A 1939 Buick Special Convertible Coupe that survived the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor will not be traveling far from its former home in Martinsville, Virginia.
The extensively restored Buick was purchased by one Tom Beasly of Stuart, Virginia for $73,700. The purchase was not a smooth one for Beasley though who had to overcome “vigorous bidding” to earn the right to own the car said Jim Woltz owner of the Woltz & Associates auction house. “It has an incredible story and good documentation” stated Woltz while also adding that “it had a museum quality restoration and that it is a rarity in its own right”. During the auction period, over 8,000 people viewed the online listing for the car and according to Woltz internet bidding was being done at a rampant pace especially on Saturday. However, in the end Beasley (who attended in person) emerged as the winner of the auction.
When asked how he felt about his purchase Beasley revealed that the reason he bought it in the first place was because “I enjoyed the history of it” The Japanese “bombed the area all around it and everything was hit but that car. For it to survive is a miracle. Beasley also revealed that he has known the previous owner A.C Wilson for many years and stated “I don’t think he really wanted to sell the car”. Wilson will certainly not have to travel far to visit his former prized possession since Beasley plans to store the car 30 miles away in nearby Stuart Virginia.
Prior to Beasley’s purchase, Wilson revealed to the Roanoke Times newspaper that he was selling the Buick as well as several other historic vehicles to help repay lingering family debts. The vehicle was actually auctioned off a day before the 73rd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack which claimed the lives of 2,400 Americans, damaged a key portion of the country’s naval forces, and was a key catalyst that dragged the U.S. into World War II.
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