Buick Special

Buick Special
Overview
Manufacturer	Buick (General Motors)
Production	1936–1958 1961–1969
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size (1936–1958) Compact (1961-1963) Mid-size (1964–1969)
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Buick Standard Six
Successor	Buick Apollo

1936–1949
1946 Buick Model 41 Special Four-Door Sedan
Overview
Model years	1936–1949
Assembly	Buick City, Flint, Michigan South Gate Assembly, South Gate, California
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2/4-door sedan 4-door station wagon (1941–42 only) 2/4-door convertible
Platform	GM B platform
Related	Cadillac Series 60 Cadillac Series 61 LaSalle Series 50 Buick Century Oldsmobile Series L Oldsmobile Series 70 Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo Pontiac Streamliner
Powertrain
Engine	233 cu in (3.8 L) OHV I8 248 cu in (4.1 L) OHV I8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118–122 in (2,997–3,099 mm)

1949–1958
1950 Buick Special De Luxe 2-door Sedanette
Overview
Model years	1949–1958
Assembly	South Gate, California, United States Wilmington, Delaware, United States Atlanta, Georgia, United States Kansas City, Kansas, United States Framingham, Massachusetts, United States Flint, Michigan, United States Linden, New Jersey, United States
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2/4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door convertible
Platform	GM B platform
Related	Oldsmobile 88 Pontiac Streamliner Pontiac Chieftain
Powertrain
Engine	248 cu in (4.1 L) OHV I8 263.3 cu in (4.3 L) Fireball OHV I8 264 cu in (4.3 L) Nailhead OHV V8 322 cu in (5.3 L) Nailhead OHV V8 364 cu in (6.0 L) Nailhead OHV V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	121.5 in (3,086 mm) (1949–1953) 122 in (3,099 mm) (1954–1958)

1961–1963
1963 Buick Special Deluxe 4-Door Sedan
Overview
Production	1961–1963
Assembly	South Gate, California, United States Wilmington, Delaware, United States Atlanta, Georgia, United States Kansas City, Kansas, United States Framingham, Massachusetts, United States Flint, Michigan, United States Linden, New Jersey, United States
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2/4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door convertible
Platform	Y-body
Powertrain
Engine	198 cu in (3.2 L) Fireball V6 215 cu in (3.5 L) Buick 215 V8
Transmission	3/4-speed manual 2-speed automatic

1964–1969
1965 Buick Special Convertible
Overview
Production	1964–1969
Assembly	Wilmington, Delaware, United States Atlanta, Georgia, United States Kansas City, Kansas, United States Framingham, Massachusetts, United States Flint, Michigan, United States Linden, New Jersey, United States
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop coupe 2-door coupe 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon 4-door sedan
Platform	A-body
Related	Chevrolet Chevelle Oldsmobile Cutlass Pontiac LeMans
Powertrain
Engine	225 cu in (3.7 L) V6 250 cu in (4.1 L) Inline 6 300 cu in (4.9 L) V8 340 cu in (5.6 L) V8
Transmission	4-speed manual 2-speed automatic 3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	115 in (2,921 mm)

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.

By 1970, Special was no longer offered as a standalone model but the name would later be used for the entry trim on 1975 to 1979 and 1991 to 1996 Century models.

The entry level Buick can trace its heritage to the Buick Model 10, a companion to Buick's first car, the Buick Model B. The Model 10 started out as one of the independent brands merged into Buick, called the Janney.

When the Series 40 was introduced, it had a 257.5 cu in (4,220 cc) six cylinder engine that produced 80.5 bhp of power at 2,800 rpm, and 74,257 examples were made, being the highest number of Buicks for 1930. For the year 1934, the Series 40 was temporarily discontinued, with the Series 50 being the entry level product. The 1935 version was introduced with a 233.0 cu in (3,818 cc) straight-eight engine and 93 bhp. In 1936 the name changed to "Special".

From 1936 to 1958, Buick's Special model range represented the marque's entry level full-size automobile. The '36 was a very successful year for Buick and also marked the first time of using names rather than the simple serial numbers which had been in use before. The Special continued to also be known as the 40-series, however. The first Specials rode on a 118 in (3.0 m) wheelbase, but for the next model year this was increased to 122 in (3.10 m) as all Buicks grew for that year. The engine was also new, and was now of 248 cu in (4.1 L) rather than 233 cu in (3.8 L). The Special (and all other Buicks as well) underwent a full restyling for 1939, with a more enclosed nose and a wider grille. The wheelbase was also two inches shorter. For 1940, there was the usual restyle and the wheelbase increased by an inch. This was also the only model year that a four-door convertible Special ("Sport Phaeton") was offered, although only 552 were built.

For 1941 the bodywork was again all new, with the front fenders now very closely integrated into the cars overall design. The Estate Wagon migrated from being a Super into the Special lineup. Also new was the 40-A series (the regular Special now being the 40-B), a version on a three inches shorter wheelbase which shared its body with the 1941 Chevrolet. These two series, with a restyle reminiscent of the 1939 Y-Job, continued into the abbreviated 1942 model year. Production ended on 4 February 1942. For 1946 only the larger Special range remained available, still using the prewar B-body. The '46 Special is rare, representing less than 2% of Buick's production that year. The Special continued with minor changes until the prewar body was finally replaced halfway through the 1949 model year. Post-war Specials were only available as a four-door sedan or a two-door "sedanet", until the new 1949 models arrived.