WANTED 1942 Buick Century Sedanette 2 door

[Lawrence Helfand]

I am looking for a 1942 Buick Century 2 door sedanette for sale ..NO Custom's Only original and unmodified considered. Restored or un restored. 

Thanks Lawrence

[John_S_in_Penna]

Lawrence, is there any reason you want a 1942 exclusively?

 

People who lived back when cars were new had more 

insights than collectors today.  Was a 1915 Scripps-Booth any good?

What were the weak points of the Alpena car?

People today probably don't remember, but Buick's 1942 cars

were known to be oil leakers.  In addition, noted reviewer

Tom McCahill wrote:

 

"The 1942 Buicks left much to be desired and when they

were reintroduced after the war they were practically

carbon copies of the prewar oil-burning jobs--but well deloused.

The '42 cars had more bugs than a Chinese flophouse

in springtime."

[Lawrence Helfand]

I had a subscription to Mechanics Illustrated when I was a kid in the 1950's and read McHahill's auto and motorcycle reviews. Must say even at a young age I found him to be a total hack compared to the writers of Road and Track or Car and Driver magazine's. Buicks were not at all full of bugs or leakers  or oil burners and the many thousands of engines built for the military beat back and out performed the finest mechanical engineering that Germany had to offer. My 41 Century is identical to the 42 except for sheet metal and it burns no oil and has great oil pressure never rebuilt and honestly never had a car that didn't drip a little and so what. It is so much more sophisticated then anything from Chrysler  or Ford's of the period. The notion that Buicks had a bad reputation is not at all the case. Just the opposite was true and even the Cadillac division complained to GM that they were encroaching into Cadillac sales.   With all due respect to heavy drinking Tom he was full of it and most likely was on the take to say what he said. Also don't think he ever visited a Chinese establishment of any kind or knew a thing about anything Chinese except for racist stereotyping. He was a terrible writer even to this then 8 year old. Nothing in 1942 American car production was faster or more reliable then a Buick. And it was gorgeous in all ways. The same engineering continued until the early 50's it was that good. My late father bought his first one in 1951 and what a great car it was actually getting him busted and escorted to the PA.state line for going 100 mph just a few weeks since new. He bought two more Buick's before going Cadillac. Nothing compared to a Buick in 1941 or 1942 except in Europe where the automobile was way ahead of us in all ways you can think of.

[John_S_in_Penna]

It's good to hear your thoughts, and thanks for the reply.

However, is the most well-known and most-followed

car reviewer for more than 25 years "a total hack"?

Was he a total hack when he loved the 1966 Buick Wildcat,

or wrote that the 1957 Imperial's handling was the best 

of any big car?

 

Even if he doesn't know everything, as no one does, 

did he simply make up the statement that 1942 Buicks

had plenty of bugs?  More bugs than a Chinese flophouse?

 

Wouldn't it be great if one of our forum readers was an adult

back in 1942, and a serious Buick fan or dealer or mechanic!

The knowledge of experience is very useful.

 

Edited July 10, 2018 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[trimacar]

I think Tom McCahill was great entertainment.  While he had some good observations, he was also biased at times, probably in direct proportion to large cash deposits to his bank account.  Witness the famous Edsel video of his test driving, nary a negative word said, and he went on and on about how wonderful the Edsel was.....some of which may be true at the time, but he really laid it on thick, and one just knows that he was paid, and paid well, to do so.

 

What a great time he lived in to review cars, though, with all the chrome and fins and excesses, and car companies on their last gasps.....his timing was perfect....

[John_S_in_Penna]

4 hours ago, trimacar said:

I think Tom McCahill was great entertainment.  While he had some good observations, he was also biased at times, probably in direct proportion to large cash deposits to his bank account.  Witness the famous Edsel video of his test driving, nary a negative word said...

 

People who say car reviewers were (or are) paid for their

good words are making serious statements.  Are those

statements libelous without proof? 

 

Documentation would  be good.  Exposing wrongdoing

is beneficial, and if any reviewers are writing good reviews

for secret payments, that might be a crime in itself.

However, I think this is just speculation because someone

disagreed with the car review!

 

Having recently written a couple of articles on the

Edsel, and having studied Gayle Warnock's excellent

first-hand account of Edsel development, I can add

some Edsel insight:  At first, reviewers were not negative

on the Edsel.  They wrote positive comments and didn't

even disparage its oddly shaped grille.  Only after a 

few months, when public reaction to the Edsel was cool,

and the tremendous pre-introduction hype was wearing off,

did reviewers begin to write negatively.

