that this garage-kept classic is rust-free. The chrome is excellent for a driver-grade vehicle, with the factory hubcaps and trim rings adding a classy touch. I’m trying to remember the last time I saw a classic of this vintage with such fantastic glass, and I draw a blank on that front. There are no signs of scratches, chips, or cloudiness that often develop with age. This Buick has a sense of presence and will draw crowds wherever it goes.
If any aspect of this Buick has a genuine “wow” factor, that honor falls to its interior. The Tan cloth upholstery is in fantastic condition, with no marks or wear worth mentioning. The carpet is spotless, and the dash seems virtually flawless. The bright trim pieces shine warmly, and the gauges feature clear lenses and crisp markings. It is unmolested and features a couple of desirable items. Radios were uncommon during this period, but the original owner equipped this car with a pushbutton unit and a factory clock. There is more to this interior than good looks because it is enormously practical. There is room to seat six, with the back seat possessing enough head and legroom to accommodate three basketballers or the same number of rapidly growing teenagers. Therefore, it would be ideal for an enthusiast with a family.
Powering this Buick is a 248ci “Dynaflash” straight-eight producing 107hp and 126 ft/lbs of torque. The ponies feed to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission with a column-mounted shifter. The straight-eight delivers its maximum torque at a mere 1,000 rpm, making this classic remarkably flexible. It pulls strongly from low speeds in surprisingly high gears and will cruise effortlessly on the open road. The seller indicates the vehicle is in sound mechanical health. It runs and drives beautifully, the transmission shifts smoothly, and there is no evidence of fluid leaks. They describe the driving experience as joyful, which I find easily believed. For enthusiasts seeking a turnkey vintage classic, this could be their next ride.
This 1939 Buick Special possesses so many positive traits. It presents exceptionally well, offers abundant interior space, and is a turnkey proposition in excellent mechanical health. However, it is all those things and remains affordable. Buying a vehicle of this type requiring TLC could cost less initially, but bringing its presentation to this level would undoubtedly cost more. That is a compelling reason to give this Buick serious consideration. Escaping this crazy old world by slipping behind the wheel and rewinding the clock to a less complicated time is another. Don’t you agree?
Simply stunning.
Oh quick… Someone please butcher it with the LS SWAP and paint that give motion sickness lmao.
(Ouch. Don’t give the baseball-hats any more ideas …)
If it wasn’t so nice, I’d say a modern BMW straight 6 drivetrain with automatic transmission would be perfect. And lose the seats in back for a big cargo camper utility. Minimal brake and suspension work because so much less weight of the new drivetrain. I probably couldn’t convince myself to butcher this, even tastefully done. But what do you do with it? Maybe some scenic tours, like wine tours for groups of 4? What is it’s destiny?
I love the black with the blackwalls! Awesome.
The first thing I would do with this beautiful Buick is to fit wide whites as it is it looks too much like an undertakers “Family” car as it is.
IMO this car would really pop with wide white walls areas fender skirts.
Wide whites, yes. Fender skirts, no.
IMO this car would really pop with wide white walls and rear fender skirts.
That moped tire is the ideal size to double as the steering wheel cover. ;)
My grandfather had one just like it, also in black. The straight 8 Buick is one of the best engines ever made.
I have a 39 Buick century w/wide whites, the same straight 8, it’s a 23 yr old restoration but still in near show condition. I absolutely love this car. It’s hard to believe the small classy details that were used in 39. And runs great, can hardly hear it running.
That was a Buick {tank} My dad had a 1938, with a lot of interior space. I was about 4 and would sleep on the big seats, My dad would say as I got older, that this was a great engine, quiet, and could almost count the fan blade when Idling, He would speak He would put a glass of water sitting on the engine to adjust the carburetor, Wow one great story of the past ABOUT BUICK My dad was a Buick Man.
What a great story . Those Buick straight 8’s were one of the best engines ever produced . I remember one time at a car show the owner of a 41 roadmaster used to set a full wine glass on top of the engine while it was running just to prove how smooth the engine was . Amazing !! That 39 Special is a beautiful and well preserved Buick and the asking price is a steal .
I took 9 years restoring a 1959 Ford Zephyr Six convertible (British), used it extensively for the next ten years all over South Africa and have about ten pictures of it from purchase to resell. I then bought a 1951 Buick Super in fair shape from a plumber, re painted it, re upholstered it, drove it all over South Africa, and have hundreds of pictures of it before moving it on eight years later. Stupid move! I am a Buick man like your Dad.
From. Joe. Luke.
Back. In. 1962. A. Guy. Had. A. Black. One. Like. The. 51.
I. Asked. Him. How. Much.
He. Said. Forty. Dollars.
Back. Then. The. Minimum. Wage. Was. Dollar. Hour. ..so. That. Would
Have. Been. A. Whole. Weeks. Work. At. His. Place.
What a perfect car to chauffer the bride and groom.
