What Kind Of Buick Is This??

[Guest shadetree77]

Browsing EBAY once again and ran across this auction. It's a '51 Buick to be sure. Supposed to be a Super. However, look closely at it. Specifically the C-pillar. Notice anything strange? The C-pillar is completely different than any other '51 or '52 I've ever seen! The roof line sweeps back at a slightly different angle and the vent window is gone leaving a wide C-pillar in it's place. I've included a picture of a regular '51 Super for comparison. Now look at the data plate picture. There is no model number listed! Below that is states the style number to be 4569. I can't find a reference to this style number anywhere. Now I've heard of the so-called "sport" Buicks of 1951-1952 and I've seen a few pictures. I believe the c-pillar setup might be similar to this one but on those "sport" versions, the front window was 2 piece and the rear window was a single piece. Not the case on this car so I don't think it's a "sport" type. Not only that, but the "sport" versions were only two doors and this one is a four door. The only thing I can find similar to this is the 1950 Tourback Sedan. It is made just like this. However, the Tourback Sedan made for 1951 doesn't look like this. Matter of fact, the only reference I can find to a tourback sedan in '51 is built on the Special platform, not the Super. Can anybody shed some light on this mystery Buick? Did I just find a long-lost prototype?

Here's a link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick-Other-Tourback-Sedan-4-door-1951-Buick-Super-Tourback-Sedan-Original-Solid-Project-Car-8-/170919379484?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27cb96c21c

EDIT: After some thorough searching I finally came across a reference to a 1951 Super Tourback Sedan with style number 4569. No pictures and no production figures. I don't know how reputable the listing is. It's on some random website I found. So maybe this was a standard model. I'd still like to know if anybody has more info. on it.

Edited October 4, 2012 by shadetree77 (see edit history)

[MrEarl]

just shootin from the hip, I'm gonna say it is a very early 1951 model using the last of the 50 model bodies. The Korean War was just starting and I wonder if there may have been some tightening of belts and cut backs in production during that time frame. Just speculatin here......

Hopefully Pete can handle seeing another rare early '51 Buick for sale, as he is already walking around in circles trying to figure out how he can buy that rare '51 Sedanette.

Good catch and thanks for sharing, look forward to hearing more of this mystery story.

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

Robert, looks like a Mod 51. The reference pic is a Mod 52.

Ben

[Oldsfan]

1951 Buick Brochure-04

[jscheib]

The Standard Catalog... indicates only 10,000 Model 51 produced and 92,000 Model 52, so in that regard this one is a bit "rare".

John

[sean1997]

I think the Standard Catalog also calls it a Super Deluxe.

[Fr. Buick]

Remeber, there was no Century line in these years, so Buick offered more variety in the Super line. The shorter car, with what I think is a stumpy roof line and no rear wing window, and a bulky C-pillar. The longer car - by another three inches of wheelbase and rear leg room - has much better lines, and a heck of a nicer ride. The rear seat is enormous!

[Guest Rob McDonald]

I thought this less-than-graceful roofline would be more familiar on an Oldsmobile but it seems to have been a Buick exclusive. Both Olds and Pontiac had sedans that appear to use the same or similar back doors but only the Buick model 51 has that wrap-around rear window. Not one of GM Styling's finest moments but not bad, either.

The longer wheelbase, quarter-windowed model 52 (Super) and 72R (Roadmaster) were called Riviera Sedans, just to confuse us.

'51 Oldsmobile 88, '53 Pontiac

[Guest shadetree77]

Well darn, guess I didn't stumble across a long-lost prototype after all. But it is a somewhat rare model and definitely one I've never seen before. Thanks for all of the responses and information guys. Always good to add to my Buick knowledge bank. This model must have been somewhat of an afterthought. Or at least not a well executed addition to the Buick line. There doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there on it and what is out there differs from source to source. Such as the model name being referred to differently from place to place as Sean said above. The buicks.net site calls this car a "four-door deluxe". No mention of it being a "tourback sedan". Also, does anyone know why there is no model number listed on the cowl tag? I've never seen one that was blank. Interesting stuff. Thanks again guys.

Edited October 5, 2012 by shadetree77 (see edit history)

[sean1997]

The missing model number is unusual, but it did happen. Here are a couple more from Kansas for 1952 missing the model number.

[Centurion]

Cadillac utilized this same roofline on its Series 61 sedans during 1950 and 1951:

Edited October 5, 2012 by Centurion (see edit history)

[Centurion]

And Oldsmobile used the roofline on the Ninety Eight series. Here's the 1950:

[jscheib]

Robert,

I think we all learned something on this thread, and is that not why we are all here? I know there we the two 4 door sdedans that year, but never did know why. It seems they were trying to stretch the Century model ideas a bit, with the two different wheelbases in the same series. As usual - likely "market driven decision".

John

John