18,500 Miles!? 1950 Buick Super Series 50
Last week I covered this 1948 Buick convertible and due to its stellar condition, it won quite a bit of praise from our varied reader audience. That being the case, I thought this week that I would feature a similar car, a 1950 Buick Super sedan. The biggest similarity is its condition – it’s like new! Best of all, this resident of Burbank, California has only experienced 18K miles in its three-quarters of a century existence. Thanks are due to Tony P. for this tip!
Buick’s three flavors in ’50 were the Roadmaster, the Super, and lastly, the Special. Supers were available in two different four-door sedans, a two-door sedan, hardtop, and convertible as well as a four-door, wood-trimmed Estate wagon. Our subject car is a Super 126, which is a long wheelbase version of the sedan and one of 55K units to roll off of the Buick City assembly line that year. Buick did well in the ’50 production race, amassing a fourth place finish with 588K copies.
Every time I see one of these Buicks, the name “Snaggletooth” comes to mind thanks to that very prominent, and distinctive grille. The seller claims “original paint” with 30 years under one ownership – and of course, always garaged. Well, it shows it, the chrome, stainless trim, glass – all of it, is a study in exacting originality. One cool characteristic of this Super is the three piece rear glass – it’s a classy design that allowed for curvature where bending a single pane was not possible.
Engine, what engine? Well, there is one, but once too often, it’s not photographed – always a mistake. Anyway, it’s a 128 gross HP, 263 CI, in-line eight-cylinder powerplant that supplies the necessary effort to move this Super’s 4,100 lbs. of girth with the assistance of a Dynaflow automatic transmission. The seller states “very reliable” but that’s about it for running and driving characteristics.
Nothing is said about the interior but its condition pretty well matches that of the exterior. The gray fabric upholstery looks untouched by human bottoms and the light gray carpet, which is mostly covered by a rubber mat, shows as foot-free The entire environment is great – almost too great to have survived so long without a hint of deterioration. The center tiller is big enough to have steered the RMS Mauretania and the instrument panel is festooned with typical chrome-plate bits, dominated by the huge centrally mounted radio speaker grille. Nice to see is the inclusion of seatbelts.
OK, what to you think? Lots of excellence going on here but there’s no mileage documentation – not even an image of the odometer. The neglected engine image is always a problem for me but I suppose one could be attained for the asking. I’d like to see a picture or two of the passenger side too. My initial thought is that this Buick has had to undergone some refurbishment – stuff ages by just sitting around, garage kept or not, especially over a time span of 74 years. The listing for this Super sedan is here on craigslist where it’s available for $18,500. Look her over and let me know what you think, all original?
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Comments
Hmm, 1st, a wonderfully written piece, Jim, and not one comment? I see a clear reduction in comments, and by rights, a car like this should generate something. 2nd, I doubt original. Someone spiffed up a very low use car. I can see it now, some Hollywood recluse starlet finally bit the dust, and the car was scooped up by someone and updated it with seat belts and new WW tires as to bolster its age.
If comments are dwindling here, you can bet it is a growing concern, not only for sites like this, but sellers of these magnificent cars won’t have buyers. People just won’t spend 5 figures on something Milton Berle drove.
Need more proof? Auction time again, this time from Texas. The usual suspects, hemi Cudas, and such, got all the thunder, but get this, a 1921 Paige, in very good condition, barely cracked $5,000, and since, and with no increase, I say it had no bids. Cars like this never cross the block, and a shame. This really was one of the nicest cars of the ’50s.
Who is Milton Berle?
I think he meant Milton Bradley, the famous friend and supplier to Santa Claus, lol.
Correct me if I’m wrong. 😊
Milton Berle was an old time vaudeville and radio comedian who successfully transitioned to TV in the 50’s. Very prominent during the “golden age” of TV, had his own show for awhile. He and his contemporaries, Red Skelton, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball etc were great entertainers, unlike today’s poseurs who use shock and crude to make up for a lack of talent.
Really? Wow. Do I feel old. I am, but now I FEEL old.
Wasn’t he the guy in that Ratt video, Round and Round?
Yup he was in the Ratt video
My folks had a 50 Roadmaster an honest tank but what car. He kepts the fender skirts off of it I got them from his estate when he past. Still have em
Love it , but then I love all older Buicks, this one is a special dandy with the Dynaflow tranny.
That straight-8 is like buttah.
John. What’s Buttah
BARN FINDS owes me a new computer. I just drooled all over the keyboard and short circuited the machine because of this Find. But seriously, this beauty is unbelievable. At $18,500 someone has probably already snapped up this one. I wish it were me. The end of the war and depression were still being celebrated in 1950 and this car was part of the celebration. That black is all business. I do wish an engine pic was available. Nothing is mentioned about car shows but this was obviously not a daily driver.
If you don’t know who Milton Berle is (was); then you don’t remember cars like this plying the roads in the 50s. And there lies another reason why the market for cars like this is dwindling. This isn’t news anymore. And it’s a topic of discussion that has been raised on BF for a while now. I have always liked this vintage of Buick. When you saw that grill there was no mistaking it for anything else. Nice car lazy ad. I think the seller will have to up their game to even approach the asking price. GLWTS.
