1948 Buick 8/40 Sedan

Description

Buick's early post-war offerings have become sought after collector's cars in recent years, thanks largely to their curvaceous, art-deco inspired styling. Although Buick, like all the major auto manufacturers, essentially rehashed its 1942 models when production resumed in 1946, a car-hungry public couldn't get enough and took the company to fifth place in the sales race. Few changes were made in 1947, with Buick's stylists limiting themselves to a new grille design and stainless lower body moldings on the Super, and it was the same story in 1948 with new badges and 7.50 x 15 tyres helping give the cars a lower, sleeker appearance. Three model lines were offered, starting with the Special Series 40, followed by the mid-range Super Series 50 and topped by the upmarket Roadmaster Series 70. Four body styles were catalogued, including the basic four-door sedan, a sleek two-door sedanette with fastback styling, a station wagon, and finally the Model 56C convertible. Buick's smooth 248ci straight-eight developed 110 horsepower at 3600 rpm and a column-shift three-speed manual transmission was standard, although Dynaflow automatic transmission was an option. For many, Buick was the market leader in the early post-war period, combining flashy good looks with excellent engineering, smooth ride and fine build quality.