Vehicle Description
Body-off restoration of a 32,000-mile car by the legendary Lewis
Jenkins. 2023 AACA National First Prize winner. Beautiful color
combination, impeccable interior. Everything works, runs and drives
superbly. There are fresher restorations but there are no better
Buicks than this.If you're a Buick guy, you know the name Lewis
Jenkins. Famous for their interiors, Jenkins Restoration
specialized in Buicks of the 1940s and consistently delivered
show-winning results. As a testament to the quality of a Jenkins
restoration, realize that this car was restored nearly 20 years
ago, but just this year (2023) was still nice enough to win an AACA
National First Prize award, which is no easy feat. That speaks both
to the workmanship and the care it has received since it was
finished, and if you want an exceptional Buick that works properly
and looks fantastic, this 1941 Super 56C convertible coupe is the
right choice. The Carlsbad Black paint is miles deep, the bodywork
is impeccably straight, and the panels line up properly. Of course,
starting with a 32,000-mile original car probably helped, and to
their credit, the car still feels tight, solid, and well-assembled.
The Super wore GM's all-new 'torpedo' styling that was longer and
lower than before, and the Super perhaps balances it best with tidy
proportions that look impressive on a 121-inch wheelbase. Some of
the chrome was restored, but we believe the grille and hood latches
are original, suggesting that this was a really nice car to begin
with. If there are any demerits, it's only that the silver paint
isn't quite perfect on the hood vents-an easy issue to rectify if
perfection is your goal. Otherwise, we can find very few things to
fault with this lovely convertible.Interiors were Jenkins'
specialty and this one gets everything right. The red leather is
exactly the right color, pattern, and texture for 1941-not too
soft, not too shiny, but just right. The seats are firm and
comfortable, and if you need any clarification about Jenkins'
attention to detail, just take a look at the carpets, which were
created in his shop. Impressive isn't the right word. The
engine-turned panels that highlight the dashboard are just
spectacular-even noted 1940 Buick expert Doug Seybold wondered how
Jenkins got them so perfect. All the plastic was restored and is
just the right shade of 'cigarette cream' and all the gauges are
fully operational. In fact, everything works, including the radio
and clock, plus the heater under the seat. The woodgrained accents
are accurately done and all the hardware is like new. Even the back
seat looks like nobody has ever been seated there. The tan canvas
convertible top is perhaps the best we've ever seen-taut and
wrinkle-free. We did not lower it for the photo shoot simply
because it's so perfect we were afraid to wrinkle it, but we are
assured by the car's expert owner that the power top mechanism does
function properly. The trunk is properly outfitted with the right
burlap-style material, and is correct right down to the hardware
that secures the spare tire. There's also a matching tan canvas
boot that has probably never been used.Straight-8 Buicks are
fantastic road cars and this Super is no exception. With 248 cubic
inches, it may seem small by today's standards but in practice, it
makes the Super quick and light and easy to handle. Still starting
with the accelerator pedal system (press the pedal to the floor and
the engine fires), this Super is beautifully tuned and crisply
turned out. It starts easily, idles smoothly, and has a prodigious
torque curve that makes it enjoyable around town and never feels
like a rolling roadblock in traffic. It's correctly detailed in
corporate gray enamel with bright red Buick decals and inhales
through a Carter 2-barrel carburetor (which tends to run smoother
than the also-available Strombergs). It has been driven a bit, so
there are signs of use like paint burned off the exhaust manifolds,
but there is otherwise nothing significant and it has no issues
that will prevent a new owner from enjoying the car right away. Of
course, everything around the engine was replaced during the
restoration, including a new cloth wiring harness that's just
beautiful. The only transmission available was a 3-speed manual
with column shift, and with new bushings and linkage, it feels
tight and direct, not loose and sloppy like many cars of the era.
Gear ratios are well-chosen and the Super accelerates cleanly from
almost any speed. We believe there are high-speed 3.90 gears in the
rear end, as this car cruises at 55-60 MPH without seeming to
strain itself. You'll note that the chassis is highly detailed,
including the ultra-rare engine splash pans, and the single exhaust
has the right Buick 8-cylinder hum. Ride quality is excellent,
steering is light, and braking is effective, making this a
fantastic road car for touring events. There's some minor
discoloration on the gas tank, but again, that's the only demerit
we can find on what is a beautifully finished undercarriage.
Factory 16-inch steel wheels are finished in correct Dante Red and
wrapped with 6.50-16 Firestone wide whitewall tires, as
original.This is the kind of car that doesn't tell the whole story
in pictures. We would strongly encourage you to see it in person,
because the way the doors close, the feel of going down the road,
and the tight precision of the controls just can't be conveyed in
photos. This is a superior car. Yes, it's expensive, but like we
said, there are fresher restorations out there that might be a bit
shinier, but we doubt you will find a better Buick anywhere at any
price. That was the kind of work for which Lewis Jenkins was
justifiably famous and this is some of his very best work. Call
today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or
professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to
purchase.
