1937 Buick Roadmaster

This 1937 Buick Series 80 Roadmaster Formal Sedan is one of 452 examples built for the model year. It was purchased by the current owner in 1983 and underwent a refurbishment that was begun that year and completed in 1989. The car is finished in black over tan cloth upholstery, and power comes from a 320ci straight-eight paired with a three-speed manual transmission. Equipment includes dual side-mount spare wheels, Trippe driving lamps, an AM radio, a cabin divider with a roll-down window, a rear footrest, and a robe cord. This Model 81 Roadmaster Formal Sedan is now offered by the seller on behalf of the current owner with literature, a jack, and a clean California title in the owner’s name. The Buick lineup was restyled for 1937 and featured squared-off fender ends, a split grille with horizontal chrome bars, and streamlined headlight buckets and fender-mounted driving lamps. This Formal Sedan was delivered from the factory in Imperial Black (500) and is said to have received replacement oak door frames during the 1980s refurbishment before it was repainted using multiple coats of Ditzler Double Deep Black nitrocellulose lacquer. The chrome bumpers and brightwork were also replated at that time, and additional equipment includes Trippe driving lamps, Roadmaster-branded hood vents, door hinge-mounted mirrors, running boards with an inset antenna, trunk-back bodywork, dual taillights, and a glass-lens Buco-Buick brake lamp mounted on the trunk lid. The black-painted wheels feature white pinstriping along with chrome hubcaps and trim rings, and they are mounted with 7.50-16 Lester whitewall bias-ply tires. Spare wheels in body-color covers are stowed in the front fenders. The Model 81 Formal Sedan rode on a 131″ wheelbase and featured a coil-sprung independent front suspension along with a live rear axle with leaf springs. Stopping power is provided by hydraulic drums at all four corners. The cabin was reupholstered in tan Bedford cord and mohair upholstery during the 1980s refurbishment, and it features tan carpets, an AM radio, a locking glovebox door with an inset clock, a cabin partition with a roll-down window and a robe cord, a footrest, and a rear fold-down armrest. The three-spoke Banjo-style steering wheel features a chrome horn ring, and it frames a 120-mph speedometer and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer was reset during the refurbishment, and it shows 1k miles. Total mileage is unknown. The 320ci straight-eight features five main bearings and a Carter carburetor for a factory rating of 130 horsepower. The engine is said to have been rebuilt in the 1980s with replacement pistons, rings, bearings, and rocker arms. An oil change was last performed in June 2022. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission that is said to have been rebuilt in the 1980s. The exhaust system features a chrome turned-down tip.