1936 Buick 40

In 1936, as the world waged war across the Atlantic Ocean, American car manufacturers were regrouping in an attempt to continue making sales in the struggling economy. For the 1936 model year, Buick was no exception, and as it began production on the 1936 Buick Series 40. Using the Buick Special chassis, this model combined the sleek styling of its sport coupe body style and a handful of other new features to make it a coveted model.

Even after some restyling, mechanical improvements, and other changes, though, Buick only produced 2,003 units of the Series 40 sports coupe during the 1936 model year. The car first began in 1930, and served as the successor to the Series 116, making this model one of the handful of cars to be produced during the height of the Great Depression. Its engine produced just 93 horsepower, giving it a top speed of 85 miles per hour, which is an everyday commute speed for many people in today’s fast-paced world. Despite the unstable state of the economy over 77,000 units of this model were purchased, which was a welcome improvement over the previous sale numbers.

As the 1930s forged on and the war showed no signs of slowing down, the Buick defied the odds with the Series 40, which continued to grow in popularity. Later models brought more power and speed, thus leading the way for the faster, sportier models that would follow in the decades to come. Production on the Series 40 eventually came to an end as the U.S. entered World War II and auto companies went back to their drawing boards to aid in the war efforts.

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1970 Buick GSX

After much anticipation, General Motors finally lifted its self-imposed ban on engines bigger than 400 cid, and the result was worth celebrating. New muscle cars were introduced with bigger engines and more power than ever before. The 1970 Buick GSX was one such model, and a much coveted one, at that. Several things about this car made it special at the time, and some of these same things help keep the car at the forefront of the minds of muscle car collectors and restorers to this day.

Among the first of the improvements was the addition of the GS 455 engine, a V8 engine that allowed for greater speed and aggression from under the hood. The GSX then had a 350 bhp rating at 2800 rpm with  the new engine, which was a force to be reckoned with. At the time, only two other vehicles out-performed the GSX in this area, both were Cadillacs. Other options and upgrades were available, which makes finding a GSX with those upgrades can be easier said than done. Fewer than 700 units of the 1970 GSX were produced, and hundreds were sold without the upgrades. Originally intended as a response to the Pontiac GTO Judge, the model did not enjoy quite as much popularity at the time and is not quite the legend that is the GTO, but it impressed nonetheless because of the lift on the engine size ban.

Two color options, Saturn Yellow and Apollo White were available for the GSX during the 1970 model year, but more were added later. Though relatively few units were produced, many of them still survive. The original price for a base model was around $4,478 (about$26,555 today), but some restored models have fetched close to $80,000 in recent years at a Barrett-Jackson auction.

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Classic Buick Wildcat

One vehicle that is of particular interest to many people who love Buicks of days gone by is the Buick Wildcat, a vehicle that became a model in his own right for the 1963 model year.

During the 1950s midsize cars were largely boxlike for want of a better description, and these classics are extremely cool in their own right so we are not taking anything away from them.

However, time marches on and as it does marketing minds are always looking to introduce something new to the buying public.

Styling trends have always tended to change decade by decade, and when the 1960s rolled around a sleeker look started to come into vogue. The Buick Wildcat was exemplary of this model, a lithe, quick beast that had substance as well as style.

The Wildcat was actually first introduced as a sub-series within the Buick Invicta line in 1962, boasting a lot of muscle with a 325 hp 401 cubic inch Nailhead V8 engine. This engine was still standard when the Wildcat became a stand alone model for the 1963 model year, but you could get added power if you wanted to with the 425 cubic inch Nailhead V8.

Transmission options on the first-generation Buick Wildcat included a 2-speed Dynaflow automatic, 3-speed TH-400 automatic, and a three-speed on the column manual. (If you have never driven a car with a standard transmission on the column you don’t know what you’re missing.)

During it’s production the Wildcat was offered as a two-door hardtop, a two-door convertible, a four-door hardtop and a four-door sedan.

The car lasted through the 1970 production run, and the Wildcat’s place in the Buick lineup was replaced by the Centurian for the 1971 model year. However, it is a car that made its mark in the annals of General Motors history and these vehicles will always be a favorite of classic Buick fans.

The Buick Riviera

The Buick division of General Motors is one of the most important automotive manufacturing concerns that the world has ever known. The company dates all the way back to 1899 when it was known as the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company. David Dunbar Buick incorporated the company as the Buick Motor Company four years later and the rest, as they say, is history.

