Quite likely the finest of its kind in the world. Frame-off restoration by Doug Seybold, AACA Grand National First Prize winner, BCA National First Prize winner. Loaded with options like sidemounts, radio, and running lights. Just spectacular in every way.

This beautiful car is the result of a passionate owner who wanted his car to be unquestionably the best of its kind. He delivered it to noted Buick expert Doug Seybold for a full frame-off restoration, and according to Doug’s son, it received, “the best of everything.” It may seem odd to spend six figures on a Special 4-door sedan, but there’s no arguing with the absolutely gorgeous result. The medium red paint makes the Special look flashy, not frumpy like so many of its siblings, and there are a lot of folks who will argue that the ’37-38s are the best looking Buicks of the ‘30s. This one is beautifully dressed with dual sidemounts, that make it look big and impressive, as well as the desirable fender-mounted parking lights which now operate as turn signals. Paint and bodywork are obviously show quality and probably better than new, with a depth that only comes from a lot of time spend wet sanding and buffing. There are a few extremely minor signs of age and use, but nothing that diminishes its show-quality look. Likewise, the chrome was all restored to show standards, including the fine-toothed grille and bumpers, and the stainless was buffed to match. There’s a lot of jewelry on this car, making it look far more expensive and impressive. This was the most popular Buick in 1937 and it’s easy to see why—it’s still a lot of car for the money.

The interior is also superbly finished, starting with that NOS Bedford cord and broadcloth upholstery. Like the exterior, it’s a little flashy but quite expertly done with original patterns and stitching and the big bench seats are superbly comfortable for touring. The woodgrained dash was correctly refinished and all the gauges were rebuilt so they work correctly, and yes, the 121 miles showing on the odometer are since the car was restored so it’s still extremely fresh. All the vintage plastics like the steering wheel, shifter knob, and dash handles were re-cast and look lovely, and an optional AM radio was installed in the center of the dash (yes, it works!). There’s also an accessory Harrison heater under the dash and a set of aftermarket floor mats to protect the surprisingly plush gray carpets. There’s plenty of room in the back seat for full-sized adults, making this a fantastic family tour car, and there’s more handsome woodgraining on the window moldings. The trunk is neatly finished and there’s plenty of room in there, because the spare tires are up in the front fenders, leaving you plenty of room for gear.

The 1937 Special received Buick’s eminently smooth and torquey 248 cubic inch straight-8 engine, which was introduced the year before. Dressed in proper Buick Green engine enamel with reproduction decals, it looks impressive under that long hood. Finishes are accurate and there’s a brand new cloth-wrapped wiring harness for that finishing touch. It starts easily and idles nicely, and on the road the combination of straight-8 torque and proper gearing makes it feel lively around town. The 3-speed manual transmission is synchronized on 2nd and 3rd so it’s effortless to drive and steering is surprisingly light for such a big car. Hydraulic brakes and an independent front suspension made the Buick cutting-edge for its time and it drives better than most of its mid-priced peers. The undercarriage is highly detailed with body-colored floors highlighting the satin black chassis components, and you’ll note an electric fuel pump has been added to help with priming and warm weather driving. Even the muffler is an NOS Walker piece for just the right sound. It cruises happily at 55-60 MPH and there’s a reason why these remain popular cars for driving year after year. Painted 16-inch steel wheels wear hubcaps and trim rings, as well as 6.50-16 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whitewall tires.

This car is striking in person and drives as great as it looks. With an awesome pedigree behind it, we’re pretty confident in saying there aren’t many Buick Special sedans nicer than this. It may seem expensive, compared to some, but any time you can own the best of anything, especially for 35% of the restoration cost, that might just be considered a bargain. Call today!

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