Classic Cars / Buick / Car for sale
1940 Buick Other
Sale price: $US $10,500.00 make an offer
Sale type: Fixed price listing
Technical specifications, photos and description:
- Year:
- 1940
- Mileage:
- 13,440
- Engine:
- 248 Valve Straight 8
- Trim:
- 4-Door Touring
- Got questions?
- Ask here!
1940 Buick Other for sale
Current customer rating: (149 votes ) based onBeing a small town in Alabama. everyone really does know everyone else. People knew that was Mrs. Sawyer coming down the road when they saw this car. Aside from the obvious beauty of this pre-war vehicle. the story behind it is intriguing itself.
My late father. Blan Whisnant. is the third buyer of this beauty. He passed away in 2015. He was big time into antiques and finally convinced the car's second owner. Don Hersman. to trade him for one of my dad's cars. Incidentally Mr. Hersman passed away in 2008.
The reason this car is for sale is that I'm not incredibly into antiques myself. and neither is my mother. She asked me to sell it. and that's what I intend to do.
Being too young to have known Mrs. Sawyer myself. I decided to delve a little further into her life after finding all that stuff in the glove box. I got on Facebook in a closed group of local folks and posted a picture of the car. her DL's. etc. What I got in return was amazing. One person remembered loading her groceries into the car. Another described her as "a very classy lady. and it reflected in all she did!"
Someone mentioned her husband. which made me wonder why everything would be in her name during that era. I looked up the census record from 1930 and found that she and her husband. Alter V. Sawyer. were married in 1920 (both at the age of 31; first marriage for both of them). He was a superintendent at a peanut mill. She was a housewife.
Why would every piece of documentation I found be listed in her name. save that one letter addressed to Mrs. A. V. Sawyer? He died in 1933 and is buried in the Enterprise City Cemetery. Seven years after his death she decided to get herself a driver's license and buy a new car.
The driver's manual lists the Alabama Governor Frank M. Dixon. I learned he was governor from 1939-1943. The winning bidder of this auction will receive everything pictured and more. There is a bill of sale from Don to Blan (1999). There are multiple insurance documents where Mrs. Sawyer was required to purchase insurance due to a new law in Alabama.
She took care of her car. and she kept her documentation. Mrs. Sawyer died in 1981 at age 92. having no children and never remarrying. I drove the car to a Rotary meeting last week and was told that Mrs. Sawyer left everything she had to the church. The lady who told me remembered seeing that car parked at the Methodist Church every Sunday.
Since I own the funeral home and it's been long enough. I can tell you that an attorney named Ralph Paul was the informant on Corine Sawyer's death certificate.
I don't sell too much stuff on eBay. but my wife does. Please don't hesitate to call or text and ask me anything and everything (334-360-3965). This car drives great. Steering is tight. cranks on the first crank. etc.
Everything is original except the electric fuel pump my father added. It was garaged (with cloth cover) and not cranked for like three or four years. so we had to drain the old fuel. clean out the carb and put in a new battery.
We put fresh. non-ethanol. fuel with lead additive. We also got the oil changed and had it greased and everything checked out. That's when I got some pictures of the underside. I have tons more pics if you're interested in seeing them.
This car has been in Geneva County. AL since it was purchased new.
On Oct-16-16 at 18:36:36 PDT. seller added the following information:
P. S. I also meant to say that my father used to use the car to drive couples from the church after they'd gotten married. This car was requested by numerous folks in the area to be their "wedding car. " I don't think he ever took a dime for doing it. He enjoyed the attention it afforded him. I'm also about to post up another car of his. A 1951 Buick Super Estate Wagon. His 1959 Fleetwood sold in two days on Hemmings. Thanks for bidding!
I wanted to add some links. but I guess I have to add them below the listing since folks have already placed bids. I just think the story surrounding this car is remarkable. and I wanted to provide some useful links that speak to the story.
Corine Carmichael Sawyer
Mr. A. V. Sawyer
Don Hersman Died in 2008
My late father
Dad's Bronze Headstone. The Roadmaster was a stock image. The Caddy was his. parked in front of his home. He loved his cars!
1930 Census taken three years before Mr. Sawyer's death
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