Image of 1940 Buick Super Series 50, Note: These illustrations use artistic license and may differ from actual historical models.

Engine Specifications
Engine:	Straight 8
Displacement:	248 cu in (4.1 L)
Horsepower:	107 hp
Torque:	Estimated 200 lb-ft
Compression Ratio:	6.15:1
Ignition System:	Battery Ignition
Cooling System:	Liquid Cooled
Performance Specifications
0-60 Time:	Estimated 15 seconds
1/4 Mile Time:	Not available
Top Speed:	90 mph
Transmission and Drive
Drive Type:	Rear Wheel Drive
Transmission Type:	3-speed manual
Fuel and Efficiency
Fuel System Type:	Carburetor
MPG:	Estimated 15 mpg
Dimensions and Brakes
Brakes:	Drum Brakes
Wheelbase:	124 inches
Weight:	3,800 lbs

1940 Buick Super Series 50: A New Kind of Buick

The 1940 Buick Super Series 50 brought big-car presence and Buick comfort to a new model line, pairing a smooth straight-eight engine with the roomier proportions and richer appointments buyers expected from the marque. Built by Buick, a division of General Motors, the Super arrived as an appealing middle ground: more substantial than the Special, but less costly than Buick’s top-of-the-line Roadmaster and Limited.

Its debut came during a pivotal moment for American motoring. Streamlined styling was replacing the upright shapes of the early 1930s, while the country was moving toward wartime production. The Super was among the last generations of Buicks designed before civilian automobile manufacturing paused during World War II. One detail that helps explain its appeal is right in its formula: Buick gave the Super a larger, more imposing body than the Special, yet powered it with a more economical 248-cubic-inch straight-eight rather than the Roadmaster’s larger engine.

Streamlined Buick Styling and Cabin Craft

The 1940 Super wears the rounded, flowing look that defined Buick’s late-prewar design. Its long hood leads to a prominent, vertically oriented grille, while the fenders sweep smoothly into the body instead of appearing as separate, angular forms. Carefully shaped headlamp housings, bright trim, and Buick’s distinctive hood ornament add visual punctuation. The result is substantial without looking as boxy as many earlier cars, with a graceful profile that suits the Super’s upscale character.

Inside, the Super was made for comfortable travel. Buyers found broad bench seats, generous legroom, durable upholstery, and a substantial dashboard with clear, period-style gauges. Materials and trim depended on body style and equipment, but the cabin generally combined cloth or other upholstery fabrics with painted surfaces and bright metal accents. It was not a modern luxury interior, but it had the solid, carefully finished feel Buick used to distinguish its cars from less expensive models.

Available paint colors varied by body style and factory offering. Period Buicks could be ordered in dark, formal shades as well as more vivid blues, reds, and grays, with contrasting trim or two-tone treatments available on some configurations. Black and darker hues suited the Super’s dignified image, while brighter colors made its sweeping fenders and chrome stand out. Exact combinations should be checked against the car’s original build records or paint documentation.

Series 50 Body Styles and Equipment

The Super Series 50 was offered in several passenger-car body styles, including sedans, coupes, and open models. The four-door sedan was a natural fit for family and business use, thanks to its roomy cabin and practical access. Coupes offered a sportier profile, while the convertible phaeton was among the most eye-catching choices. Availability and naming could vary across Buick’s model literature, so a specific car is best identified by its factory model number and body tag.

For its time, the Super offered useful engineering rather than novelty for novelty’s sake. It had hydraulic drum brakes, a three-speed manual transmission, and independent front suspension using coil springs, paired with Buick’s torque-tube rear-drive layout. Sealed-beam headlamps were part of the new U.S. lighting standard introduced for 1940, giving the car a modern lighting system compared with older replaceable-bulb arrangements. Automatic transmissions were still years away for Buick; the Super was a conventional, driver-operated machine.

Why the 1940 Super Matters

The Series 50’s significance lies in how effectively it filled a gap in Buick’s lineup. It combined a longer, roomier feel and more upscale presence than the entry-level Special with a smaller engine than the Roadmaster. That balance gave buyers a substantial car without requiring them to step all the way up to Buick’s largest and most expensive models.

The Super also reflects a broader shift in automotive design. Its integrated-looking fenders, rounded body contours, and carefully coordinated trim show how American manufacturers were turning streamlined styling into a selling point. Buick did not invent the trend, but its 1940 cars demonstrated how a manufacturer could make aerodynamic-looking design feel elegant and substantial rather than experimental. The Super’s formula of a roomy body, smooth eight-cylinder power, and carefully tiered pricing became a durable part of Buick’s identity.

248 Straight-Eight Performance and Road Manners

Power came from Buick’s 248-cubic-inch (4.1-liter) inline-eight, rated at approximately 107 horsepower in the 1940 Super. It was paired with a three-speed manual gearbox. Period specifications and modern performance estimates vary with tune, gearing, body style, and vehicle condition, but a sound, correctly set-up example is generally capable of roughly 80 to 90 mph at the top end. A 0-to-60-mph run is likely to take around 20 seconds, give or take several seconds. Those figures describe a large prewar touring car, not a modern performance machine.

