Chevrolet Special
The Special was a passenger car produced by Buick from 1936 to 1958 and from 1964 to 1969.
It was usually the cheapest model within its category, the category that changed over the years. In fact, he made his debut as a full-size car in 1936 and returned in 1961 (after a pause of a few years) as a compact model. From 1964 it belonged instead to the mid-size category. Throughout the period in which it was produced, the Special always had the engine installed front and rear wheel drive.
1936 was a successful year for the Buick. In the example shown, the U.S. carmaker used for the first time a naming policy which was characterized by real names, and not by numerical symbols as had been done until then. It was then renamed to all models in the range. More precisely, the Series 60 was added the name Century, the Series 90, the most luxurious model, was added to the name and the Limited Series 40 was added as Special. The Series 50 was withdrawn from the market, but at the same time it was launched a new model, the Series 80 Roadmaster. So Special, at least in the first period when it was on the market, it was known as Series 40 Special.
From 1936 to 1958, the Special represented the economic model of the category of full-size cars offered by Buick. The first Special possessed a step of 2,997 mm, but the following year this measure was increased to 3,099 mm. The increase in size was common to all models Buick. The engine was also new, and had a displacement of 4.1 L ; had overhead valves and had a eight-cylinder in-line configuration. The Special, like all other models Buick in 1939 was the subject of a deep restyling, the occasion of which was expected to front reduced, a wider grille and a step shorter than two inches. In 1940 he was operated on a makeover and the increased pace of an inch. This was the only model year when it was available a four-door convertible version, which was called "Sport Phaeton." Ne 552 copies were produced.
In 1941, the car body was renewed again, and the front fenders were incorporated into the bodywork. The "Estate Wagon" passed from the range to the range Super Special, and then the offer of the latter was enriched with a family version. The latter, however, was only available in 1941 and 1942. Another novelty was the Series 40-A (the regular Special was instead named 40-B), which is a version of the three-inch shorter wheelbase, which was shared with the contemporary Chevrolet cars. These two series, which derived from the concept car Buick Y-Job, continued to also be offered in the following year. Production ended in fact, February 4, 1942 because of the U.S. involvement in World War II. The civilian production of the U.S. during the war, was in fact converted into military supplies.
Hostilities ended, the production of civilian passenger car shooting. In 1946, the first year of postwar production, the only Special was available to a larger size. The Special of 1946 is rare, since it represented only 2% of the total production of the year quoted Buick (more precisely 2,999 copies out of a total of 156 080). This series of Special continued to be produced with minimal changes until 1949, when it was introduced a generation next. Both the pre-war models that those produced after the war were assembled on the platform B of General Motors. Another engine offered on this series of Special was an eight-cylinder in-line 3.8 L.
In mid-1949, the Special was equipped with a vehicle body is completely renewed, and this was the first complete redesign of the post-war model. New was also the 40D series, ie, a better equipped version which was given the name of Special DeLuxe. Initially, the engine was still installed the eight-cylinder in-line 4.1 L of displacement already mounted on the previous series, but in 1951 it was replaced by an eight-cylinder in-line 4.3-L (also in OHV). In the year mentioned was also introduced a two-door hardtop version. Special of 1954 were installed to a vehicle body renewed and a new chassis. The latter, compared to the previous one, was wider and lower. Since 1954 the model was equipped with a new, more powerful V8 engine "Naihead" 4.3 L. Always in the year in question, the wheelbase changed from 3,086 mm to 3,099 mm.
Introduced in mid-1955, the Buick Special Riviera, with Century Riviera, Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, Holiday and 88 were the first four-door pillarless hardtop ever produced. Until then, the Buick Special was one of the best selling models in America. At the V8 engine "Naihead" 4.3 L, was added a V8 engine, which is also "Naihead", but from 5.3 L. The latter was replaced in 1957 by a V8 engine from the last 6 L. year cited the car bodies were reviewed and it was addition to the range version of the familiar four-door hardtop called the Buick Caballero. In June 1957, the Special was dedicated an article in the magazine Popular Mechanics on which it was reported that the model had an acceleration from 0 to 97km/h in 11.6 seconds and a fuel consumption of 3.5 L/100km at 80km/h. In 1958 the chrome were increased and were installed dual headlights. Furthermore, were increased the length and width of the vehicle, while the frame was left unchanged.
