For Sale: 1909 Buick Model 10 in Morgantown, Pennsylvania

1909 Buick Model 10 Touring Sedan

"Using Buick as his financial leverage, William C. Durant established General Motors on September 16, 1908, filing incorporation documents in New Jersey. Under Durant's leadership, Buick output had zoomed from 4641 cars in 1907 to 8820 in 1908, propelled by the new Model 10. (from $900), which accounted for about half of the company's production that year." Car and Driver, Nov. 2008

For consignment, a 1909 Buick Model 10 touring sedan showing no miles, as there is no odometer, so naturally the true miles are unknown. This brass era car has had much of its mechanics professionally rebuilt and presents with a stunning black and white palette augmented by, naturally, brass componentry.

Exterior
Just this side of a horse carriage, the steel bodied Buick is essentially a flat platform with raised seats and a covered engine up front, riding on two axles with wheels covered by a continuous ribbon of fender. 32-inch wooden spoke wheels are painted to match and have brass hubs, keeping the palette coordinated that includes cowl lights, radiator shell, headlamp and rear lamp housing, running board and other trim, and hand controls. A green pinstripe frames each panel and the seat shells, and a black canvas top looms large over the cabin and folds down behind it. Cracking paint around a seat base and in other places along with an elongated scratch make our list of visible imperfections.

Interior
Black leather bucket seats occupy the front and are not unlike those you might find in a house or office at the time. In back, a straight bench in black leather is very coach-like, and has a brass robe loop as the only accommodation. Wood and brass are used on the steering wheel and column and the dashboard itself while the rubberized floor is trimmed in brass framing. The three pedal plate is embossed with the functions of each steel pedal.

Drivetrain
Under the engine cover is a 165.7ci four cylinder with a Schebler 1-barrel carburetor rebuilt by The Carb Doctor. The magneto was also rebuilt and the car is rated at 22.5 horsepower, up 21.5 from an actual horse, and no hay required! Meanwhile a rebuilt 2-speed planetary transmission with a relined clutch sets the car in motion with 4.10 gears in a rear axle. The engine compartment is in nice, original condition.

Undercarriage
This visible clinic of early automotive is an incredible technological advance at the turn of the century, here is relative drive quality but complete. Components include mechanical drum brakes on the rear wheels only, a single exhaust that flows through a stock style muffler, and suspension that includes semi elliptical springs in front and full elliptical springs in back. There's some residual oil about and some surface rust, but for something that's over 100 years old, it looks darn good!

Drive-Ability
The engine turns by hand but we did not attempt to start the car.

The more technology our cars are equipped with in the modern age, the more incredible these early models become. If you remember when the internet became a thing in the mid-90's, you can imagine how people felt in the early 1900's when automobiles were replacing horse and carriage at a fast clip. This 1909 is a stunning representation of that era and should be studied in tandem with American history. Okay, professor, are you ready to take home this fantastic piece of show and tell?

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.

With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!