peterjohn72 Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 Hello and good morning, I am the new owner of a 1941 buick model 56 bone stock running rust free. Also stops.. (haha). Brand new to this, Im trying to find out how to read the vin? Where is was made, made with.. any help thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock10 Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 You will find the help you need. Please post pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 9 minutes ago, Rock10 said: Please post pics. Include a picture of the firewall data plate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 29, 2022 Author Share Posted January 29, 2022 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 29, 2022 Author Share Posted January 29, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 (edited) Welcome to world of Buck Straight 8's Good looking car VIN's did not exist until mid 1950's and were not standardised until 1981 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_identification_number Buick cars of that era had chassis/frame number engine number Unique body number (your 2004) What number is on the title? Often chassis number, but could be engine number Body number indicates made in Flint , as it does not have a letter prefix (but may be wrong) 1st digit of chassis number. 1- Flint, 2 = South Gate, CA. 3 = Linden NJ (for 1939. Need to check more for 1941) Will dig into my info a little more for trim & paint decode (Others have far more knowledge-info than me) Edited January 29, 2022 by 1939_Buick (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 Paint is 560 - Carlsbad Black. I cannot find my trim cheat sheet. I see from digging that 901 is Tan Broadcloth for Series 40 cars. 902 is ? Interesting that the firewall label says 56 and not 56S. Is it a Business Coupe? Does it have a back seat? If it is a 1941 Super Business Coupe I think that is quite a rare bird. Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 Yup, production total of the 56 Business Coupe is 2449. Your body number is a bit over 2000 so likely late in the model year production, like Spring 1941. Cheers, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Thank you.yup,business coupe, no rear seat and none were ever installed in it, which Im surprised in so original Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 Welcome to the forum, Peterjohn! As a fellow '41 Super owner, I can say you have come to the right place. This forum is a fantastic resource with a great bunch of very friendly and helpful people. You will get all the help you need on any subject -- believe me because I have experienced it first hand. Just to let you know, your car was already the subject of some comments on the forum before you bought it. Here's a link to the thread I started when your car was being advertised for sale. Please don't think we were gossiping behind your back -- we had no idea at the time who would end up with this car. It's great that you turned up here. I urge you to start a thread on the "Me and My Buick" forum -- we would love to know more about you and your car. Neil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Well, I looked forever to find any information including a fair cost of these cars, very hard to find and living in ny, attending car shows, ive never seen one. Price was too much so I passed several times. Finally made a well, well well ..below offer, the car was on consignment and the family accepted. Cant believe these are do hard to find..fella I know said they hotrodded them all 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 It sounds like you handled the situation perfectly -- pretty much consistent people's comments on the thread about your car when it was for sale. Congratulations, you have saved another great car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Thank you, can wait to take it out on the road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 I just went back to the Ebay listing to look at the photos again, and I watched the video for the first time. Wow -- the engine sounds just great. It looks like it's running fine and has a new set of radials on it. Are you just waiting for better weather to take it out? The dealer took a ton of great photos of this car -- anyone who's interested should click on the link I posted above and then click on the Ebay link. Scroll down to the bottom of the Ebay listing and you will find the photos and also a short video. I have never seen a '41 with all of the belly pans around the engine intact like this one. They're all gone on mine. Enjoy the car and please keep us posted! Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 I think Ill wait a bit...the gentleman that had it, to say took care of it is a understatment 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 Haha -- that's kind of what I figured when you said you were in New York. 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Less than I thought, and it warmed up to 23 today... yeah!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 I just looked at the dealer photos and I have to say that's a really nice looking original interior! The whole car is really in nice shape. I only have about 6 ~8" on the ground, but my '38 is not coming out for awhile either... Now's a good time to go over the car and make your 'to-do' list. I've been crossing tasks off of my list to be ready for spring! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 To-do... drive, wash, wax, repeat....lol oh I have to put gas in it to...lol 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 This old girl will never see rain let alone salty snowy streets. How it survived 80 years in Minn. Weather Is amazing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 Was it always a MN car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 Full 80 years worth 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 99.9% sure this is the same car (from May 2011) Same cracked steering wheel, side mirror on door, service sticker on door frame and mid windscreen radio aerial. https://bringatrailer.com/2011/05/01/original-black-lacquer-1941-buick-club-coupe/ Be careful with those dual manifolds. Can crack A great time capsule car! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth Carr Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 Trim no. 902 is Tan Canada Cloth (Mohair). Paint code 560, besides Carlsbad Black body, includes Carlsbad Black wheels or the option of Dante Red wheels. Wheel striping is silver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, 1939_Buick said: 99.9% sure this is the same car (from May 2011) Same cracked steering wheel, side mirror on door, service sticker on door frame and mid windscreen radio aerial. https://bringatrailer.com/2011/05/01/original-black-lacquer-1941-buick-club-coupe/ Be careful with those dual manifolds. Can crack A great time capsule car! I don't think it's the same car. The one you posted is a club coupe. This car is a business coupe. This car lived its whole life (until now) in Minnesota. The car you posted is from Kansas. This car has an oil breather cap on the valve cover. The car you posted has a closed cap on the valve cover (indicating a draft tube). This car has a brown interior. The car you posted seems to have a grey interior. However, the presence of the black valve cover (unusual) in both cars is suggestive. Maybe the new owner can shed some light on this. Just my $0.02. Edited January 31, 2022 by neil morse (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 Also, the BAT car has a different sticker on the door frame, and the "mid windscreen radio aerial" was standard on all Buicks with a radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 31, 2022 Author Share Posted January 31, 2022 Thanks for the interest, definitely not the same car. My car was always in MN. Interior is different. As far as the motor, as per the original bill of sale, matching #s all around. Black?? Red? Spin the wheel...