Vehicle Description
Nice restoration in excellent colors. Rare dual sidemounts. Very
good paint, excellent chrome, well-finished red leather interior.
Rebuilt straight-8 engine and recent wide whitewall radials make it
an excellent tour car that will always attract attention.Buick
styling evolved in 1940, adding a bigger grille (1939 Buicks
sometimes had problems with overheating) and moving the headlights
into the front fenders for a more streamlined look. The result was
no less a Buick and would help define Buick's look for the next
decade. And although this 1940 Buick Model 46 business coupe was
among the most affordable Buicks that year, it was far from plain.
Dressed in flashy Sequoia Cream, the coupe has a sporting look that
is accentuated by perfect proportions-a long hood and a modest
deck. Someone invested quite a bit of time and money into the
bodywork, as the doors close nicely, the hood latches without a
fight, and there's a fantastic shine to the finish that's probably
better than they could manage in 1940. Even better, a sizeable
investment in chrome and stainless restoration gives this car a
high-quality look with almost zero pitting in any of the cast
parts, including the grille. That's certainly not cheap! Add in the
dual sidemounts and you get an affordable Buick that looks like it
should cost far more than it does. The red leather interior is just
beautifully finished and really adds to the luxurious feel of the
Special. Although the model 46 did not come with a back seat, this
one had a back seat added during the restoration and while it's not
100% factory, it's functional and attractive and suits the car just
fine. The leather hides are soft and comfortable and the front
bench seat is comfortable enough for all day touring. There are
matching door panels with original hardware and new carpets on the
floor help control noise and heat. The only real demerits are the
plastic pieces, particularly the steering wheel and gauges, which
have deteriorated. Fortunately, reproduction gauge faces are
readily available and the steering wheel wears a leather cover that
feels great in your hands. There's a taut wool headliner overhead
and all the garnish moldings were painted to match the bodywork to
keep it bright inside. The trunk is clean and has a surprising
amount of space-when you have sidemounts, there's no need for a
spare in the trunk!The engine is a 263 cubic inch straight-8 out of
a later Buick, and that's probably the one you want. With myriad
upgrades over the 248, including hydraulic valve lifters and
improved oiling, it's a smooth, torquey engine that makes the
Special feel quick around town. It has been recently detailed with
correct Buick Gray paint and red decals and still inhales through a
2-barrel carburetor. It starts easily and idles smoothly, as you'd
expect from a straight-8, and makes a great 8-cylinder sound thanks
to a custom dual exhaust system. There's a big radiator up front
and this one doesn't seem to exhibit any signs of being fussy-it
just goes. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts easily and with
4.10 gears out back, the engine's torque makes downshifting
unnecessary in most situations. It's happy at about 60 MPH on the
highway and as with most Buicks of the era, steering is light and
easy to manage. Brakes are manual drums at the corners, but they're
plenty adequate for the car's performance, and you can see that the
undercarriage is clean-we don't believe this has ever been a rusty
car. 15-inch steel wheels were painted traditional Dante red and
outfitted with a set of 225/75/15 wide whitewall radials that
really improve ride and handling.A very pretty car that is ready to
tour and enjoy. Buicks remain under-rated in the market but you'll
find that the quality shines through even in the most affordable
models. With handsome good looks, a practical interior, and a few
upscale touches, this Special business coupe remains a favorite.
Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal
or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior
to purchase.
