1937 Buick Special Series 40

The fundamental nature of hot-rodding has always been a reworking of old parts into something newer and faster. Hot-rodding as a philosophy of building vehicles has existed since before World War I. The earliest efforts of the pioneers who created the automobile strongly resemble hot-rodding, but because they weren't working from used, mass-produced parts, they don't quite fit the mold.

According to our consignor, this car in the form of an all steel Buick Special Series 40 from 1937, is not a trailer queen and is always driven to shows. He is moving on and has a hot nut for a Tri Five bowtie, or a first generation Camaro, or a 69 to 72 Chevelle. So now this beauty can be yours, just show up and make an offer, but it should be near the asking price because it's a super build.

Exterior
A 5 window coupe titled in PA in 1993 where it arrived from New York state where our consigner states he has it on good information the car was done by a gentleman named Doug Harding. What he can verify is it's an all steel rust free body, that it's painted in two tone 1993 Chevy truck colors of teal and silver. The door handles and trunk lid are shaved and now a push button actuates them. This sexy streamliner leads off with a V shaped teal colored horizontal ribbed grille with bullet style headlight casings flanking on either side. These nestle in between a huge piece of metal which is called a hood, and the rounded exterior fenders. Below is a shiny bumper that has small turn signal lights attached to the top of it. The bulbous front and rear fenders are attached in their center with a running board which is covered in ribbed rubber. Fenders and the lower part of this car are in the teal. Uppers are in the silver and both are shiny and noble showing an 8 out of a possible 10 as to their gleam and glisten. On the back the rounded swooping down curved tail houses the trunk lid and the fenders melt into this area just above the bumper. Frenched taillights are deep within this roll pan and another shiny bumper below is hanging on. The roofline is the same nice rounded line and a split glass rear window is noted. 15 inch polished 5 spoke torque thrust wheels are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in like new black wall rubber. Some fancy airbrushing is adorning the cowl venting upfront and it shows as a feather wrapped in some blue flourish lines. Also of interest are some etchings on the rear glass. Step inside the back seat and I'll show you my “etchings”! (Literally)

Interior
A swing of the two-tone exterior doors and inside we are greeted with a mild three tone suede door panel featuring a smooth suede panel above, then a lighter vertical tuck and roll panel, and a slightly darker lower suede strip. Billet handles are now on, and these have black accenting on the mounting screws and handle tips. Inside 2 overstuffed tan broadcloth bucket seats have tufted bolsters and tuck and roll inserts. The driver's seat has power movements, and seatbelts. In back is a simple park bench styled rear seat with more broadcloth covering the interior side surfaces. Tan carpeting is flooding the floors. Upfront a central armrest is between the buckets. The dash is full metal jacket bathed in the teal and sports an organized cluster of white faced VDO gauges. Fronting the dash is an adjustable column topped with a two-tone silver and blue with billet centers drilled and a chromed half horn ring. Vintage A/C and heat are in, but no defrost. On the floor is a plastic cup holder/storage unit and just above in the center dash is now a Clarion head unit which blasts out tunes from AM/FM or CD's. Above a suede headliner is nice and tight.

Drivetrain
Lifting the side cowls reveals some engine bling in the form of a 350ci V8 engine with electronic ignition. This bay is illuminated when the head lighting is turned on. On top is a shiny Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and on back a reliable TH350 3-speed automatic. Power gets pushed rearward through a 10-bolt rear pumpkin thanks to a 1980 Monte Carlo.

Undercarriage
No rust is noted under here, and the suspension is now courtesy of a 1957 front clip with 2 inch drop spindles. This front independent coil sprung suspension along with the power disc brakes has been performed by Borneman's Restorations several years ago. On the back are leaf springs and drum brakes. Dual exhaust is nice and clean and Magnaflow mufflers are attached to add up to a melodious exhaust sound not too loud, but you know it's there!

Drive-Ability
She fired right up and off to the test track where performance was simply impressive. Great standstill acceleration, snappy steering and handling, and bias free braking. The interior seating was just right for this writer, baby bear, and all functions are working swimmingly.

A top 40 Award from St Joseph's Show, nice paint and some updated suspension and steering and it's off to the races, or at least show where you can clutter your mantelpiece at home, and rest assured contently that a nice work of automotive art sits in your garage…Life is good!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.