Although the flush it economy would fall down even further in 1931 and 1932 , 1930 – the year the 1930 Buick Series 40 Phaeton was introduced – was not designate to be a very good year , either .
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The folk in Flint , Michigan , had introduce the 1930 Buicks on July 28 , 1929 . This was before the stock market clangour , of course . The model year had started on a note of optimism , but this was not to last preceding Christmas . The 1930 Buicks deserved increased popularity , but they came at the wrong sentence .
dealer found they could only move two machine for even three they ’d sold the year before . By the end of the calendar year , output was down to 119,265 cars , including some 12,000 Marquettes . The unaltered junior edition proved a bitter sales letdown , and was discontinued at the remnant of the 1930 model class .
Buick put much of its energy into fixing up the styling of the 1930 framework , hoping people would n’t call it " pregnant " any more . Contributing to the new - found good looks were a height simplification of two in , and a handsome beltline clay sculpture that went from front to rear and around the back .
Chief engineer " Dutch " Bower also put a major effort into ameliorate ride comfort . In , accession , vacuity - servo brakes and thermostatically check radiator shutters were made standard .
theoretical account designations vary , too . The Series 116 was replaced by the Series 40 on a new , humiliated , 118 - inch - wheel - base chassis with wooden - spoke artillery wheels and 19 x 5.00 tyre .
The small overhead - valve six was bored out to 257.5 cubic inches , which raised end product to 80.5 horsepower at 2,800 rpm . Among the six models , the four - door sedan cost $ 1,330 .
Series 121 was rename Series 50 and its wheelbase stretch to 124 column inch . The big six develop to 331.5 cubic inches , which translated into 98 HP at 2,800 rpm . Prices stray from $ 1,510 to $ 1,540 . Series 129 experience on as the 132 - in - wheelbase Series 60 , apportion the 50 ’s six . Prices roll from $ 1,595 to $ 2,070 .
But it was the Series 40 that sold comfortably , particularly the four - door sedan . The two undetermined modelling , a two - passenger sport runabout and the four - rider phaeton , list at $ 1,310 . The former see output of 3,639 units , while the phaeton did even bad with just 1,100 built – only the limo sold few copy .
The phaeton was a dashing car for its day , and looked even better with options such as the adjustable wire - spoke wheels , two-fold sidemounts , luggage rack , fart wing , and chrome hubcap . outside chrome horns , Pilot Ray lights , and a stone sentry duty add preeminence .
The phaeton starred at the Super Bowl in New Orleans when it transported Roger Staubach in pre - gimpy activities . This beauty has taken many awards , and is classified as a " senior " by the Buick Club of America .
