Vehicle Description
1938 Buick Century Estate Wagon 141 bhp, 320 cu. in. inline eight-cylinder engine, three-speed sliding gear manual transmission, independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms and coil springs, semi-floating rear axle with coil springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 126" - Believed to be a 48,000 original mile example - Limited production, custom-built by the Joseph Wildanger Company - Formerly part of the Richard and Linda Kughn Collection In 1938, Buick offered a diverse model line including the Series 40 Special, Series 60 Century, Series 80 Roadmaster and the Series 90 Limited. Examples like the handsome Buick Estate Wagon offered here, while certainly very attractive and functional, were never made in large quantities. Consequently, a wonderfully restored original example and is believed to be the only one in existence today. Showing only 48,000 miles on the odometer, which are believed to be original, its distinctive body was custom-built by the Joseph Wildanger Company of Red Bank, New Jersey using a steel Fisher body, combined with the very elegant and refined wooden coachwork seen here, to produce one of the most attractive limited production Buicks of the 1930s. Noted collectors Fred and David Weber were responsible for the Buick’s complete and beautiful restoration before it formed part of the highly respected Carail Collection of Richard and Linda Kughn until 2003. Since then, the car has been given a mechanical service and was always carefully stored and used sparingly. Very attractive brightwork, wide whitewall tires and brown leather bench seats complement the rich maroon exterior finish and beautifully finished wooden bodywork. The car continues to present very well and remains in excellent condition. One particularly interesting feature on this car are the roll-up windows at the rear – a feature rarely seen in the Buick Estate Wagon line, and possibly only on the proto-type examples. This 1938 Buick Century Estate Wagon is a very handsome example that is perfect example of the distinctive wood-bodied motor cars of the prewar era. It combines the stylish good looks and robust mechanicals of a Buick Century with beautiful original construction by a skilled and highly professional wooden coachwork specialist.
