Which Buick Special to choose: generations, engines, and the numbers that actually differ
The Buick Special in this catalogue is a Cabrio across 2 generations, with 3 named versions: first-generation 4.1 MT (112 hp), second-generation 4.1 MT (117 hp), and second-generation 5.3 MT (180 hp). Production in the data runs from 1936-01-01 to 1958-12-31.
The Buick Special in this catalogue is a Cabrio across 2 generations, with 3 named versions: first-generation 4.1 MT (112 hp), second-generation 4.1 MT (117 hp), and second-generation 5.3 MT (180 hp). Production in the data runs from 1936-01-01 to 1958-12-31. If the question is which version to buy, the only measured split is engine: the two 4.1 MT cars are the same 4065 cm³ Gasoline inline-8 formula with a 5 hp / 8 Nm step between generations; 5.3 MT is the outlier — 63 hp more than the later 4.1 MT and 68 hp more than the earlier one, on 1212 cm³ extra displacement and a V-shaped 8 instead of Inline 8. Kerb weight, 0–100, top speed, mpg, tank, and dimensions are not measured on any version, so power, torque, litres, and layout are the comparison — not a “feel” or a price.
People search 1953–1968 specs, Deluxe, motorhome, and financing. This file has no Deluxe, no motorhome, no prices, and no generation after 1958-12-31. Years such as 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968 are not in the production windows below. The buy decision here is among the three engines that are listed.
Generations: what changed, and what did not
1 generation (1936-01-01 – 1949-12-31) is one Cabrio and 1 version: 4.1 MT. It is the only Special here with a named fuel system: Carburetor. Output is 112 hp (82 kW) at 3600 rpm and 279 Nm at 2000 rpm from 4065 cm³, Gasoline, 8 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder. Gearbox is Manual, 3 gears, drive RWD. Front suspension Independent, spring; front brakes Drum. Rear suspension, rear brakes, boost, engine placement, compression, bore and stroke, fuel grade, 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, CO2, eco class, kerb and gross mass, ground clearance, and wheels: not measured.
2 generation (1949-01-01 – 1958-12-31) is still Cabrio, now 2 versions: 5.3 MT and 4.1 MT. Both keep Manual 3 and RWD, Independent, spring front, Drum front. The later 4.1 MT stays on 4065 cm³, Gasoline, 8, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, but rises to 117 hp (86 kW) at 3600 rpm and 287 Nm at 2000 rpm. 5.3 MT is 5277 cm³, 180 hp (132 kW), Gasoline, 8, V-shaped. For 5.3 MT, torque, torque rpm, power rpm, valves per cylinder, boost, and fuel system are not measured. Same unmeasured list as generation 1 for weight, economy, and size.
The calendar overlap at 1949 is in the data (generation 1 stop 1949-12-31, generation 2 start 1949-01-01). Body type does not change (Cabrio both times). Drive, gear count, and front chassis labels do not change. The generation step on the 4.1 MT name is a small arithmetic step; the generation step that adds 5.3 MT is a different engine architecture.
Buick Special engine and specs: all three versions
| Version | Generation | Years | hp | kW | Nm | Displacement (cm³) | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Gears | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 MT (112 hp) | 1 generation | 1936-01-01 – 1949-12-31 | 112 | 82 | 279 | 4065 | Gasoline | 8 | Inline | not measured | Manual | 3 | RWD |
| 4.1 MT (117 hp) | 2 generation | 1949-01-01 – 1958-12-31 | 117 | 86 | 287 | 4065 | Gasoline | 8 | Inline | not measured | Manual | 3 | RWD |
| 5.3 MT | 2 generation | 1949-01-01 – 1958-12-31 | 180 | 132 | not measured | 5277 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | not measured | Manual | 3 | RWD |
Same-name rule: both 4.1 MT entries must stay 4.1 MT; they are told apart by 112 hp vs 117 hp (and by generation dates).
Specific output from the given litres:
- 4.1 MT (112 hp): 112 / 4.065 ≈ 27.6 hp per litre
- 4.1 MT (117 hp): 117 / 4.065 ≈ 28.8 hp per litre
- 5.3 MT (180 hp): 180 / 5.277 ≈ 34.1 hp per litre
5.3 MT is not only larger; it is the densest of the three on this hp/litre arithmetic. Versus the later 4.1 MT, displacement is 5277 / 4065 ≈ 1.30× (+29.8%) while power is 180 / 117 ≈ 1.54× (+53.8%, +63 hp). Versus the first 4.1 MT, power is 180 / 112 ≈ 1.61× (+68 hp, +50 kW). Kilowatts: 132 vs 86 vs 82.
