1934 Buick Mclaughlin Convertible Coupe, 96C 🇺🇸

This lovely Convertible coupe is the only known surviving example of a 1934  McLaughlin built series 90  convertible. The early history of the car is unknown but it is known that in 1976 the car was disassembled for a complete nut and bolt restoration. The restoration took until 2007 to complete but the finished car was an eye catcher resplendent in its light blue paint. The car was purchased by the NB Center in 2018 .   The car took its place in the collection completing the set of one-of-each body style of series 90 cars produced in 1934.

The rarest of all 1934 series 90 body styles, only 68  of the convertible coupe were produced by Buick with an additional 4 produced by the Canadian subsidiary McLaughlin. 

Company
General Motors

Make
Buick

Model
34-96C

Body Style
Convertible Coupe,  2-door,  4-pass.

Body Manufacture
Fisher Body

Model year
1934

Wheelbase
136 inches

Length
N/A

Engine
inline-8, OHV, 344.8 cid

Horsepower
116 @ 3200 rpm

Transmission
3-speed manual

Original Base Price
$1,945

Brand Production
63,647  model  year

This Car Production
68 (USA) + 4 (Canada)

Founded in 1867 by Robert Mclaughlin, the McLaughlin Carriage Company of Oshawa, Canada would become the largest manufacturer of carriages in the entire British empire by the early 20th century. 

Some time around 1905, Colonel “Sam” Mclaughlin, Robert’s son, developed a keen interest in automobiles. He traveled to Jackason, Michigan to purchase a Jackson automobile. While in Jackson he encountered Billy Durant, the principle behind the Durant-Dort Carriage works, the largest carriage manufacturer in the United States. Durant  recently expanded into the automobile business by purchasing Buick Motor Company. McGlaughlin was aware of Durant because of the carriage trade and the two men hit it off. Durant, forever a deal maker, made an offer to Mclaughlin, if he purchased a new Buick from the Toronto dealer, Durant assured him he  would be so impressed by the car  the two men would pursue a combination of their companies.

Sam Mclaughlin took the deal and was very impressed by the Buick he purchased. But, the combination of the two companies didn’t materialize. In 1907, Sam founded McLaughlin Motor Car Company  to design and build their own car. The plan quickly went awry and Sam called his friend Durant for help. The result was the two men signed a fifteen year contract for Mclaughlin to produce cars using Buick drivetrains and bodies specific to Mclaughlin. These cars were called Mclaughlin, but some carried Mclaughlin Buick in their names.

Over the next ten years McLaughlin would build Buicks and eventually Chevrolets. In 1918, General Motors formally purchased Mclaughlin and Chevrolet Canada as part of General Motors Canada. In 1923, the McLaughlin-Buick name was formally adopted  on all Canadian produced Buicks. In 1942, the McLaughlin name disappeared from all GM cars.