As optimistic as David Dunbar Buick may have been when he started out in the automotive business even he would probably find it hard to believe that his surname would be gracing quality American motor vehicles for well over 100 years.

One of the many Buick models that made a significant mark on the automotive landscape in the United States during its production run was the Buick Riviera.

One of the  landmarks that any new model is going to aim for as a measure of true success is the 1 million sales mark. If you have been able to sell 1 million units of a particular automobile you have struck automotive gold.

The Buick Riviera was introduced for the 1963 model year and it remained in production through 1999. (It should be noted that there were no Rivieras produced for the 1994 model year.) During that production period of some 30 years there were over 1,127,000 units of the Riviera manufactured by General Motors, so they certainly got a lot of mileage out of the Riviera nameplate.

The Buick Riviera was a personal luxury car and it helped to define the niche. It was classy, luxurious and powerful but sporty at the same time, giving a certain demographic a little bit of everything that it was seeking and this is why the car was so popular for so long.

We will be taking a look at the Riviera in more depth in future posts so stay tuned and feel free to leave a comment if you have something to say about this classic Buick model.

 

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A Must Visit: The Sloan Museum Buick Gallery

If you are fan of baseball you are certainly going to want to visit the Baseball All Of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Getting to the roots of the beast and experiencing all that history in one place is an extraordinary experience.

Classic Buick fans can have the same type of experience by visiting the Buick Gallery that is a part of the Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan.

Before we even begin to give you some of the details regarding the Buick Gallery, the setting itself is of significant importance. Flint, Michigan is one of the cradles of the automotive industry in the United States. If you really have a passion for classic Buick automobiles Flint is a place that is ground zero and you can smell the automotive history in the air.

The Buick gallery of the Sloan has one of the most exciting collections of vintage Buicks anywhere to be found in the world. Among the highlights would be the prototype vehicles which include the 1954 Wildcat II, the 1964 Silver Arrow I and the 1977 Phantom.

The only days of the week that the gallery is closed are on Sundays and Mondays. The hours of operation from Tuesday through Friday are 10am – 5pm, and tours are offered on Saturdays at 11 in the morning and at one o’clock and three o’clock in the afternoon.

Another nice thing about the Buick Gallery of the Sloan Museum is that they don’t charge an arm and a leg to get in and examine all these amazing classic Buick automobiles. The admission price for adults is just nine dollars, and the admission for seniors is eight dollars. Children can get in for six bucks each and if you are a true classic Buick fan you really owe it to your kids to give them an opportunity to see these historic vehicles

To learn more, simply visit the Sloan Museum Buick Gallery website.

 

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Web Resource For Classic Buick Fans

There’s nothing like going to an event that is going to attract a lot of classic Buick fans. This is why we are going to be making an effort to keep you informed about all the best classic car shows and classic car cruises that take place in the United States and Canada.

However, now that we live in the age of information you can tap into a virtual world of classic car fans through the portal into cyberspace that your computer and monitor provide. With this in mind you may want to take note of a very useful resource for classic Buick fans called FossilCars.com.

We’ve all heard of big auto malls, and if you are looking for a new car or a late-model used car this is a one-stop shopping option. But what if you’re looking to purchase a classic Buick? These cars are rare, and you are not going to find your dream Buick of days gone by at the typical car dealership in your hometown as large as it may be.

Fossil Cars is like an online auto mall for classic car enthusiasts. If classic Buicks are your thing you will really enjoy browsing their huge inventory, and you can check back often because they add to it virtually minute by minute.

This site is the ideal resource for people who are looking for classic cars for sale. But at the same time, it is perfect for anyone who wants to sell a really cool old car, be it a Buick or any other brand. They give you fantastic visibility and they get a lot of targeted traffic so you really can’t go wrong placing your vehicle of their website.

The bottom line is this: If you want to buy or sell a classic Buick, the best resource that we have seen on the web is FossilCars.com.

 

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The Buick Club Of America

If you are into classic Buicks you probably have a lot of specialized knowledge about these particular vehicles. The average person who winds up sitting next to you at the local watering hole is probably not going to have anywhere near as much information about these cars as you do. It’s likely that some of what you say about collectible Buicks will sound like Greek to the uninitiated.

This is why it is so enjoyable to get around people who love classic Buicks as much as you do. Many old school Buick fans will circle certain dates on their calendars each year and head out to some classic car shows and cruises, and this is a lot of fun as you get to mingle with like-minded people. We will in fact be highlighting some of the great shows take place around the country that feature classic Buicks from time to time on this blog.

