Vehicle Description
We're seeing more and more "dare to be different" hot rods, and if
you have a family that likes a little luxury with their
performance, this 1938 Buick Special 2-door deserves a closer look.
You don't see many '30s Buick rods, and this handsome Special
fastback provides style, comfort, and performance in equal
doses.
The shiny black paint certainly makes this Buick a real
attention-grabber, but the good news is that it stands up to the
scrutiny. The build is a few years old so it's got some mileage on
it, but the handsome Buick shape and tall, narrow grille make it
one of the best-looking cars of the era. Long, sweeping fenders,
those cool bullet-shaped headlights (note that the fender lights
have been tucked underneath in a cool little bit of remodeling) and
the narrow grille bars make it look fast just sitting still. Is it
chopped or not? Hard to tell, but the answer is no, it's not and
the body is 100% original steel, not fiberglass. Most of the trim
remains in place, including the unique bumpers and cowl-mounted
radio antenna, which really gives it a throwback look we like. They
even kept the original taillights perched on top of the rear
fenders and the split rear window that would allow this car to pass
for almost original if not for the oversized rolling stock.
Cool!
The handsome red interior is nicely done, combining a vintage vibe
with some OEM components for a very modern driving experience. The
cloth seating surfaces on the power bucket seats give it a
luxurious feel, and the pleated patterns are very much like what GM
was doing in 1938. The driver gets a full array of white faced VDO
gauges that look suitably vintage, and the center stack was only
lightly modified to handle the Vintage Air A/C controls and the
Sony AM/FM/CD stereo head unit. A tilt steering column with a
4-spoke wheel has a traditional look and the red carpets and
contrasting mats work well to keep it all tied together. Original
knobs and cranks on the doors enhances the 1930s feel and there's a
generous back seat for cruising with the family. Under that
fastback rear end, you'll find a surprisingly spacious trunk, which
also includes a custom housing for the Optima gel-cell battery and
matching red carpeting.
The engine is a smooth-running 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 that's
detailed enough to look great down in the engine bay, but not so
over-chromed that it's a part-time job keeping it clean. Standard
upgrades like an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and aluminum intake
manifold, Mallory Unilite distributor, and long-tube headers mean
that it's plenty powerful to move the luxurious Buick sedan, and
it's been upgraded with R134a refrigerant in the A/C system, power
steering and brakes, as well as a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive
transmission. The front clip offers disc brakes, while the
independent Corvette rear end improves handling and offers another
set of disc brakes. A custom dual exhaust system uses resonators
and mufflers for a unique sound that never gets annoying on the
highway (no need to fight with the entertainment system, right?)
and the stance is exactly right. Beautiful polished Torque Thrust
wheels fill the fenders and carry 17-inch Hankook performance
radials.
A unique car that gets everything exactly right, this big black
Buick is big time affordable fun. Call today!