Vehicle Description
When this 1940 Buick Special sedan was put together, 'style' was
the operative word. Still looking very much like it did decades
ago, this wonderful resto-mod has been thoughtfully updated with a
fuel-injected 350 V8, loads of creature comforts, and a sumptuous
interior, all without altering the fantastic look of the original
design. If you don't feel like advertising that your hot rod is a
HOT ROD, perhaps this Buick has something to offer.
The all-new styling of the redesigned 1940 Buicks was an absolute
homerun, and today they're distinctive and handsome cars that stand
out from all the other GM machines that all looked pretty much the
same that year. With a handsome prominent grille whose shape would
be echoed for the next decade to the handsome skirted fenders, the
1940 Buicks were winners. And everything that was great about those
cars remains intact on this amazing resto-mod. Although the build
is a few years old and some miles have been put on the clock
(31,627 miles since the build to be exact), the big sedan still
shows well in its Emerald Green Metallic paint and custom
pinstripes, showing only minor signs of use that is expected for a
driver. Other than the integrated turn signals in the front
fenders, the sheetmetal is largely unmodified and was nicely
finished during the build, so all four doors fit well, the trunk
has even gaps, and both sides of the butterfly-style hood sit flush
with the cowl and nose cone. 1940 was the first year for headlights
built into the fenders, with these sporting an almost 'frenched'
look that give them a slightly custom feel without advertising the
factory upgrade too much. The plentiful factory stainless trim
along the sides of the body and hood is nicely detailed, and the
finned bumpers almost have an early billet look to them. Also note
the modern side mirrors that are so sneaky that you probably didn't
even see them until I mentioned it.
A great deal of planning and thought went into this Buick's
interior, which is finished in two-tone gray Ultraleather material
with a traditional pleated insert pattern. The front seats are
late-model buckets with headrests and seatbelts, while the original
back seat was upholstered to match and is as comfortable as your
Great Aunt's sitting room sofa. All four door panels are custom
pieces, featuring high-end tweed fabric with custom 1940 inlayed
designs. Original garnish moldings and the dash were painted to
match the exterior paint, and a set of digital gauges with green
lettering were installed just ahead of the driver to keep a modern
eye out on the diagnostics of the motor. A tilt column with a
leather-wrapped banjo-style wheel continues the resto-mod vintage
look, and details like the Vintage Air A/C system and Alpine
AM/FM/CD stereo have been nicely integrated into a custom dash
panel that was added to the original unit. The big sedan also
offers plush carpets that insulate the cabin, a taut headliner
above wrapped in durable tweed, and you know it's built for long
journeys with cruise control as part of the package. The spacious
trunk is finished just as nicely, with plush carpets, a custom
spare tire cover, relocated battery in a custom tray and enough
room to accommodate all your Power Tour luggage.
For power, this Buick's original 248 cubic inch straight-8 is gone,
replaced by a reliable and powerful 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 that's
fed through a tune-port fuel-injection unit. Since it was built to
cruise, an oversized radiator was installed up front and a TH350
3-speed automatic transmission behind, all making it a wonderful
long-distance cruiser. Everything is tightly packed in the engine
bay, but thanks to smart engineering, service access is good and
with modern components and long-tube headers, it makes great power
on the open road. An updated front suspension includes power
steering and power front disc brakes, while upgraded shocks,
springs and a durable 10-bolt rear end handle all the added power
with ease. Nice! Rounding out the slick look are bright Rally
wheels with modern Vogue radials to complete the effect.
Beautifully built and a joy to drive, this handsome Buick is for
the person who loves the 1940 look but needs more than 110
horsepower to get around. Call today!
