How Original Is This Car? 1938 Buick Business Coupe
If you are looking for a solidly built prewar classic to drive and enjoy, you would be hard-pressed to find anything better than a Buick. As you can expect from good choices, Buicks demand a premium over many other automobiles. So, when you are serious about purchasing one, how do you know the car advertised is in the condition they say it is? This 1938 Buick 40 Series business coupe for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Lockport, Illinois is advertised as an all-original car out of a private collection. Is it all original as in never been touched or altered? Is it all original as in never modified? Or is this car an older restoration? Maybe a little of all of the above? At a $22,500 asking price for a solid, presentable prewar Buick coupe, does it even matter? Thanks go to T.J. for this beautiful find!
Let’s start with the description of the car in the ad. The seller tells us that they purchased this car out of a private collection and that it had been in that owner’s possession for a long time. It is a 1938 Buick Series 40 businessman’s coupe that still has the original paint and interior from 1938. Even the trunk is said to look as new. Furthermore, it is equipped with opera seats (jump seats) and dual side mounts. They claim to have gone through the whole car and have replaced the gas tank with an identical one from a 1939 Chevrolet, re-cored the radiator, rebuilt the braking system, and replaced the water pump. Sadly, the seller is retiring soon and is selling off their collection in the next five months.
As for the car itself, even though it is advertised as a Series 40, Buick began phasing out the series numbers and phasing in names for each of its lines. This car would be more commonly known as a “Special.” That is the entry-level car for Buick but remember that the brand was one step below a Cadillac in GM’s hierarchy. It is still a higher end car for the time. These vehicles were powered by a 248 cubic inch straight-eight engine and were on a 122-inch wheelbase for more room and a smoother ride.
Despite how nice this car appears in the pictures; it rolled off the assembly line 86 years ago. That means two things for a car that was produced so long ago. First, is that its full history can never be completely known. Figure that this car was more than likely driven frequently in its first 10 years or so, which may account for the 28,277 miles listed in the ad. While it is a higher-end car, it is not a full classic that would have been secreted away in a garage out of sight of a mansion or something. Without a story, we are not sure of just how well it was stored, and proper storage is incredibly essential to maintain a car in this condition.
The second thing to consider is Washington’s axe conundrum. A running joke is that a museum has George Washington’s axe that he used to chop down a cherry tree. It is on its second head and fifth handle. The meaning is that while it may be original in the eyes of the seller with no malice or fraud intended, the part, finish, or upholstery was replaced a long time ago. By the time it got around to the seller, it sure looked old, smelled old, and had that unmistakable fragility of old things. We are seeing this more and more with cars that were restored in the seventies and eighties. Once again, in no way does this mean the sellers are trying to scam anyone. To them, the car is original unless they are familiar with the car’s history from way back.
So, what exactly is this Buick? To be honest, we don’t know if it is completely original or some variation of that. Anyone serious about paying extra for a car because it is “original” would be well served to have the car closely examined by an expert. They might also do well to consider that an original car, especially one with low mileage, probably has some of the fluids and greases it left the factory with. For example, if it is the original grease in the steering box, then you can count on it being the consistency of candle wax. If you want to drive it, it is still going to need work. It just won’t be as worn out, and that is a good thing considering the cost of work done at a machine shop.
What we do know is that this is an absolutely splendid Buick coupe in perfectly presentable condition. If it isn’t already on the road, it likely can be with little effort. This is the kind of car you buy if you want to enjoy a classic car and even use it for long trips. Once sorted, this is a car that can carry you from coast to coast if you would like. People paid extra for Buicks for a reason when this car was new, and they are worth the extra money still today.
What variation of the original is this Buick? What evidence do you consider before determining originality? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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Comments
Not nitpicking this wonderfully-presented car, but if “…Buick …was one step below a Cadillac in GM’s hierarchy.”, then where did Lasalle fit in Sloan’s ladder?
Buick 4th down, Oldsmobile above Buick, LaSalle above Olds.
Nope. Cadillac was tops, Buick one step down, then Olds, then Pontiac, and at last, Chevrolet.
Wrong. Buick was above Oldsmobile. Buick had the model 80 and 90, now considered Full Classics. The Century was a hot rod good for 100 mph. It had the 80/90 engine. Oldsmobile had a low HP 8 and pedestrian 6. Buick did not have a 6 cylinder low budget car. LaSalle was a junior Cadillac, folded under the Cadillac name in 1941 as the Cadillac 62. Senior series Cadillac shared bodies with the 80 and 90 Buick. Far more custom bodies were on Buick than LaSalle.
LaSalle above Buick. Kurt’s comment corrects my earlier one.
I’ll admit I don’t know much about prewar cars but this Buick looks like a winner. And it looks all original too! If I were to look into it, I would call an official from the Buick Club and see if he can give it a thorough inspection with an appraisal. $22,500 may seem like a good deal on the surface but if its been sitting for a while it could take another $10K to get it running like it should.
I wish he had posted a pic of the”Oprah seats”.
I’m intrigued by the “duel” side mounts (en garde!)
They are not in a Business Coupe. They are in the Sport Coupe. Basically the only difference is the seats.