The straight-eight’s appeal is its smoothness. It delivers power in a long, even surge, accompanied by a subdued mechanical hum that becomes more pronounced as the engine works harder. The clutch and gearshift require deliberate input by modern standards, but they are part of the car’s unhurried character. Buick’s suspension gives the Super a composed ride over ordinary road imperfections, though a modern driver will notice body movement over sharp bumps and more lean through tight corners than in a contemporary sedan.

On a winding road, the Super rewards smooth steering and sensible speeds rather than quick direction changes. Its size and period tires call for anticipation, especially when braking or meeting crosswinds. On open roads, however, the long wheelbase and soft ride make it a comfortable cruiser. The best way to drive one is to let the engine work steadily, leave plenty of stopping distance, and enjoy the view from behind the broad hood.

Living With a 1940 Buick Super

Today, most Super owners use their cars for weekend touring, local events, and classic-car shows. A well-maintained example can handle occasional road trips, but the car is not an ideal modern daily driver in heavy traffic. It lacks contemporary safety equipment, air conditioning in its original form, power steering, and the braking performance expected of a current vehicle. Its size and fuel consumption also make it less convenient for routine commuting.

Mechanically, the Super is straightforward by classic-car standards. The engine, manual transmission, and drum brakes are understandable to an experienced home mechanic, and many routine jobs do not require specialized electronic tools. The challenge is often finding correct parts, especially for trim, body details, and model-specific interior pieces. Mechanical components are generally more manageable than rare cosmetic items, but owners should use suppliers and repair shops familiar with prewar Buicks.

Reliability depends heavily on restoration quality and upkeep. Cooling-system condition, ignition and fuel-system tuning, lubrication, brake hydraulics, and tire age all deserve careful attention. A car that has been sitting for years should not be treated as road-ready just because the engine starts. Properly sorted, a Super can be dependable for pleasure use, but regular checks and preventive maintenance are essential.

1940 Buick Super Facts and Myths

The Super name made its first appearance in Buick’s lineup for the 1940 model year. Its 248-cubic-inch straight-eight was smaller than the Roadmaster’s engine, but it still delivered the quiet, flexible power buyers associated with Buick. The model also belongs to the final prewar era: U.S. automakers stopped building civilian cars during World War II, making prewar Buicks an especially recognizable part of the brand’s history.

There is no widely recognized speed or endurance record associated specifically with the 1940 Super Series 50, and it is better known for comfortable touring than competition. Nor should celebrity ownership stories be assumed without documentation; many such claims circulate around classic cars but are difficult to verify. The more grounded trivia is that the Super’s blend of a big-car body and a smaller straight-eight gave it a distinctive place between Buick’s less expensive and flagship offerings.

Common criticisms are familiar to owners of many prewar cars: the Super is heavy, thirsty by modern standards, slow to accelerate, and equipped with drum brakes and period steering. Replacement trim can be hard to locate, and its broad body takes up space in a garage. These are reasonable trade-offs to understand, not surprises to discover after purchase.

1940 Buick Super Values and Availability

Production estimates for the 1940 Series 50 are commonly placed in the neighborhood of 120,000 to 130,000 cars across its body styles. Treat that as an approximate model-family estimate rather than a precise count for every configuration. The four-door sedan is generally easier to find than an open car, while a convertible phaeton in sound, original condition is considerably less common.

Collector prices depend strongly on body style, originality, restoration quality, and documentation. As a broad current-market guide, a project or incomplete car might fall around $8,000 to $18,000. A usable driver may bring roughly $20,000 to $40,000, while a high-quality restored sedan can reach approximately $45,000 to $75,000. Desirable open models and exceptional, correctly restored examples can exceed that range, sometimes reaching $70,000 to $100,000 or more. These are estimates, not guaranteed sale prices; regional demand and recent auction results can move values substantially.

Well-presented convertibles and unusually original cars tend to attract the strongest interest. More common sedans have a broader pool of potential buyers but may show slower price growth. Overall, the market is best described as selective: top-quality examples remain desirable, while ordinary cars have often been comparatively steady rather than rising rapidly after inflation. Condition and authenticity usually matter more than an ambitious asking price.

The Lasting Appeal of the Series 50

The 1940 Buick Super Series 50 stands out for its graceful prewar styling, smooth straight-eight power, and thoughtful position in Buick’s lineup. It offered the room and presence of a substantial automobile without the cost and engine size of the brand’s top models, while its coil-spring front suspension and modern-for-the-time sealed-beam headlights helped make it a refined touring car.

More than eight decades later, the Super remains a compelling snapshot of American motoring just before the war changed the industry. It is not fast by modern standards, and it asks for patience and upkeep, but its long hood, quiet eight-cylinder rhythm, and carefully finished cabin deliver something a newer car cannot: the unmistakable feeling of traveling in a different era.