1940 Buick 81C Limited Fastback Phaeton for Sale
Buy This Classic 1940 Buick 81-C Limited Fastback Phaeton
240 Produced, Fewer than 25 Known to Exist, The Only Example in Red, Certified Full Classic Car by CCCA!
This is a 1940 Buick 81C Limited Fastback Phaeton for sale. This is part of the prestigious Richard Bury collection, and like his other cars, this one is in impeccable condition and one of three in the collection certified with the designation of Full Classic Car by the CCCA. It is finished in its original colors and it is in museum quality. In fact as you will read in the story below, before the current ownership the car spent much of its life in the Towe Museum in Sacramento, California.
Here is some information about this model from the display used during its showings at Concourse De Elegance appearances:
"Buick had a record year in 1940, thanks partly to the 1940 Buick Limited Convertible sedan. The company turned out 283,204 of that model year's cars and set the stage for even better results the following year.
Its products were reliable, dynamic, and glamorous. This was a manufacturer that had made fewer than 47,000 cars as recently as 1933 and was rumored to be on the chopping block at General Motors.
The 1936-1942 Buick Series 80/90 Limited was developed because Cadillac didn't like competing with Buick's 1930s models with Brunn custom bodies, so Buick put all of its luxury emphasis on the Limited from 1936 on. Production was low, the cars were huge, and quality and workmanship were exceptional. Its 320 cu in Buick Eight "Dynaflash" engine made 140 horsepower.
This model 81-C is one of 240 produced and had to be custom ordered through a dealer. Only 14 are known to remain. 90% restored, it has won the highest awards that can be obtained through organizations as AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America), and BCA (Buick Club of America). Wouldn't you really rather drive a Buick?
Here is an article written by Mr. Bury himself documenting the long persuit for this prized Buick 81-C:
Saga of the "Red Goose" - Written by Dick Bury - December 10th, 2010
Webster's Dictionary describes a "Saga" as a tale or story of something of interest. The "Red Goose" is the nickname given by the Hall family of California to a 1940 Buick Model 81-C 4-door convertible sedan. This is the story of my eighteen year search for the red 1940 Buick convertible sedan.
Having driven my 1940 Buick Model 91 on six of seven Classic Car Club of America caravans, I experienced that the 4.54 rear end ration was very low for long range highway speeds. Research told me that the 1940 81-C had a 4.10 ratio and would be a much better "highway cruiser". I also learned that General Motors originally made only 240 81-C automobiles and that only 14 are left in existence.
My search started with Greg Field's (BCA #1) 810C located in Los Angles, California. When I arrived at Greg's house he had the car parked in his driveway with the doors open, trunk open, and left rear jacked up and the wheels off. He had just had the car returned to him by MGM Studios, where it had been left out in a rain storm with the top down and, on the return trip, had the left rear tire come off, tearing the fender and cutting the tire.
Replacement of the tire and a short drive around the neighborhood quickly told me this car needed a lot of work to make it presentable and dependable, so I left California with the money still in my pocket.
Sometime in 1991, I acquired a set of greeting cards that pictured a 1953 Corvette, a 1947 Ford Convertible, a 1937 Cord, and a red 1940 Buick 81-C. Just maybe, my dream car really did exist, and my search began in earnest.
I wrote the publisher of the holiday cards for information on the red car, and they returned to me the name and address of the photographer, Ron Kimball. After corresponding with Mr. Kimball, he informed me that the owner of the red 1940 Buick was Mr. Stuart Hall of Anchorage, Alaska.
A letter to Mr. Hall prompted a response that told me he was the Ombudsman of Alaska and that he kept the car stored and displayed at the Towe Museum in Sacramento, California, near his brother Randy's home. Brother Randy and Stuart were CCCA members, and I eventually met Randy on several CCCA caravans. Stuart told me that the "Red Goose" nickname came from a Hall Family tradition of naming their cars.
Since their father had a 1940 Century 61-C colored blue named the "Blue Goose", naturally the red 1940 81-C became the "Red Goose" named by both brothers, Randy and Stuart.
In 1995, Stuart made a business trip to Minneapolis and called me to possibly meet and view my cars. Unfortunately, I was out of town (ironically in California), but my wife Shirley picked him up at the airport and showed him the cars that were at my home. He apparently was duly impressed and later expressed that to me.