That’s what it was used for many times, in fact I used to fill the tank from the wedding charge income and have free gas until the next wedding. I don’t think that I used my own money for the last two years that I owned it. Every bride and groom would enthuse about the luxury, quietness, power etc. about the car and several of them passed on my details to their friends when they were getting married. I also had a 1934 Austin Ten/Four that I did a wedding for a couple back in 2000 and 25 years later use same Austin as the wedding car for their daughters marriage! The photo is of the first wedding, unfortunately can’t find a photo of the daughter’s wedding.
Sorry about the wrong date in my previous comment. The date should have read 1980 not 2000.
Really very nice. Delightful to see authentic-looking upholstery, rather than fabric with glistening synthetics.
The seller states in his adv. that it is “mostly” original although he doesn’t say what isn’t original, however, this car being a Buick, I would think that the seat covers are. When I bought my ’51 Super everybody said that they didn’t come with leather seat covers but when I contacted the previous owner he said that he bought it from the American Ambassador in South Africa who had ordered it with leather seats. We can’t all be right all of the time.
This brings back memories from my childhood, as a car just like this with all seats removed and a mattress on the floor boards was bedroom for me and one brother in the early 50’s while our dad was building a new house on the 120 acres he had purchased. It wasn’t bad sleeping there just getting up for school on a cold rainy morning and making our way to the partially finished house for breakfast was not enjoyable. I wouldn’t mind having this car for nostalgia reasons, but not willing to shell out the asking money.
God Bless America
What a Great Story of the Pass! Buick’s was big enough to make a Bed Room to sleep in Wow!
‘accommodate three basketballers or the same number of rapidly growing teenagers’. Cringe worthy comment considering the wear and tear they would inflict on the beautifully preserved interior.
I sold the exact same kind of car to a fellow to restore MANY years ago. Strangely enough he lived in FLORIDA! I wonder, could this be it?? It was a very memorable sale as he drove up to MONTANA to pick it up in a Saturn 4 cyl. car with a tow dolly. I thought he was crazy but he made it back home. He said he learned something important, when you top a big hill start out very slow down the other side!
Please! Somebody! Jump start my heart!
I. Will. Get. The. Defivbulator. And. The. Keys. To. The. Buick. So. We. Can. Take. You. To. The. Cardiac. Unit. In. The. Buick
I’m not sure 1939 was a very relaxed and uncomplicated period, but I get your point.
I love the one year only styling. Don’t know how practical it would be, but how about punching out the engine to Century specs? Then you would have the high performance clone or tribute, so popular today.
1939. Buick. Engineer. Reasoning
What. The. 39. Series. Forty. Needed
Was. A. Five. Speed. Manual. Trans
With. A. 3.08. Rear. Axle. And. .75. Overdrive
Would. Give. Great. Acceleration. And. Fuel
Economy. . instead. Of. Engine. Turning
3200. Rpm. At. 60. Mph.
Five. Speed. Mustang. Transmission
Has. A. Low. Ratio. Of. 3.75. X. 3.08. Rear.
Equals. 11. 55. Tourque. Multiplication.
Why. Didn’t. Buick. Have. Fluid. Drive. Like
Chrysler. Did. In. 1939. ????.
Another. Sales. Feature ???
A. Torque. Converter. With. A. 2.9. Increase.
Ratio. From. Chevy. Powerglide. Would. Have
Increased. The. Input. Torque. To. Trans. From
127. Ft. Lbs. At. 1000. Rpm. To. 368. Ft. Lbs . At. 1000. Rpm. ..
What’s the story with all the capital letters and full stops?
Where. Do. You. See. That
Elmira. .new. York
I don’t understand the point, either. It’s annoying, to be sure. More significantly, it distracts readers’ focus from the message, nullifying the writer’s purpose in commenting.
Every. Thing. On. My. Screen. Appears.
In. Normal. Text. ..?????
Something. Screwy. In. The. Transmission. Of. Text .????
This is what we are seeing Joe.
The. Text. Looks. Normal. To. Me. Except. There. Is. A. Period. After. Each. Word. ,. That. I. Am. Not. Putting. There . Each. Word. Simply
Begins. With. Capital. Letter
I. Am. In. Center. Of. New. York. State
About. Five. Miles. From. Pennsylvania. Border
I. Was. A. Designer. Drafter. In. A. Fire. Truck. Plant. For .12. Years. American. Lafrance. And. Ward. Lafrance. Also. Built. Military. Vehicles. . my. Moms. Dad. Was. Born. In
Blieskastle. Germany. In. 1885. . came. To
US. At. Ten.
The. 39. Buick
It’s. The. Kind. Of. A. Car. You. Would. Take
A. Beautifull. Princes. On. A. Date. In.
Sold for $13,500. I know it’s a four door but that seems like a really good price.
You can get a decent car for a reasonable price. Actually, I think cars from this era are going to be easier to buy as time goes on. There are a lot of old cars out there and time is thinning out the herd of those of us who want them.
I hope you’re right, Steve!