BUICK 41C Special

The U.S. Buick brand, founded in 1903 and acquired by General Motors in 1908, suffered heavily in 1933 the consequences of the severe recession that affected the global economy: from fourth place in the ranking of the best selling brands, it sank in the sixth and seventh. G.M decided to invest massively to allow Buick to recover positions. This was possible thanks to the marketing of particularly successful models such as the Series 40, whose design was the result of current stylistic innovation introduced to the GM by Art & Color Studio directed by Harvey Earl. The year of full recovery was 1938, two years after the release of the model on display, thanks to the all-steel chassis replacing the mixed steel-wood one adopted until then. The Special exhibited still shows a solemn design, but also modern and well harmonized as a whole. The length of the front part is accentuated by the twin radiator grill, the slender front form is enhanced by the elongated shape of the two lights mounted on each side of the bonnet and of the two ones on the large fenders. The doors are double-folding, but the body has a central pillar. The glasses area is small in relation to the volume of the car, while the V-windscreen helps to give dash to the design of the body. The integral rear trunk can be considerered among the earliest examples of a three-volumes-line. Ultimately a car with excellent features, as confirmed by the slogan that was long employed in the advertising campaigns of the house: “When better automobiles are built, Buick will buy them”.