Buick Special Sport Coupe, 1938
Buick Special I
Buick Special I•
•3 views
Chassis No.: 23326199
Auction: Monterey 2015
Auction date: August 15, 2015
Lot No.: F176
$55,000 | High bid
- Exterior: Gray
- Interior: Tan
- Body: Sport Coupe
- Best in Show at Pacific Grove Tour and Concours
- Balanced and blueprinted 1941 248 CI straight 8-cylinder engine
- Compound carburetion
- Reground camshaft
- Custom progressive linkage
- 1941 split exhaust manifolds
- Custom Ross Racing pistons
- Pertronix ignition
- 12 volt system and new cloth wiring harness
- Flowmaster Hushpower mufflers
- Duesenberg style radiused tips
- 3-speed transmission
- Original frame
- 1955 Buick Torque Tube rear end
- A-arm independent front suspension
- Custom metal fabrication by Ron Pepper of Sacramento, California
- Custom side panels with 1956 Portholes
- 1938 Whistler Gray Metallic paint
- Guide Super Rays in split front bumper
- Stop lamp on rear bumper
- Australian lacewood veneer on dash, window mouldings and trunk
- Custom leather and mohair upholstery
- 1939 cloisonne trunk emblems used as upholstery buttons
- Restored Donaldson steering wheel
- Custom wire wheels with Packard hubs and Borrani lip lacing
- 18 inch Firestone bias ply tires
This custom 1938 Buick was conceived as a tribute to builder Jim Day’s father, a Buick owner/enthusiast who served in World War II and referred to his own 1941 Buick as “the banker’s hot rod.” After establishing the basic look, Day emulated the special high-performance 1938 Buick “Police Equipment” package in a balanced and blueprinted 1941 248 CI inline-8 engine, using dual carburetors, a reground cam, custom Ross Racing high-compression pistons and Petronix ignition. 1941 Buick split manifolds feed through twin parallel pipes and Flowmaster Hushpower mufflers to Duesenberg-style radiused tips. A 3-speed and 1955 Buick torque tube rear end complete the drivetrain.
The body was refreshed in its data-tag-correct and beautiful 1938 Buick Whistler Gray Metallic. 1956 Ventiports were added and the running boards removed, adding to the racy vibe created by the custom 18-inch wire wheels using Packard hubs and Borrani-style stainless-steel spokes. Day cleaned up the Buick’s front end and added another inspired touch by removing the center of the front bumper and moving the Guide Super Ray driving lights into custom bezels at the inner ends, revealing the deep dive of the fenders into the grille and the lower end of the grille itself. A third Super Ray was fitted with a Duesenberg-inspired STOP lamp and spliced into the rear bumper.
Gorgeous Australian Lacewood veneer was used extensively in both the interior and trunk in combination with custom buffalo embossed leather, a second bridge of weir leather and mohair upholstery. The effect is arresting, as are such features as the restored Donaldson banjo steering wheel, wool carpeting, suede headliner and the 1939 cloisonné trunk emblems used as upholstery buttons. Inspired by a son’s admiration for his father, this very special Buick expresses that sentiment in every detail.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/219730/1938-buick-special-sport-coupe/
