There’s nothing like finding a project car whose needs are so minimal that the new owner could tackle them at home over a couple of weekends. That is the tantalizing prospect offered by this 1940 Buick Special. It is a clean and solid vehicle ready for someone to add the finishing touches. The enormous interior space would make it an ideal candidate for an enthusiast with growing children. The Buick is listed here on Barn Finds Classifieds in Polk City, Florida. You could become the next owner by handing the seller $12,500.
Buick introduced its new Series 40 Special in 1936, performing minor annual upgrades each year until civilian passenger car production ceased due to the outbreak of war. The 1940 model year brought one of the most significant changes, with the company increasing the wheelbase by an inch. Otherwise, the new model featured the usual minor styling updates. Our feature Special presents well in basic Black. The paint retains an impressive depth of color and shine with no significant flaws or defects. The panels are straight and clean, with the underside shots confirming this classic is rust-free. The glass appears flawless, while the sparkling chrome provides a stunning contrast to the expanses of Black paint. The wheels wear the correct hubcaps and trim rings, with the wide whitewall tires adding the perfect finishing touch to the exterior.
If this Buick’s exterior makes a positive impression, its interior serves up more of the same. The seats and door trims feature matching cloth free from rips and physical damage. The steering wheel sports a selection of cracks, but addressing these could prove a satisfying task for the new owner to tackle. Several companies manufacture epoxy repair kits that retail for under $100. Most of those kits would allow a patient individual to return this wheel to its former glory without breaking the bank. Beyond that, this interior needs little, and its condition is above-average for a survivor of this vintage. Perhaps its strongest attribute is the enormous amount of legroom. If you have a couple of teenagers, This Buick should comfortably accommodate their growing limbs.
One defining characteristic of Buick as a manufacturer during this era was its love for straight-eight engines. The first 221ci powerplant entered the market in 1931, with the last rolling out of the factory in 1953. The company introduced the 248ci version in 1937, which is what we find under the hood of this Special. It produces 107hp and an impressive 203 ft/lbs of torque which feeds to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission. The 248 is what I refer to as a “lazy” engine. That is not a derogatory term but indicates that with maximum power and torque available below 3,400rpm, there is little reason to work these motors hard to achieve impressive performance. The seller indicates the car is mechanically sound, but there are a couple of tasks for the buyer to tackle before it returns to active duty. They need to install a new radiator and exhaust, but both are included, along with a rebuilt carburetor, some secondhand components, and manuals, as shown in this photo. With the radiator and exhaust work completed over a couple of weekends, it appears there’ll be nothing preventing this Buick from providing its new owner with some classic motoring pleasure.
Although the Special wasn’t Buick’s range-topping model in 1940, this car has a genuine sense of presence that will allow it to turn heads and grab attention wherever it goes. With the seller supplying the parts required to return it to active duty, the reality is that it would take very little to have it ticking like a Swiss watch. While it is not a mega-bucks classic, recent sales results confirm its price is exceptionally competitive considering its overall condition. If you’re contemplating dipping your toe into the water of classic car ownership, this Buick should be a worthwhile candidate.
Looks like a very nice car for cheap money. The condition seems to be outstanding for an 80+ year-old car. If you can’t install the new parts provided, it probably wouldn’t cost too much to have a competent mechanic to do it for you. You don’t see pre-war cars at shows too much these days. It would be a treat to see this one.
Hopefully, the old radiator didn’t fail, and cook the engine. One wonders why the owner didn’t replace it, prior to listing it?
Terrific looking ride! With that straight eight I’ll bet it holds its own on the road. If I didn’t have a 41 Chevy business coupe in my garage I’d be all over this one in a NY second!
Wow! Not very far from me. I”ve
wondered about this particular seller
for awhile now. Sure would like to pay him a visit and see what he has.
Might be some really nice cars to
make portraits from. Sad to say, but
most of the guys my age have left the
hobby due to illness, life, or some other reason. And that leaves only
the young folks who aren’t all that
interested in this type of car. Shoot,
they don’t even know how to drive to it!
Actually, lots of young guys are in the hobby. They just don’t all like the same cars.
They may like cars per se, but within my experiences their interest in automotive history seems to be minimal.
Great looking car with a fair price . Doubt if it lasts long at the price listed.
Nice car – good point Big C made- – hope the engine didn’t over heat – I’d definitely ask the current owner about that.
FWIW, maybe the owner has gotten too old to actually do the work. Sometimes, life gets in the way. If it was near me I’d be all over this…
My dad had a 40 Buick special like this except his was two tone blue on bottom white on top. Straight 8 with three on the tree. He finally parked it in the car burial grounds at the back of the farm when he could no longer get shock absorbers for it and then when two of my older brothers drove it to school and someone put sugar in the gas tank. There were a lot of pre-war cars and some post-war cars back there until he sold the farm in 74 and had all the cars towed away to a scrap yard. You didn’t get a lot of options on cars back then: no power steering, not power brakes, definitely no air conditioning. A heater, rear view mirror and radio were probably as much upgrade you could get. Tires were 775×16″ I think but not sure about. Mohair seats and straps that were mounted on the inside near the the rear side window to help you exit the car. It’s been many a year since I rode in dads car, but I do still have recollections of those cars.
God Bless America
I’m shocked that no fool has insisted that the best thing for this Buick would be to rod it!
Cars that are in original condition or were restored to original condition, especially pre-war cars, are not often seen these days. Hot rods seem to be fairly common and have many fans. Lots of folks, myself included, enjoy seeing a true survivor or a car restored to original. I’m not a huge fan of hot rods; they’re OK but I’d rather see a classic/vintage/antique car as it came from the factory.
I’ve less desire myself to attend “cruise nights” lately for that reason.
Ha! So funny, I was gonna say the same……(give it time though)
This should be restored as it doesn’t need too much to be left that way. I’m just a little too far away or I would be on it.