 

Edited July 10, 2018 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Dynaflash8]

On 7/9/2018 at 12:39 PM, Lawrence Helfand said:

I am looking for a 1942 Buick Century 2 door sedanette for sale ..NO Custom's Only original and unmodified considered. Restored or un restored. 

Thanks Lawrence

There is one located in Florida for sale in Hemmings right now if it's still available.

[Lawrence Helfand]

Hello Dynaflash8 I did not find any 1942 Buick Centuries on Hemmings and have been checking their listings. Can you send the link? Thanks! Lawrence

[1937-44]

3 hours ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

People who say car reviewers were (or are) paid for their

good words are making serious statements.  Are those

statements libelous without proof? 

 I would think people could be held liable for saying someone is taking bribes. That being said I enjoyed Tom McCahill's writing and found it entertaining. I do think he was biased at times and especially against Buicks in the early years. Did he elaborate and exaggerate, hell yes. To me one of the most blatant exaggerations was printed in the August 1948 Mechanix Ilustrated when he drove and tested the new Tucker. 

 

"For the record, here is what I saw: at least 2,000 men working on a moving production line, nearly 200 cars in various forms of completion, and the huge paint and drying enclosures running at full tilt on new bodies."

 

 If he saw nearly 200 cars in various forms of completion and new bodes, I wonder what happened to them all?

 

Carl

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

1 hour ago, Lawrence Helfand said:

Hello Dynaflash8 I did not find any 1942 Buick Centuries on Hemmings and have been checking their listings. Can you send the link? Thanks! Lawrence

 

I checked for you on their website, too, and I didn't see that car either--

either in the current ads (visible only to subscribers),

or in the previous month's ads (visible to all).

I was going to post the link and the ad if I found it.

 

BUT it's in the "August" 2018 magazine, so all I can do is quote the ad:

"Buick 1942 Century Eight 66 sedanette, museum quality,

complete restoration in 2002, straight-eight Rocket Fireball,

dual carbs, dual exhaust, three on the tree, CD player in trunk,

full shop manual and documentation, serviced recently by

Classic Auto Restoration in Fort Myers, $27,500.

954-882-5054, FL.  Check online ad:  www.hmn.com/2102393."

 

HOWEVER, the car pictured in the magazine (it's hard to tell)

looks like a 4-door.  I see three side windows, not counting the vent,

instead of two.

Edited July 10, 2018 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Dynaflash8]

On 7/10/2018 at 3:52 PM, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

I checked for you on their website, too, and I didn't see that car either--

either in the current ads (visible only to subscribers),

or in the previous month's ads (visible to all).

I was going to post the link and the ad if I found it.

 

BUT it's in the "August" 2018 magazine, so all I can do is quote the ad:

"Buick 1942 Century Eight 66 sedanette, museum quality,

complete restoration in 2002, straight-eight Rocket Fireball,

dual carbs, dual exhaust, three on the tree, CD player in trunk,

full shop manual and documentation, serviced recently by

Classic Auto Restoration in Fort Myers, $27,500.

954-882-5054, FL.  Check online ad:  www.hmn.com/2102393."

 

HOWEVER, the car pictured in the magazine (it's hard to tell)

looks like a 4-door.  I see three side windows, not counting the vent,

instead of two.

The car I spoke about was on eBay for quite some time.  It was located in Port Charlotte, FL, two-tone green.  Man said he needed to sell for healt reasons in the ad.  I contacted and talked to him, but decided I wasn't interested.  It was within the lat 30-days.

[Lawrence Helfand]

Thank you John Penna and all for responses to my post. I have to agree Toms comic book writing was entertaining and visceral if not terribly technical in nature. This was a period in our history where writers were very involved with the factories desire to win with the public and sell product. The Payola scandal was perhaps the first big reveal of how so called independent companies, in particular radio stations in that case took money to push product. I love my 41 Century and have not seen another worth buying since I got it. A 42 2 door with such low production numbers is a long shot but one must dream big. Having seen many hundreds of Buick Eights for sale one thing seems clear. While they may be rusted out and sitting for decades un cared for they are rarely stuck and most often still running ! Copy usually reads " sitting for 20 years and started right up off of gas can and fresh battery"  I always think of the VW in Woody Allen's movie Sleeper still sitting in the cave where he left it a hundred years earlier that starts right up!  Only wish Buick had offered an overdrive. Would love to graft a Gear Vendors unit on to my torque tube someday unless I slow down to 1940's speeds!  This is my "Minnie" 

[1937-44]

 Nice.  Good luck in your search.