The Special of this generation had three vents on each side, while the Buick category, except for the Super, I had four of them. The Special, in fact passed from three to four air intakes in 1955.
In model year 1959, General Motors changed its name in the Special LeSabre, inspired by the homonymous concept car of 1951.
In 1961, the Special came on the market after a few years of absence, but this time in a lower category (that of compact cars). This new generation of Special Y was based on the platform of General Motors. The chassis was a monocoque. The engine was installed a V8 3.5 L displacement with aluminum block that it distributed 150hp. The Dynaflow automatic transmission was present and it was the power steering. In mid-1961 was added to the range option Skylark, which included a special equipment such as seats and single carburettor version of the engine body four times the 3.5 L, which it distributed 200hp.
In 1962, the Special was the first American mass-produced car to use a V6 engine. This engine was derived from the V8 3.5 L and had a displacement of 3.2 L. it distributed 135hp at 4,600 rpm and 278 N • m of torque at 2,400 rpm. In 1962 he won the Special Prize "Car of the Year" in the Motor Trend magazine. In 1963, the body of the car was revised. Mechanically the car, however, was identical to the 1962 model. But there were changes to the dashboard and the instrument panel. Since 1963, the 3.2 L engine, available with a double-barrel carburetor, became the base engine. The optional 3.5 L V8 instead was offered in two versions, with double-barrel carburetor and carburetor body four times. The first version of it distributed 155hp, 190hp, while the second (this in 1962, in 1963 the version with quad carburetor body instead developed 200hp). The choice for the exchange was between a three-speed manual transmission with lever on the steering column, a four-speed manual gearbox "Borg-Warner T-10" with a lever on the floor or an automatic transmission "Turbine Drive" two-speed.
In 1962, the Special was sold 153 763 copies, of which 42,973 Skylark. In 1963, 148 750 copies were sold, of which 42 321 Skylark. For the model year 1964, he was available the new series. The 3.5 L engine was no longer offered on the Special. Was then installed on the Rover P6 in 1968. Has also been used on other British cars, including the Morgan Plus 8, MG MGB GTV8, the Land Rover, and Triumph TR8.
This generation of Special was assembled in Flint and in Framingham.
The Skylark became a model in its own right in 1962.
The Special and Skylark were slightly higher in the redesigned model year 1964. The platform on which this was based was the new series of Special A platform of General Motors. The features included were two, the base and the DeLuxe.
Also new were the engines. The displacement of the V6 was increased from 3.2 L to 3.7 L, while the 3.5 L V8 with aluminum block was replaced by a 4.9 L V8 with cast iron block and aluminum cylinder head. This engine produced until 1967, was based on the 3.5 L V8, and many members of the two engines were interchangeable. Other available engines were an inline six-cylinder 4.1 L V8 and a 5.6 L. The exchange rates available were three more precisely two manuals (three-or four-speed) and an automatic two-speed transmission.
The Special as a model in its own right was marketed until 1969. More precisely, the basic model was assembled until 1967, while the construction DeLuxe was also sold in 1968 and 1969.
In 1970, the Special DeLuxe was replaced by the slightly higher Skylark.
The Special name returned briefly as a staging base of the Century. This model, introduced in 1975 and called Buick Century Special, was based on the A platform of General Motors and was installed as a V6 engine of 3.8 L displacement. The grille had a slightly "V" and remained in this form until 1977.
It used a pavilion type fastback and was equipped with a roof-type landaulet (ie with the rear openable) that covered most of the rear windows. This area opens assumed the same shape as that of the higher-end models with traditional roof.
In 1978, the Century Special was completely revised. On this occasion, the range of an optional V8 engines were added to 4.9 L (rarely offered) and a V6 3.2 L. The Century Special was offered until 1979, after which the name is associated with Special Buick models definitamente came out of the scene.
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