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Buick Special

The Buick Special was an automobile produced by Buick. It was usually Buick's lowest-priced model, starting out as a full-size car in 1936 and returning in 1961 (after a two-year hiatus) as a mid-size. The Special was built for several decades and was offered as a coupe, sedan and later as a station wagon. When GM modernized their entry level products in the 1960s, the Special introduced the modern Buick V6 that became a core engine for GM for several decades and lived on in upgraded form until 2006.

Buick Special
1958 Buick Special Convertible
Overview
ManufacturerBuick (General Motors)
Production1936–1942
1946-1958
1961–1969
DesignerHarley Earl
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size (1936–1958)
Compact (1961-1963)
Mid-size (1964–1969)
LayoutFR layout
Chronology
PredecessorMarquette Model 30
Buick Standard Six[1]
SuccessorBuick LeSabre (1959 full-size)
Buick Skylark (1970 mid-size)

By 1970, Special was no longer offered as a standalone model but the name would later be used for the entry trim on 1975 to 1979 and 1991 to 1996 Century models.

The entry level Buick can trace its heritage to the Buick Model 10, a companion to Buick's first car, the Buick Model B. The Model 10 started out as one of the independent brands merged into Buick, called the Janney.

Series 40 (1930, 1934–1935) edit

Series 40
 
1930 Series 40 convertible
Overview
Model years1930
1934-1935
AssemblyFlint Wagon Works, Flint, Michigan, United States[2]
DesignerHarley Earl
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size car
Body style2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door phaeton
4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive[2]
PlatformGM B platform
RelatedMcLaughlin-Buick
Powertrain
Engine257.5 cu in (4.2 L) Buick Straight-6 engine OHV I6
233 cu in (3.8 L) Buick Straight-8 engine OHV I8[2]
Transmission3-speed synchromesh manual[2]
Dimensions
Wheelbase117 in (2,972 mm)
118 in (2,997 mm)[2]

When the Series 40 was introduced, it had the 257.5 cu in (4,220 cc) overhead valve Buick Straight-6 engine that produced 80.5 bhp of power at 2,800 rpm, and 74,257 examples were made, being the highest number of Buicks for 1930. For the year 1931, the Series 40 was temporarily discontinued, with the introduction of the Marquette Model 30 and the Series 50 being repositioned as the Buick entry level product.[2] The 1935 version returned with the 233.0 cu in (3,818 cc) Buick Straight-8 engine and 93 bhp. Starting with this generation, all GM cars shared a corporate appearance as a result of the Art and Color Section headed by Harley Earl and modest yearly changes were introduced to freshen the appearance.

1933 was the first year all GM vehicles were installed with optional vent windows which were initially called “No Draft Individually Controlled Ventilation” later renamed "Ventiplanes" which the patent application was filed on Nov. 28, 1932. It was assigned to the Ternstedt Manufacturing Company, a GM subsidiary that manufactured components for Fisher Body and they were added to the Special when it was introduced in 1935.[2] Additional manufacturing locations also opened across the country under the Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac Assembly Division.[2] The Series 40 was the most affordable Buick offered, with 6 body styles offered, and the five passenger Sedan Model 41 was US$925 ($20,557 in 2023 dollars [3]), while a LaSalle Series 50 was US$1,000 ($22,776 in 2023 dollars [3]) more. A standard feature offered on all Buicks was a dashboard mounted selector handle that would alter spark timing and allow either low grade or premium fuel to be used.[2] In 1936 the name changed to "Special".

1936–1942, 1946-1949 edit

Series 40
 
1939 Buick Special Four-Door Sedan
Overview
Model years1936–1942, 1946-1949
Assembly(Main plant)
Buick City, Flint, Michigan
(branch assembly)
Fairfax Assembly, Kansas City, Kansas (1946-1949)
Linden Assembly, Linden, New Jersey
South Gate Assembly, South Gate, California
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
2/4-door sedan
2/4-door convertible
4-door Estate station wagon
(1941–1942 only)
PlatformGM B platform
RelatedCadillac Series 60
Cadillac Series 61
LaSalle Series 50
McLaughlin-Buick
Buick Century
Oldsmobile F-Series
Oldsmobile Series 70
Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo
Powertrain
Engine233 cu in (3.8 L) OHV I8
248 cu in (4.1 L) OHV I8
Transmission3-speed synchromesh manual
Automatic Safety Transmission (1938 only)
4-speed semi-automatic[4]
Dimensions
Wheelbase118–122 in (2,997–3,099 mm)

Starting with 1936, the Buick Special Series 40 model range represented the marque's entry level full-size automobile. The '36 was a very successful year for Buick and also marked the first time of using names rather than the simple serial numbers which had been in use before.[1] The first Specials rode on a 118 in (3.0 m) wheelbase, but for the next model year this was increased to 122 in (3.10 m) as all Buicks grew for that year. The eight cylinder engine was also new, and was now of 248 cu in (4.1 L) rather than 233 cu in (3.8 L).[5] The Special (and all other Buicks as well) underwent a full restyling for 1939, with a more enclosed nose and a wider grille.[6] The wheelbase was also two inches shorter.[7]

For 1940, there was the usual restyle and the wheelbase increased by an inch. This was also the only model year that a four-door convertible Special ("Sport Phaeton") was offered, although only 552 were built.[8] Prices started at US$795 ($17,456 in 2023 dollars [3]) for the Business Coupe to US$925 ($20,310 in 2023 dollars [3]) for either the 4-door Touring Sedan or 2-door Convertible.

