Vehicle Description
Recent frame-on restoration. Very nice Carlsbad Black paint, new
interior, rebuilt 320 cubic inch straight-8. 12-volt conversion
makes for quick starts and new WWW radials ride great. High-speed
pre-war tour car ready to go! We don't know where this handsome
Century spent its life, but it's quite clean with no signs of ever
having been rusty or patched back together. Someone spent a good
deal of time and money on it in the not-too-distant past, giving it
a better than average Carlsbad Black paint job, a rebuilt engine,
and a very handsome interior. Basic black is always a great choice
on big sedans like this Century, and the high-gloss finish looks
better than some cars costing three or four times as much. The only
notable demerit is that there seems to be some minor bubbling at
the base of both front doors, but given how clean the car is and
hos symmetrical it is, we suspect it's a prep issue, not rust. Some
of the chrome has been refinished, including the bumpers, but some
is really nice original stuff that shows only the most minor
pitting that's all but inevitable considering the materials Buick
used-the probably had pitting almost from new. The interior was
neatly restored using brown striped broadcloth that's very similar
to what might have been in there when this car was new. Fresh door
panels were created at the same time and do a reasonable job of
replicating the originals, and new carpets were installed on the
floors. Someone spent big money on the plastic steering wheel and
other knobs, which use a bright ivory color as original and really
stand out in the otherwise monochromatic cabin. The gauges are all
fully operational, although we suspect the fuel gauge is a bit of a
pessimist, and the row of knobs under the dash for secondary
functions gives it a finished look. The back seat is spacious for
two and comfortable for three, with a drop-down center armrest and
acres of legroom. The headliner is rather nicely done, too, and
original window garnish moldings give it a clean, finished look.
Century sedans offered big trunks, too, with this car's cargo bay
finished with correct cloth material. In 1940, Buick's 320 cubic
inch overhead valve straight-8 was rated at 141 horsepower with a
single 2-barrel carburetor. But what makes these engines special is
all that creamy-smooth torque on tap, and that's exactly why the
Century was often referred to as the 'banker's hot rod.' The engine
was rebuilt under previous ownership and remains almost entirely
stock save for a 12-volt electrical system with alternator. That
12-volt battery kicks the giant engine over with vigor and it
always starts quickly and easily with no hassles, settling into a
muted idle that doesn't quite sound like any other 8-cylinder
engine you've heard. It's finished in correct gray engine enamel,
which was used in 1939 and 1940, with red lettering calling out
'Buick 8' and 'Dynaflash' on the valve cover. The carburetor and
air cleaner are correct and it includes the spark plug cover and
engine splash pans, details that often get omitted simply because
people think they're unnecessary. The chassis appears largely
original and we don't believe the body has ever been off the frame.
It isn't detailed, of course, but there are no red flags or issues
that a new owner will need to tackle. The 3-speed manual
transmission shifts well, although you need to be deliberate going
into high gear because the linkage is tight-if you don't get it
just right, it may pop out. Clutch action is light and the brakes
are powerful enough to be a match for the engine. On the road, ride
quality is excellent and that big, torquey straight-8 hustles this
Century along without working very hard at all and with 3.90 gears
in back it will cruise all day at 65 MPH, making it a fantastic
choice for touring. Factory wheels were painted Dante Red, which
really pops against the black paint, and outfitted with 235/75/15
Diamondback wide whitewall radials that ride and handle great. Is
this a perfect car? No way. But it's exactly the right sort of car
that you can get in and do just about anything. Drive it to work,
take the family out for a drive, or hit the road for a
long-distance tour. Big Buicks like this are superlative road cars,
the hardware is bulletproof reliable, and their performance makes
them comfortable in modern traffic. The Century remains perhaps the
ideal combination of performance and luxury in the pre-war era and
we can say with confidence that few other machines of the period
can run the way this big black sedan does. Call today! Harwood
Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional
inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.