1937 Buick top speed? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 04-13-2009, 05:51 AM

Anybody know the top speed of a stock 1937 Buick?

I was told yesterday there was one that would run 100. I am thinking yeah down a mountain.

MS Fowler · #2 04-13-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Anybody know the top speed of a stock 1937 Buick?

I was told yesterday there was one that would run 100. I am thinking yeah down a mountain.

Tom,
Depends on the model. I am not a Buick coniseur, so I don't know too many details, but the significance of the Century model, was that it was guaranteed to do 100 ( century) mph.
I can't even tell you what year the Century debutted.
If its not a Century, it doesn't hit 100 mph.
Would you really want to do 100+ mph on bias tires with drum brakes, and little thought to crash surviveability?

LUVMBDiesels · #3 04-13-2009, 07:00 AM

The Century debuted in 1936 so there was a Buick that could do 100mph, and do it all day long as opposed to just hitting it in 1937. While we would not want to do those speeds in a stock 1930's ear car today, people back then were thrilled to be able to go so fast.Of course the speed limits were about 50 on the 'highways' of the day so you could end up with a fat ticket!

The basic formula for the 1936 to 1942 Century was established by mating shorter wheelbase Buick Special bodies to Buick's most powerful eight-cylinder engine. While the Special was powered by Buick's 233 in³ was rated 93 hp (69 kW) at 3200 rpm, Centuries produced between 1936 to 1942 were powered by Buick's inline 320.2 in³ at 120 hp, making them the fastest Buicks of the era and the first muscle car, beating GTO by 28 years!

The '36 Buicks also had much improved suspensions with independent front suspension, better four wheel HYDRAULIC brakes, replacing cable operated brakes (now there is a scary thought) They were light years ahead of Ford and could run with Packard...

t walgamuth · #4 04-13-2009, 07:40 AM

Thanks, my brother will enjoy me eating crow!

Impressive!

MS Fowler · #5 04-13-2009, 07:46 AM

See Tom, We CAN agree on somethings....

t walgamuth · #6 04-13-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

See Tom, We CAN agree on somethings....

When the subject is cars we are all of the same goofy car enthusiast persuasion.

Now if we are talking pickumups or nascar don't get between the ford and chebby guys!

LUVMBDiesels · #7 04-13-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

When the subject is cars we are all of the same goofy car enthusiast persuasion.

Now if we are talking pickumups or nascar don't get between the ford and chebby guys!

LMAO!

You are SO right!

Mr.Kenny · #8 04-13-2009, 03:58 PM

I had my 1941 Buick special with optional "compound carburetion" up to 105 one time and was still pulling.... I chickened out, with recap tires and all.

It was 1978 and I was a stupid 20 year old.
This 1941 Buick was essentially the same mechanical set up as a 1937.

(compound carburetion was two carburetors; the engine ran on one carb until floored, then it open up the other carb.... sort of like secondaries.)

Honus · #9 04-13-2009, 04:43 PM

I've read that the Duesenberg SJ from the mid-1920s would hit 140 mph. I know that has little to do with this thread, but I thought it was a fun fact that I would throw in.

MS Fowler · #10 04-13-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

LMAO!

You are SO right!

Not to start a feud, but what are the differences between Ford and Chebby in NASCAR? Aren't they all the same under that thin skin made to look like the car it is supposed to be?
NASCAR lost me when they stopped using stock bodies and power train.

jplinville · #11 04-13-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

I had my 1941 Buick special with optional "compound carburetion" up to 105 one time and was still pulling.... I chickened out, with recap tires and all.

It was 1978 and I was a stupid 20 year old.
This 1941 Buick was essentially the same mechanical set up as a 1937.

(compound carburetion was two carburetors; the engine ran on one carb until floored, then it open up the other carb.... sort of like secondaries.)

Judging by the plates on the car, I'd say it was actually a 1938 model...??

daveuz · #12 04-13-2009, 05:51 PM

I too believe the photo is a 1938. I could be wrong but the dual carbs on Buicks were each 1 barrel. I also believe the Roadmaster and Century had dual carbs standard and the Special was an option (maybe?). eitherway the early Buick were a nice car. Not sure it was the first hotrod since there were so many other pretty quick cars at the time. Beside the Dusenburg , it's 2 sisters the Cord Auburn Than there was Hudson which held many class speed records in the early 30's to the 50's. Pierce Arrow held some in the early 30's. I am sure there were many more. Heck considering the poor roads and poor quality of fuel and oil they all were amazing automobiles. To publicize the new twelve, Pierce-Arrow arranged for the race driver, Ab Jenkins, to drive a Pierce-Arrow on the Bonneville Salt Flats. An unofficial, 24-hour run was done in 1932, with an average speed of 112.91 miles per hour. In 1933, Pierce-Arrow repeated the run, this time with AAA observing and conducting the run. This time, Jenkins drove 3000 miles in 25 1/2 hours, averaging 117 mph. This trial broke 66 official AAA speed records. In 1934, another run set a new worlds speed record of 127 mph for 24 hours. The virtues of the Pierce-Arrow twelve continued long after Pierce-Arrow ceased production. The basic engine, with some modifications, was made well into the 1970's for use in Seagrave fire trucks

Mr.Kenny · #13 04-13-2009, 06:06 PM

Yeah it's a 38;.... but it has all those pretty girls.........

My 1941 Buick SPECIAL had compound carburetion and only had 51,000 original miles. (1977) My car had been stored in a large cave since 1956; the original battery still had a tiny charge on it and with new acid it revived it to a fully functional battery.
My 1941 was a very very easy car to drive with no power steering or power brakes; lot's of straight-8 torque. Frail old ladies could drive these cars; it was almost effortless.
I sold it to a pimp wearing an orange jump suit in Oxnard,Ca in 1979.

...
Needed a down payment for a house.

Mr.Kenny · #14 04-13-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Not to start a feud, but what are the differences between Ford and Chebby in NASCAR? Aren't they all the same under that thin skin made to look like the car it is supposed to be?
NASCAR lost me when they stopped using stock bodies and power train.

The "difference" is the amount of Ford or Chevy sponsorship dollars thrown at teams for race car development. The engines all have the same layout & specs.
The Bodies are measured with several templates so they will 'resemble' the stock body. The 'sameness' rules are very very strict. I've been the in the garages & pits as the cars are being pushed out and checked by NASCAR officials; these guys make the Gestapo seem kindly.
If you cheat you had better do it legally.

t walgamuth · #15 04-13-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Not to start a feud, but what are the differences between Ford and Chebby in NASCAR? Aren't they all the same under that thin skin made to look like the car it is supposed to be?
NASCAR lost me when they stopped using stock bodies and power train.

We agree again!