For 1941 the bodywork was again all new, with the front fenders now very closely integrated into the cars overall design. The Estate Wagon migrated from being a Super into the Special lineup. A fastback was offered in Century and 40 Special trim as a four-door touring sedan and two-door business coupe and the 46S sedanette. Also new was the 40-A series (the regular Special now being the 40-B), a version on a three inches shorter wheelbase which shared its body with the 1941 Oldsmobile Series 70.[9] These two series, with a restyle reminiscent of the 1939 Y-Job, continued into the abbreviated 1942 model year. Production ended on 4 February 1942.[10] The Special was now offered as the entry-level luxury vehicle that the LaSalle previously held.

After production resumed, only the larger 1946 B-body Special range remained available, which is rare, representing less than two percent of Buick's production that year.[11] The Special continued with minor changes until the prewar body was finally replaced halfway through the 1949 model year.[12] Post-war Specials were only available as a four-door sedan or a two-door "sedanet", until the new 1949 models arrived.

In the movie Mildred Pierce, Veda Pierce, Mildred's daughter, played by actress Ann Blyth, was given a 1940 Buick Special convertible as a gift, valued at US$1,077 for the Model 46C ($23,423 in 2023 dollars [3]).[2]

The movie Small Town Conspiracy features a 1939 Buick Special 8 that the main character of the film John Haleran (Zen Gesner) drives as his official police car. The car remained the property of director Ralph Clemente and was untouched for many years until sold to Florida restorer and car collector Axel Caravias.

1949–1958 edit

Series 40
 
1952 Buick Special De Luxe 2-door Tourback Sedanette
Overview
Model years1949–1958
Assembly(main plant)
Flint, Michigan, United States, (Buick City)
(branch assembly)
Arlington Assembly (Texas) (1955-1958)
Doraville Assembly ("Atlanta") (Georgia)
Fairfax Assembly (Kansas City, Kansas)
Framingham Assembly (Massachusetts)
Linden Assembly (New Jersey)
South Gate Assembly (California)
Wilmington Assembly (Delaware)
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
2/4-door sedan
2-door convertible
4-door Estate station wagon
(1954-1958)
PlatformGM B platform
RelatedOldsmobile 88
Pontiac Streamliner
Pontiac Chieftain
Powertrain
Engine248 cu in (4.1 L) OHV I8
263.3 cu in (4.3 L) Fireball OHV I8
264 cu in (4.3 L) Fireball OHV V8
322 cu in (5.3 L) Fireball OHV V8
364 cu in (6.0 L) Fireball OHV V8
Transmission2-speed Dynaflow automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase121.5 in (3,086 mm) (1949–1953)
122 in (3,099 mm) (1954–1958)

Halfway into the 1949 model year, the Specials received all-new bodywork to include a dramatically styled grille where nine grille bars also served as bumper guards and extended over the front bumper, and the first fully postwar design for the series.[13] New was also the 40D-series, a better equipped version called the Special DeLuxe.[14] The engine remained the 248 cu in (4.1 L) which had been used since 1937, but for 1951 this was replaced by the larger "Fireball" straight-eight. A two-door hardtop coupe was also new for 1951, but the unusual grille was revised with the grill bars shortened.[15] The 1954 Specials had an all-new body and chassis, much wider and lower, and were now equipped with the all-new, more powerful "Fireball" V8 engines.[16] In 1953 The Buick-Berle Show introduced product placement commercials on TV, and later in 1955 The Honeymooners was one of the sponsors.

Introduced in the middle of the 1955 model year the four-door Buick Special Riviera (along with the Century Riviera, the Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, and the 88 Holiday) were the first four-door pillarless hardtops ever produced. By then, the Buick Special was one of America's best selling automotive series. For 1956 the larger 322 cu in (5.3 L) V8 engine was shared with the rest of the range, although it was replaced by the bigger, 250 hp (186 kW) 364 V8 for 1957. This year also brought all-new bodywork, as well as a four-door hardtop station wagon called the Buick Riviera Estate.[17] The 1957 wheelbase remained 122 inches.[18] In the June, 1957 issue of Popular Mechanics, the Special was rated with a 0-60 mph time of 11.6 seconds, fuel economy of 17.4 mpg‑US (13.5 L/100 km; 20.9 mpg‑imp) at 50 mph (80 km/h), and ground clearance of 6.9 in (175 mm).[19] 1958 brought the most chrome yet and twin headlights, as the car grew longer and wider, albeit on an unchanged chassis.

1949-1957 Buick Specials had three VentiPorts on each side while more senior Buicks (with the partial exception of the Buick Super, which switched from three to four in 1955) had four. Earlier versions had a "Sweepspear" inspired character line alongside the body, while later versions had the "Sweepspear" moulding attached to the side of all models. GM renamed the Buick Special the LeSabre for the 1959 model year, taking the name from the 1951 Le Sabre concept car.[13]

1961–1963 edit

Series 4000/4100/4300 (Special/Special Deluxe/Skylark)
 
1963 Buick Special Deluxe 4-Door Sedan
Overview
Production1961–1963
Assembly(main plant)
Flint, Michigan, United States, (Buick City)
(branch assembly)
Kansas City, Kansas, United States, (Fairfax Assembly)
South Gate, California, United States, (South Gate Assembly)
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
2/4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
2-door convertible
PlatformY-body
Powertrain
Engine198 cu in (3.2 L) Fireball V6
215 cu in (3.5 L) Buick 215 V8
Transmission3/4-speed manual
2-speed Dual Path automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase112 in (2,845 mm)
Length193 in (4,900 mm)
Width70.2 in (1,783 mm)

In 1961, the car returned after a short absence of two years, but this time it was on the brand new unibody compact GM Y platform. The Special was powered by a 155 hp (116 kW) innovative aluminum-block 215 in³ V8, and had Dual Path transmission and power steering.[20] In mid-year a Skylark option was released with special trim, optional bucket seats and a four-barrel version of the 215 that made 185 hp (138 kW).

