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Details
Photo Credit: Paul R. Martinez
1940 BUICK ESTATE WAGON
COACHWORK BY BIEHL
Chassis No. 13787637
Maroon with white ash and mahogany woodwork and leather interior
Engine: overhead valve, in-line, eight cylinder, 248ci, 107hp at 3,800rpm; Gearbox: column mounted three speed manual; Suspension: independently sprung front, four wheel coil springs, semi-floating rear axle; Brakes: four wheel hydraulic drums. Left hand drive.
The 1940 Buick Estate Wagon found its origin in Hollywood. In 1939, movie director Norman McLeod and his wife Evelyn "Bunny" McLeod threw a gala party at their Beverly Hills home as part of a West Coast sales meeting for Buick. Among those attending were Harlow Curtice, President of Buick at that time, and Harley Earl who was the styling director for Buick. Harley Earl was part of a group of people who heard Bunny McLeod say that she and Mr. McLeod did not have a Buick in their garage because Buick did not offer a station wagon. That was all the impetus Mr. Earl needed. He made sketches for a Buick station wagon prototype within a few days.
The next step was a development program for the wagon and, of course, a prototype. The Biehl Body Company of Reading, Pennsylvania was brought on board to build the prototype design. Harlow Curtice liked it so well he commissioned the Biehl Company to build 500 Buick Estate Wagons for the 1940 model year. As soon as the very first Buick Estate Wagon was completed it was on a train bound for Hollywood for the next sales meeting. In pure Hollywood fashion, the top-secret Buick Estate Wagon was unveiled before a large crowd at the Coconut Grove on Wilshire Boulevard. That car, body #1, was then presented to Bunny McLeod. She used the car for a number of years at their Southern California ranch and in Beverly Hills as well.
Not surprisingly the Hollywood inspired 1940 Buick Estate Wagon not only appeared on the streets in cities across the country but also on the big screen. In fact, Warner Brothers Studios had a 1940 Buick Estate Wagon as part of their sizeable stable of automobiles. That particular wagon appeared in a number of movies including "Now, Voyager" starring Bette Davis, "White Heat" starring James Cagney and "My Reputation" starring Barbara Stanwyck, among others.
From the original 500 Buick Estate Wagons produced in 1940, only about ten of these remarkable Woody wagons remain, a survival rate of around 2
The lovely example offered here has been well restored by Lewis H. Jenkins of North Carolina. The interior has been entirely retrimmed in the correct red leather, red vinyl and red carpeting. The engine compartment appears clean and detailed. The sheet metal portion of the body is straight and the fit is excellent. The wood body, made of ash and mahogany, is outstanding in its fit and finish. All in all, Mr. Jenkins was able to maintain the originality throughout and produce a beautifully restored 1940 Buick Estate Wagon that should provide any new owner with an automobile that can be driven as well as proudly displayed at Concours d'Elegance events and woody shows. In that regard, Mr. Jenkins reports that this Estate Wagon garnered 396 points out of a possible 400 at an AACA National Meet in the late 1990s.
Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?
1940 BUICK ESTATE WAGON
COACHWORK BY BIEHL
Chassis No. 13787637
Maroon with white ash and mahogany woodwork and leather interior
Engine: overhead valve, in-line, eight cylinder, 248ci, 107hp at 3,800rpm; Gearbox: column mounted three speed manual; Suspension: independently sprung front, four wheel coil springs, semi-floating rear axle; Brakes: four wheel hydraulic drums. Left hand drive.
The 1940 Buick Estate Wagon found its origin in Hollywood. In 1939, movie director Norman McLeod and his wife Evelyn "Bunny" McLeod threw a gala party at their Beverly Hills home as part of a West Coast sales meeting for Buick. Among those attending were Harlow Curtice, President of Buick at that time, and Harley Earl who was the styling director for Buick. Harley Earl was part of a group of people who heard Bunny McLeod say that she and Mr. McLeod did not have a Buick in their garage because Buick did not offer a station wagon. That was all the impetus Mr. Earl needed. He made sketches for a Buick station wagon prototype within a few days.
The next step was a development program for the wagon and, of course, a prototype. The Biehl Body Company of Reading, Pennsylvania was brought on board to build the prototype design. Harlow Curtice liked it so well he commissioned the Biehl Company to build 500 Buick Estate Wagons for the 1940 model year. As soon as the very first Buick Estate Wagon was completed it was on a train bound for Hollywood for the next sales meeting. In pure Hollywood fashion, the top-secret Buick Estate Wagon was unveiled before a large crowd at the Coconut Grove on Wilshire Boulevard. That car, body #1, was then presented to Bunny McLeod. She used the car for a number of years at their Southern California ranch and in Beverly Hills as well.
Not surprisingly the Hollywood inspired 1940 Buick Estate Wagon not only appeared on the streets in cities across the country but also on the big screen. In fact, Warner Brothers Studios had a 1940 Buick Estate Wagon as part of their sizeable stable of automobiles. That particular wagon appeared in a number of movies including "Now, Voyager" starring Bette Davis, "White Heat" starring James Cagney and "My Reputation" starring Barbara Stanwyck, among others.
From the original 500 Buick Estate Wagons produced in 1940, only about ten of these remarkable Woody wagons remain, a survival rate of around 2
The lovely example offered here has been well restored by Lewis H. Jenkins of North Carolina. The interior has been entirely retrimmed in the correct red leather, red vinyl and red carpeting. The engine compartment appears clean and detailed. The sheet metal portion of the body is straight and the fit is excellent. The wood body, made of ash and mahogany, is outstanding in its fit and finish. All in all, Mr. Jenkins was able to maintain the originality throughout and produce a beautifully restored 1940 Buick Estate Wagon that should provide any new owner with an automobile that can be driven as well as proudly displayed at Concours d'Elegance events and woody shows. In that regard, Mr. Jenkins reports that this Estate Wagon garnered 396 points out of a possible 400 at an AACA National Meet in the late 1990s.
Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?