Time, good care, California weather, and a pinch of luck combined to preserve this elegant 1940 Buick Model 56S Sport Coupe. Located in Monterey, California and offered for auction here on eBay, this running, driving Buick features a solid body, mostly restored engine compartment, and enough originality to whisk you back to a time when only a cad would appear in public without a hat. If someone cracks wise while you’re behind the wheel, you’ll instinctively reply “Why I oughta pound you!”
This body, new-for-’40, continued the long-hood (somewhat necessitated by the straight eight cylinder engine) and flowing rear of the prior generation Buick while modernizing and integrating the fenders with the body lines. From a distance the roof almost looks like a subtle chop, but it’s original. Honest bumpers can actually withstand the occasional bump without damage.
Recent work includes a complete engine and transmission rebuild, new original type cloth-insulated wiring harness, and rebuilt and fully functional gauges and radio. We had a 1940 Plymouth when I was growing up, and it looked rather similar inside, but this Buick is definitely more flashy. Like our Plymouth, this Buick features a three-speed column-shifted manual transmission.
Additional mechanical work includes Pertronix electronic ignition hidden under the distributor cap, brake overhaul, and a new battery. The Buick Series 50 received the 248 cubic inch “Dynaflash” inline eight cylinder engine making 124 HP (thanks to wikipedia.org for some details). Engine names referencing fire and explosions made catchy marketing decades ago, but would never survive legal scrutiny today. What would you give for this slice of pre-war history?
My dad had one in the late 40’s. His comment: “That straight eight was a runnin’ piece o’ plunder”
Was that a good thing or a bad thing…?
Looking up the definition of the word “plunder” does not make it sound like a compliment.
Love that hood. It just goes on and on and on. Another car for men with hats.
What a beautiful/graceful car! The quandry is to preserve with “as needed” items or go all-out and finish the job.
I would spend some money on replating and the interior. I envision a tasteful, although not correct, two-tone fabric with more texture.
Great find.
I’d definitely paint it, but properly in a period colour. None of this clear coat the patina nonsense. Other than that, restore what needs restoring and enjoy driving it.
These pre war biz coupes are really growing on me.
Yep, and the trunks were huge..
Thanks for sharing, Todd. I had a ’40 Super coupe back in the mid-1970s that one of my buddies found in a back yard in Long Beach, CA.
Depending on what the reserve is, this could be good buying for someone.
One of my favorite cars. I had a customer who drive one occasionally in the mid 80’s. Really a pretty design.
Cool car. Currently bid up to $10k, with reserve not met.
I’d probably do something with the interior and leave the paint as is. It looks like the seat upholstery is starting to fall apart, and I imagine it smells musty. Or worse.
I applaud the seller. This is how cars should be listed on eBay. Honest sounding description, good photos, no flowery generic bs lifted from Wikipedia, and a promise to answer all questions.
– John
She’s a beauty! That car is for showin, not for goin
My friend rented a body shop in 1966. In the back was a large pile of lumber with a 1940 Bucik Coupe under it. We dug away until we could access the battery and the open driver’s window. I was elected to crawl in the window and drive it out.
Hosed it off, aired up the tires and it was my daily driver for several weeks. I loved the dash with the engine turned design.
Drove the olds version with 6 cyl /auto for 2 years in the 70s.paid $1200 after it was restored!! What a great car!! Kept a gallon can of trans fluid on the floor, and had to open the floor filler neck and pour in order to go up hills.wish I still had it.
Had a ’41 50 series Sport Coupe a few years ago – had the bigger straight 8 with dual carb, dual exhaust and shaved head – very peppy. I was surprised that I could still buy the entire interior upholstery kit including headliner.
Shift pattern on the column had 2nd & 3rd reversed from the normal pattern.
Wonderful car!
I bought a 40 Buick Super Coupe that was on the showroom floor along with a 30’s Buick Sedan for years at a Buick/ Pontiac dealership in Michigan.When the dealership was sold the new owner had no interest in them and eventually they were sold in a benefit auction. Being too nice and original to hot rod I sold it to a wonderful gentleman in Idaho that was a member of the Buick collectors club.
So an engine could not..legally..be called something like a dynoflash today…Seriously ?!
I think you could call it a ‘dynoflash’ or anything else. Nobody is going to sue the mfr and demand to see the dyno flashes or whatever. In the 70’s when Olds ran short on V8’s they started putting Chevy 350’s in their cars, and I remember news coverage of a woman testifying in court that she bought the Olds because it was supposed to have a ROCKET engine in it, not a regular Chevy engine. I suppose she expected thrusters and a plume of flames from the ‘rocket’.
Learn to navigate this site and look at all the old car brochures, and how everything on just about every car in the 50’s had a three word schmaltzy name to it.
http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/brochuredisplay.cgi?manuf=GM&model=Buick&year=1958&page=1
I just gotta know, spanner. What happened at the three week mark? A sad story?
I had a 1938 Buick Special Opera coupe, with the fold up jump seats and enjoyed it all over Northern Colorado back country roads or a run up the mountain to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park ! Wasn’t fast or powerful but had style and was a joy to drive and time travel out on the two lane mountain roads ! After 2 years , it went for Tuition , $300 per semester up to 12 hours at Colorado State University in 1973 !
My dad owned a 40 Buick Special 4 door sedan. That was back in the early 50’s. He parked on the farm and never drove it again when he couldn’t get new knee action shocks for it causing it to bounce up n down excessively at stops and on the bouncy gravel roads that lead to our farm.
Mechanical clocks can be a pain to get to if they need servicing, but this Buick has the right design ! Just open the glove compartment, remove a few fasteners, and viola ! I believe this also had the “starterator” starter. Mash the gas pedal to the floor, and it engages the starter. Innovative.
ended at 11,600 That is not a bad deal to me. I think that car is the bees knees.