In 1962, the Special was the first American car to use a V6 engine in volume production; it earned Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1962.[21] This 198 cid Fireball was engineered down from the 215 and used many of the same design parameters, but was cast in iron. Output was 135 hp (gross) at 4600 rpm and 205 lb⋅ft (278 N⋅m) at 2400 rpm. In their test that year, Road & Track was impressed with Buick's "practical" new V6, saying it "sounds and performs exactly like the aluminum V8 in most respects." In 1963, the Special's body was restyled. Mechanically, however, the car was identical to the 1962 model. There was also some minor interior restyling, particularly to the dash and instrument cluster. The 1963 Special was available as a 2-door pillared hardtop coupe, a four dour sedan, a convertible, and a station wagon. Engine choices were a standard 198 cu in (3.2 L) V6 with a twin-barrel carburetor and optional 215 cu in (3.5 L) V8 with 155 hp (116 kW) (two-barrel) or more powerful four-barrel (190 hp (140 kW) in 1962, 200 hp (150 kW) in 1963).[22] Transmission choices were a three speed column shift manual transmission, a floor shift Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual, or a two-speed Turbine Drive[22] automatic. The two speed "Dual Path Turbine Drive" automatic was a Buick design and shared no common parts with the better known Chevrolet Power-Glide transmission.

The 1962 model sold 153,763, including 42,973 Skylarks.[23]

The 1963 body was only produced for one year; it sold 148,750 copies, including 42,321 Skylarks.[24] The entire car was redesigned for 1964. After that, the 215 found its way into the Rover P6 3500S in 1968, but was never sold in North America in any great numbers. It was also employed in other British cars, including the Morgan Plus 8, MG MGB GTV8, Land Rover, and Triumph TR8, as well as retrofits into MGAs and MGBs. The engine had really earned its stripes as being the sole engine powering the Range Rover for a couple decades and eventually finding its way into the original Series/Defender Land Rover; and several other Land Rover Models including the Discovery and the Forward Control.

The Skylark became a separate series for 1962.

1964–1967 edit

Series 4000/4100/4300
 
1964 Buick Special
Overview
Production1964–1967
Model years1964-1967
Assembly(main plant)
Flint, Michigan, United States, (Buick City)
(branch assembly)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Baltimore Assembly)
Fremont, California, United States (Fremont Assembly)
Leeds, Kansas City, Missouri, United States (Leeds Assembly)
Body and chassis
Body style2-door hardtop coupe
2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door Sport Wagon
4-door sedan
PlatformA-body
RelatedChevrolet Chevelle
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Pontiac LeMans
Buick Skylark
Powertrain
Engine
  • 225 cu in (3.7 L) V6
  • 300 cu in (4.9 L) V8
  • 340 cu in (5.6 L) V8
Transmission4-speed manual
2-speed Dynaflow automatic
3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase115 in (2,921 mm)[25]
Length203.4 in (5,166 mm) (coupe, sedan, convertible)
203.2 in (5,161 mm) (station wagon)
Width73.6 in (1,869 mm)

The Special, along with the upscale Skylark, were redesigned for the 1964 model year with separate body-on-frame construction—renamed the A-body—and marketed as an intermediate-sized car. The Skylark was expanded to a full top-line series that now included two- and four-door sedans, two-door hardtop coupe and convertible, along with a station wagon. The other series models included the base Special and the slightly fancier Special Deluxe, in a more limited range of bodystyles.

Also new for 1964 were engines. The capacity of the V6 engine was increased from 198 to 225 cubic inches, while the aluminum V8 was replaced by a new cast iron-block 300 cubic inch V8 with aluminum cylinder heads. In 1965, cast iron heads replaced the problematic aluminum ones. This reliable engine, produced until 1967, was based on the aluminum V8, and many parts (such as the cylinder heads) were interchangeable.

1968–1969 edit

Series 43300/43400
 
1968 Buick Special Deluxe coupe
Overview
Production1968–1969
Assembly(main plant)
Flint, Michigan, United States, (Buick City)
(branch assembly)
Fremont, California, United States (Fremont Assembly)
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada (Oshawa Car Assembly)
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
PlatformA-body
RelatedChevrolet Chevelle
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Pontiac LeMans
Pontiac Tempest
Buick Skylark
Buick Gran Sport
Buick Sport Wagon
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission3-speed manual
2-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic
3-speed THM350 automatic (1969 only)
Dimensions
Wheelbase112 in (2,845 mm) (coupe)
116 in (2,946 mm) (sedan, station wagon)
Length200.6 in (5,095 mm) 1968 (coupe)
200.7 in (5,098 mm) 1969 (coupe)
204.6 in (5,197 mm) 1968 (sedan)
204.7 in (5,199 mm) 1969 (sedan)
209 in (5,309 mm) 1968 (station wagon)
209.1 in (5,311 mm) 1969 (station wagon)

The Special nameplate was used on lower-priced intermediate-sized Buicks through the 1969 model year. In 1968 and 1969, the Buick Special was dropped and only Special Deluxes were manufactured. In 1970, the end of the Special came about when the Special Deluxe was dropped too in favor of the slightly upscale Buick Skylark.

