1933 Buick Limousine - Model 90L 🇺🇸

All 1933 Buicks sported a new X-member frame, to give more torsional rigidity. The wheelbase on the model 90 was lengthened four inches, to a huge 138 inches, while the engine remained the same straight-eight with 344 cubic inches displacement and a 104 horsepower rating. Only five body styles were available, with the seven-place limousine being the rarest, with only 299 units built.

The Nicola Bulgari Car Collection bought this completely original car in Arkansas from the second owner in April 2014. The crew at Precision Motor Cars performed a mechanical restoration that included new tires, carburetor and battery. All the glass has been redone, as the original was delaminating. Everything else is factory original.

The exterior is an elegant Black color, while the interiors retain the original Gray fabric, for a rare Buick Limousine of the post-depression period.

Company
General Motors

Wheelbase
134in

Interior trim
Brown cloth

Brakes
front and rear drums

Make
Buick

Length
197.5in

Engine
inline 8 - 344.8cid

Tires
7.00x18

Model
Series 90 Club Sedan - Model 91

Width
78in

Carburetor
1 Marvel TD 3

Original Price
$1,820

Body style
4-door sedan

Weight
4620lbs

Horsepower
104hp @ 2800rpm

Production
2,237

Model year
1932

Exterior paint
Green and Black

Transmission
Synchro-shift 3-speed manual

By the early thirties, Buick was in troubled waters. As recently as 1927, Buick’s share of new car registrations had been almost 9%. But in two short years, that figure had fallen by more than half, to just over 4%. Styling was the main culprit, with the 1928 and 1929 models looking dated and archaic. The competition, like Chrysler and Studebaker for example, looked a lot newer and fresher. And performance could not excite anybody, with just 74 horsepower from the 116 series engine, the most common model. By comparison, the cheaper Hudson straight-six put out 91 horsepower. The larger model had earned a bad reputation for high fuel consumption, even in those days of cheap fuel. Styling was improved for the 1930 model year, with lower height, longer wheelbases and a molding line along the belt that really helped the general appearance. Performance was better thanks to larger displacement and higher compression engines. Production was down again, to only 116,000 cars. Something had to be done, and quickly, to save Buick. Since most of the medium-price cars were now sporting straight-eight engines, the senior management decided that a new engine would be the right thing to do to get the marque out of trouble. Chief of engineering “Dutch” Bower gave John Dolza, a 27 years old engineer, the task of developing a new straight-eight to replace the old six engine. He had carte blanche, the only stipulation was that the new engine should fit under the hood without any modifications to the wheelbase. In order to do so, he had to make several compromises on bearing sizes, and the ability to withstand high-speed operation was severely compromised. Bower also dictated that the three size engines that were being developed for use in the various series didn’t have to share any engine parts between them, raising costs and parts inventory.

For the 1931 model year, the new engine drew all the attention, since styling remained pretty much the same as in 1930. But even the new engine failed to attract any attention from buyers, and sales were even lower, with only 88,000 cars sold. New styling for 1932 didn’t help any, and sales were still lower, with only 41,000 Buicks finding a new owner. The depression was at its worst, and mid-priced cars simply had no buyers, as money was tight.

 The 1933 model year was completely restyled, with longer wheelbases, skirted fenders, v-shaped front grille, and a contoured gas tank cover. The bodies were an inch and a half wider and lower, while door edges now met the running boards, doing away with the old running board aprons. Other innovations were the use of a single key for all locks, dash mounted starter button, new dash layout with all gauges in front of the driver, and regular shock absorbers in place of manually controlled ride regulators. Horsepower was raised to compensate for the heavier bodies. For the first time, chromed wire wheels were offered, giving a sportier appearance. Sales reached an all-time low, with just 40,000 cars sold, with an eighth place in the sales charts. But the light at the end of the tunnel was in sight, as Harlow Curtice was appointed Buick’s general manager, and he really saved the marque.