The two 4.1 MT cars share peak rpm labels where both have them: power at 3600, torque at 2000. Torque step generation 1 → 2 on 4.1 MT: +8 Nm (279 → 287), +2.9%. Power step: +5 hp / +4 kW, +4.5%. Displacement unchanged at 4065 cm³. Valves stay 2 per cylinder. Layout stays Inline. Fuel stays Gasoline. What generation 2 does not copy from generation 1 on this name is the Carburetor label: fuel system on both second-generation engines is not measured.
5.3 MT has no Nm in the data, so torque cannot be ranked against 279 or 287. Do not infer a V8 “feel” beyond the given V-shaped 8.
Performance, mpg, and economy: not measured on every version
0–100, top speed, city / highway / mixed consumption, tank, and CO2 are not measured for 4.1 MT (112 hp), 4.1 MT (117 hp), and 5.3 MT. Eco class is not measured. You cannot pick a Special here on mpg or on a sprint figure: those columns are empty for all three.
Weight per horsepower cannot be computed: kerb mass is not measured on all three, so 112, 117, and 180 hp have no mass denominator. Claiming 5.3 MT is “heavier” or “quicker” would be invention.
What you can buy with the extra output is only the catalogue delta: 63 hp (or 68 hp from generation 1) and 34.1 hp/l vs 28.8 / 27.6, still Manual 3 and RWD. There is no automatic, no other drive, no other body in this file.
Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels
For 4.1 MT (112 hp), 4.1 MT (117 hp), and 5.3 MT:
- Kerb weight: not measured
- Gross weight: not measured
- Ground clearance: not measured
- Fuel tank: not measured
- Wheel size: not measured
1955–1958 / 1938 / 1950 dimension and weight searches cannot be filled from this dataset. Chassis labels that are present do not split the buy: Independent, spring front and Drum front on every version; rear suspension and rear brakes not measured on every version.
Which version to choose
Choose second-generation 5.3 MT if the point of the car is the largest measured engine. It is the only 5277 cm³ Special here, the only V-shaped 8, and the only 180 hp / 132 kW figure. Against same-generation 4.1 MT (117 hp) that is +1212 cm³, +63 hp, +46 kW, and about +5.3 hp per litre (34.1 vs 28.8). Against first-generation 4.1 MT (112 hp) it is +68 hp and +50 kW. Gearbox and drive do not change (Manual 3, RWD). The trade you cannot price in kilograms or seconds: mass, 0–100, and consumption are not measured, and Nm for 5.3 MT is not measured, so you are not choosing a documented torque or mpg winner — only a documented power and displacement winner. Fuel system and valves per cylinder for 5.3 MT are also not measured.
Choose second-generation 4.1 MT (117 hp) if you want the later Cabrio with the same 4065 cm³ Inline 8 as generation 1, not the 5.3. Versus first-generation 4.1 MT (112 hp) the extras are arithmetic, not a new layout: +5 hp, +4 kW, +8 Nm, same 3600 / 2000 rpm labels, same 8 Inline, same 2 valves per cylinder, same Manual 3 RWD. Specific output rises from 27.6 to 28.8 hp/l. Versus 5.3 MT you give up 63 hp and the V-shaped layout and keep a fully labelled torque figure (287 Nm) that 5.3 MT does not have in the data. Generation 2 dates (1949-01-01 – 1958-12-31) also cover the 1953–1958 spec years people search; this 4.1 MT is the 4065 cm³ answer inside that window. Carburetor is not listed on this version (not measured), unlike generation 1.
Choose first-generation 4.1 MT (112 hp) if the production window itself is the filter: 1936-01-01 – 1949-12-31, including searches such as 1938. It is the only generation-1 engine and the only Special here with Carburetor written in. You accept 112 hp / 82 kW / 279 Nm — 5 hp and 8 Nm below the later 4.1 MT, 68 hp below 5.3 MT. You do not get a smaller body or a different drive; Cabrio, Manual 3, RWD, Independent, spring, Drum are the same labels as later cars. You also do not get a documented economy or size advantage: those remain not measured.
Do not choose between these three on Deluxe, motorhome, financing, automatic, AWD, or a 1960s generation. None of that is in the data. Do not choose on 0–100, top speed, mpg, tank, clearance, or wheels: not measured for 4.1 MT (112 hp), 4.1 MT (117 hp), and 5.3 MT.
Short ranking on measured numbers only
1. Maximum power and displacement: 5.3 MT (180 hp, 5277 cm³, V-shaped 8). 2. Same 4.1-litre formula, later and slightly stronger: 4.1 MT (117 hp, 287 Nm). 3. Same 4.1-litre formula, earlier, Carburetor named: 4.1 MT (112 hp, 279 Nm).
If two cars are both badged 4.1 MT, the buy split is 117 hp vs 112 hp and generation dates, not a rename. If the badge is 5.3 MT, the split is 180 hp and 5277 cm³, not a different gearbox or drive — those stay Manual 3 and RWD on every Buick Special in this catalogue.