The 1968 model year was one of significant change for the Buick Special and Skylark.[26] Although still using the same basic chassis, all of GM's mid-sized cars adopted a policy of using two different length wheelbases. Two-door models used a shorter wheelbase of 112 in (2,845 mm), while four-door models used a longer wheelbase of 116 in (the Buick Sport Wagon and Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser used an even longer wheelbase of 121 in). All of GM's mid-sized cars received all-new sheet metal, incorporating a semi-fastback appearance, which was a revival of a streamlining on all GM products from 1942 until 1950 as demonstrated on the Buick Super Club Coupe (sedanette). More Federally mandated safety features improved occupant protection and accident avoidance, including side marker lights, shoulder belts (on all models built after January 1, 1968), and parking lights that illuminated with headlights.

In a reshuffling of models in the lineup, the Special Deluxe replaced the previous Special. The Skylark nameplate was shuffled down a notch to replace the previous Special Deluxe. The previous Skylark was replaced by a new Skylark Custom.

The Special Deluxe was available as a pillared two-door coupe, a pillared four-door sedan, or a 2-row station wagon.

The previous V6 was discontinued and the associated tooling was sold to Kaiser Industries, which used the V6 in its Jeep trucks and sport utility vehicles. The base engine in the Buick Special (and Buick Skylark) coupes & sedans) became a 250-cubic-inch 250 cu in (4.1 L) Chevrolet I6, that produced 155 hp (116 kW) at 4200 rpm using a single-barrel Rochester carburetor.

Optional on the Special Deluxe coupe & sedan and standard on the Special Deluxe station wagon was a new 350-cubic-inch V8 derived from the 340, using a two-barrel Rochester carburetor that produced 230 hp (170 kW) at 4400 rpm. Optional on the Special Deluxe was a 350-cubic-inch V8 using a four-barrel Rochester carburetor that produced 280 hp (210 kW) at 4600 rpm. The Buick Special name was dropped after the 1969 model year. A locking steering column with a new, rectangular ignition key became standard on all 1969 GM cars (except Corvair), one year ahead of the Federal requirement.

For 1970, the Buick Skylark name was moved down another notch, replacing the previous entry-level Buick Special.

1975–1977 edit

 
1977 Buick Century Special

The Special returned briefly to the GM A platform as an entry level subseries of the Buick Century. Although officially sold as the Buick Century Special, it was sometimes also referred to as just the Buick Special.

Century Specials were usually powered by Buick's own 231 V6; a V8 (from either Buick, Oldsmobile, or Chevrolet) was offered but rarely optioned. It used the "colonnade" roofline but was fitted with a landau roof that covered most of the rear quarter windows. The opening that was left was the same shape as the windows on the higher series formal-roof cars.

1978–1979 edit

 
1978 Buick Century Special Fastback, with non-standard exhaust pipes.

In 1978 and 1979, the Special trim continued on the redesigned Century fastback and wagon models.

1991–1996 edit

 
1992 Buick Century Special sedan

Special returned once again as the entry level trim on the Century sedan (starting 1991) and wagon (starting 1993). The "Special" designation was discontinued with the Century's redesign in 1997.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Gunnell, John (2004). Standard Catalog of Buick, 1903-2004 (3rd ed.). Iola, WI: Krause Publications, Inc. p. 44. ISBN 0-87349-760-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kimes, Beverly (1996). Standard catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 (third ed.). Krause publications. pp. 161–193. ISBN 0-87341-478-0.
  3. ^ a b c d e 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ^ https://auto.howstuffworks.com/buick.htm
  5. ^ Gunnell, pp. 46-48
  6. ^ Odin, L.C. World in Motion 1939, The whole of the year's automobile production. Belvedere Publishing, 2015. ASIN: B00ZLN91ZG.
  7. ^ Gunnell, pp. 54-55
  8. ^ Gunnell, p. 59
  9. ^ Gunnell, p. 61
  10. ^ Gunnell, p. 64
  11. ^ Gunnell, pp. 66-67. 2,999 Specials were built (plus 1,500 stripped chassis for export), out of 158,728 Buicks in total for the model year.
  12. ^ Gunnell, p. 70
  13. ^ a b Flory Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
  14. ^ Gunnell, p. 73
  15. ^ Gunnell, p. 75
  16. ^ Gunnell, p. 85
  17. ^ Gunnell, p. 94
  18. ^ "Directory Index: Buick/1957 Buick/1957 Buick Brochure 2". Oldcarbrochures.com. Buick Motor Division. 1957. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  19. ^ Popular Mechanics. NY, NY: Hearst Corporation. June 1957. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  20. ^ Francis, Devon (October 1960). "850 Miles in Buick's New Compact". Popular Science: 90–91.
  21. ^ Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1960-1972 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2004), p.142.
  22. ^ a b Flory (2004), pp.143 & 205.
  23. ^ Flory (2004), p.144.
  24. ^ Flory (2004), p.207.
  25. ^ . Oldcarbrochures.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-29. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  26. ^ Hagerty.com History of the 1968–1972 Buick Skylark - Retrieved on 07/22/2013

