1941 Buicks with the Brunn Touch

"Best Buick Yet" was the tagline for Buick in 1941, and it was more than a slogan. The 1941 models were a high point for Buick in many ways, including their presence in the ultra luxury market. Not only did Buick continue the 90 series Limited Series in 1941, but they partnered with Brunn Coachbuilders to offer an impressive catalog of factory customs available through your local Buick dealer. 

It was surprising that it even happened at all, considering Cadillac's near monopoly of the luxury market, but Buick had a fine car in the Limited and an aggressive General Manager in Harlow Curtice, so the partnership moved forward. Brunn prepared four renderings for a very special Limited-only brochure. 

The models depicted were the Custom Landau, with folding rear roof section, the Custom Brougham, a formal open front Town Car, the Custom Phaeton, which was a four door convertible, and the Custom Town Car which had a different roof treatment that the Custom Brougham. 

The brochure showed renderings of all four models plus three pages dedicated to all of the special fittings that could be done by Brunn. It was in every way a most impressive piece. Too impressive, perhaps, because soon the stuffed shirts at Cadillac were complaining bitterly to GM leadership about the ambitious Buick-Brunn program, and it was quietly shelved. And so a fascinating chapter in Buick history was closed. 

But not so fast. Brunn did manage to complete two of the special Limiteds before the program was discontinued- and quite special cars they were. The Mc Cormick family of Chicago ordered a Custom Landau in a deep grey which was used at their summer home in Lake Geneva, WI for many years, until it disappeared in the 1960s. Hopefully it will resurface one day.

And the car at the top of the article, a pearl grey and black Custom Brougham, was completed for a Colonel Le Roy Berdeau and delivered to him at his winter residence in Palm Beach, Florida in February of 1941. Colonel Berdeau's car spent summers in Chicago and winters in Florida and fortunately made its way into collector hands where it was restored in the early 1990s. For many years owned by Detroit Buick dealer Marv Tamaroff, it was photographed at the 1993 Eyes on the Classics and is shown at the bottom of the article. Although the color was changed to a deep green, the restoration is of high quality and pays tribute to a moment where a fine custom car was only a visit to your local Buick dealer away. 

1941 Buicks in the Petersen Showroom

1941 Buick Super sport coupe

1941 Buick Limited

1941 Buick Roadmaster convertible sedan

1941 Buicks in the showroom

Great news for Buick lovers in Los Angeles this summer (and who reading this doesn't fall into that category), the Petersen Auto Museum in Museum Row is having a very special display of the much loved and wildly popular 1941 Buick. We received the following press communique from Bill Anderson of the Buick Heritage Alliance and he explains it so well, we'll just let him describe it:

"Today, the experience of looking at new 1941 Buicks at a dealership in downtown Los Angles is again a reality. On the first floor of the Petersen Automotive Museum at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, you will find a 1930s dealership showroom faithfully re-assembled within the museum’s confines and featuring samples of the “Best Buick Yet.”

Greeting you as you enter the Buick showroom is a Monterey Blue Super convertible sedan with a red leather interior. In the center of the showroom is a Super sport coupe in Mermaid Green over Cedar Green upon which every dealer-installed 1941 Buick accessory has been applied.

Finally, the “dealer” has a Limited Formal Sedan finished in Silver French Grey over Lancaster Grey, if your finances are really secure; the sticker price is $2,310.

Perhaps one of these cars is for you. If not, Buick has a full lineup of 26 different 1941 models, including many sedans, with prices starting at $735.

This step back in time featuring one of Buick’s most popular model years was made possible by the Buick Heritage Alliance in conjunction with Petersen Automotive Museum curator Leslie Mark Kendall and the generosity of each car’s owner. This special display will continue through July 29."

The Buick Heritage Alliance is a not-for-profit organization focused on preserving the heritage of Buick automobiles and the people who made them. Find the BHA online at http://buickheritagealliance.org .

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Museum Row at 6060 Wilshire Blvd,  Los Angeles, CA 90036. It can be found at  www.petersen.org.

Beautiful Scenery and Beautiful Buicks

Another weekend, another car show full of Classic Buicks. This week, our correspondent is in the seaside resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan, on the shore of Lake Michigan. The annual car show there he attended had some delectible Buicks on display, including a brace of sexy Riviera personal luxury coupes- the original 1963, the first restyle from 1967, and the unforgettable downsized Riviera of 1984. In addition, there were on display, all three body styles of the majestic 1965-66 Electra 225- four door hardtop, sexy convertible and even the rarely seen two door coupe. These great Buicks look just like they rolled off the showroom floor at Reynolds! Best of Show was presented to another Buick, a 1941 Century Torpedoback sedan with Compound Carburetion in a fascinating red clay color.

Beautiful Midwestern scenery and beautiful Buicks- enjoy!