1 Of 3991: 1940 Buick Roadmaster
This 1940 Buick is offered for sale here on eBay. It is located in Syracuse, New York, and the seller gives no indication on whether they possess a title for this car. The Buick has a BIN of $4,000 which they acknowledge is high but has done so to encourage potential buyers to make an offer.
The seller states that this Roadmaster is one of about 3,600 built in 1940. I’ve done a bit of research and have been able to confirm that there were 3,991 Roadmasters built as 2-door coupes the same as our featured car, but that the total Roadmaster production for 1940 was 18,300. Regardless of build numbers, I think that this Buick is rather a nice shape. The body has a number of issues with rust and rot, including in the trunk, over the rear wheels, in the front floor near the A-Post and the lower left spring pocket a-arm has rusted through. The seller is very open to potential buyers inspecting the Roadmaster before making an offer to gain a better understanding of the potential issues facing them. The seller also states that there are a few pieces missing from the car, but that most missing parts are also common to the Roadmaster sedan, so could be sourced from one of those. The grille, bumpers and a few other parts are present and are inside the car for safe keeping.
Under the hood is the 320ci straight-eight engine which is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. The seller is quite frank about the engine, and refers to it as “probably junk”! He states that he believes that it has been the victim of water inside it at some stage. This is what has given rise to his idea that this Buick may be the perfect candidate for a hot rod or rat rod project. In all honesty I can see where he’s coming from with that idea. I think that the one factor mitigating against that may be the low build numbers for the coupe in 1940.
We only get this one shot of the interior. The seller describes it as all being there, and that it’s rough. The simple fact is that while the dash appears to be complete the seats, door cards, headliner, steering wheel and carpets will all need either replacing or refurbishing. It is not a task to be undertaken by the faint-hearted.
A search around the internet at what is for sale out there at the moment proved to be something of an eye-opener for me. There are quite a number of 1940 Buick Roadmaster sedans for sale at present, and a surprising number of convertibles. Apart from our feature car I could only locate two coupes for sale in the USA, and both of those had been converted into hot rods priced close to $30,000, so maybe there really is something in those claimed low build numbers. Regardless of whether you were considering taking this on as a restoration or a rod conversion, there is a lot of work ahead on this one.
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Comments
Prime candidate for an ICON style restomod. Would be a sweet cruiser.
Had a 40 olds and this is just as pretty when done! N.Y. was not a title state until 73 or 74.
That color is the living embodiment of the term “Bohonk Blue”.
Thats quite a junkyard the seller has there.
Boy, you said it Mountainwoodie! I just checked out there store, WOW! A ton of cool old iron for sale.
Very cool Econoline or A-100 van parked behind it. Looks like quite a custom camper with those windows!
Is anyone else confused by this ad? In the first two photos, I see a Buick that has blue paint all over it. In the two middle photos, I see a Buick that has nothing but surface rust on the exterior panels and dashboard, and absolutely no paint. I don’t get it.
Wooops! Rattle can razza-ma-taz.
Looks like someone might have brush painted it blue to reveal the solid/not solid body surfaces. That could’ve been mentioned in the ad.
I don’t really like a lot of cars from the 30’s / 40’s, but damn that’s a good-lookin’ car. I could actually see myself cruising in that beauty. Unfortunately, at the same time I have to acknowledge that I wouldn’t have the time to put into it. And while I’m at it, I’d also be worried about my skill level not being up to the job.
Ah, single carb, not a Roadmaster, IIRC, just saying!
That was my first thought too Keruth. I did some checking before I wrote the article and the “Compound Carburetion” ( 2 x 2-barrel carburetors) was introduced on the 1941 model, along with different spark plugs, pistons and increase in compression ratio.
Definitely redo and recommission this car source another motor or drop one of those create engines in it that seem so popular! Make it a sleeper! I think that it’s worth the effort to put some new skin on it where needed! Make it stock as you possibly can! Then have some fun with it!
In 1966 my friend rented a shop which contained a pile of old lumber. Under it was a 1940 Buick Coupe. We tunneled in and I climbed through the open front window. We reached the battery and the car started with a jump. I backed it out.
It was decent but had many dents in the left rear fender where the long time owner backed out of his garage until he touched the power pole across the alley.I enjoyed driving it. I don’t know what model it was but it had an engine turned dash. That was one of its best features.
Twice as nice as the 56 at half the price, and the seller still admits it’s over priced. Am I seeing things? This would make a great streetrod project, but still a labor of love. No financial upside here. Still a great find.