Barn Find! 1948 Buick Super 8 Convertible
If you want to experience 1940s motoring in thoroughly American style, here’s a likely candidate on facebook Marketplace: a 1948 Buick Super 8 convertible, sequestered in a barn for over five decades. The seller wants $12,500 (cash only and firm) for his Buick and it’s located in Mentor, Ohio. Despite its long residence in storage, that sonorous straight-eight does run, but clutch work is advised before you use this one as a commuter (ha!). The Buick Super was launched in 1940 as an amalgamation of the Roadmaster’s luxuriously massive wheelbase and interior quarters, and the Special’s smaller, economical eight-cylinder engine. The combination of accommodation and economy was an attempt to fill the vacuum left when GM killed the LaSalle. The strategy worked: by 1946, over 75% of Buick’s sales were Supers and though sales waned a bit after that, the car was undeniably popular. We have Ted to thank for this most excellent tip – keep them coming!
The Super 8’s 248 CID Fireball engine makes about 115 hp, a slight boost over the lowly Special thanks to higher compression. Torque is prodigious, at about 212 lb-ft. Rubber engine mounts debuted in 1948, serving to dampen vibration and noise; this car has a three-speed manual but the DynaFlow automatic was just making its first appearance, only offered on the Roadmaster in 1948. The previous owner apparently rebuilt the starter and cleaned out the fuel system, though we don’t know how long ago. The seller has driven this Buick around a parking lot where the clutch was found wanting but everything else worked!
The Super 8 convertible used a Hydro-lectric system to power the seats, windows, and top. More than likely this car’s system needs a rebuild. A variety of cloth and vinyl-accented interior fabrics were available; this palette is jazzy! The upscale Super came with rubber floor mats accented with a ribbon of carpet which is still present here. The prominent dash clock was part of the developing luxury accessory assortment seeping into the car maker’s psyche, as they jostled for position with buyers. The column-mount shifter is shown here. I love a foot-powered e-brake, I dunno why, I just do. A smattering of parts including the spare are in the trunk.
The Art Deco style is modestly expressed, back when Harley Earl’s studio was still somewhat restrained. Clearly, the top needs work, but the bumpers, panels, lights, and trim are looking pretty spiffy for their age. While this car certainly has several points in its favor, there’s quite a bit of work awaiting the buyer. Meanwhile, another beautiful example was only bid to $25k without selling. What is the right price on this former barn resident?
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Comments
The paint has it’s issues, but it appears to be relatively intact. Some people would be surprised at how well it can polish up. Runs is a +, and needing a clutch is pretty minimal mechanically. The top is a big ? The work around there is to drive on dry days only and leave it down. My thing is to clean it up (check the brakes) and drive. Micky mouse wiring needs some attention too. As for the price? The seller seems to already have decided on that.
Leave the top down. 1) this is a car to be seen in. 2) this is not going to be your only car.
This is the epitome of 1940’s design, I had a toy of this, but a Sedanette, I was most impressed that the front fender went all the way to the back fender. Seeing one in person, a few years ago, I was most impressed on how “artificial” it looked, up close, just another piece of sheet metal tacked onto the doors over the doors apparently used in the big Olds, and the small Caddy of the time. But from a distance, doors closed, it still looks cool.
Very reminiscent of the ‘Rainman’ car that Cruise drove. Don’t recall exactly if that was a Buick or other GM. I’d love to take a flyer on this car, but with 5 projects hanging fire, I’d be fooling myself.
The Rainman car was a ’49 Buick Roadmaster.
Was in a scrap yard about 30 years ago when a flatbed pulled in with a late 40’s or early 50’s Buick 4 dr. on it. As soon as I got home, I called some GM collectors to let them know. It had nice straight chrome, grille, trim and sheetmetal on it. Couldn’t bear to see it crushed. Although it had enough metal to make about 3 foreign cars out of it. Hope it was saved or at least contributed some good parts to a restorer.
One year ago I sold the twin to this car. I had owned it for almost 50 years. Same color (Available at NAPA) and similar condition. I had this car through marriage and divorce, the birth of our daughter, remarriage with two stepsons thrown into the mix. I drove my daughter home from the hospital in the Buick in a drizzling March rain. I insisted on having the top down. Drove her to her first day at first grade, high school and college. Finally drove her away from her wedding.
This was the last car I drove in 1999 and the first in 2000.
Sold it because I was just done with it. I gave my daughter the sale price and have not looked back.
Precious memories…how they linger
Looks like it just sold to a dealer in Sweden, “Rolling Ranch” in Stallarholmen. Check the thread on the AACA forum: https://forums.aaca.org/topic/405956-for-sale-1948-buick-super-convertible-in-barn-since-1967-parking-lot-runs-drives-stops-12500-mentor-oh-not-mine-116-new-photos/