1941 Limited Correct Factory Body Colors Question

[Guest BJM]

Does anybody know for sure what body paint colors were available to 1941 Limiteds? I have only seen them in black, blue, and a dark grey. I think they would look great in a medium tan/pale yellow but I wasn't sure if because of the stately nature of the Limiteds, if Buick reigned in color selection on them.

I am interested in a 41 Limited 6 passenger formal but would like to see if I could own it corectly with a more 'festive' art deco shade. Please advise if you have more information. Thanks-

[Matt Harwood]

You could just about get any color you wanted on a Limited. For a color chart showing standard 1941 Buick colors, click here. Unfortunately, Sequoia cream, which is a great color, was a 1940 color and not continued to 1941. But as I said, you could special order about any color you wanted back then. I know for a fact that Doug Seybold has restored several 1941 Buicks in Sequoia Cream and they've gone on to win AACA and BCA awards. Here's a gorgeous '41 Roadmaster convertible that is an AACA senior winner:

Hope this helps.

[Guest BJM]

Matt,

You hit the nail on the head. I was thinking Sequoia Cream. It seems to be a very 'art deco' color that chrome goes well against. I wonder what Touquet Beige looks like in that 41 color offering.In the AACA website cover page, down at the bottom are a couple of 30's offerings in the cream color.

The darker shades have a tendency to hide the curves on these great late thirties/early forties cars. Then, against a shaded show setting, the cars sort of blend in. But with Sequioa cream and good chrome, they stand out in all their styling finery, so I thought for a change the limited would look even more impressive with that paint, which was very period.

That's good infromation thanks. Now I wonder if there is a 41 Limited even out there that is a lighter shade of beige/grey/green. Not sure I've ever seen one.

[Matt Harwood]

The Touquet Beige is not a great color. It's really flat, more of a gray than a yellow. There's a layer of it under all the paint on my '41, and I don't much care for it at all.

I think a '41 Limited would look great in a light color. Doug Seybold built a '40 Limited limousine in Sequoia Cream not too long ago, and it was quite impressive. He also recently finished a massive '40 Limited model 81C (Limited convertible sedan), also in Sequoia Cream with black top and red leather. It's awesome in the flesh (I think Sequoia Cream must be his favorite color):

[Guest BJM]

Thanks again. Matt. Your last photo is exactly what I mean. Look at the show field behind it (kind of dark) and how the car and it's details just 'pop' out at you, except the black convertible top but you can't help that.

Basically then, any color correctly applied would not be a points deduction on a 41 Buick. Of course, I understand "candy apple red metallic" probably wasn't available back then - that is what I mean by correctly applied.

Thanks again. I am working on getting the Limited but it's a long way away geographically meaning high transport costs.

[Centurion]

3jakes, is the car you're considering the one that's available in the Seattle area? If so, make sure you insist that the seller furnish all of the bright trim he has for the car. The seller had previously expressed that he would sell his '41 Limited, but wished to strip all of the trim items exclusive to this model. He evidently figured he could sell the trim separately on Ebay and make a bundle. Those of us who heard this guy's plan were dumbfounded by his greed.

[Guest BJM]

Brian,

I hope he isn't a BCA guy. Certainly not. No, I am considering getting a Limited offered in Maine from Goldenrod Garage. It's rough and rusty but the price is right, it's complete and he says it is a 6 passenger formal sedan, meaning it should have the divider glass, making it one fo 200 or so-so equipped.

I am not a fan of 41 styling even though it is the most collected year, or used to be - in the club. But I love the total package. I have read articles ad nauseum on the 41 limited, including in the Bugle and I am sold on their road manners. For me, it would be a great car to go to Nationals in, all that room back there for my wife and daughter to stretch out - plenty of glass to watch the scenery go by. BUT, it always bothered me that I only saw them in black or dark blue, maybe dark grey.

I'm rather poor, so I try to get cars to restore and collect that cover a lot of ground. In fact, based on my progress and budget for the 3 I have under restoration, I figure I have room for one more complete restoration. After that, I would only purchase drivers or restored cars.

In the case of the Limited, I really prefer the 37-38's but they are scarce, and seldom available in project prices $1,000 to $3,000. The 41 Limiteds, I have seen in project shape in the last 2 years anywhere from $500 on ebay to around $2,000. The one Goldenrod Garage has is listed at $1,795.

Timing is everything. I need another car like I need a hole in my head. But if I can get it, then I feel like my urge to buy that special pre-war car would be over. My other car I am considering is a 50's convertible but I can't afford both.

I am very happy with Matt's answer and his photos. To me, the finest cars of the thirties are the Art Deco 36-38's. Not just Buicks. And this era of car in my opinion looked best in that beige/cream shade. Just look at the 40 Phaeton photo above. Beautiful. So in my theory of trying to get the most bang for the buck, a 41 Limited Formal 6 passenger done in Seq. Cream or equivalent would get me the touches of the optimistic mid thirties, a limousine, a dual carb straight 8, art deco gauges and interior trim, engine turned dash, big wide whites, and room to stretch in long drives to Nationals. Styling definitely changed starting in 1942, I have a 49 Roadmaster Sedanette.

Anybody that has read my posts, knows I am a huge stewardship guy. To me, it is more important to restore this car, with it's rarity and condition, then to wait another 10 years and buy a nice driver Limited for $15,000 to $20,000. Unless we step up and save the #4 and #5 cars, then many will quietly never get restored - so that goal is part of the total package. Unfortunetly, I can't save them all, it's way too expensive and time consuming.

Well that's my story anyway. I hope to be able to have sufficient funds to make an offer this fall, if it isn't gone. Then there's the transport <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Bill Stoneberg]

Brian,

I cant believe that anyone would do that, but who knows now days. May his next car have hidden rust and spun bearings.

Jake, I know you say you like the lighter colors but Royal Maroon (not Royal Moron, that would be something else entirely)is an absolutly stunning color. While it probably would pop in the shade, in the sun you would attract all kinds of attention. I have seen it on a 41 business coupe and a 49 Woody. I dont normally drool over cars, but I did for the buisness coupe.