In October 1998, I had a trip scheduled to California so I called Stuart to see if I could view the cars at the Towe Museum. He graciously wrote the museum and set up a special pass to get me in and let me go behind the ropes and completely look over his red car. I also got to ride in a Tucker that day as the museum was changing a display and they had their Tucker outside and offered me a ride.
Each time I talked to or wrote to Stuart I always asked if he was ready to sell the "Red Goose". Each time he said no, but not a real "NO", if you can imagine our friendly discussions. He really didn't want to sell the �Red Goose�, but then everything is for sale for the right price, just not what I was willing to pay, I guess. In the meantime, I continued my search for a reliable 81-C. Evidently I have looked at nine of the 14 cars left that are known to exist.
In 2003, an ad appeared in the CCCA Bulletin for a black Buick 81-C located in Maryland. An inspection by a dear friend of mine, Mr. Jim Synodinos, who lived within ten miles of the car, let me into a phone call with the owner, Vince Truant. The negotiations came to a halt when we couldn't agree on a price that he would sell the car for and that I could afford.
Another year or so passed and in late 2004, Mr. Truant called and asked if I was still interested in his 1940 Buick. I said I was and that my offer was still valid, to which he accepted. I finally had a 1940 Buick 81-C in the collection.
In 2005, Shirley and I signed up for the Alaska Caravan. Since I had not had a chance to prove the Black 81-C reliable, we decided to take our Buick Model 91 Limo to Alaska.
While in Alaska I finally had a chance to meet Stuart Hall. We had a very friendly meeting and another offer for the "Red Goose" was rebuffed. But as we remained friends, Stuart even took us to the airport after delivering our black 1940 Buick to the shipper for delivery to the Port of Tacoma, Washington. Since I now owned an 81-C, my communication with Mr. Hall slowed to a Christmas card or an occasional phone call if either of us had a question for the other.
Suddenly in 2007, Stuart Hall's obituary appeared in the CCA Bulletin. With a quick call to his brother Randy to express our surprise and condolences, I discovered Stuart had died suddenly of a heart attack. Randy told me as Stuart�s only heir that he had inherited the car and that he wanted to keep it for a caravan driver while he was restoring his 1938 Cadillac.
I told Randy that Stuart and I had numerous conversations on my acquiring the car and Randy said his brother had made him very aware of our relationship. Randy promised me he would give me first chance if ever he decided to part with the "Red Goose".
In 2009 I called to check on his progress with the Cadillac and left him with a small reminder of my continued interest. Fast forward to June 2010, when I received a letter with a copy of the Post Card picture of the "Red Goose" and a short note from Randy that the "Goose" was for sale and that as promised, he would give me first chance. Several phone calls between us finally resulted in an agreement to purchase the car of my dreams. The delivery was finally arranged for early in October.
I now owned two of the fourteen 81-C Buicks known to exist. Financially this was not within my capability nor was it my desire to maintain three 1940 Buicks. I placed the black 81-C on Craigslist, and a response from a Buick enthusiast in Detroit, Michigan, resulted in a quick sale, giving the black Buick a new home beside the buyer�s 1936 Roadmaster Convertible Sedan and his 1953 Roadmaster Estate Wagon.
During one of the nicest fall days we have had in Minnesota, the "Red Goose" arrived in Chanhassen at my garage on October 12, 2010. Since I had last seen the car 12 years earlier I was pleasantly surprised as it had been painted, the engine replaced and detailed, the dash had been wood rained and engine turned. The car also had all new brakes and the tires had just been replaced.
Randy also sent me numerous spare parts and all of Stuart's notes, letters, and invoices regarding all the work completed in the last 20 years. In reading some of Stuart's letters, I found that he had referred to me as being "very persistent" in my pursuit of the "Red Goose". I am very sorry for his sudden death, and had he lived, I don't think he would have ever parted with his Buick. However, I'm glad I was "very persistent" and that now the "Red Goose" sits in my garage where on the wall hangs the calendar picture of the original greeting card that started me on this long eighteen year journey for this beautiful red Buick.
This Buick is now offered by Richard's family/estate. The fact that the past two owners have loved this car so much is a testimate to how special this extremely rare Buick is to both those who have owned it and to history. This is a very rare model and it is certainly one of the nicest classic Buicks in existence today. Have a look through the photo gallery just below this description and enjoy the short video to fully appreciate this 1940 Buick 81C Limited Fastback Phaeton for sale.
