PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 pandemic, regular visitors to our Bennington, Vermont, headquarters became familiar with Hemmings’ antique vehicle collection held within “the Sibley Shop,” casually known as the Hemmings Museum. Each vehicle holds some level of significance, whether due to rarity, rally service, or—in the case of our 1940 Buick Century four-door convertible phaeton, one of just 194 built—a combination thereof.
According to the Fisher Body tag on our example, it left the assembly line painted black and trimmed in a red leather interior, the same combination present when the Buick was purchased in 1987. Further confirmation comes from period color photos found within a history file created upon the Buick’s Vermont arrival.
The same meticulous file offered that although it was a running, driving car, mechanical refurbishment was performed,…
