Equipment
320/130hp inline ohv eight, 3-speed, Guide driving lights, dual enclosed sidemounts, sliding division, pulldown shades, jump seats, hubcaps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, metal luggage trunk.
Condition
#3 Good
Runs and drives well. Flaws not noticeable to passersby. Most common condition.
Body originally on a Ford V8-based Brewster that disappointed its owner, Esther Maria Chapin, wife of Merrill Lynch founder Charles Merrill Chapin, and later moved to this more prestigious chassis. Mediocre old paint, good chrome and interior. Cracked varnish on the dashboard and interior wood trim. Surface rusted underbody and chassis. An intriguing but ultimately only driver quality cosmetic redo.
Market commentary
The auction history of this probably unique Brewster-bodied Buick shows a steady fall from grace. It was a $50,000 no-sale at Russo and Steele Scottsdale in 2014, then at RM Hershey nine months later where it was reported bid to $42,500. It finally sold at Auburn Fall in 2020 to today’s consignor for $38,500 all-in. The result today is a disappointment at least in terms of its probably unique status but the price it brought accurately reflects the failing and disappointing old cosmetic restoration as well as the generally unattractive, if practical, coachwork. An inexpensive CCCA Full Classic with adequate power to keep up with modern traffic.