1941 Buick Limited Limousine
Chassis no. 14029619
“Buick’s Cadillac,” one of the finest road cars of its era
One of 669 built; formerly of the Del De Young Collection
An ideal comfortable, powerful CARavan automobile
Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic®
165 bhp, 320 cu. in. OHV inline eight-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, all-round coil suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 139 in.
Under the influence of Harlow Curtice, Buick challenged its corporate sibling Cadillac directly and boldly in the 1930s with a series of top-of-the-line models that featured extremely modern engineering, excellent build quality, and cosseting luxury – as well as impressive size. Known originally as the Series 80 and 90, and in later years as the Limited, these vast automobiles were, indeed, the equal of Cadillac in stature, power, and cost, much to the chagrin of GM brass who famously did not appreciate this “competitor from within.” Justifiably these top-of-the-line Buicks are now recognized as CCCA Full Classics® and are favorites for CARavans, as they offer very modern driving characteristics, plenty of power, and room for friends and a week’s luggage.
The 1941 Limited was offered as a single series on a 139-in. chassis, and all body styles were quite rare. The limousine offered here was one of just 669 built, very few of which have survived. It was formerly a long-term part of the noted collection of Del De Young, perhaps the foremost modern connoisseur of these “Senior” Buicks, known for his meticulous restorations and for owning virtually every example of the top-of-the-line Buick from this era. In Mr. Young’s ownership the car received an AACA Senior First Prize in 2000. It was kept in his good care for 23 years before joining the present owner’s collection, where it continues to be well-preserved and its restoration still highly attractive. To behold its deluxe, sumptuous leather and pinstriped cloth interior, complete with an intercom twixt front and rear compartments, is to want to dive in and go for a trip!
This is one of the nicest surviving examples of “Buick’s Cadillac,” and a Limited that will be much-enjoyed by a new character in journeys to come.
