1936 Buick Special Convertible
The Buick Special was an automobile produced by Buick. It was usually Buick’s lowest-priced model, starting out as a full-size car in 1936 and returning in 1961 (after a two-year hiatus) as a mid-size. The Special was built for several decades and was offered as a coupe, sedan and later as a station wagon. When GM modernized their entry level products in the 1960s, the Special introduced the modern Buick V6 that became the core engine for GM for several decades and lives on in current upgraded V6 products.
This 1936 Buick Special Convertible is in beautifully restored condition inside and out. It has received a complete body-off restoration and looks stunning. It has rare dual side mounts and rumble seat. Powered by its correct 233ci in straight-8 engine and 3-speed manual transmission, it is finished in very rich Chateau Green with Oriental Green artillery wheels and supple black leather interior.
The body panels were stripped, properly repaired, and refinished in Touraine Green with Oriental Green trim, with the paint applied as base coat and a clear coat and then color-sanded and polished to provide a very high gloss. The panels are very straight with fine alignment and gaps, and the doors, hood, and trunk lid fit well and open and close soundly. All chrome plating has been refreshed and appears as new or better, and the fitting of the upholstery and convertible top is excellent, with even the inside of the trunk being properly restored. Numerous options and accessories are fitted, including a proper AM radio, a dashboard clock, and dual Trippe driving lights. The single side-mounted spare, with a full metal cover, was a standard feature on this body style.
Some auto historians have called the 1936 Buick Special Convertible the nation’s first factory hot rod. Although there is some disagreement over its true top speed, Buick claims it could easily top 100 mph. The 1936 models are also credited with changing Buick’s image and putting the division back on solid financial ground. The mid-size Buick Special Convertible was the model that did the most to change Buick’s image with an eight-cylinder Roadmaster engine tucked under its hood to boost its top speed and a sporty new design that was basically catching up with the changes of other General Motors Corp. cars from a year earlier.