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 About the engine color: I thought it was all black when I first glanced at the Ebay ad. The '41 engines were red (except the very early ones, which were gray like the '40s). A black engine usually means a dealer replacement. When I looked at the pics of your car more carefully, I saw that it's only the valve cover on your engine that's black. The block and oil pan look freshly painted in the correct Dante red. Usually, when someone rebuilds one of these engines they top it off with a correct red valve cover with reproduction decals. I guess the former owner of your car decided to go with a black valve cover instead. But it's interesting to hear that it's got the original engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 31, 2022 Author Share Posted January 31, 2022 Back then and engine was just an engine. Not too many people cared about much more than mechanical performance and reliabilty. Thr first time a detailed my engine my dad thought I had problems " why are you waisting your time" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrudy Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) Congratulations on the purchase of this beautiful Buick Super. I recall seeing the listing for this car and I remarked that this is the only Business Coupe that I had seen. Unusual in that Buick built 19,603 of the 56S, but only 2,449 of the 56. I believe that these cars were made for the business man and for the most part were driven pretty hard, so the survivor rate of this model is more than likely real low. Best of luck with your "new" car. Mike Edited January 31, 2022 by kingrudy (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 3 hours ago, peterjohn72 said: Thanks for the interest, definitely not the same car. My car was always in MN. Interior is different. As far as the motor, as per the original bill of sale, matching #s all around. Black?? Red? Spin the wheel...lol What numbers are matching? The factory engine paint shed pretty quickly, in most cases leaving black. Too bad the " color " was not as good as the "primer ". Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted January 31, 2022 Author Share Posted January 31, 2022 Upper right side of the data plate, stamped O.K. was told the k was for heater, defroster. Any clues on the O? Matching numbers, I have the original bos. With the numbers and the car numbers match to the bos. So its all there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share Posted February 5, 2022 Thank you for all the help so far. PJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 On 1/31/2022 at 11:11 AM, peterjohn72 said: Upper right side of the data plate, stamped O.K. was told the k was for heater, defroster. Any clues on the O? Matching numbers, I have the original bos. With the numbers and the car numbers match to the bos. So its all there On my '48 Chrysler, there was a marking on the firewall in white paint that read "OK final." I always figured this was a quality control check mark that was put on a car after a final inspection. Is the "OK" on your car possibly the same thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjohn72 Posted February 6, 2022 Author Share Posted February 6, 2022 Hey, thanks. Im thinking not because its stamped in the tag. from what i read the k is for heater option the o?? To be determined Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 Yes, it's stamped on the data tag. But look at how and where it's stamped. It looks to me like a mark that was stamped with a die after the data tag was already attached to the car. Just my $0.02. Maybe someone can enlighten us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 I'm just catching up here, nice looking car you got there. I also have a '41 coupe, but a large series. Welcome, and I'll be looking forward to seeing more about your car. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lobsinger -Rejuvenated Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 Just bought a 1941 Buick Super Model 56C Convertible, and am awaiting the transporter's arrival. It has been in a private collection and probably not started in the last couple of decades. Having delivery to a shop to go thought the fuel system and brakes, and probably recore the radiator. I don't see any rust, and by using the "Road Worth Rescue" technique of feeding fuel to the "gas make it hapener" from a rubber hose running from a gas can, and a battery I was able to get it started and engine sounds great, starts, runs & stops, certainly enough to get it on & off a transport. Interior looks to have been redone in vinyl, vs. cloth or leather, and there are a few age cracks in the paint which needs buffing. I see there is a product to fill scratches, then apply a protective coating. Ha sany one had esxperienced with the type of product, and if so, how about an opinion? A little TLC, new tires and radiator, and I would call is "good shape". How does the designation of Model 56C differ from what I see on conceptcarz.com as Model 50? All tips and observations are welcome. I thought I was looking for a resto-mod with a tire smoking power plant, but alas with this Buick and a 41 Lincoln Continental, it seems the sophisication and pure sexyness of the preware era has taking the place in my heart of loud exhaust and smoking tires. Confession: After buying the 41 Continental and 41 Buick, I have decided they are stepping stone to my holy grail, a 1937-1941 Packard convertible. Know of one that can be bought for under $40K? let me know. A resto-mod just came up at Mecum in Indy and it was almost perfect (No A/C). Owner bought it without a drive train so putting a small block Chev in it, at least saved it from a rusted existence in a northern MI field. I am eager to hear from the members about what to pay special attention to on the Buick, and any desired Packards for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 (edited) First, congratulations. In Buick "speak" all Supers are SERIES 50. Special= Series 40. Roadmaster = series 70 [ mostly]. In the Super series, a Model 51 is a four door sedan. Your Model 56c is a two door convertible. Each body style has a different Model number. Beginning with the 5. All series are the same way. Ben Edited May 23 by Ben Bruce aka First Born (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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