Buick Special 1936 - 41
Buick introduced the Series 40 as the entry level Buick in 1930 with a six cylinder engine. From 1936 the Series 40 was marketed as the 'Special' and was built on a 118-inch wheelbase, 122-inches in 1937 with an enlarged engine. 1937 Buicks were restyled by Frank Hershey. For 1939 Buicks were restyled with a wide grille, and the wheelbase dropped to 120-inches. For 1940 the wheelbase increased to 121-inches, ahead of the new body for 1941. 1939 Buicks carried the first turn signal lamps, which were built into the boot badge. From 1936 a new ohv 3,819 cc (233) straight eight engine was given to the Special, which was uprated to
4,065cc (248) for 1937.
aa Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan badgea
aa Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan badgea
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan - Badge on bonnet sides. The Special (or Series 40) was the smallest Buick, but still had an eight cylinder engine
aa Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan badgem
aa Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan badgem
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan. McLaughlin built Buicks in Canada, and right hand drive versions of these were supplied to the UK escaping tariffs.
aa Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible badges
aa Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible badges
Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible - badge on bonnet side
aa Buick Special 1939 Roadster badgeb
aa Buick Special 1939 Roadster badgeb
Buick Special 1939 Roadster - badge on bootlid. The 'wings' of this badge lit up and acted as turn signals, the first time such a feature was fitted on a motor car
ab Buick Special 1939 Roadster grille
ab Buick Special 1939 Roadster grille
Buick Special 1939 Roadster - Grille of the Buick 46C Roadster 1939
ac Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan head
ac Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan head
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan. The 'Valve-in-Head' 4,065cc was an early overhead valve engine at at a time when most GM products were running L-head engines. It gave 100 bhp and therefore good performance.
Buick Special 1937 Convertible front
Buick Special 1937 Convertible front
Buick Special 1937 Convertible, built on a 122-inch wheelbase. Styling by Frank Hershey..
Buick Special 1937 Convertible rear
Buick Special 1937 Convertible rear
Buick Special 1937 Convertible, built on a 122-inch wheelbase. This Rumble Seat Convertible had room for two people to sit in the fold-up seat behind the hood.
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 engine
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 engine
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan. The 4,064cc straight eight was new for 1937 and was 'valve-in-head' (ohv) design.
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan frontb
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan frontb
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan. Power was given by a 4,064cc straight eight 100bhp.
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan rear
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan rear
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan. The 4-door Touring (or Trunk back) sedan was the biggest seller with 82,400 in 1937 out of 152,700
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan sideb
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan sideb
Buick Special 1937 Series 40 Touring Sedan. Built on a larger 122-inch wheelbase the Series 40 was revised for 1937.
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan front
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan front
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan. Powered by a 4,065cc (248) inline eight cylinder 107 bhp engine
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan rear
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan rear
Buick Special 1938 McLaughlin Touring Sedan. Specials for 1938 were built on a 122-inch chassis. The Touring Sedan was available as either 2-door or 4-door and had the 'trunk back' external boot.
Buick Special 1939 2-door Touring sedan front
Buick Special 1939 2-door Touring sedan front
Buick Special 1939 2-door Touring sedan. Powered by a 4.064cc (248) inline eight.
Buick Special 1939 2-door Touring sedan rear
Buick Special 1939 2-door Touring sedan rear
Buick Special 1939 2-door Touring sedan. Built on a 121-inch wheelbase, it was available as Business Coupe, 2-door or 4-door Touring Sedan, Convertible, or Sport Coupe. 208,000 were built for 1939
Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible front
Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible front
Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible. Built on a 120-inch wheelbase. Powered by a 4,064cc (248) 'Dynaflash' OHV straight-eight engine
Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible frontm
Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible frontm
Buick Special 1939 Model 46-C convertible. Built on a 120-inch wheelbase. Powered by a 4,064cc (248) 'Dynaflash' OHV straight-eight engine
Buick Special 1939 Roadster front
Buick Special 1939 Roadster front
Buick Special 1939 Roadster. Buick gave its models new bodies for 1939, shared with other GM models. For Buick a 'waterfall' grille was given. The straight eight 4,060cc engine continued. As well as the 46C body, Buick did Specials as Coupes, 2 and 4-door sedans, 2 and 4-door convertibles and an estate car
Buick Special 1939 Roadster side
Buick Special 1939 Roadster side
Buick Special 1939 Roadster. The Special was Buick's smallest model as their entry level vehicle. Launched in 1936 on a 118-inch wheelbase, which went up to 122-inch in 1937. However for 1939 the Special was given the new GM B-body on a 120-inch wheelbase.
Buick Special 1941 Sedanette front
Buick Special 1941 Sedanette front
Buick Special 1941 Sedanette. The 2-door Torpedo body was new for the 1941 GM B-body, and the Buick Special couple this with a 4.1-litre straight eight engine.
Buick Century 1937 Roadster front
Buick Century 1937 Roadster front
Buick Century 1937 Roadster. The 1937 Century was a longer Special fitted with a Roadmaster engine.
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 Special Index American Cars IndexSimon Cars
Image created by Simon GP Geoghegan (email: web@simoncars.co.uk)