Description
1940 Buick Century 60 Series Touring Sedan
“The Banker’s Hot Rod”.
Buick sat just below Cadillac in the General Motors family, producing cars that were just a little smaller and more restrained and aimed firmly at the professional class buyer. In the case of the Century, however, one thing that was not restrained was the performance. Buick fitted GM’s biggest and most powerful engine of the period, the 320 c. i./ 5247cc Fireball 8 straight eight driving through a three speed manual transmission, this endowing the car with 100mph plus potential and earning it the nick name “The Banker’s Hot Rod”.
The Century was a relatively rare car even in period, accounting for only around four percent of Buick’s 1940 production. Details on this car such as the pistol grip spotlight and twin “side mount” spare wheel carriers mean it was one of only around 100 in this exact specification. While precise figures are not known, there may well be less than ten of those surviving and this car is almost certainly the only one currently in the UK.
The current owner first encountered the car on a trip to Colorado in 2018 and subsequently purchased it, the car arriving in the UK in December of that year. In addition to an engine rebuild not long before it left America, the car has benefitted from further work since being imported. Items such as brakes, dampers and wheel bearings have all received attention, along with a new battery and a new set of white wall tyres. Following some crown wheel and pinion issues a N. O. S. item was sourced and fitted, with the original unit subsequently being repaired and made ready for use should the need ever arise.
The car presents well in its original colour of maroon over a light fawn Dralon interior and is in good usable condition. It remains in standard specification, with the exception of a cunningly concealed MP3 player for those occasions when the (still fitted) original valve radio does not prove quite up to modern in car entertainment requirements. And yes, the bullet holes are only pretend!
Located near Exeter, Devon, UK.
Please note, I am advertising this vehicle on behalf of its owner and will be handling any initial enquiries.