Another way to network socially with people who are classic Buick fans is to join a car club. One club you should certainly look into if you are a true Buick enthusiast is the Buick Club of America. The central hub of this club is located in Columbus Ohio, but they have regional chapters all over the country so you can participate regardless of where you live.

This is a very active group and there are many different events to attend throughout the year. On their website you can also find forums within which you can interact with fellow Buick fans and discuss any number of relevant subjects. The Buick Club of America is definitely a fantastic outlet for classic Buick fans and you can explore it in detail and obtain membership information by visiting their website.

 

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The Buick Century

Throughout the history of auto making there have been a number of different models that have made multiple appearances after having been discontinued. One example of this would be the Buick Century, a car that was first introduced for the 1936 model year.

This was a very big year for the Buick division of General Motors. The company had been able to make a quantum leap forward on the engineering and design fronts and there was a lot of excitement about the 1936 offerings, including the brand-new Buick Century, a four-door sedan. These cars were very fast by the standards of the day, capable of speeds approaching 100 miles per hour. This oomph was generated by a 320 cubic inch in-line eight cylinder engine that was rated at 165 hp.

This first generation of the Buick Century lasted through the 1942 model year. The car was reintroduced to the buying public after World War II for the 1954 model year. The second-generation lasted through the 1958 model year, and during that time the car was offered as a four-door sedan, a two door coupe, a two door convertible, and a four-door hardtop station wagon. The most powerful engine available during the second generation was the 346 ci inline-8.

The Century nameplate laid dormant dormant until General Motors brought the car back once again for the 1973 model year. At that time it was offered as a four-door sedan or four-door station wagon and these cars were assembled in Flint, Michigan and Framingham, Massachusetts. This generation of the Century lasted all the way through the 2005 model year.

The Buick Century was a big part of the company’s success over the years and many would say that the Century of the 1950s is a true classic that embodies the spirit of that iconic era in American history.

 

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The 1953 Buick Skylark

The Buick Skylark was first introduced by General Motors for the 1953 model year as a specialty ragtop that was produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Buick.

The car was extremely expensive for the day with a price tag of around $5000 so the company didn’t expect much in terms of sales. As it turned out orders for the car exceeded company expectations and 1690 of them were produced, which doesn’t sound like a lot but this volume came as a pleasant surprise.

This original Skylark was only offered as a two-door convertible and it provided some innovations for Buick. It was the first model that was ever offered by the company that had a 12 volt electrical system and this is a notable piece of Buick history.

In addition, the 1953 Buick Skylark contained the first V8 engine ever to be offered by Buick: a 322 cubic inch Nailhead V8. These vehicles were unique in many aspects and there was a lot of personal attention put into the manufacturing of each one. It had chrome wire wheels and the car came equipped with power steering and power brakes as standard equipment.

This first generation of the Buick Skylark did not last long in spite of the impressive engineering and the cars snazzy good looks. A 1954 Buick Skylark was offered to the buying public but sales were poor and the model was discontinued. The nameplate lied dormant for a few years but returned for an encore when it was part of the Buick line once again for the 1961 model year. That generation lasted through 1972.

The 1953 Buick Skylark is a rare slice of Buick history and a car that any classic Buick fan would love to add to his or her collection.

1957 Buick Super

If you want to define the epitome of innovation and staying power in the manufacturing realm look no further than the Buick division of General Motors.

The company dates back to before the turn of the 20th century when it was called the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company; in 1903 it became the Buick Motor Company and of course the man behind the original vision was founder David Dunbar Buick.

It is probably safe to say that Mr. Buick would have thought you were crazy if you told him that his surname would be emblazoned on modern automobiles that would’ve blown his mind into the 21st century but that is what we mean by staying power.

Over the century-plus that Buicks have been gracing the roadways they have come up with some memorable models, and with this in mind we would like to take a glance at the 1957 Buick Super.

The Super series was intended to provide an option for people who wanted a big Buick but did not have an especially big bankroll. The first Buick Super came out for the 1940 model year, but we are going to highlight the 1957 Super. During that year the car was offered as a two or four-door Riviera or a convertible coupe.

If you’re looking for a rare 1957 Buick Super the convertible should be your target as there were just 2056 of them produced. The price tag on these was $3980. The most popular Super during the 1957 model year was the four-door Riviera; 41,665 of these were sold.

1957 was the beginning of the end for the Buick Super series as 1958 would be its final year of production. However, it stayed around a long time and these cars are close to the hearts of many classic Buick fans.