buick, special, automobile, produced, buick, usually, buick, lowest, priced, model, starting, full, size, 1936, returning, 1961, after, year, hiatus, size, special, built, several, decades, offered, coupe, sedan, later, station, wagon, when, modernized, their,. The Buick Special was an automobile produced by Buick It was usually Buick s lowest priced model starting out as a full size car in 1936 and returning in 1961 after a two year hiatus as a mid size The Special was built for several decades and was offered as a coupe sedan and later as a station wagon When GM modernized their entry level products in the 1960s the Special introduced the modern Buick V6 that became a core engine for GM for several decades and lived on in upgraded form until 2006 Buick Special1958 Buick Special ConvertibleOverviewManufacturerBuick General Motors Production1936 19421946 19581961 1969DesignerHarley EarlBody and chassisClassFull size 1936 1958 Compact 1961 1963 Mid size 1964 1969 LayoutFR layoutChronologyPredecessorMarquette Model 30Buick Standard Six 1 SuccessorBuick LeSabre 1959 full size Buick Skylark 1970 mid size By 1970 Special was no longer offered as a standalone model but the name would later be used for the entry trim on 1975 to 1979 and 1991 to 1996 Century models The entry level Buick can trace its heritage to the Buick Model 10 a companion to Buick s first car the Buick Model B The Model 10 started out as one of the independent brands merged into Buick called the Janney Contents 1 Series 40 1930 1934 1935 2 1936 1942 1946 1949 3 1949 1958 4 1961 1963 5 1964 1967 6 1968 1969 7 1975 1977 8 1978 1979 9 1991 1996 10 ReferencesSeries 40 1930 1934 1935 editSeries 40 nbsp 1930 Series 40 convertibleOverviewModel years19301934 1935AssemblyFlint Wagon Works Flint Michigan United States 2 DesignerHarley EarlBody and chassisClassFull size carBody style2 door coupe 2 door convertible 4 door phaeton 4 door sedanLayoutFront engine rear wheel drive 2 PlatformGM B platformRelatedMcLaughlin BuickPowertrainEngine257 5 cu in 4 2 L Buick Straight 6 engine OHV I6233 cu in 3 8 L Buick Straight 8 engine OHV I8 2 Transmission3 speed synchromesh manual 2 DimensionsWheelbase117 in 2 972 mm 118 in 2 997 mm 2 When the Series 40 was introduced it had the 257 5 cu in 4 220 cc overhead valve Buick Straight 6 engine that produced 80 5 bhp of power at 2 800 rpm and 74 257 examples were made being the highest number of Buicks for 1930 For the year 1931 the Series 40 was temporarily discontinued with the introduction of the Marquette Model 30 and the Series 50 being repositioned as the Buick entry level product 2 The 1935 version returned with the 233 0 cu in 3 818 cc Buick Straight 8 engine and 93 bhp Starting with this generation all GM cars shared a corporate appearance as a result of the Art and Color Section headed by Harley Earl and modest yearly changes were introduced to freshen the appearance 1933 was the first year all GM vehicles were installed with optional vent windows which were initially called No Draft Individually Controlled Ventilation later renamed Ventiplanes which the patent application was filed on Nov 28 1932 It was assigned to the Ternstedt Manufacturing Company a GM subsidiary that manufactured components for Fisher Body and they were added to the Special when it was introduced in 1935 2 Additional manufacturing locations also opened across the country under the Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac Assembly Division 2 The Series 40 was the most affordable Buick offered with 6 body styles offered and the five passenger Sedan Model 41 was US 925 20 557 in 2023 dollars 3 while a LaSalle Series 50 was US 1 000 22 776 in 2023 dollars 3 more A standard feature offered on all Buicks was a dashboard mounted selector handle that would alter spark timing and allow either low grade or premium fuel to be used 2 In 1936 the name changed to Special nbsp 1930 Buick Series 40 coupe nbsp 1935 Buick Series 40 sedan nbsp 1935 Buick Series 40 sedan nbsp Buick Series 40 Sedan1936 1942 1946 1949 editSeries 40 nbsp 1939 Buick Special Four Door SedanOverviewModel years1936 1942 1946 1949Assembly Main plant Buick City Flint Michigan branch assembly Fairfax Assembly Kansas City Kansas 1946 1949 Linden Assembly Linden New Jersey South Gate Assembly South Gate CaliforniaBody and chassisBody style2 door coupe2 4 door sedan2 4 door convertible4 door Estate station wagon 1941 1942 only PlatformGM B platformRelatedCadillac Series 60Cadillac Series 61LaSalle Series 50McLaughlin BuickBuick CenturyOldsmobile F SeriesOldsmobile Series 70Pontiac Streamliner TorpedoPowertrainEngine233 cu in 3 8 L OHV I8248 cu in 4 1 L OHV I8Transmission3 speed synchromesh manualAutomatic Safety Transmission 1938 only 4 speed semi automatic 4 DimensionsWheelbase118 122 in 2 997 3 099 mm Starting with 1936 the Buick Special Series 40 model range represented the marque s entry level full size automobile The 36 was a very successful year for Buick and also marked the first time of using names rather than the simple serial numbers which had been in use before 1 The first Specials rode on a 118 in 3 0 m wheelbase but for the next model year this was increased to 122 in 3 10 m as all Buicks grew for that year The eight cylinder engine was also new and was now of 248 cu in 4 1 L rather than 233 cu in 3 8 L 5 The Special and all other Buicks as well underwent a full restyling for 1939 with a more enclosed nose and a wider grille 6 The wheelbase was also two inches shorter 7 For 1940 there was the usual restyle and the wheelbase increased by an inch This was also the only model year that a four door convertible Special Sport Phaeton was offered although only 552 were built 8 Prices started at US 795 17 456 in 2023 dollars 3 for the Business Coupe to US 925 20 310 in 2023 dollars 3 for either