Buick Limited 1936 - 41
Buick produced the Series 90 from 1931 to 1935 as its top model, and shared its GM C-body with Cadillac. The name 'Limited' was first used for the 1936 Series 90 which used a new D-body also shared with Cadillac and featuring an all steel 'turret top' roof. Styling was by Harley Earl . The Limited was built on a 138-inch wheelbase. The car was exclusive, just 16,000 sold 1936 to 1942. Wheelbase was increased to 140-inches for 1938 but 1939 Limiteds retained 1938 styling one year more. Cadillac became unhappy about the Limited which was sold at one quarter the price of its own car, but Buick sales were so low that they were allowed to keep selling. After World War Two no more Buick Limited were sold until 1958.
aa Buick Limited 1938 badge
aa Buick Limited 1938 badge
Buick Limited Series 90 1938 - badge on hood (bonnet side)
aa Buick McLaughlin Limited 1938 badgem
aa Buick McLaughlin Limited 1938 badgem
Buick Series 90 Limited 1938 McLaughlin. McLaughlin-Buick were made in Oshawa Canada, at first a McLaughlin body on Buick mechanicals, but later more standard Buicks. It is likely that there were tax incentives in Britain to buy McLaughlin-Buicks from Canada rather than Buicks from Michigan.
ab Buick Limited 1938 grille
ab Buick Limited 1938 grille
Buick Limited Series 90 1938 - grille. All Buicks got a new grille, mounted more vertically and with wider spaced bars in 1938
ab Buick Limited 1939 grille
ab Buick Limited 1939 grille
Buick Limited Series 90 1939 - grille. Like all 1939 Buicks, the Limited was given the new lower and wider grille. However the rest of the body remained as for 1938.
ac Buick Series 90 Limited 1938 McLaughlin head
ac Buick Series 90 Limited 1938 McLaughlin head
Buick Series 90 Limited 1938 McLaughlin. For 1938 Buicks were given a more upright grille and a longer hood, and the grille bars were thickened and lessened. A 5,247cc inline eight cylinder powered all Buicks in 1938.
Buick Limited 1936 McLaughlin Limousine
Buick Limited 1936 McLaughlin Limousine
Buick Series 90 1936 McLaughlin Limousine. Named 'Limited' in 1936, the Series 90 used the same GM D-body as given to Cadillac and it sat on a 138-inch wheelbase and was powered by a 5,247cc straight eight engine.
Buick Limited 1936 McLaughlin Limousine side
Buick Limited 1936 McLaughlin Limousine side
Buick Limited 1936 McLaughlin Limousine. The Buick Limited was built on a 138-inch wheelbase GM D-body shared with Cadillac but built separately at Michigan. Two styles were offered, the Touring Sedan and this Limousine.
Buick Limited 1936 Sedan 6-passenger frontw
Buick Limited 1936 Sedan 6-passenger frontw
Buick Limited 1936 Sedan 6-passenger. Powered by 5.250cc inline eight, and built on a 138-inch chassis. Styling by Harley Earl .
Buick Limited 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan rear
Buick Limited 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan rear
Buick Limited 1937 McLaughlin Touring Sedan. The Touring Sedan was 'booted' with a 'trunkback' extended boot
Buick Limited 1938 front
Buick Limited 1938 front
Buick Limited Series 90 1938. For 1938 the Limited was given a more upright grille in common with other 1938 Buicks, it also gained 2 inches in the wheelbase to 140-inches
Buick Limited 1938 Limousine front
Buick Limited 1938 Limousine front
Buick Limited 1938 Limousine. Power was given by the 5,247cc (320) 141 bhp straight eight engine.
Buick Limited 1938 Limousine side
Buick Limited 1938 Limousine side
Buick Limited 1938 Limousine. Wheelbase was extended to 140-inches for 1938, but the body styling was not updated for 1939 owing to low production numbers.
Buick Limited 1938 McLaughlin Sedan rear
Buick Limited 1938 McLaughlin Sedan rear
Buick Series 90 Limited 1938 McLaughlin. The Limited used the GM D-body also given to the larger Cadillac Fleetwoods. It was built on a 138-inch wheelbase at the Buick plant in Flint, Michigan whereas the Cadillacs were built in Detroit. The 'turret top' design was new for 1934, but for 1937 Frank Hershey designed a new body which was restyled each year until 1942.
Buick Limited 1938 McLaughlin
Buick Limited 1938 McLaughlin
Buick Series 90 Limited 1938 McLaughlin. For 1938 Buick restyled the front to a more vertical grille with horizontal bars. Behind the grille a 5,247cc straight eight engine. The Buick Limited was close in size and specification to Cadillac Fleetwoods and GM directors wanted it taken off the market.
Buick Limited 1938 Sedan 6-passenger front
Buick Limited 1938 Sedan 6-passenger front
Buick 1938 Limited Sedan 6-passenger. Powered by a 5,296cc inline eight cylinder engine.
Buick Limited 1938 Sedan 6-passenger
Buick Limited 1938 Sedan 6-passenger
Buick 1938 Limited Sedan 6-passenger. Buick's biggest model built on the same 138-inch GM C-body as Cadillac.
Buick Limited 1939 front
Buick Limited 1939 front
Buick Limited Series 90 1939. The Buick Limited continued production until 1942, but the body remained as at 1938 because low sales did not warrant the new 1939 body given to other Buicks. Wheelbase had been increased to 140-inches in 1938
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
Buick Limited Index American Cars IndexSimon Cars
Image created by Simon GP Geoghegan (email: web@simoncars.co.uk)