Back-to-back British Buicks

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There are a couple of 1930s Rolls-Royces, a stalled project Bentley, a lovely Austin 20 and a 1910 Cadillac in Historic Auctioneers' next sale on 17 July at Windsorview Lakes. But we fell for the two Buicks offered as they are quite a rare sight in the UK. They were sold in that country though, with one of them being an original UK-delivered car. The other is a later import.

1928 Buick Master Six

To start with the latter: it came from Portugal and is a 1928 Buick Master Six in a lovely kind of coffee & cream colour scheme (more mocha & latte perhaps…), which matches nicely with the wooden ‘artillery’ wheels. Coming from Portugal before arriving on the shores of England, it underwent some work there, including a rebuild of the six-in-line engine. And although pictures from the engine bay show the green paint peeling off, the engine is said to start on the button and the Buick is said to drive well with no known faults. The ‘Gothic Goddess’ hood ornament is there and will lead you the way behind that large wood-rimmed steering wheel. Estimated at £13,000 to £17,000, it certainly seems to offer a great deal of motor for your money.

1939 Buick Viceroy Series 40 Special

For about twice that estimate you may be able to drive home in the other Buick from the same sale: a 1939 Viceroy Series 40 Special with a four-litre straight-eight engine. The car was built by Buick’s Canadian coachbuilding subsidiary McLaughlin but sold new in the UK. It is a right-hand drive, too, and could perhaps do with some further research by an enthusiast. From the write-up: “Since the arrival of this Viceroy in the UK, the history drops off the radar somewhat but is picked up again some five years ago when it was found abandoned in a barn in Norfolk.” A restoration was carried out after that, stripping the body to its bare metal, re-chroming all the brightwork and retrimming the interior. The eight-cylinder, three-speed gearbox and rear axle were rebuilt as well as a new wiring loom and refurbished wheels. But how about that history? It makes it all the more appealing car to us. How about you?

Words by Jeroen Booij. Pictures courtesy of Historics Auctioneers.

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