the 4 door Touring Sedan or 2 door Convertible For 1941 the bodywork was again all new with the front fenders now very closely integrated into the cars overall design The Estate Wagon migrated from being a Super into the Special lineup A fastback was offered in Century and 40 Special trim as a four door touring sedan and two door business coupe and the 46S sedanette Also new was the 40 A series the regular Special now being the 40 B a version on a three inches shorter wheelbase which shared its body with the 1941 Oldsmobile Series 70 9 These two series with a restyle reminiscent of the 1939 Y Job continued into the abbreviated 1942 model year Production ended on 4 February 1942 10 The Special was now offered as the entry level luxury vehicle that the LaSalle previously held After production resumed only the larger 1946 B body Special range remained available which is rare representing less than two percent of Buick s production that year 11 The Special continued with minor changes until the prewar body was finally replaced halfway through the 1949 model year 12 Post war Specials were only available as a four door sedan or a two door sedanet until the new 1949 models arrived In the movie Mildred Pierce Veda Pierce Mildred s daughter played by actress Ann Blyth was given a 1940 Buick Special convertible as a gift valued at US 1 077 for the Model 46C 23 423 in 2023 dollars 3 2 The movie Small Town Conspiracy features a 1939 Buick Special 8 that the main character of the film John Haleran Zen Gesner drives as his official police car The car remained the property of director Ralph Clemente and was untouched for many years until sold to Florida restorer and car collector Axel Caravias nbsp 1936 Buick Special Series 40 Sedan nbsp 1937 Buick Special Series 40 Sport Coupe Model 465 nbsp 1938 Buick Special Series 40 Touring Sedan Model 41 nbsp 1939 Buick Special Series 40 Business Coupe Model 46 nbsp 1940 Buick Special Series 40 Sport Coupe Model 465 nbsp 1941 Buick Special Series 40 B Estate Wagon Model 49 nbsp 1941 Buick Special Series 40 B Touring Sedan Model 41 nbsp 1946 Buick Special Series 40 Touring Sedan nbsp 1947 Buick Special Series 40 Touring Sedan nbsp 1948 Buick Special Series 401949 1958 editSeries 40 nbsp 1952 Buick Special De Luxe 2 door Tourback SedanetteOverviewModel years1949 1958Assembly main plant Flint Michigan United States Buick City branch assembly Arlington Assembly Texas 1955 1958 Doraville Assembly Atlanta Georgia Fairfax Assembly Kansas City Kansas Framingham Assembly Massachusetts Linden Assembly New Jersey South Gate Assembly California Wilmington Assembly Delaware Body and chassisBody style2 door coupe2 4 door sedan2 door convertible4 door Estate station wagon 1954 1958 PlatformGM B platformRelatedOldsmobile 88Pontiac StreamlinerPontiac ChieftainPowertrainEngine248 cu in 4 1 L OHV I8263 3 cu in 4 3 L Fireball OHV I8264 cu in 4 3 L Fireball OHV V8322 cu in 5 3 L Fireball OHV V8364 cu in 6 0 L Fireball OHV V8Transmission2 speed Dynaflow automaticDimensionsWheelbase121 5 in 3 086 mm 1949 1953 122 in 3 099 mm 1954 1958 Halfway into the 1949 model year the Specials received all new bodywork to include a dramatically styled grille where nine grille bars also served as bumper guards and extended over the front bumper and the first fully postwar design for the series 13 New was also the 40D series a better equipped version called the Special DeLuxe 14 The engine remained the 248 cu in 4 1 L which had been used since 1937 but for 1951 this was replaced by the larger Fireball straight eight A two door hardtop coupe was also new for 1951 but the unusual grille was revised with the grill bars shortened 15 The 1954 Specials had an all new body and chassis much wider and lower and were now equipped with the all new more powerful Fireball V8 engines 16 In 1953 The Buick Berle Show introduced product placement commercials on TV and later in 1955 The Honeymooners was one of the sponsors Introduced in the middle of the 1955 model year the four door Buick Special Riviera along with the Century Riviera the Oldsmobile 98 Holiday and the 88 Holiday were the first four door pillarless hardtops ever produced By then the Buick Special was one of America s best selling automotive series For 1956 the larger 322 cu in 5 3 L V8 engine was shared with the rest of the range although it was replaced by the bigger 250 hp 186 kW 364 V8 for 1957 This year also brought all new bodywork as well as a four door hardtop station wagon called the Buick Riviera Estate 17 The 1957 wheelbase remained 122 inches 18 In the June 1957 issue of Popular Mechanics the Special was rated with a 0 60 mph time of 11 6 seconds fuel economy of 17 4 mpg US 13 5 L 100 km 20 9 mpg imp at 50 mph 80 km h and ground clearance of 6 9 in 175 mm 19 1958 brought the most chrome yet and twin headlights as the car grew longer and wider albeit on an unchanged chassis 1949 1957 Buick Specials had three VentiPorts on each side while more senior Buicks with the partial exception of the Buick Super which switched from three to four in 1955 had four Earlier versions had a Sweepspear inspired character line alongside the body while later versions had the Sweepspear moulding attached to the side of all models GM renamed the Buick Special the LeSabre for the 1959 model year taking the name from the 1951 Le Sabre concept car 13 nbsp 1950 Buick Special Tourback Sedan nbsp 1951 Buick Special Deluxe Tourback Sedanette nbsp 1952 Buick Special DeLuxe Tourback Sedan nbsp 1953 Buick Special Riviera coupe nbsp 1954 Buick Special Riviera coupe nbsp 1955 Buick Special 4 Door Sedan nbsp 1955 Buick Special Convertible nbsp 1955 Buick Special Estate Wagon nbsp 1956 Buick Special 4 Door Riviera nbsp 1957 Buick Special 2 Door Riviera nbsp 1957 Buick Special Riviera Estate hardtop station wagon nbsp 