Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 533
1930 Buick Series 60 Model 64 Sport Roadster Engine no. 2458372
Sold for US$17,920 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 533
1930 Buick Series 60 Model 64 Sport Roadster
1930 Buick Series 60 Model 64 Sport Roadster
Engine no. 2458372
Engine no. 2458372
331.4 ci., SOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
98bhp at 2,800rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*Rare example of GM Art and Colour sports design
*Untouched, original example
*Potential Preservation Class exhibit
BUICK
Under the stewardship of General Motors' President William C. Durant, Buick production rose dramatically. The company introduced its first 6-cylinder car in 1914 and for a period in the 1920s the range would consist entirely of sixes. A detachable cylinder head, strengthened chassis and axles, and 4-wheel brakes were new introductions on the 6-cylinder line for 1924, the last year of Buick's base-model four. Replacing the latter for 1925, the Standard Six boasted a new, overhead-valve engine displacing 191cu in and producing 50bhp, while the larger Master Six came with a 255cu in, 70bhp unit. The duo was restyled for 1926 and given larger engines of 207 and 274cu in respectively and continued almost unaltered throughout 1927. For this season, the cars were visibly distinguishable by their slightly rounded radiator edges and on Fisher bodies such as this car, a dual swage molding.
It was at this point that the Buick received the attention of rising star Harley Earl. Earl's mammoth contributions to General Motors' looks had begun with the LaSalle then the glorious post-1928 Cadillacs. He was on a roll when he began work on the new Buick line up, under the command of one of its most dynamic leaders, Harlow "Red" Curtice. Curtice saw that Buick's slide was induced by complacency and their styling was looking old-fashioned, also he was keen to revamp the cars in an effort to purge unnecessary weight and to improve their performance. Their all-new line up debuted in 1929 and was the first series to have been styled in their entirety by the GM Art and Color Department, further improvements followed for 1930.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
The 1930 Model 64 was one of Buick's more racy models, the sport roadster, which arrived first this year and accounted for a mere 2006 units, a fraction of the 181,743 of all models shipped, making it relatively rare. They set their owners back some $1,585 in standard form, with the optional extras of wire wheels, chrome grille guard, side mounts, whitewall tires, luggage rack, fog lights and wind wings, almost all of which were clearly chosen by the first owner of this car.
Buicks were certainly a focus of the collection, but this is by far the newest in this stable, 'new' being relative of course, and by time rather than condition. The car is an incredible example of its marque and model, a true time-warp car and in many respects, it is quite remarkable that it survives at all. It wears a New Jersey license plate for 1930, which seems likely to be original to the car and is a clue to its early history. Beyond this point, we are uncertain of its subsequent trail, until more recent times. However, regardless of any documented chain of ownership, the car and its condition speaks volumes about what that path might have amounted to, one would imagine a very limited number of custodians and most likely a long period of being laid up. That time would also more than likely have straddled the early days of the hobby through to more modern times, and in doing so eluded the former trends of restoring such cars.
The car was formerly in the collection of James and Helen Staats of New Hope, PA, and carries a registration sticker for PA in 1981/2. The Staats being noted active HCCA and specifically Curved Dash Olds campaigners, it is likely that the shared admiration of 'CDO's' connected them with the father and son ownership of the Two Generations Collection.
Clearly never having been restored, the car seems to retain its original paint, trim finishes and even its top. Its appeal is in the way in which it has weathered its 93 years, the paintwork in a khaki brown, pinstriped in red is worn in places, but still presentable, while it is the interior of both the driving compartment and the rumble seat is almost entirely intact and displays the materials with which these cars were built, but are rarely replicated when restored. The seats are in good order generally, and the driver's door has the provision of a panel behind which tools are stored, there are a couple of missing handles, but none that detract hugely from its overall presentation which with careful cleaning and preparation would no doubt enable the car to be welcomed in any of the popular preservation classes at concours events around the country.
