Through the first three decades of the 20th century, Buick championed the inherently superior and better-performing overhead-valve engine in popularly priced automobiles. In 1931, the company made an important engineering shift from their long-lived six-cylinder engine, as the engineers had grown to feel that the design had reached its limits in size, smoothness, and efficiency. In its place, Buick employed an all-new straight eight-cylinder engine design to power its cars, the cache of which—an entire line of eight-cylinder models!—was thought to be good for sales and the marketplace.

Leading the all-eight-cylinder Buick line for 1931 was the Series 90, with a 104-horsepower engine that incorporated such innovations as an oil temperature regulator to cool the engine at high speeds and warm it in cold weather, as well as thermostatically controlled radiator shutters, as found on Duesenbergs and Packards. According to historian Beverly Rae Kimes, every component of the new model was tested over hundreds of thousands of miles to ensure that it would be as durable as previous Buicks. The basic resemblance of the Series 90 to a Cadillac was no coincidence; the two shared many of the same Fisher bodies, and the introduction of the 1931 Series 90 marked the beginning of a decade-long Cadillac-Buick rivalry for high-end luxury sales.

Not surprisingly, the Series 90 is today one of the few Buicks accorded Full Classic status by the Classic Car Club of America.

The convertible coupe was a mid-year addition to the Series 90 line, and only 1,066 are believed to have been built. The car offered here is believed to be the only known survivor of four exported, as well as the only one known delivered in Ontario and badged, appropriately, as a McLaughlin-Buick. The owner notes that when he first bought the car, it had “Oshawa” written in chalk on the back of the front seat, and was still on its wartime tires, having been in dry storage since 1954.

Restored to show-quality condition, the car is finished in a very attractive color combination of burgundy and cream, complemented by a tan-colored top. The interior is beautifully appointed, with a stunning dashboard and gauges, including dual windshield wipers and the original cigarette lighter. Impressive equipment includes Tilt Ray headlights, dual side-mounted spares with mirrors, a rumble seat with a golf-bag door, a complete set of six wire wheels with wide whitewall tires, and a rear-mounted rack fitted with a matching trunk. The car has been freshly detailed in preparation for the sale.

An unusual Canadian-delivery example of one of the greatest Classic Buicks, this car would be at home in any collection of Flint’s finest!