1939 Buick Roadmaster Phaeton 81C
Chassis no. 13553705

141 hp, 320 ci. Overhead valve Inline eight-cylinder engine, three-speed column shift manual transmission, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 133 in

During the 1930s, Buick was a prominent part of the General Motors lineup, recognized as a distinct class typically viewed as a stepping stone to the prestigious Cadillac range. In 1939, Buick underwent a significant redesign, introducing several new features, including a two-piece waterfall grille, a narrower hood, a bustle-back trunk design, a driver-centric dashboard layout, and, for the first time in an American car, electric turn signals. One of Buick’s top models for 1939 was the Roadmaster, positioned just behind the Series 90 Limited. This model featured a 320 cubic inch overhead valve inline eight-cylinder engine that produced 141 horsepower. Notably, one of these vehicles served as the official pace car for the 1939 Indianapolis 500 Race. Of the over 200,000 vehicles sold by Buick that year, only 311 Roadmaster Phaetons were produced, and reportedly, fewer than 20 still exist today.

The 1939 Buick Roadmaster Phaeton has ownership beginning with a Peter LeHay, who later sold it to Mr. Bill Call, and subsequently to Mr. Tom Sharp. Mr. Sharp began a full restoration of the car but was unable to complete the project. The car then passed through the hands of noted collector-dealer Tom Crook as an unfinished project before the current owner acquired the car in 2011. The work to that point had been completed to a professional level, and thus current owner resumed the work started before him, embarking on an almost three-year restoration with help from Mike’s Vintage Service of Dayton, Oregon.

Fortunately, the chassis and engine had already been completely restored before the current owner acquired it. The car was then repainted in its original Rainier Blue, with a matching blue leather interior and blue convertible top, according to its chassis tag. Under the hood, the original 320 cubic inch inline eight-cylinder engine still resides. The numbers-matching engine was fully rebuilt and is paired with a three-speed manual transmission featuring an added overdrive. Across these ownerships, the restoration costs totaled over $200,000.

Once the restoration was completed in 2014, the car made its debut at the 2014 National Buick Club meet in Portland, Oregon, where it was awarded the Senior Gold Award. It continued to impress at CCCA events, winning first place in the Primary Division at the 2015 CCCA Spring Grand Classic in San Marino, California, with senior badge number 3171; first place at the 2016 CCCA Spring Grand Classic in Rancho Santa Fe, California, scoring 100 points and carrying senior car number 3171S; and additionally, it won first place at the 2017 CCCA Spring Grand Classic in San Marino, California, in the Premier Division, with senior badge number 3171SP. Its exceptional restoration garnered attention at the Beverly Hills Concours in 2016, where it won Best of Show, and at the 2020 21-Gun Salute Concours in New Delhi, India, where it won Best in Class.

Now, ten years after its restoration, this 1939 Buick Roadmaster Phaeton still presents beautifully and has toured 6,500 miles. The car is accompanied by service and parts receipts from 2012 to 2015, a logbook detailing the costs associated with the restoration works, and photographs taken before and during the restoration. With less than 20 reported surviving examples, very few of these Roadmaster Phaetons have been restored to this excellent standard. After traveling the world with its current owner, this Buick is now ready for its next caretaker to embark on a new adventure!