LaSalle was a sister car to Cadillac, the last sister car to be sold. All GMC brands had a sister car except Chevy. Pontiac – Oakland, Buick- Marquette, Cadillac – LaSalle, Oldsmobile – Viking. All except Oakland were cheaper cars. Only Pontiac was junior to Oakland. Originally, all Chevrolets were 4 cylinder. Pontiac was a Chevrolet with a 6. Buick was OHV, as was Chevrolet. Cadillac had V type engines, Buick and Olds had straight or inline engines. Oldsmobile had L Head also called flat heads. Cadillac had OHV or flatheads in different years.
This Buick is about 25 miles from me if anyone is serious and wants an in-person inspection.
Hi Mike,
I am interested in the1938 Buick coupe near you. I’m quite a distance away from Illinois. How much would you charge to inspect the car? What experience do you have with pre-war cars.
Thank you,
Hank
I’m a bit skeptical about this car being a “business coupe” No business coupe had, passenger armrests, passenger sunvisor or jump seats. This is a nice coupe but not so sure about it being a business model. Pontiac and Chevies being business coupes yep very likely. Buicks not so much. Nice car in any event.
With the jump seats, more likely it’s the “Opera Coupe”
Yes, I would like to see a picture of the trunk and behind the seat to know for sure.
I’ve got a pair of these that I bought from a fellow who was in the middle of a restoration but got too old. Not sure what I will do with them, but this seems like a pretty good deal considering what a great car these are and what it would cost to finish the ones I have. I bought the pair thinking I would finish the nice one and hotrod the other one but have picked up about 200 other cars and trucks since I bought them and the Chevelles and Camaros are more appealing than the Buicks at this time. If I live long enough I still might get something done, but they can be bought if someone was interested.
Where are you located Tim?
Prettiest grille ever IMHO……
At the very beginning of the pandemic I had the opportunity to examine a very driveable ’38 Special, and, if interested, plunk down 6K and easily tool forty miles back to the house in it. Checking with my wife first, she looked at the pictures and said the front end looked like a “gangster car.” End of my dream.
Not long after, a sweet ’50 Hudson Commodore fills the garage space nicely. We’re both much more content…however, I’m with you Mike. This Coupe’s grille really does trip my trigger!
Agreed, Mike. Absolutely gorgeous.
This is a Special Sports Coupe-Model 46S. Basically, it is a business coupe equipped with the opera seats. Side mounted spares were optional.
Buick did build business coupes. They built 11,337 in 1938 for US sales and 31 for export.
I had an 1938 Buick Opera Convertible Coupe. Great fun car, but being a Hot arodder st the time, I HAD TO “SOUP IT UP”. I came across an 1955 Buick with very low miles. I was told the engine would bolt up. Long story short, I did the swap and what a beast it was!
This was about 1962 or so, and being mindful of messing wiothj real collectable car, I did as little damage as I could. Saved everything that came off, and used original frame holes for any brackets. I did have to cut the firewall and installed a little door so I could adjust the points from the passenger foot-well.
Later, I replaced the torque tube with an open driveshaft and a 1955 Olds, I think rear. That’s when I found out about a “Watts Link”, and what it’s purpose is.
I wonder if the seller has the original air filter. It is missing in the one picture of the engine.
The car is not far from me, I can give it a look if you’re interested (I’m not affiliated with the seller).
The cover for the spark plugs is also missing. I had a ’38 sedan, same engine. I don’t see the horns either, they should be mounted on the firewall. This one has something that mine didn’t. Looking at the hoses running to the firewall this one must have a heater in it. Overall it appears to be a nice car. I wonder how much it would cost to ship it to Oz.
Wish my Sport Coupe had those side mounts. Do I need two?
Some Buicks had only one.
Yes, I had a ’36 with only one sidemount.
Tyres weren’t as tough and roads were tougher in those days.
A tyre in the hand is worth two in the bush!
My high school buddy had a ’40 Business coupe, great for getting a crowd into the drive-in theater cheap, trunk could hold an elephant. Sheet metal like a battleship. Beautiful “turned” dash.
Straight 8, slow to get rolling but smooth.
I had a 1938 Special business coupe. No side mounts or rear jump seats. California rust free car. The only downside was it had babbitt bearings in the engine so I had to have the engine overhauled. I would buy another one.
I forgot to mention my 38 Special had the honor of sitting in the San Diego car museum for 2 months in the prestigious company of Rolls-Royces, Bugattis, Duesenbergs just to name a few. So if that tells you anything about its condition. I recently bought a 1949 Buick Super Sedanette from an elder gentleman that is a survivor and in remarkable condition. It’s black and pulls too much attention.
Sell cars WHEN you retire? What the hell you gonna do???
I am keeping mine FOR retirement.
Great idea 59poncho!
When else is there time to enjoy it/them?
ABSOLUTLEY LOVEIT, wish I had seen it before I bought my 54, the grill and those side mounts , O LORDY does my heart beat fast a lot..
Awesome classic is SOLD SOLD SOLD. Think I will join FB today.
As far as gorgeous grills go I really like the 37 Ferds