Nice restoration in excellent colors. Rare dual sidemounts. Very good paint, excellent chrome, well-finished red leather interior. Rebuilt straight-8 engine and recent wide whitewall radials make it an excellent tour car that will always attract attention.

Buick styling evolved in 1940, adding a bigger grille (1939 Buicks sometimes had problems with overheating) and moving the headlights into the front fenders for a more streamlined look. The result was no less a Buick and would help define Buick’s look for the next decade. And although this 1940 Buick Model 46 business coupe was among the most affordable Buicks that year, it was far from plain. Dressed in flashy Sequoia Cream, the coupe has a sporting look that is accentuated by perfect proportions—a long hood and a modest deck. Someone invested quite a bit of time and money into the bodywork, as the doors close nicely, the hood latches without a fight, and there’s a fantastic shine to the finish that’s probably better than they could manage in 1940. Even better, a sizeable investment in chrome and stainless restoration gives this car a high-quality look with almost zero pitting in any of the cast parts, including the grille. That’s certainly not cheap! Add in the dual sidemounts and you get an affordable Buick that looks like it should cost far more than it does.

The red leather interior is just beautifully finished and really adds to the luxurious feel of the Special. Although the model 46 did not come with a back seat, this one had a back seat added during the restoration and while it’s not 100% factory, it’s functional and attractive and suits the car just fine. The leather hides are soft and comfortable and the front bench seat is comfortable enough for all day touring. There are matching door panels with original hardware and new carpets on the floor help control noise and heat. The only real demerits are the plastic pieces, particularly the steering wheel and gauges, which have deteriorated. Fortunately, reproduction gauge faces are readily available and the steering wheel wears a leather cover that feels great in your hands. There’s a taut wool headliner overhead and all the garnish moldings were painted to match the bodywork to keep it bright inside. The trunk is clean and has a surprising amount of space—when you have sidemounts, there’s no need for a spare in the trunk!

The engine is a 263 cubic inch straight-8 out of a later Buick, and that’s probably the one you want. With myriad upgrades over the 248, including hydraulic valve lifters and improved oiling, it’s a smooth, torquey engine that makes the Special feel quick around town. It has been recently detailed with correct Buick Gray paint and red decals and still inhales through a 2-barrel carburetor. It starts easily and idles smoothly, as you’d expect from a straight-8, and makes a great 8-cylinder sound thanks to a custom dual exhaust system. There’s a big radiator up front and this one doesn’t seem to exhibit any signs of being fussy—it just goes. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts easily and with 4.10 gears out back, the engine’s torque makes downshifting unnecessary in most situations. It’s happy at about 60 MPH on the highway and as with most Buicks of the era, steering is light and easy to manage. Brakes are manual drums at the corners, but they’re plenty adequate for the car’s performance, and you can see that the undercarriage is clean—we don’t believe this has ever been a rusty car. 15-inch steel wheels were painted traditional Dante red and outfitted with a set of 225/75/15 wide whitewall radials that really improve ride and handling.

A very pretty car that is ready to tour and enjoy. Buicks remain under-rated in the market but you’ll find that the quality shines through even in the most affordable models. With handsome good looks, a practical interior, and a few upscale touches, this Special business coupe remains a favorite. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.