Vehicle Description
20,016 original miles. Spectacular original car with factory paint,
interior, and just about everything else. Runs and drives like a
new car, silent, smooth, powerful. New tires. Already an HPOF
winner. The most amazing survivor we've ever seen!Not only is this
beautiful 1939 Buick Century sedan an incredible survivor, it has a
known history. The first lady owner kept it until she passed in the
mid-80s, at which point it passed to well-known collector Jim
Campbell. Upon his passing, it was acquired by noted Buick expert
and restorer Doug Seybold, who has preserved the car in almost
entirely original condition. We believe the belts and hoses have
been changed at some point, there's a new battery and fresh tires,
and, well, that's about it. The Carlsbad Black paint shines up
beautifully with very few signs of use and certainly no damage or
rust. The doors swing closed with a substantial-sounding THUNK, and
there's a feeling of solidity to the entire car that you've
probably never experienced before. Original cars are special that
way. All the chrome and stainless trim is in excellent condition,
including the pot metal pieces, and the fine-toothed grille is as
crisp and clean as it was when it left the factory. If there are
any demerits, it's that the running boards are showing some very
minor signs of age, but even they remain rather remarkably
well-preserved for being 85 years old. There's no delamination or
discoloration in the glass, the lenses are bright and clear, and
even the plastic bits like the turn signals mounted on the trunk
are extremely nice. We challenge you to find a better unrestored
pre-war Buick!The tan broadcloth interior is likewise very well
preserved. Just look at the workmanship that Buick was delivering
in 1939! All the seams line up perfectly, the stitching on the door
panels is laser-straight, and the headliner is beautifully trimmed
with matching windlace. The plastic pieces, including the maroon
steering wheel and dash knobs, show no signs of cracking or failing
due to age although there's some light spalling on the horn button
and instrument panel surround?certainly nothing to cause alarm. And
speaking of the instruments, they all work correctly, with the gas
gauge and ammeter needles springing to life when you flip the
ignition lever. The painted woodgraining on the dashboard and
window garnish moldings is excellent and not faded, and the turn
signals (actuated by a flipper on the shifter) work as they should.
The radio powers up but does not play sounds, but that's the only
possible component that isn't working like new. The heater is
powerful, the clock ticks away, and all the lights work. The
original carpets show some wear under the mat at the driver's feet,
but it's minor enough to overlook and replacing the carpets in this
car would be a crime. The trunk is correctly outfitted with
original fabric and what is likely the original spare tire, along
with a complete jack assembly.The reason Buick's Century is such a
special car is because it combines America's most powerful
production engine with a relatively lightweight body. In this case,
it's Buick's famous 320 cubic inch OHV straight-8, which moves the
big black sedan effortlessly. We debated cleaning and detailing the
engine bay, but instead decided to preserve originality rather than
make it shiny. So some of the original engine enamel has burned
off, there's some surface scale on the manifolds, and the air
cleaner is a little faded, but none of that diminishes just how
well this thing works. We replaced the vacuum starter switch so it
fires almost instantly by depressing the accelerator pedal about
halfway, and eases into a smooth idle that is almost undetectable.
On the road, it pulls the Century to 60 MPH with almost no effort
at all and as the name suggests, it's capable of more than 100 MPH
flat-out (not that we'd recommend it!). Original decals and
markings are still visible throughout the engine bay and even the
factory wiring harness remains in good condition. This is what a
quality survivor looks like. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts
crisply with no slop in the linkage, clutch action is light, and
the brakes are powerful. Ride quality is shockingly good and the
body is almost completely devoid of squeaks and rattles, another
upside of owning an original car. There's some surface scale on the
bare metal pieces underneath, but you can easily see that there's
no rot or other issues and it might be a mistake to try to cover it
all up with some kind of undercoating. There are signs of recent
service with fresh fluids throughout, and yes, that's the original
gas tank hanging out back with a correct galvanized finish. 15-inch
wheels were standard on the Century, with these carrying fresh
7.00-15 Firestone blackwalls that give it a suitably sinister
look.Documentation is extensive, including original owner's
manuals, tags, and booklets, Owner Identification Card, plus the
actual invoices showing Alice Doon of Tomahawk, Wisconsin as the
original owner. There's even a receipt for the insurance policy Ms.
Doon took out on the car the day she picked it up!This is a very
special car. We know that it just seems to be a plain-Jane black
sedan, but look closely at the photos and then come see it in
person?this is as close as you're ever going to get to a new 1939
Buick. If you still don't get it, well, this isn't the car for you
and that's OK. But if you're like us and know why survivors like
this are special, then this Century should be at the very top of
your wish list. We've never seen a better one. Call today!Note:
This car is titled by engine number.Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
