1946 Buick Super Series 50 Sedan, Model 46-51
Donated by: Rhoda Seacrest
Original price: $1,822.00
Owners: Rhonda Seacrest and her late husband Jim bought the car from Bargain John’s Antiques in Lexington and restored it. The Seacrest family owned newspapers in Nebraska including the North Platte paper. It was previously owned by Dr. Peterson, Holdrege, NE, a well-known physician in the area.
Number made: 77,724
Engine, etc.: 8 cyl.; 248 cu. in,, 110 hp; OHV; 124” wheelbase
When Buick resumed car production after World War II, it had three models: the Series 40 Special, the Series 50 Super, and the Series 70. The Series 50 included a two-door sedanette, a sedan, and a convertible coupe.
The company used pre-War designs but made minor styling updates. The Series 50 had a front fender that swept across the doors to the rear. The large chrome bumper was below a prominent and “toothy” grille. Rocker moldings, rear wheel skirts, and stainless body trim went from the front fenders to the rear wheels. Standard were turn signals, an automatic choke, wood grained instrument panels, and a 248 CID 8-cylinder engine with OHV. All models had a 3-speed column-mounted manual transmission shifter.
Harlow Curtice became president of Buick in 1933 during the Great Depression. He led Buick to prosperity with superior engineering, affordability, styling, and amenities. A major part of its increasing success was the powerful and modern “Valve-in-Head” overhead-valve eight-cylinder engine.
The model range expanded to the point that by 1940 ten models were available. The Series 40 was the entry level model, the Series 50 Super shared the same 121” wheelbase, the Series 60 Century and Series 70 Roadmaster had a 126” wheelbase, and the Series 90 had the longest with a 140” wheelbase. Buick made 310,995 cars in 1940, the best production in its history to that point and placing it fourth in American sales rankings.
Sources:
https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z12023/buick-series-50-super.aspx
http://www.classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=5978&year=1946&model=24027
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Buick/1946_Buick/1946_Buick_Brochure/dirindex.html (Original dealer’s brochure for this car)