 

Carl

[Model56s]

Nice 41 sir.

 

Any luck in locating a 42? The Buick sedanette is a class act, which is why I bought my 49 Super.

[Lawrence Helfand]

14 hours ago, Model56s said:

Nice 41 sir.

 

Any luck in locating a 42? The Buick sedanette is a class act, which is why I bought my 49 Super.

Hello! Good choice, I think the 49 is one of the best looking cars ever made and I cant help but wonder how they could have gone from the gorgeous sleek 49 to the lumpy 1950 design with an over the top grille that takes some getting used too. I had a 49 Roadmaster sedanette that I regret having sold but I needed the money and it was either the 41 or the 49 and had to choose so the Roadie went to Sweden and made me some money as it was a bit scruffy and asking for an investment.  I have only come across one 42 Century Sedanette that was restored and recently  auctioned off again for the second time in just three years. It brought good money but out of my price range and I am not a restored anything kind of guy so still holding out for an original. quite a few 42 four doors have been for sale but thats two doors too many. My 41 is a wonderful un restored ride so cant complain but always looking for a fresh face! 

[Model56s]

How do you improve on the 49? You can't without the somewhat radical but friendly change of the 51. The 55 Chevy is another classic that Chevrolet somehow found the restraint to transcend to the excellent 57 with minor but effective changes. Unfortunately they got drunk in 58. Studebaker had the same problem with the 53 Commander hardtop coupe - what a lean, timeless thoroughbred beauty! Lowey was inspired. There was nowhere to go with the Commander in Studebaker's imagination, so in 55 they panicked and attached a lot of stainless & chrome to the sides and a stupid 2500 lb chrome deposit on the front. Sometimes you just have to let it go and come up with a totally new departure.

 

I think most 50's stylists became prisoners of a mandatory "improvement" mentality when a simple change in the tail lights, grille pattern,  or grill shape (keep it simple!) is all that you can do with an inspired design - a great example is the unsung 52-54 Ford. The 52 with its clean, simple and lean design leapfrogged the puffy contemporary GM sheetmetal and Ford exercised the restraint to let the design age gracefully in the public's mind. Ford showed that you don't need to be afraid to run it for three or five years while the next total departure is dreamed up. Give the public some credit.

 

You are right in all respects about the 50, plus they even brought back the fadeaway front fenders for that model. Unbelievable. Ned Nickles must have taken a sabbatical. Ford fell into this trap with the second generation Taurus - an absolute insect.

 

Fortunately, my 49 Super Sedanette will never change.

 

Congratulations, you got me on my soapbox!

[wildman]

Is this like what your looking for? 

[Lawrence Helfand]

On 1/24/2019 at 1:00 AM, wildman said:

Is this like what your looking for? 

Unfortunately this is an unloved and later car I think its a 1947 model but cannot say what model it might be. Looks like by the wheels it was someones hot rod maybe. I hope it gets saved before its to late! Looks pretty straight and could still be a rat rod project. 

[John_S_in_Penna]

I saw one listed for sale and just sent you a Private Message.

It appears to be in excellent condition--at least by judging

from the one picture in the magazine ad.

[Scott Farrington]

https://cars.trovit.com/listing/1941-buick-40.R1UNV1Y1k_1I   Not certain if it is a Century or not...

 

[Scott Farrington]

https://cars.trovit.com/listing/1942-buick-century.N1q1q1V5pzA  This is a Century...and BEAUTIFUL!!

[John_S_in_Penna]

The same maroon-and-tan 1942 Century

is still for sale.  I haven't kept track to see whether

it's by the same owner or another.  But it has been

for sale for 2 years or more now.

 

Here it is, for sale by a dealer, Vintage Motors of Sarasota,

on the Hemmings Motor News website.  Their asking price

is currently $44,500:

 

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/buick/century/2391326.html

 

[Hans1965]

That car looks just amazing on photos. When it is for sale for such a long time I wonder that they do not do something on price or give it to an auction.

[Jim Skelly]

The crooked gauge cluster, cracked steering wheel, dirty/wrinkled headliner, and torn air cleaner hose are about the only demerits.  Is this more realistically a $30-35,000 car?