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Stunning Driver: 1940 Buick Special Sedan

If you fancy a Florida holiday with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, this 1940 Buick Special deserves a close look. Its presentation is stunning, it is mechanically healthy, making it a turnkey proposition for a new owner. That opens the possibility that the right enthusiast could buy it, fly in for a short vacation, and drive home behind the wheel of this beautiful classic. If that sounds impossible to resist, the Buick is listed here at Barn Finds Classifieds in Polk City, Florida. Handing the seller $16,500 could see you the next owner of a classic guaranteed to draw crowds wherever it goes.

This Buick presents superbly, although its existing paint isn’t original. The engine bay shots reveal Bandelier Blue, which would have been what it wore when it rolled off the line. The seller acknowledges some changes, but this more vibrant shade doesn’t look out of place gracing this classic’s panels. It shines magnificently, with the seller describing it as 8/10, although they concede it could be considered higher. The paint and panels have no significant flaws, with the underside shots confirming the Buick is rust-free. Considering it has spent its downtime tucked away in a dry garage, that is unsurprising. I’m probably not alone in this sentiment, but any classic featuring suicide doors will be a winner in my book. They look great and also make access easier, which could be a consideration for a new owner trying to settle small children into the back seat. The chrome and trim sparkle beautifully, and the glass looks spotless. When a car exudes this level of class, wide whitewalls add the perfect finishing touch to its exterior.

I have previously described some classic engines as “lazy,” although this is not a derogatory term. It emphasizes that the motor in question produces most of its power and torque low in its rev range. That term is appropriate for the 248ci straight-eight nestling in this Buick’s engine bay. It churns out 107hp and 203 ft/lbs of torque. Dyno sheets confirm that revving the eight beyond 3,500 rpm is pointless because this motor will pull from low speeds in surprisingly high gears. It sends its ponies to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission, with the positive news continuing as we consider the subject of mechanical health. The seller says the Buick runs and drives perfectly and features a new six-volt battery. It is a turnkey proposition that comes with a bonus. In addition to the original Owner’s Manual, the buyer receives a Service Manual and a collection of spare parts.

This Buick has spent most of its life with the same family, and its interior condition confirms it was a treasured family member. Its cloth upholstery looks excellent, with no wear, marks, or stains. The same applies to the carpet and headliner, while the Ivory wheel and shifter knob look classy. The painted surfaces are clean, and there are no aftermarket additions. Everything inside this classic works as it should, including the lights, gauges, clock, and push-button radio.

Some classics possess the “wow” factor, and this 1940 Buick is one such car. Its presentation is difficult to fault, with no aspect of the vehicle demanding attention from its new owner. It has plied our roads for eighty-three years, and I see no reason why it couldn’t continue for another eighty-three. It would make an excellent investment, although the right person could splash the money earmarked as their children’s inheritance for a spot of classic motoring pleasure. They could then leave it as a fantastic family heirloom. I can’t think of a negative with any of those alternatives. Can you?

Comments

  1. Avatar TheOldRanger

    I really like this car…. style, class, and a great ride. Looks very clean, inside and out!! Too bad I’m over 80, or I’d really be interested in driving to Florida to see this one

    Like 10
    • Avatar John Jasper

      I’m only 75. You buy the car and I’ll go down and drive it back for you. Ha Ha!

      Like 9
  2. Avatar johnmloghry

    Beautiful car. My father owned one back in the early 50’s. It was two tone blue and grey. He quit driving it when his mechanic could no longer get shocks for it and it bounced at every stop on it’s 4 coil springs. My older brothers started driving it to High School and someone put sugar in the gas tank, it was then relegated to the farms junk yard where many old cars spent their last days.
    This car should be cared for and kept in garage storage.

    God Bless America

    Like 7
  3. Avatar JAMES HOMER COOK

    My folks had a 39 Olds that looked very similiar. I was about 6-7 years old at the time and would sit in it and shift gears. Not sure how many hours I did that. Super comfortable cars.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Eric_13cars Member

      Me too, but our Olds was a ’40 and black. Pop got it for Ma when we moved out of Brooklyn in late 1952 to Ossining. I was about 5 and remember standing in the back holding onto handgrab strap on the back of the front seat. She called it her black Mariah. You can just picture it…a very pretty 27 or 28 year old young woman driving this hulk with 2 little kids in the back (no seat belts of course). At the end of 53 they traded it in on a 54 Chrysler Windsor 4 door (2 tone paint of course…sky blue with a black top) and she got to drive the 51 Kaiser Traveler for the next 5 or 6 years. First chance she got, she bought a convertible and drove convertibles for the next 25 years or so. I come by my love of cars genetically.

      Like 5
  4. Avatar Solosolo UK Member

    That’s exactly how I learned to drive my Dad’s 1948 Ford Pilot (English), identical to the one in the picture. Every Sunday morning I would sit behind the wheel doing the clutch, accelerator, brake movements with my young brother until one Sunday my Dad poked his head in the window and said I must take him for a spin! That was it, and five minutes later I was a 15 year old V8 driver and 4 months later I had my licence!

    Like 10
  5. Avatar Danny from Oz

    Was it a blind person that chose that colour ,or just colour blind? Asking for a friend.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Solosolo UK Member

      I think the colour suits the car very well. Anything that isn’t black, white, yellow or grey is fine by me.

      Like 4
  6. Avatar Gregory Garon

    In 1967 a buddy and I had the same 40 Buick. Ran great, had very few dings and made the fishing hole often. The Nam got in the way and he didn’t make it. I just let the car disappear one day. Just a memory now at 74 years old.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar George Birth

    Wow describes this beauty to a T . Super nice car and price tag seems to be decent also. Not a bad deal overall.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Tony

    An almost museum-grade car, surprising for being a Florida car! There is no such thing as a “dry garage” in Florida without contributing to ozone depletion by running an air-conditioner in said garage virtually year-’round. And I agree with the author: Suicide doors are winners with me as well, even if they run the risk of living up to that less-than-endearing label. This car is of the time when they very well may live up to the name…when door latches were no better than kitchen-cabinet latches, and easy for a gust of wind to fling open like a deployed air-brake flap. Not saying that is the case with this handsome example, just that is the period it comes from. You certainly do not want to place kids in the back of one of these rigs, not without retrofitting safety latches and seat belts, and maybe lockable power window mechanisms, just to keep the older brats from tossing the younger brats out the window…all of which risk subtracting from its authenticity. That aside, the condition is really fantastic!

    Like 1

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