Image of 1946 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:	110 hp
Torque:	200 lb-ft
Compression Ratio:	6.5:1
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:	129 inches
Weight:	3,900 lbs

1946 Buick Super Series 50: A Postwar American Classic

The 1946 Buick Super brought prewar Buick comfort back to American roads just as the country was ready to move forward again. Built by Buick, a General Motors division, the Series 50 sat above the more compact Special and below the upscale Roadmaster. It offered a roomy cabin, smooth straight-eight power, and substantial styling without reaching for the Roadmaster’s price or size.

Its timing is part of its appeal. Buick had turned its factories over to wartime production, and civilian car manufacturing resumed after the war. The 1946 Super was therefore a bridge between eras: familiar in its engineering and basic design, but arriving at the start of a major postwar boom in car ownership. One memorable detail is its distinctive hood ornament, often compared to a gunsight or bombsight, which gives the car a striking focal point from the driver’s seat and curbside.

Exterior Design and Cabin Comfort

The Super’s styling is unmistakably mid-1940s Buick. A broad, upright grille with closely spaced vertical bars dominates the front, flanked by rounded fenders that flow into a long, gently curved body. The hood is wide and substantial, while the prominent chrome trim and bright bumpers add polish without making the design look overly delicate. Its generous proportions signal a car built for comfort and presence rather than nimble, compact motoring.

Inside, the Super feels like a proper step up from an economy-minded family car. Owners encountered a broad bench seat, a large steering wheel, a straightforward instrument panel, and generous room for passengers. Upholstery materials and trim varied by body style and specification. Cloth or broadcloth was common in closed cars, while the convertible could be ordered with more upscale trim, including leather. As with many cars of the period, the cabin’s appeal came from its space, substantial controls, and carefully finished details rather than modern conveniences.

Factory paint choices varied, and buyers could choose from a range of colors offered for the model year, including conservative dark shades and brighter hues. Black, deep blue, maroon, and green are among the colors often associated with period Buicks. Dark colors suit the Super’s formal character, while lighter or more vivid choices make its sweeping fenders and chrome stand out.

The principal Super body styles included a four-door sedan, a two-door Sedanette, and a convertible. The Sedanette’s sloping rear roof gives it a fastback profile that looks especially distinctive, while the four-door sedan was the practical choice for families. The convertible is the most glamorous and generally the most collectible today.

Engineering for a Smooth Ride

Power came from Buick’s 248-cubic-inch (4.1-liter) Fireball straight-eight, rated at about 110 horsepower. It was paired with a three-speed manual transmission. Buick’s later Dynaflow automatic was not yet available; that transmission arrived for the 1948 model year. The Super’s engineering emphasized smooth, relaxed progress, not quick shifts or high-revving performance.

For its time, the car also offered reassuring fundamentals: hydraulic drum brakes, a sturdy rear axle, and coil-spring suspension that helped deliver a more comfortable ride than the crude, rigid setups found on many older cars. Optional equipment such as a radio and heater made the Super better suited to longer trips and changing weather. It was still a car of its era, though: six-volt electrics, manual steering, and a manual gearbox were part of everyday ownership.

Why the 1946 Super Matters

The Series 50 helped define Buick’s role as an attainable near-luxury brand. It gave buyers a substantial, comfortable car with more room and visual presence than a basic family model, while remaining less imposing and expensive than the top-of-the-line Roadmaster. That middle position was central to Buick’s appeal in the postwar years.

The 1946 model was not a clean-sheet design. Materials and manufacturing capacity were still recovering from wartime demands, so the car carried forward much of the prewar styling and engineering. That continuity is historically meaningful: it shows how American automakers restarted civilian production before introducing the more dramatic redesigns that followed. The Super’s long hood, broad grille, and rounded fenders also reflect the era’s transition from upright prewar forms toward the fuller, more integrated bodies of the late 1940s and 1950s.