1958 Buick Special convertible1961 1963 editSee also Buick Skylark 1961 1963 Series 4000 4100 4300 Special Special Deluxe Skylark nbsp 1963 Buick Special Deluxe 4 Door SedanOverviewProduction1961 1963Assembly main plant Flint Michigan United States Buick City branch assembly Kansas City Kansas United States Fairfax Assembly South Gate California United States South Gate Assembly Body and chassisBody style2 door coupe2 4 door sedan4 door station wagon2 door convertiblePlatformY bodyPowertrainEngine198 cu in 3 2 L Fireball V6215 cu in 3 5 L Buick 215 V8Transmission3 4 speed manual2 speed Dual Path automaticDimensionsWheelbase112 in 2 845 mm Length193 in 4 900 mm Width70 2 in 1 783 mm In 1961 the car returned after a short absence of two years but this time it was on the brand new unibody compact GM Y platform The Special was powered by a 155 hp 116 kW innovative aluminum block 215 in V8 and had Dual Path transmission and power steering 20 In mid year a Skylark option was released with special trim optional bucket seats and a four barrel version of the 215 that made 185 hp 138 kW In 1962 the Special was the first American car to use a V6 engine in volume production it earned Motor Trend s Car of the Year for 1962 21 This 198 cid Fireball was engineered down from the 215 and used many of the same design parameters but was cast in iron Output was 135 hp gross at 4600 rpm and 205 lb ft 278 N m at 2400 rpm In their test that year Road amp Track was impressed with Buick s practical new V6 saying it sounds and performs exactly like the aluminum V8 in most respects In 1963 the Special s body was restyled Mechanically however the car was identical to the 1962 model There was also some minor interior restyling particularly to the dash and instrument cluster The 1963 Special was available as a 2 door pillared hardtop coupe a four dour sedan a convertible and a station wagon Engine choices were a standard 198 cu in 3 2 L V6 with a twin barrel carburetor and optional 215 cu in 3 5 L V8 with 155 hp 116 kW two barrel or more powerful four barrel 190 hp 140 kW in 1962 200 hp 150 kW in 1963 22 Transmission choices were a three speed column shift manual transmission a floor shift Borg Warner T 10 four speed manual or a two speed Turbine Drive 22 automatic The two speed Dual Path Turbine Drive automatic was a Buick design and shared no common parts with the better known Chevrolet Power Glide transmission The 1962 model sold 153 763 including 42 973 Skylarks 23 The 1963 body was only produced for one year it sold 148 750 copies including 42 321 Skylarks 24 The entire car was redesigned for 1964 After that the 215 found its way into the Rover P6 3500S in 1968 but was never sold in North America in any great numbers It was also employed in other British cars including the Morgan Plus 8 MG MGB GTV8 Land Rover and Triumph TR8 as well as retrofits into MGAs and MGBs The engine had really earned its stripes as being the sole engine powering the Range Rover for a couple decades and eventually finding its way into the original Series Defender Land Rover and several other Land Rover Models including the Discovery and the Forward Control The Skylark became a separate series for 1962 nbsp 1961 Buick Special 2 door sedan nbsp 1962 Buick Special DeLuxe 4 door sedan nbsp 1963 Buick Special convertible nbsp 1963 Buick Special Deluxe 4 door sedan with factory 4 speed manual transmission nbsp 1963 Buick Special Deluxe station wagon1964 1967 editSeries 4000 4100 4300 nbsp 1964 Buick SpecialOverviewProduction1964 1967Model years1964 1967Assembly main plant Flint Michigan United States Buick City branch assembly Baltimore Maryland United States Baltimore Assembly Fremont California United States Fremont Assembly Leeds Kansas City Missouri United States Leeds Assembly Body and chassisBody style2 door hardtop coupe2 door coupe2 door convertible4 door Sport Wagon4 door sedanPlatformA bodyRelatedChevrolet ChevelleOldsmobile CutlassPontiac LeMansBuick SkylarkPowertrainEngine225 cu in 3 7 L V6300 cu in 4 9 L V8340 cu in 5 6 L V8Transmission4 speed manual2 speed Dynaflow automatic3 speed manualDimensionsWheelbase115 in 2 921 mm 25 Length203 4 in 5 166 mm coupe sedan convertible 203 2 in 5 161 mm station wagon Width73 6 in 1 869 mm The Special along with the upscale Skylark were redesigned for the 1964 model year with separate body on frame construction renamed the A body and marketed as an intermediate sized car The Skylark was expanded to a full top line series that now included two and four door sedans two door hardtop coupe and convertible along with a station wagon The other series models included the base Special and the slightly fancier Special Deluxe in a more limited range of bodystyles Also new for 1964 were engines The capacity of the V6 engine was increased from 198 to 225 cubic inches while the aluminum V8 was replaced by a new cast iron block 300 cubic inch V8 with aluminum cylinder heads In 1965 cast iron heads replaced the problematic aluminum ones This reliable engine produced until 1967 was based on the aluminum V8 and many parts such as the cylinder heads were interchangeable nbsp 1964 Buick Special station wagon nbsp 1966 Buick Special Deluxe 4 Door Sedan nbsp 1966 Buick Special convertible1968 1969 editSee also Buick Skylark 1968 1972 Series 43300 43400 nbsp 1968 Buick Special Deluxe coupeOverviewProduction1968 1969Assembly main plant Flint Michigan United States Buick City branch assembly Fremont California United States Fremont Assembly Oshawa Ontario Canada Oshawa Car Assembly Body and chassisBody style2 door coupe4 door sedan4 door station wagonPlatformA bodyRelatedChevrolet ChevelleOldsmobile CutlassPontiac LeMansPontiac TempestBuick SkylarkBuick Gran SportBuick Sport WagonPowertrainEngine250 cu in 4 1 L Chevrolet I6350 cu in 5 7 L Buick V8Transmission3 