Toothy And Topless: 1950 Buick Super Convertible
With a front end that looks like it’s carrying around two tons of chrome what more could a buyer do to be seen? Right, order it as a convertible so your own toothy grin can be seen behind the wheel. A 1950 Buick Super Convertible parked since 1984 is for sale in Hemmings in New Orleans, Louisiana for $18,900.
The ad says that the old Buick is “100% intact” and that it was purchased in unrestored running condition in 1975 when the odometer showed 48,601 miles. It was later put away for good in 1984 when the mileage indicated was just under 64,000. The convertible top, vent windows, side glass and seats are powered by Buick’s Hydro-Lectric system. An electric motor runs a pump that pressurizes the hydraulic fluid used to operate the equipment.
Power is supplied by Buick’s famous 263 cubic inch “Fireball Valve-In-Head Straight Eight” engine with power transferred to the rear by a Dynaflow Drive transmission. The seller says that a tune up was performed in 1979 along with the installation of a new muffler and convertible top. They also state that they “replaced seals in tranny and rear axle.”
We don’t have photos of the complete car but what we can see shows a straight body wearing what may be its original paint. The paint has cracked in places and there are spots of rust showing on some of the steel surfaces inside and out. All the chrome bits look like they are present and a lot of it may polish up nicely.
We can’t see much of the interior but what is visible looks like it is serviceable. The rear seat upholstery doesn’t look like it matches the front, but it could be down to just grungy seat covers. The radio and speaker grille look like a miniature jukebox set in the middle of the painted dashboard. The convertible top is stowed and no photos of it raised are provided.
The folks at Hagerty Insurance value a 1950 Buick Super Convertible in excellent condition at $57,900. Concours condition cars are roughly double that amount. A running, driving preserved car like this might be the best option, cracked paint and all. But with high values, a restoration might be good option, too. What would you do?
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Comments
That has got to be the ugliest grille I’ve ever seen. It looks like some giant bottom feeder from some deep water. I guess if your serious about this car you’d want to check for a water line on the house and garage. The car looks a little crusty to me I’m always concerned about floors and structure when it come to convertables and when you see rust on the dash it’s time to take a closer look. I think the price is high based on the condition and the giant pile of money your going to need to restore it. Amazingly the chrome on that fish face grill looks pretty good. Desoto got it right when it comes to this styling that’s why you see them in custom merc’s all the time. But this I’ve never seen before.
A grill only an orthodontist could love.
A grill only a dentist could love.
oops, forget the 2nd one, can’t edit early access,,,and why is that?
That grille is so cool!
Agreed. My all-time favorite Buick. I’d love to have one.
Given the location, condition of the speedometer, I have one question – Katrina??
That’s what I was thinking: Katrina!
I was thinking the same thing about Katrina.
Three ventiports on either side and an 8 cylinder engine? That does not add up.
I think that indicates a Buick SUPER as compared to a Roadmaster, which had four vent ports. Also WHY does someone store a convertible for decades with the top DOWN? Or for that matter store any other car for long periods with all the windows down? I wanna scream!
They don’t want that musty smell….
Buick Specials only had 3 portholes, The Roadmaster, Century, Super & the Caballero ( think four door Nomad wagon ) had 4. The 1953-54 Skylark had none !
Pass
The new top and ignition parts installed in the late-70’s, early-80’s really helped swing the needle towards making this car a “value purchase”.
As mentioned above, someone would need to look at some maps to find out if this car was underwater in the aftermath of Katrina.
There is a near twin to this on eBay right now, but much nicer, with a high bid in the mid-20’s. Last time it went through eBay it stalled out in the high-20’s without reaching reserve.
Steve R
These grills always made me think of tow mater after he went to the dentist….
$19K? That’s more than a little optimistic. This one requires a complete tear down, and rebuild. No viable reason to pay $19K for this one. There’s a 1950 Super Convertible in Yellow, Black top that’s already done for $34,500/best offer.
Best offer for this one would be under $10K
You gots to love that sea-monster, toothy grill! It looks ALIVE!j
looks like the man rain car!
“Yea, definitely…” oh, actually it was a ’49, but pretty close…
Saw a lot of these in Cuba and guess what was either modified or missing? THE FRONT GRILL. THE CAR LOOKS LIKE MORE TIME AND MONEY THAN WHAT IT IS EITHER WORTH, NOW OR RESTORED.Cut off the front end, installed new headlights, and mount it in your man cave.
If I were to buy this and money was no object it would go straight to ICON in Los Angles. It would be an absolute hoot. Go ahead and Google them. What they do is amazing.
Three venti-ports and a straight 8 engine are completely correct for a 1950 Buick Super. The black stuff on the gauge lenses is also very common. The gasket between the glass and the metal melts after many years in the heat. You can scrape it off with a razor blade. I have done this on many old Buicks. The front and rear seats look like they are out of a later model car. I would be more concerned about the condition of the cloth-covered wiring on the car and the floors. Looks like the car has already been repainted once, given the yellow fender welting between rear quarters and the rest of the body.
When I was a kid went with my Dad to try one of these out to purchase ,it was a sedan , it also had dynaflo transmission and a 8 cylinder motor . Dad put it in gear and floored it and all we heard was a lot of noise and no go . He took it back and the salesman was really put out when dad said he didn’t want it . I cant remember for sure but I think dad bought another Studebaker for my Mom >
My wife has an old saying about these buck tooth looking grills (side swipe a banana through a picket fence). Actually her dad sold Buick’s from the 50’s into the 70’s in Sharonville/Cincinnati, Ohio. She has pictures of some of the cars he brought home. My favorite was a red 53 Slylark convertible. They moved to Naples, Florida in 73 where he went to work for the Cadillac dealer, he still works there now in his mid 80’s.
U know what it is by its “Grill!” A “work of art” that it is!
This will be a very attractive car if it’s done right, I mean spare no expense and the money will come back to you! I would and put it away with the rest of my grandson’s inheritenc!
The 1949 Buick Dynaflow straight 8 that is the prize !!! This 1950 is not worth the money or the effort. As for the Grill it’s MAGNIFICENT although it’s the 1949 models that bring the big bucks. Actually looking for a 1949 Sedan fully Restored.