Buick Super Coupe (1940?)Coordinates 25.7761854,-80.1315756
Picture dated June 2009
The Buick Super was produced from 1940 through to 1958 (but excluding WW II); it was built on Buick's larger body shared with the Roadmaster. It and the Roadmaster were replaced by the Electra in 1959.
When introduced in 1940 the new Super had the cutting-edge "torpedo" C-body which featured shoulder and hip room that was over 5" wider than the previous Electra model, the elimination of running boards and exterior styling that was streamlined and 2-3" lower. When combined with a column mounted shift lever the cars offered true six passenger space.
The styling changes for 1941 were modest, but the changes under the hood were major. The compression ratio was raised from 6.15:1 to 7.0:1, the "turbulator" pistons were redesigned, smaller spark plugs were substituted for the previous type and “Compound Carburetion” was introduced, as it was on all Buicks except for the Special.
The 1942 Super coupes adopted the appealing Sedanet fastback style that had been the sensation of 1941 on Century and Special. New wider and lower bodies were offered and "Airfoil" front fenders that flowed into the lines of the rear fenders were introduced on convertibles and sedanet models. The Super had new front fender trim featuring parallel chrome strips. The number of body styles was reduced to three with the elimination of the one year only Business coupe. After the government prohibited the use of chrome on January 1, 1942 a number of body styles were dropped and most trim was now painted.
In 1946 the Super range was revived. Basic styling was continued from 1942, but now sedans had the front fender sweep across the doors to the rear fenders as did the Sedanet and convertible styles. A stamped grille with vertical bars dominated the frontal ensemble. Single stainless body trim lines began on the front fenders and ended at the rear edge of the standard rear wheelhouse shields.
Minor modifications came with the 1947 and 1948 models, but the whole car was redesigned in 1949
For more information see here.
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