In its past tenures it has been neither altered nor restored, long may that continue...
98bhp at 2,800rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*Rare example of GM Art and Colour sports design
*Untouched, original example
*Potential Preservation Class exhibit
BUICK
Under the stewardship of General Motors' President William C. Durant, Buick production rose dramatically. The company introduced its first 6-cylinder car in 1914 and for a period in the 1920s the range would consist entirely of sixes. A detachable cylinder head, strengthened chassis and axles, and 4-wheel brakes were new introductions on the 6-cylinder line for 1924, the last year of Buick's base-model four. Replacing the latter for 1925, the Standard Six boasted a new, overhead-valve engine displacing 191cu in and producing 50bhp, while the larger Master Six came with a 255cu in, 70bhp unit. The duo was restyled for 1926 and given larger engines of 207 and 274cu in respectively and continued almost unaltered throughout 1927. For this season, the cars were visibly distinguishable by their slightly rounded radiator edges and on Fisher bodies such as this car, a dual swage molding.
It was at this point that the Buick received the attention of rising star Harley Earl. Earl's mammoth contributions to General Motors' looks had begun with the LaSalle then the glorious post-1928 Cadillacs. He was on a roll when he began work on the new Buick line up, under the command of one of its most dynamic leaders, Harlow "Red" Curtice. Curtice saw that Buick's slide was induced by complacency and their styling was looking old-fashioned, also he was keen to revamp the cars in an effort to purge unnecessary weight and to improve their performance. Their all-new line up debuted in 1929 and was the first series to have been styled in their entirety by the GM Art and Color Department, further improvements followed for 1930.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
The 1930 Model 64 was one of Buick's more racy models, the sport roadster, which arrived first this year and accounted for a mere 2006 units, a fraction of the 181,743 of all models shipped, making it relatively rare. They set their owners back some $1,585 in standard form, with the optional extras of wire wheels, chrome grille guard, side mounts, whitewall tires, luggage rack, fog lights and wind wings, almost all of which were clearly chosen by the first owner of this car.
Buicks were certainly a focus of the collection, but this is by far the newest in this stable, 'new' being relative of course, and by time rather than condition. The car is an incredible example of its marque and model, a true time-warp car and in many respects, it is quite remarkable that it survives at all. It wears a New Jersey license plate for 1930, which seems likely to be original to the car and is a clue to its early history. Beyond this point, we are uncertain of its subsequent trail, until more recent times. However, regardless of any documented chain of ownership, the car and its condition speaks volumes about what that path might have amounted to, one would imagine a very limited number of custodians and most likely a long period of being laid up. That time would also more than likely have straddled the early days of the hobby through to more modern times, and in doing so eluded the former trends of restoring such cars.
The car was formerly in the collection of James and Helen Staats of New Hope, PA, and carries a registration sticker for PA in 1981/2. The Staats being noted active HCCA and specifically Curved Dash Olds campaigners, it is likely that the shared admiration of 'CDO's' connected them with the father and son ownership of the Two Generations Collection.
Clearly never having been restored, the car seems to retain its original paint, trim finishes and even its top. Its appeal is in the way in which it has weathered its 93 years, the paintwork in a khaki brown, pinstriped in red is worn in places, but still presentable, while it is the interior of both the driving compartment and the rumble seat is almost entirely intact and displays the materials with which these cars were built, but are rarely replicated when restored. The seats are in good order generally, and the driver's door has the provision of a panel behind which tools are stored, there are a couple of missing handles, but none that detract hugely from its overall presentation which with careful cleaning and preparation would no doubt enable the car to be welcomed in any of the popular preservation classes at concours events around the country.
In its past tenures it has been neither altered nor restored, long may that continue...
Saleroom notices
This Buick is a Series 40 Model 44 Sport Roadster on 118 inch wheelbase. It is powered by a 257.5ci OHV Straight 8 rated at 80.5bhp at 2,800rpm. The chassis number is 2350515.
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