speed manual2 speed Super Turbine 300 automatic3 speed THM350 automatic 1969 only DimensionsWheelbase112 in 2 845 mm coupe 116 in 2 946 mm sedan station wagon Length200 6 in 5 095 mm 1968 coupe 200 7 in 5 098 mm 1969 coupe 204 6 in 5 197 mm 1968 sedan 204 7 in 5 199 mm 1969 sedan 209 in 5 309 mm 1968 station wagon 209 1 in 5 311 mm 1969 station wagon The Special nameplate was used on lower priced intermediate sized Buicks through the 1969 model year In 1968 and 1969 the Buick Special was dropped and only Special Deluxes were manufactured In 1970 the end of the Special came about when the Special Deluxe was dropped too in favor of the slightly upscale Buick Skylark The 1968 model year was one of significant change for the Buick Special and Skylark 26 Although still using the same basic chassis all of GM s mid sized cars adopted a policy of using two different length wheelbases Two door models used a shorter wheelbase of 112 in 2 845 mm while four door models used a longer wheelbase of 116 in the Buick Sport Wagon and Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser used an even longer wheelbase of 121 in All of GM s mid sized cars received all new sheet metal incorporating a semi fastback appearance which was a revival of a streamlining on all GM products from 1942 until 1950 as demonstrated on the Buick Super Club Coupe sedanette More Federally mandated safety features improved occupant protection and accident avoidance including side marker lights shoulder belts on all models built after January 1 1968 and parking lights that illuminated with headlights In a reshuffling of models in the lineup the Special Deluxe replaced the previous Special The Skylark nameplate was shuffled down a notch to replace the previous Special Deluxe The previous Skylark was replaced by a new Skylark Custom The Special Deluxe was available as a pillared two door coupe a pillared four door sedan or a 2 row station wagon The previous V6 was discontinued and the associated tooling was sold to Kaiser Industries which used the V6 in its Jeep trucks and sport utility vehicles The base engine in the Buick Special and Buick Skylark coupes amp sedans became a 250 cubic inch 250 cu in 4 1 L Chevrolet I6 that produced 155 hp 116 kW at 4200 rpm using a single barrel Rochester carburetor Optional on the Special Deluxe coupe amp sedan and standard on the Special Deluxe station wagon was a new 350 cubic inch V8 derived from the 340 using a two barrel Rochester carburetor that produced 230 hp 170 kW at 4400 rpm Optional on the Special Deluxe was a 350 cubic inch V8 using a four barrel Rochester carburetor that produced 280 hp 210 kW at 4600 rpm The Buick Special name was dropped after the 1969 model year A locking steering column with a new rectangular ignition key became standard on all 1969 GM cars except Corvair one year ahead of the Federal requirement For 1970 the Buick Skylark name was moved down another notch replacing the previous entry level Buick Special 1975 1977 edit nbsp 1977 Buick Century SpecialThe Special returned briefly to the GM A platform as an entry level subseries of the Buick Century Although officially sold as the Buick Century Special it was sometimes also referred to as just the Buick Special Century Specials were usually powered by Buick s own 231 V6 a V8 from either Buick Oldsmobile or Chevrolet was offered but rarely optioned It used the colonnade roofline but was fitted with a landau roof that covered most of the rear quarter windows The opening that was left was the same shape as the windows on the higher series formal roof cars 1978 1979 edit nbsp 1978 Buick Century Special Fastback with non standard exhaust pipes In 1978 and 1979 the Special trim continued on the redesigned Century fastback and wagon models 1991 1996 edit nbsp 1992 Buick Century Special sedanSpecial returned once again as the entry level trim on the Century sedan starting 1991 and wagon starting 1993 The Special designation was discontinued with the Century s redesign in 1997 citation needed References edit a b Gunnell John 2004 Standard Catalog of Buick 1903 2004 3rd ed Iola WI Krause Publications Inc p 44 ISBN 0 87349 760 0 a b c d e f g h i j Kimes Beverly 1996 Standard catalog of American Cars 1805 1942 third ed Krause publications pp 161 193 ISBN 0 87341 478 0 a b c d e 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved February 29 2024 https auto howstuffworks com buick htm Gunnell pp 46 48 Odin L C World in Motion 1939 The whole of the year s automobile production Belvedere Publishing 2015 ASIN B00ZLN91ZG Gunnell pp 54 55 Gunnell p 59 Gunnell p 61 Gunnell p 64 Gunnell pp 66 67 2 999 Specials were built plus 1 500 stripped chassis for export out of 158 728 Buicks in total for the model year Gunnell p 70 a b Flory Jr J Kelly 2008 American Cars 1946 1959 Every Model Every Year McFarland ISBN 978 0 7864 3229 5 Gunnell p 73 Gunnell p 75 Gunnell p 85 Gunnell p 94 Directory Index Buick 1957 Buick 1957 Buick Brochure 2 Oldcarbrochures com Buick Motor Division 1957 Retrieved 2011 12 31 Popular Mechanics NY NY Hearst Corporation June 1957 Retrieved 2011 12 31 Francis Devon October 1960 850 Miles in Buick s New Compact Popular Science 90 91 Flory J Kelly Jr American Cars 1960 1972 Jefferson NC McFarland amp Coy 2004 p 142 a b Flory 2004 pp 143 amp 205 Flory 2004 p 144 Flory 2004 p 207 Directory Index Buick 1965 Buick 001 1965 Buick Full Line Brochure Oldcarbrochures com Archived from the original on 2013 03 29 Retrieved 2011 12 31 Hagerty com History of the 1968 1972 Buick Skylark Retrieved on 07 22 2013 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buick Special Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Buick Special amp oldid 1216818047, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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