Buick Century 1936 - 41
Buick introduced the Series 60 Century in 1936 and sold it through to 1942. At the heart of the cars was an ohv inline Eight cylinder 5,247cc (320) from the Roadmaster, fitted into a the 122-inch chassis from the Special and given its bodies. The Series 60 was called 'Century' to suggest it was capable of 100mph, although the 1937 product didn't quite achieve that. Frank Hershey restyled the 1937 Centuries under Harley Earl for 1937 on a longer 126-inch wheelbase, and gave the Buicks a tall split grille with horizontal bars. The GM B-body was built by Fisher Body who changed some details to give it the characteristic 'Turret Top' form; Bill Mitchell also worked on the design. The 320 cu. in. engine was reworked for 1938 with a new head for the 'Dynaflash 8' and 141 bhp. 1938 cars got thicker grille bars along with mild restyling. A 'Compound Carb' set up on the 1941 engine created the 'Fireball 8' which added extra carbs when the throttle was fully pressed. Larger windows were given to the 1939 cars, along with a one-piece rear window, and the tall grille gave way to a wider lower one between the headlamps with thin horizontal bars. For 1940 the grille changed to thicker vertical bars. All new bodywork was given to Buicks for 1941.
aa Buick Century 1937 badge8
aa Buick Century 1937 badge8
Buick Century 1937 - badge on grille. All 1937 Buicks were badged 'Buick 8'
aa Buick Century 1937 badgec
aa Buick Century 1937 badgec
Buick 8 Century 1937 - badge on bonnet sides. The 'Century' was a new car, combining a small car body with a large car body.
aa Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan badgem
aa Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan badgem
Buick McLaughlin 8 Century 1937 Touring Sedan - badge on grille. The McLaughlin Motor Car Co. had started in Canada in 1904, and sold out to General Motors in 1918, by Samuel McLaughlin was given a seat on the board of General Motors (Canada) and the Canadian branch continued to sell cars as McLaughlin-Buick until 1942. Buicks bought in Britain were often McLaughlin-Buick because of favourable import duties from this Dominion.
ab Buick Century 1937 grille
ab Buick Century 1937 grille
Buick Century 1937 - grille. The grille of fine horizontal bars was new for 1937, and replaced in 1938.
ad Buick Century 1937 ornament
ad Buick Century 1937 ornament
Buick Century 1937 - hood ornament
Buick Century 1937 4-door sedan front
Buick Century 1937 4-door sedan front
Buick Century 1937. Frank Hershey gave Buicks a new 'turret top' GM B-body in 1937. The Century, built on a shorter 126-inch wheelbase but with the engine of its larger siblings.
Buick Century 1937 4-door sedan rear
Buick Century 1937 4-door sedan rear
Buick Century 1937 4-door sedan. This has the GM B-body 4-door Sedan body on a 128-inch wheelbase. Sometimes called the 'slantback', the standard sedan had quite a small boot, whereas the Touring Sedan had a large 'trunkback' external boot.
Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan front
Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan front
Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan. The Century had been added to the Buick line in 1936 as an evolution of the Buick 60, Given a 5,247cc (320) inline eight engine in the smallest Buick body, it was capable of 100mph and hence was given the name 'Century'
Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan rear
Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan rear
Buick Century 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan.The Touring Sedan was 'booted' unlike the four door sedan. Design by Frank Hershey . This Sedan has the optional 'trunkback' extended boot bodywork
Buick Century 1937 Roadster front
Buick Century 1937 Roadster front
Buick Century 1937 Roadster. 1937 Buicks had a slightly sloping grille, but this was straightened in 1938 giving a longer hood
Buick Century 1937 Roadster rear
Buick Century 1937 Roadster rear
Buick Century 1937 Roadster. Frank Hershey restyled the 1937 Centuries under Harley Earl for 1937 on a longer 126-inch wheelbase
Buick Special 1937 Convertible front
Buick Special 1937 Convertible front
Buick Special 1937 Convertible, built on a 122-inch wheelbase than the Century, and with a smaller engine.
l Buick Century 1937 lamps
l Buick Century 1937 lamps
Buick Century 1937. Buicks of 1937 had a sloping back grille of fine bars and pod-mounted lamps given by Frank Hershey which Harley J.Earl disliked.
l Buick McLaughlin Century 1937 Touring Sedan lamps
l Buick McLaughlin Century 1937 Touring Sedan lamps
Buick McLaughlin Century 1937 Touring Sedan. Torpedo style lights for the Buick, against the advice of Harley J Earl
s Buick Century 1937 Roadster side
s Buick Century 1937 Roadster side
Buick Century 1937 Roadster. The 1936 Buick Century was created out of the shorter Buick Special (Series 40) body allied to the 320 cu.in engine from the Series 60 (Buick Super). The roadster had a rumble seat in the boot and was also offered as a sport coupe. In effect this was an early 'muscle car'.
t Buick Century 1937 Roadster tail
t Buick Century 1937 Roadster tail
Buick Century 1937 Roadster. The roadster had a rumble seat in the boot and was also offered as a sport coupe.
w Buick Century 1937 Roadster wheel
w Buick Century 1937 Roadster wheel
Buick Century 1937 Roadster. External spare tires were an optional extra, often chosen by the buyer to show their wealth, but they were unpopular with designers and were gradually phased out.
aa McLaughlin-Buick E-series 1918 Racer badgem
aa McLaughlin-Buick E-series 1918 Racer badgem
McLaughlin-Buick E-series 1918 Racer - badge on radiator. McLaughlin Buicks <<< Click here for an album of McLaughlin Buicks
Austin Sixteen BS1 Million front
Austin Sixteen BS1 Million front
Austin Sixteen BS1 Million. In 1946 Austin produced its one millionth car, this Austin Sixteen BS1. The front of the Austin appears to borrow from the Buick 1938 models.
Buick Special 1936 American Cars IndexSimon Cars
Image created by Simon GP Geoghegan (email: web@simoncars.co.uk)