1940 Buick Estate Wagon 1940 Buick Super Estate Wagon

Description

Vehicle Details
This first year 1940 Buick Super Estate Wagon represents a “holy grail” for Buick and ‘Woodie’ collectors. So do not hesitate to make an offer to own this gem. Serious inquiries only, please. Contact 954-675-4068 for more information. Highly desirable and super rare first year Buick Estate Wagon - One of just 495 produced - One of few remaining examples still exist today - Buick Club of America estimates are currently sitting at 12 known to still live. This Buick has an elegant wood body that no other manufacturer of the day can rival. In fact, Buick was the last major manufacturer to offer real structural wood bodies on vehicles in a passenger car line.Want to read a great story - checkout the book - The Buick: A Complete History, Evelyn “Bunny” McLeod, a Hollywood socialite and wife of director Norman Z. McLeod, gave a party at her Beverly Hills home. In attendance were GM’s Harley Earl and Buick president Harlowe Curtice. Mrs. McLeod happened to mention that she did not own a Buick because the marque did not offer a station wagon. Upon return to Detroit, Earl set out to design one and Curtice placed an order for 501 bodies, 495 for U.S. sales and six for export.Construction of the bodies was entrusted to Biehl’s Auto Body Works in West Reading, Pennsylvania. Mrs. McLeod was presented with the prototype car in a well-publicized ceremony at the Coconut Grove nightclub at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Built on the 121-in. wheelbase Super chassis, it was designated the Model 59 Estate Wagon in accordance with Buick nomenclature and was powered by the 107 bhp, 248 cu. in. valve-in-head straight eight used by the rest of the Super line.Buoyed by the celebrity publicity, the Model 59 quickly sold out. Buick followed up this success by ordering 1941 Estate Wagon bodies from Hercules Body Company in Evansville, Indiana, which had the capacity to deliver greater volume. After World War II, Ionia Manufacturing Company in Ionia, Michigan, became the principal supplier for Buick and other GM wagons.This handsome 1940 Buick Super Estate Wagon is finished in a beautiful shade of maroon, accented nicely by the wood bodywork refinished during a full restoration completed in 1997. The exterior features a Buick Club of America grille badge, fog lights, and dual sideview mirrors. This car has been shown and driven for special occasions and why it currently wears orange painted steel wheels with radial tires for better handling and comfort. The Estate Wagon’s interior features meticulous craftmanship and re-finished wood trim and headliner. Car is driven and maintained well - solid - super clean inside and out. Currently lives in South Florida.
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