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1951 Buick Roadmaster Series 70 news, pictures, and information

Estate Wagon
Chassis Num: 162055245
 
There were around 679 examples of the Roadmaster Estate Wagon constructed in 1961. Only twelve are known to exist in modern times. This example shown, finished in light blue with wood door panels was owned by a single family from new until 2006. It is powered by a 320 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine capable of producing around 150 horsepower. There is a Dynaflow automatic transmission and four-wheel drum brakes.

The Dynaflow transmission was offered by Buick in 1948, which was a fully automatic gearbox. It was instantly popular and doubled Buicks estimated production for that year. For the following year, Buick freshened up its line with an updated look. More visual improvements followed in 1950. The Buick cars introduced some signature design features such as the portholes in the fenders, known as VentiPorts.

This 1951 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was estimated to sell between $80,000 - $100,000. It is in very original condition with the exception of a repaint, thou to its original color. The wood is all original, as are the seats and door panels. It has spent most of its life in Dallas, Texas where it was in single ownership until 2006.

At auction, the car failed to find a buyer. An opportunity was lost, as it is hard to find an Estate Wagon that is in original condition and has been this well treated. With only a few still existing, the opportunity to own one comes only so often.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2007
Riviera Hardtop
 
The 1951 Buick Roadmaster Series 70 Riviera hardtop was the top of the line closed automobile offered by Buick. The Roadmasters exclusively were fit with the large, straight 8,320 cu.in. 'Fireball' engine. The Buick automatic transmission was shift-less and called the DynaFlow, and was known for its smoothness in operation.

This car was displayed at the 100th year anniversary celebration in 2003 in Flint, Michigan - the birthplace of Buick. The hardtop design gave the sportiness of a convertible but with the comfort of a closed car. The original price for the Riviera Hardtop was $4,145 with around 12,901 examples being produced. The Riviera Hardtop rested on a 126.25 inch wheelbase while the Riviera Sedan was given a 130.25-inch wheelbase. The Sedan version cost $3,200 with a total of 48,758 examples being produced. The Other two Series 70 bodystyles available were the two-door Convertible and four-door Estate Wagon. The Wagon cost nearly $4,000 while the convertible fetched $3,450. The estate wagon was the most exclusive with only 679 examples produced. A total of 2911 Convertible Roadmasters were sold.
The Roadmaster named first appeared on Buick automobiles in 1936 as a celebration of their engineering improvements and advancements in design. The Buick Series 80 became known as the Roadmaster. The Roadmasters were built on the longest wheelbase Buick had to offer. From 1946 through 1957 they were the most elegant and prestigious automobiles that Buick sold.

From 1936 through 1948 the Roadmaster appeared in coupe, sedan, convertible and station wagon bodystyles. A hardtop coupe was added in 1949 and dubbed the Riviera.

The Roadmaster named reappeared in 1991 and continued in production until 1996. It served as a replacement for the Electra model line and offered as an Estate Wagon. A sedan was introduced in 1992.

The end of the 1953 Buick Roadmaster station wagon meant the end of the last wood-bodied station wagon to be mass-produced in the United States. In 1996, the end of the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon meant the end of the full-size family station wagons.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006
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Auctions America's 2013 Auburn Spring Event Offers Ultimate Collector Car Weekend
• Auctions America presents the first of two annual Auburn sales, May 9 – 11 at historic Auburn Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana • Multi-day sale lifts gavel on 600 quality collector cars and an assortment of memorabilia • Notable early highlights include selection of Hudsons from the respected John Soneff Collection • Weekend also features inaugural Antique Automobile Club of America Central Division National Spring Meet, and an extensive car corral and swap meet presented by Carlisle Events...[Read more...]
Magnificent Series of Coachbuilt Classics To Grace RM's Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance Sale
• RM Auctions returns as the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, March 9, 2013 • Single-day sale features breathtaking roster of more than 80 investment-quality collector cars • Notable highlights include an outstanding series of coachbuilt classics headlined by a multi-million-dollar 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Walker-LaGrande Convertible Coupe and a trio of Cords from the personal collection of Jim Fasnacht • Frequently updated list of entries available online at r...[Read more...]
Mercedes-Benz Classic at the 2012 Grossglockner Grand Prix
• Revival of the mountain race from the 1930s • Mercedes-Benz SSK and W 125 at the start • 92 bends, 14 hairpins, 15 kilometres and a 1300-metre altitude difference The Grossglockner mountain race was one of the most prestigious motor sports events of the 1930s. This year it will be revived with the 2012 Grossglockner Grand Prix to be held from 20 to 22 September 2012 and Mercedes-Benz will be there with some famous cars. In 1938, the brand took part for the first time. As a classic c...[Read more...]
The Champion in Touring Car Racing : The BMW M3
In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the 'Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series drivers' was right on target. But the pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile...[Read more...]
Auctions America By RM's 2012 Auburn Spring Auction
'Variety' is the buzzword for this year's Auctions America by RM June 1-3 Auburn Spring auction, which will offer a huge range of collector vehicles and an enormous private collection of automotive memorabilia. More than 600 American muscle cars, Classics, foreign sports cars and hot rods will cross the block at the historic Auburn Auction Park, the company's national headquarters in Auburn, Indiana. 'Last year was our first spring event at the park,' said Auctions America by RM's President ...[Read more...]

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Average Auction Sale: $475

 
Buick: 1951-1960
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Buick
Monthly Sales FiguresVolume
April 201317,157 
March 201318,007 
February 201316,150 
January 201313,463 
December 201216,473 
November 201213,289 
October 201213,384 
September 201214,673 
August 201218,000 
July 201214,391 
June 201218,851 
May 201218,565 
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