Vehicle Description
The Buick Motor Company formed the cornerstone of General Motors in
1908, and rapidly grew to become one of America's most popular
cars, with a reputation for quality, refinement, and value. At the
end of 1930, Buick made a dramatic move by replacing its
six-cylinder cars with a lineup that used eight-cylinder engines
exclusively. All of these straight-eights boasted of the company's
proven "Valve-in-Head" overhead-valve design. Buick's advanced
engines and robust chassis lent themselves well to European tastes,
and many Buicks were sold overseas. GM established divisions in
Europe to meet demands, resulting in some fascinating variants of
otherwise familiar models. By late 1933, Buick was in trouble. The
product line was dominated by the Series 50, 60, 80, and 90, which
were increasingly large, straight-eight powered cars priced above
the means of many consumers who felt the squeeze of the Great
Depression. Incoming Buick boss Harlow Curtice saw a real need for
a lighter and smaller addition to the product line that was already
in the pipeline for the 1934 model year. Under Curtice's direction,
every effort was made to expedite the new smaller Buick, while the
big Series 80 was discontinued after 1933. The inline
eight-cylinder engine chosen to power the Series 40 displaced 233
cubic inches and generated 30.63 horsepower. With a wheelbase of
117 inches, the new "small" Buick was lighter and less expensive
than any other recent models from the Flint automaker. Available in
five factory body styles, prices started at $865, which was $120
less than the least expensive 1933 Buick. Considering that the
Series 40 arrived halfway through the model year, partial year
sales of 26,195 units, surely helped to earn the car a spot in the
1935 model range. In addition to those cataloged models, the Series
40 was available in chassis form, for those owners wanting a
special body or a little more style. The Series 40's smaller size
made it a good fit for overseas buyers, and the model was widely
admired in Europe for its quality and eight-cylinder prestige.
Instead of coming from Buick's Flint plant, the chassis for this
1935 Buick Series 40 was produced by General Motors France, as
displayed on the cowl tag. The rolling chassis was sent to
Carrosserie Janer of Paris to receive its coachwork. This
little-known firm was a subsidiary of the prestigious Kellner
Freres coachbuilders in France. With a name contracted from
"JAcques kellNER. Janer bodies were built for higher-production
chassis from companies including Ford, Buick, and Renault, while
the parent company's coachwork graced chassis from exclusive
automakers including Delage, Hispano-Suiza, Duesenberg,
Rolls-Royce, Panhard, and Mercedes. Despite their middle-class
status, Janer bodies boasted outstanding style and quality. This
handsome and rare 3-position drophead coupe by Janer is fitted to
Buick's capable straight-8 Series 40 chassis. It spent much of its
early life in France, and reportedly winning a concours d'elegance
in 1936. It was sold by a French dealer to a collector in Spain in
the 1970s, and has remained in honest, well-maintained condition
through the years. It runs and drives very well, and needs little
to enjoy on the road from a mechanical standpoint. The engine bay
is tidy and shows signs of regular maintenance. Inside, the tan
upholstery is in very good order, with sound beige carpeting and a
canvas soft top. Cosmetically the appealing Buick is in good
condition, with a careworn character that makes it an ideal
candidate for touring or for embarking on a straightforward
restoration. A rare combination of a mid-priced American chassis
with lovely European coachwork, this charming and unusual
coachbuilt Buick is sure to delight its next custodian. Offers
welcome and trades considered For additional details please view
this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7486-1935-buick-series-40-drophead-coupe-by-janer/
