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1961 Buick Special

Buick's first compact car marked the division's entry into the emerging small-car market against Ford Falcon and Chevrolet Corvair.
015279503
V8
Engine
Wilmington, DE
Plant
Muscle Car Era
Era
No factory image on file
1961 Buick Special

VIN Breakdown

PositionValueDecoded
Series Code 0 Special
Year Code 1 1961
Plant Code 5 Wilmington, DE
Serial Number 279503 Unit #279503

Basic Information

MakeBuick
ModelSpecial
Year1961
ManufacturerGeneral Motors Corporation
EraMuscle Car Era

Available Engine Options

Engine cannot be determined from VIN alone. Available engines for 1961 Buick:

Engine V8, 215 CID, 155 HP (Aluminum)
Horsepower155 HP
Displacement215 CID
Carburetor2-barrel
Compression8.8:1
Engine V8, 215 CID, 185 HP (Aluminum)
Horsepower185 HP
Displacement215 CID
Carburetor4-barrel
Compression10.25:1
Engine V8, 215 CID, NA HP (Aluminum)
HorsepowerNA HP
Displacement215 CID
Carburetor2-barrel
Compression7.8:1
Engine V8, 364 CID, 250 HP
Horsepower250 HP
Displacement364 CID
Carburetor2-barrel
Compression10.25:1
Engine V8, 364 CID, 300 HP
Horsepower300 HP
Displacement364 CID
Carburetor4-barrel
Compression10.25:1
Engine V8, 364 CID, 235 HP
Horsepower235 HP
Displacement364 CID
Carburetor2-barrel
Compression9.0:1
Engine V8, 401 CID, 325 HP
Horsepower325 HP
Displacement401 CID
Carburetor4-barrel
Compression10.25:1
Engine V8, 401 CID, NA HP
HorsepowerNA HP
Displacement401 CID
Carburetor4-barrel
Compression8.75:1

About This Decode

This VIN does not encode the engine, so the engine details shown are representative of the model as built and not VIN-confirmed. (Most pre-1972 GM VINs do not carry an engine code.)

Original Specifications

Bodystyle lifespan1961 through 1963
Height52.8
Length188.4
Wheelbase112.0
Width71.3

Source: Historical automotive documentation (1960-1972)