1949 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster

The Buick Roadmaster nameplate was first used in 1936 and continued uninterrupted, other than the 1942-1945 war years, through 1957. During that time, the Roadmaster was Buick's pinnacle of engineering and design, and rested on the company's longest-wheelbase chassis throughout much of its history.

Immediate post-war automobile production was largely based on the existing pre-war designs, with Buick's Series 70 Roadmaster line completely redesigned for 1949. They now rested on General Motors C-body architecture with a wheelbase of 126-inches and exterior styling that was rakish and sleek with a luxurious interior. Bodystyles included a fastback sedanette, coupe, sedan, convertible coupe, and station wagon. The two-door sedanette was the least expensive in the lineup with a factory base price of $2,615. On the other end of the spectrum was the station wagon priced at $3,740. The convertible listed for $3,150, the sedan at $2,740, and the hardtop coupe at $3,200. 54,674 examples of the sedan were built, plus 568 for export. 632 were station wagons with 21 for export, and 8,095 of the convertible with 149 for export. 18,415 were the sedanette (122 export), and 4,314 (29 export) of the hardtop coupe.

The 320.2 cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine had mechanical valve lifters, a Stromberg and Carter carburetor, overhead valves, five main bearings, and delivered 150 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. It used a Dynaflow drive transmission with column-mounted shift levers, four-wheel drum brakes, an independent front suspension with coil springs, and a live rear axle with coil springs.

The similarly styled Series 50 Super had three chromed ventiports on each front fender while the Roadmaster had longer front fenders and four ventiports per side, with series script below, and within bumper guard crossbar centers. The VentiPorts were the brainchild of self-taught designer Ned Nickles, who was also responsible for the 'bombsight' hood ornament. Nickles had installed amber lights in four holes along each side of the hood of his company Buick, each fitted with a light connected to the distributor and activated by a cylinder firing. After Buick President Harlow Curtice first witnessed Nickle's setup, he immediately ordered it, but devoid of the lights, as they were too costly for production.

The rear wheels had skirted wheelhouse openings, and the windshield panels were curved with a division bar in the center. The interiors of the Estate Wagons had mahogany veneer panels with leather upholstery, 'Foamtex' seat cushions, a flexible spoke steering wheel, an anti-glare rearview mirror, an electric in-dash clock, rear cabin light, and carpeted floors and cargo area. The station wagons, still qualifying as a 'woodie', were built in Ionia, Michigan, and used less wood than in previous years. The Model 76C convertible coupe was upholstered in leather and had a power top, seat, and windows. The Model 76R Riviera hardtop coupe was introduced mid-year and had standard power windows and was upholstered in cloth and leather.

Standard equipment included back-up lights, windshield washers, stone guards, wide whitewall tires with full-size chromed wheel covers, and turn signals.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020