Lot details Registration No: JD 5950 Chassis No: 64499 Mot Expiry: June 2007
Brainchild of newly appointed Buick president Harlow H. Curtice, the Series 40 was introduced in 1934. Smaller and lighter than the rest of the Buick Straight-Eight range, it nevertheless shared their advanced specification. Built up to a standard not down to a price, its cross-braced girder-frame chassis was equipped with independent 'knee action' front suspension (a set-up so sophisticated that Rolls-Royce adopted it for the Phantom III), a leaf-sprung 'live' rear axle, torque-tube drive and 'Tiptoe' hydraulic drum brakes. Powered by a 'Valve-in-Head' straight-eight engine allied to three-speed synchromesh transmission, the Series 40 was something of a wolf in sheep's clothing and made light work of its 'Unisteel Turret Top' Fisher coachwork. Challenged to "Design a Buick you would like to own", stylist Harley Earl adorned the 1936 model-year cars (on sale in late 1935) with swooping wings, chrome bonnet side strakes and a prominent 'waterfall' grille. Manufactured alongside its larger siblings by both Buick (left-hand drive) and its Canadian McLaughlin-Buick subsidiary (right-hand drive), the Series 40 helped rocket Buick back up the sales chart.
Finished in black with brown leather upholstery, this particular right-hand drive example is variously described by the vendor as being in "fair" (paintwork) or "good" (3.8 litre / 93hp engine, manual gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, chassis, bodywork, wheels / tyres) condition. Supplied new on 25th October 1935 (as a 1936 model-year car), 'JD 5950' was reputedly used an estate hack for many years. Acquired by its previous keeper John Bisnell of Oxford Street, Woodstock on 2nd July 1962, it entered the current ownership as a restoration project some two decades later. Said to have been "completely rebuilt with new parts as necessary" over a five-year period, mechanical work included an engine overhaul (rebore, new oversize pistons, new crankshaft bearings, reground camshaft etc), rewiring, new clutch assembly and brake system refurbishment (new cylinder seals etc). Pleasingly retaining nearly all its original upholstery (save for a small patch on the front bench), the interior is further enhanced by intricate door card patterning, opening front / rear quarter-lights and an art deco dashboard (complete with square-faced 120mph speedometer). While a glimpse under the bonnet reveals a 'Lendrum & Hartman Ltd, Sole Concessionaires, 26b & c Albemarle St, London W1' chassis plaque, chrome-plated rocker cover, Bosch 6-volt Blue Coil and braided wiring. Running well upon inspection, this rare McLaughlin-Buick is offered for sale with sundry restoration photographs, Lendrum & Hartman key fob, MOT certificate until 21st June 2007 and historic class (free) road tax until 31st June 2007.
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