1946 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster

Buick resumed civilian automobile production in 1946 using mildly updated versions of its pre-war models. The lineup included the Series 40 'Special', the mid-priced Series 50 'Super,' and the top-of-the-line Series 70 'Roadmaster.' The Special rested on a 121-inch wheelbase, the Series 50 measured 125-inches, and the Roadmaster was 129-inches. All three included a sedan and Sedanet body style, with the Super adding a convertible coupe and station wagon, and the Roadmaster a convertible coupe. The Special and Super were equipped with an inline eight-cylinder engine with overhead valves, five main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a two-barrel carburetor, and 110 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. The Roadmaster was powered by an inline eight-cylinder engine with overhead valves, a cast-iron block, mechanical valve lifters, a two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 144 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. It was backed by a three-speed manual transmission with a steering column-mounted shift lever.

The Special was the only 1946 Buick model to use the Fisher B-body fastback styles of the pre-war era. The Super used the Series 70 body with the engine from the Special. The Special came standard with rubber floor mats, painted instrument panels with round gauges, rocker panel moldings, and twin strips of stainless steel traveling from the front wheelhouse to the rear edge of the standard rear wheelhouse skirts. The Series 50 added two-tone, woodgrained instrument panels.

The Special Sedan sold for $1,580 and the Sedanet at $1,520. The Super sedan was $1,820, the convertible coupe at $2,045, the Sedanet at $1,740, and the station wagon at $2,600. The Roadmaster sedan listed for $2,100, the Sedanet at $2,015, and the convertible coupe at $2,350. The convertible coupe was the most exclusive with 2,576 examples built. The sedan was the most popular with 20,597 examples built. 8,226 examples were of the Sedanet.

Optional equipment included a Spotlite Sonomatic radio, Prismatic inside rearview mirror, 'Breeze-Ease' draft deflector, auxiliary driving lights, seat covers, a Weather-Warden heater/defroster, and a non-glare 'E-Z-I' rearview mirror.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021