Too bad testosterone-laden kids with their street rods, keeping us awake at all hours leaving black streaks on the road, cannot relate to the sweet sound of a Buick 8 purring and ready to kick in some horses of its own.
A very tempting price for one BEAUTIFUL machine! Milton Berle approved…
The testosterone laden kids with their hot cars would have no clue how to even start this car👴
God bless the testosterone-laden kids.
They become the red blooded men we all hope to raise.
I thought he was joking about Milton Berle, I mean he was even on the Muppets. ( crickets ) At 66 this car is a little before my time and if I was to buy it the resale will continue to drop with increasing speed. I would love to be it’s caretaker but for about a third of the ask.
Black Beauty. If I had a two car garage I’d try to buy it.
My dad’s first new car was a green 1950 Buick bought new in San Diego. He drove it to PA, where he settled, got married in 1954 and I came along in 1956. Dad and car gone, but I still have a photo of him with the car. Today, nothing but over complicated and over priced junk being built. Everything from cars to clothes. All made like throw away trash.
I hear you loud and clear, Lincoln B. Pre sixties cars are mostly declining in value and there is no reason to belabor the reason why. Even the Tri-Fives,T-Birds and early muscle and luxury prices are starting to sag. The pedestrian sedans and such have already seen this trend occur. It won’t get better in my view. I mean there are still some rock stars like C1 and C2 Corvettes, some droptops, woodies and recently wagons that are still holding their own. And there are always the go figure outliers like first generation Broncos that seem to be bought at what yours truly thinks are insane prices. But you are absolutely correct that if you were to purchase this Buick for the asking price; you will be immediately upside down. And that is really unfortunate because this appears to be a nice, desirable car in fine condition. The handwriting is on the wall. My mid twenties son and most of his friends are certified car nuts and they wouldn’t be caught dead driving this Buick. My son can’t fathom why I like my 1952 Plymouth. He thinks it’s a slow tank. And I can’t argue with him when you compare it to his BMW 1 series. My point is that every generation has its own version of desirable automobiles. And that is OK. But outside of museum pieces; there is a finite future for the cars that we old boomers embrace. And that’s the way it is.
Well said and very accurate , I would love to be this cars care taker but I am not going to lose a fortune on a car I drive 1 thousand miles a year.
I love it, but I’m a diehard fan of late-’40s and early-’50s Buicks. My most prized possession is my ’53 Special Riviera, so I know that a lot of people still get excited about these cars when they see them in person, because it’s like seeing a spaceship. Unfortunately, some of the commenters here are right that younger people aren’t particularly interested in owning one. Too bad – they sound, smell, and look like nothing else in the world.
What a beautiful car, there is engine sounds that even to this day I truly enjoy. The top of the list is the straight eight of the Buick, a farm tractor, International model 560 gas. Both of these had a pouring sound like no other. Of course still nothing like my Vette 427. 425hp and the Hemi’s on the street.
Buick sponsored Milton Berle’s TV shown in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
We are on the same page and although the Buick is far from my first choice I would be proud to be it’s care taker if the price was adjusted but then the flippers would kick in.
The Fireball 8 in the 1950 Buick had a sound all its own. The nicest purr ever.
I was still riding bikes with buddies when this car was in its prime. We voted that straight-eight the best sounding car on the road when equipped with Dynaflow. Almost edible!
The car is gorgeous but not original in the paint department. Examine closely the close up of the “Dynaflow” script on the rear fender. You will see where the badge was not removed but was, instead, masked around. There’s an obvious line between the “w” and the end of the script flow.
Also look just a few inches above it and see two long horizontal parallel lines in the paint which look suspiciously like where masking tape had been, although, for the life of me I can’t figure what was being masked.
Beautiful, desirable but overpriced and NOT as presented. Cut the price 50% and it’s in the ballpark.
@ 80 MPH on the PA turnpike standing on the hump adjusting the antenna looking for a station for my dad. And I thought surviving Viet Nam was a miracle!
1st, thanks for the service, and 2nd, if folks don’t know who Milton Berle was, and entirely possible, as I never knew who my parents vaudeville greats were either, they have no idea what you are talking about. Amazing to think how tunes have progressed to anywhere, anytime, but back in the 40s and 50s, radio reception was unattainable outside city limits. To “find” a station, one had to rotate the antenna via a knob inside to seek out a station, and even then for only a moment or 2. We’ve come a long ways in that regard.
This Buick would be a complimentary book end for my 1949 Buick Sedanette. Mine is in excellent restored condition and black as well. Back during that era cars typically changed every two years until the early 70s when they began running several years only making modest changes to front and rear fascia. 1949 was the first year for the port holes in the front fenders which became Buicks symbol for decades but styling designs of course as did the purpose and function.
These cars float down the road like a magic carpet even over railroad tracks and rough roads. You get a good UBW (upper body workout) as there is no power steering or any other creature comforts. It’s a joy to drive. As the old slogan said “Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick? Let’s see how many cognitive minds are still out there.
Nice car and drives nice and really loves to drink fuel gulp then the tank is empty I had one a while back
Nah! Didn’t like them then, don”t like them now. Same with uncle Miltie.