Performance and Road Manners

Period performance figures vary with body style, condition, gearing, and testing method. As a useful guide, expect a top speed in the neighborhood of 85 to 90 mph and a 0-to-60-mph time of roughly 20 to 23 seconds. Those figures describe a large, heavy car with modest horsepower by modern standards. The straight-eight’s strength was its smoothness and usable low-speed pull, not startling acceleration.

On a rough road, the Super’s soft suspension and long wheelbase encourage an easy, unhurried pace. It settles over bumps and feels comfortable on open highways, though body roll is noticeable in faster corners. On winding roads, the driver needs to plan ahead: the steering is not as precise as a modern rack-and-pinion system, and the drum brakes reward early, measured application.

The driving experience is part of the car’s charm. The straight-eight produces a mellow, even engine note, and the cabin feels spacious and removed from the road. The large steering wheel, bench seat, and manual controls make the driver an active participant. This is a car to cruise in, not hustle through traffic. Its best moments come on a quiet two-lane road, with the engine turning steadily and the suspension smoothing out the miles.

Living with a 1946 Buick Super

Today, most Supers are used as weekend drivers, touring cars, or show vehicles rather than daily transportation. A well-sorted example can handle local trips and relaxed highway cruising, but modern traffic speeds, limited braking performance, and the scarcity of some replacement parts make regular commuting less appealing.

Routine maintenance is approachable for an owner familiar with older cars. The engine bay is relatively accessible, and basic service work includes regular attention to ignition components, cooling, lubrication, brakes, and the carburetor. Parts support exists through specialist suppliers and Buick clubs, though trim pieces, body panels, and model-specific details can take more effort to source. Before buying, inspect the frame and body for rust, check for cooling problems, and confirm that the brakes, electrical system, and transmission work correctly. A neglected straight-eight can turn a seemingly simple project into a costly restoration.

Buick Super Facts and Common Criticisms

The Super name described the Series 50, not a special high-performance package. Its appeal came from size, comfort, and Buick’s reputation rather than racing credentials. The model was built for ordinary postwar life: family travel, business use, and long-distance touring. There is no widely recognized speed or endurance record associated with the 1946 Super, and specific celebrity ownership claims should be treated cautiously unless supported by reliable documentation.

One common criticism is that the car can feel slow and ponderous by modern standards. Its drum brakes need more stopping distance than contemporary systems, and its large dimensions can make tight parking a chore. The flip side is the quality many owners prize: a smooth straight-eight, a comfortable ride, and a substantial, unmistakably vintage presence.

Production, Rarity, and Collector Values

Exact production totals can be difficult to pin down across sources and body styles. A reasonable estimate is that Buick built roughly 100,000 to 120,000 Series 50 Supers for 1946, with the four-door sedan and Sedanette making up much of the supply. That makes the Super far from a one-off rarity when new, but surviving cars in sound, original condition are much less common. The convertible is scarcer and typically attracts the most attention.

As a broad 2026 guide, a project car might sell for about $5,000 to $12,000, while a usable driver could fall around $15,000 to $30,000. A well-restored sedan or Sedanette may bring roughly $30,000 to $50,000, with exceptional convertibles potentially reaching $50,000 to $90,000 or more. Actual prices depend heavily on rust, restoration quality, originality, documentation, and regional demand.

Values have generally been steady to gradually rising for well-presented cars, especially convertibles, though the market is selective. Restoration costs can exceed the eventual sale price, so condition and completeness matter more than the promise of a bargain project. The best buys are often cars with sound structure, a complete interior, and a clear maintenance or restoration history.

A Buick Built for the Return to the Road

The 1946 Buick Super Series 50 captures a memorable moment in American motoring: the return to civilian production, the optimism of the postwar years, and the appeal of a comfortable car with genuine style. Its straight-eight power and relaxed ride are not about speed, but about making every journey feel substantial. More than a handsome survivor from another era, the Super is a rolling reminder of how Buick helped Americans get back on the road.