1936 Buick Series 80 Roadmaster

1936 was the first year for the Roadmaster, a new model slotted between the top-of-the-line Limited limousines and lower-level Buick models. The Special (Series 40) was the entry-level model powered by an overhead-valve inline eight-cylinder engine with a 233 cubic-inch displacement, Anolite aluminum pistons, and offering 93 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. Prices ranged from $765 to $835.

Above the Special was the Century (Series 60) priced from $1030 to $1,135. The engine was the same used in the Century, Roadmaster, and Limited - an overhead-valve inline-8 with 320.2 cubic-inch displacement, mechanical valve lifters, five main bearings, two-barrel Stromberg carburetor, and delivering 120 horsepower at 3,200 RPM and 238 lb-ft of torque. All models used a three-speed sliding gear transmission with a single dry plate clutch and floor shift controls. Braking was handled by hydraulic drums on all four wheels (a new feature for 1936).

The Roadmaster (Series 80) convertible phaeton listed at $1,565 and the sedan at $1,260. The four-door trunk sedan was more popular with 14,985 examples sold, and 1,064 were the convertible phaetons. At least one example wore custom coachwork, including the Brewster-bodied Town Car. The convertible phaeton came standard with a single side-mount.

Prices on the top-of-the-line Limited (Series 90) ranged from $1,700 to $1,950.

The name 'Roadmaster' would remain part of the Buick line for six decades, and like all 1936 Buick models, it had turret top bodies, wedge-shaped radiators, bullet-shaped headlights, and twin taillamps.

New mechanical updates for 1936 include the afore-mentioned Hydraulic brakes, new alloy pistons, an improved independent front suspension, and an improved water temperature control.

Of the 168,596 vehicles produced by Buick during the model year, including 10,973 bare chassis for export, the Roadmaster accounted for approximately 9.5-percent of overall production with 16,049 examples built.

Prior to World War II, the ladder built by General Motors boss Alfred P. Sloan began with Chevrolet, then Pontiac, followed by Oldsmobile, Buick, LaSalle, and Cadillac. Within the Buick hierarchy, the models included the Special, Century, Roadmaster, and Limited with prices that ranged from $820 to as much as $2,000, which helped considerably to broaden the company's appeal.

Pre-1936
Prior to 1936, Buick had used the 'Series 80' designation on its 1931 through 1933 models, representing a higher-level trim package within the Buick line. It was the first Buick to be equipped with the 344.8 cubic-inch Buick Straight-8 engine offering 104 horsepower. Buick was experimenting with a new formula of offering an eight-cylinder engine with the top-level luxury sedan. A new high-performance version of the engine was introduced a year later, offering 113 horsepower. The model was completely revised in 1933 but discontinued at the end of the year. When it re-appeared in 1936, its name had been changed to the 'Series 80 Roadmaster.' The Series 80 and Roadmaster designation would be intertwined until 1941, when the Roadmaster became knwon as the 'Series 70 Roadmaster.'

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021