 1937 Series 80 Roadmaster | 1939 Series 80 Roadmaster  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
1938 Buick Series 80 Roadmaster news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  | Sport Phaeton Chassis Num: 13383019 |
| Sold for $72,600 at 2009 Worldwide Auctioneers. | |||
The 1938 Buick's were given several refinements, including to the Dynaflash overhead valve straight eight engine. The chassis was strengthened with an X-member frame replacing the I-beam and suspended in place by a full coil spring suspension. This was the last year that the Roadmaster and Limited Series would use wood in body construction.
There were only 350 examples of the Roadmaster Model 80C four-door sport phaetons produced in 1938. This example was previously owned by the president of the Buick Club of America. It has had a complete, body-off restoration that was done several years ago. There are dual side-mounted spare tires with body-color cases, as well as front and rear triple bumper guards, fog lights, and body-colored steel wheels with bright hubcaps and trim rings surrounding the wide whitewall tires. On the inside, there is a woodgrain dash that is complemented by an accessory faux ivory steering wheel with full horn right along with the electric clock, Master heater and Ceterline radio. Under the bonnet is the Chayne-designed straight eight motor that is rated at 141 horsepower and is more than capable of carrying this 4,325 pound masterpiece.
In 2009, this Sport Phaeton was offered for sale at the Houston Classic Auction presented by Worldwide Auctioneers and held in Seabrook, Texas. The lot was estimated to sell for $70,000 - $90,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $66,000, not including the 10-percent buyer's premium. Bidding had begun at $50,000 and would receive seven more bids before reaching the high bid of $66,000.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2009
 |  |  | Opera Brougham Coachwork: Fernandez & Darrin Chassis Num: 83486795 |
| Sold for $275,000 at 2004 RM Auctions. Sold for $506,000 at 2009 Gooding & Company. | |||
This one-off Buick has sweeping early 1930s-style fenders, has no running boards, a very raked windscreen, Marchal lenses, caning, oversized rear-hinged doors and many luxury features in the passenger compartment. There is a proper Buick cowl, bumpers and headlamps.
During the 1990s, the car was given a frame-up, cost-no-object restoration.
In 2009, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held at Pebble Beach, CA. It was expected to sell for $200,000 - $325,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $506,000, including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2010
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
For more information and related vehicles, click hereFrom 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
| BUICK TURNS 110: M18 HELLCAT REMEMBERED ON V-E DAY | |
 | 'Hot rod of World War II' a key piece of 'Arsenal of Democracy' DETROIT – Buick production lines have been rolling for 110 consecutive years but for a short period during World War II, the vehicles produced looked decidedly different. In February of 1942, the last civilian car left a Buick facility before full attention was placed on engineering and producing aircraft engines, ammunition and the M18 tank destroyer, better known as the Hellcat. The M18 originated in the design studio...[Read more...] |
| Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Celebrates Corvette'S 60 Years At Sonoma Raceway | |
 | • Fast cars, fine food and wine highlight May 18-19 weekend • Paul Reinhart is honored guest, popular racing seminar scheduled for second year SONOMA, Calif. (April 27, 2013) - The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival returns to Sonoma Raceway on May 18-19 for the fourth straight year under that title. The program for the 27th annual historic-car event organized by General Racing Ltd. in Sonoma will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the popular Corvette, created by the ...[Read more...] |
| BUICK TURNS 110: 11 HIGHLIGHTS OF 11 DECADES | |
 | Buick vehicles today are built in state-of-the-art facilities around the world. The Enclave luxury crossover's Lansing Delta Township plant was the industry's first LEED Gold-certified manufacturing facility. The brand has evolved in many ways since 1903, when the first Buick was hand-built in a small barn behind David Dunbar Buick's Detroit home. Here are 11 top highlights from Buick's first 11 decades: • Through the end of 2012, Buick has sold more than 43 million vehicles. That's the equiv...[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...] |
 1938
Buick
models |
| Buick Series 40 Special |
| Buick Series 60 Century |
| Buick Series 90 Limited | 1938 Buick Concepts |
| Buick Y-Job Concept |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 1938 |
| Rolls-Royce Phantom III |
| Tatra T77 |
| Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1938 |
| Jaguar SS 100 ($1,925-$1,925) |
| Lincoln Series 86H Zephyr ($1,300-$1,795) |
| Cadillac Series 60 ($1,695-$2,285) |
| LaSalle Series 50 ($1,295-$1,825) |
| Buick Series 60 Century ($1,226-$1,713) |
| Packard 1601 Eight ($1,225-$1,650) |
Average Auction Sale: $120,950 |
| Buick: 1931-1940 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Buick History |
| Other models by Buick |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company |
| Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1937 Series 80 Roadmaster | 1939 Series 80 Roadmaster |
