We are excited to represent and offer for sale a very rare Buick
Roadmaster representing one of only 235 built for 1940! This
classic Buick is highly original and one that would be fantastic
for touring. In addition, this beautify is also CCCA recognized as
a Full Classic! Our experienced team recently serviced the classic
making it ready for touring, or simply cruising with family and
friends around town. An excellent classic car investment piece for
any serious collector!
History About The Buick Roadmaster:
Buick began the 1940's with subtle changes to the styling that
included larger front grills with horizontal bars, and more
noticeably, the headlight buckets now further integrated into the
front fenders with parking lights that rod on top. Two new model
series were added to the lineup, the Super to fit in between the
Special and Century Series, and the Roadmaster 70 Series was new to
make way for the long wheelbase Limited 80 series. The Roadmaster
70 was fitted to the sportier 126" wheelbase chassis but shared the
larger 320ci Dynaflash inline 8 cyl engine power plant of the
larger models, which featured an overhead-valve design, standard
oil filtration, and 141 horsepower! Only 235 were produced in their
first production run making this very exclusive to find today! For
this reason, these rare cars are recognized by the Classic Car Club
of America as a Full Classic and are very dependable cars for
touring!
Details About Our 1940 Buick Roadmaster:
We are pleased to offer this gorgeous 1940 Buick Roadmaster
Model-71C Convertible Phaeton. Finished in factory code correct
544- Royal Maroon exterior over a matching Maroon leathette
interior with a Tan Stayfast cloth convertible top accented by
maroon piping. Under the hood resides a highly detailed 320ci
Dynaflash Inline 8 engine mated to the 3-speed column-shift
transmission.Features include full dash instrumentation, turn
signals, AM radio with cowl-mounted antenna, vacuum wipers, dual
outside mirrors, fog lights with amber lenses, rear interior
courtesy lamps, and chrome Buick hubcaps and trim rings.
Accessories include front & rear seatbelts, locking gas door,
235/75R15 radial whitewall tires by Diamond Back, and front bumper
mini flag holder.
This particular Roadmaster Convertible Phaeton is a testament to
how well these Buicks were built and how well a car can survive,
given the proper care. A very well documented example from new, it
sold originally in southern Virginia and stayed with the original
owner well into the 1960's. It remained in that region when a
Richmond, Virginia collector, Jim Wamsley, was able to buy it in
1974 from a dealer using it for business advertising. It would
receive its first amateur restoration soon afterward and then be
used as a very reliable driver for club events and driving tours,
including the 1998 Glidden Tour 53rd Revival Tour. That owner of 27
years would finally sell it in December 2001 to Savannah, Georgia
Buick enthusiast, Robert Minis, who continued to love and care for
the classic very well.
Affectionately known as "Ruby," the new owner raved about her
mechanical prowess and dependability on Buick Driver Enthusiast
(BDE) tours and elected to drive it for a couple years just as he
bought it. Over time, it began to show its age once again, and
after meeting restorers John & Joyce Williams on one such driving
event, he was convinced it would be worthwhile to perform a
comprehensive restoration to the exterior paint, chrome brightwork,
dash presentation, and engine compartment. Williams would begin the
extensive bare metal process in December 2003 and fulfill his
cosmetic obligations by July 2004. The entire process fully
documented in both receipt form and historical restoration
photographs. The results remain very impressive today!
It continued to participate in BDE tours, Buick National Meets,
several Regional events, and parades under Minis' ownership. It
would even have a small feature in The Buick Bugle September 2007
highlighting the special production of 1940-1941 Buick Convertible
Phaetons, not to mention their incredible cost of $1,775 when brand
new! This Convertible Phaeton has traded hands just twice since
2013, before making its way to the St. Louis Car Museum in February
2021.
Upon arrival, it received a new battery, new Pertronix electronic
ignition, plug wires & distributor cap; new engine oil & filter,
rebuilt Stromberg carburetor with fresh float & fuel filter,
completely new braking system from the master cylinder out to each
wheel cylinder, front & rear hoses, shoes & spring hardware, and
adjustment screws. Included in the sale of this Buick is a very
nice accessory set of Samsonite luggage in the trunk, a Buick tool
roll kit, convertible top center section storage bags, owner's
manual, shop manual, service manual, parts catalogs, and
lubrication chart. To learn more about our available 1940 Buick
Roadmaster 71C Convertible contact Jon Faust at (314)993-1330 or by
emailing
[email protected].
