☰
conceptcarz.com
✕

1956 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster

The Roadmaster reigned as the top-of-the-line Buick for 1956, perched on a 127-inch wheelbase, it featured an overall length of 213.6 inches and weighed in at 4,395 pounds. It wore familiar Buick design icons, including a broad grille and full-width bumper with large 'Dagmars', a winged circular grille emblem, and a gunsight hood ornament cut into the contour of the hood. The twin headlamps each feature gunsights above them on the front fenders and 'Buick' block letters are affixed to the leading edge of the hood. There was a quartet of portholes on the front fenders accented by a chrome sweep that arched around the rear wheel-opening, a two-tone color scheme, and a wrap-around windshield with bright trim highlights. In the back, the tail features small, rounded fins with rearward-leaning tail lamps, simulated trunk straps and chrome dual exhaust outlets cut into the full-width rear bumper.

The fully cutout rear wheels were reminiscent of the 1953 Skylark. In keeping with modern styling trends, the Roadmaster wore even more chrome, a feature that helped distinguish it from its Buick siblings, along with limited edition paint treatment and an exclusive selection of fabric and trims. These were the largest, most luxurious, and fastest Buicks yet produced.

Under the bonnet is a special high-performance 322 cubic-inch 'Nailhead' V8 that it shared with the Century and Super. With a 4-inch bore and 3.2-inch stroke, the engine developed 255 HP at 4,400 RPM, with 341 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 with a 9.5:1 compression ratio and 4-barrel carburetor.

Standard Roadmaster equipment included Deluxe wheel covers, Variable-Pitch Dynaflow transmission, power steering, power brakes, windshield washers, foam-cushioned seats, foam-backed carpets, an electric clock, parking brake signal release light, perimeter heating system, and glare-proof rearview mirror.

Buick built 572,024 vehicles for the 1956 model year, but just 4,354 of the Roadmaster convertible priced at a range-topping $3,700. Other body styles on the Roadmaster Series included a sedan priced at $3,500, a two-door Riviera hardtop coupe at $3,590, and a four-door Riviera hardtop at $3,700 The four-door Riviera hardtop was the most popular with 24,770 examples built, followed by 12,490 of the two-door Riviera hardtop, and 11,804 of the sedan. The combined 53,418 examples built of the Roadmaster accounted for approximately 9-percent of Buick's total 1956 production. Buick ranked third in 1956 industry sales, with approximately 9-percent of the market share and total production of 535,364 units. Although impressive, it was less than the 781,296 units produced the previous year, an all-time Buick record and one that earned Buick in third place.

1956 was the final year of the General Motors C-Body styling that was introduced in 1954 and shared with Cadillac and the Oldsmobile 98. The length was as much as 5.5-inches longer and the wheelbase over 9-inches longer than the 1953 models. Styling cues included the 'Dagmar bumpers', dual 'bullet' taillamps, and a panoramic windshield with vertical side pillars. The styling introduced in 1957 included an even larger panoramic windshield with reverse slanted pillars, a lower body stance, a red-filled Sweepspear bodyside, and a chromed rear fender lower panel. Prices rose by approximately $400, and the 364 cubic-inch, overhead valve V8 engine with 10.0:1 compression now produced 300 horsepower.

1956 Buick Model Lineup

The Buick Special and the Buick Century rested on a 122-inch wheelbase, and the engine in the Century was shared with the Roadmaster and Super. The Roadmaster shared its 127-inch wheelbase with the Super. The 322 cubic-inch engine was installed in all 1956 Buicks, delivering enough horsepower to give the entire range a top speed of at least 110 mph. The Special (Series 40) had 8.9:1 compression and delivered 220 horsepower, while the rest of the line used a 9.5:1 compression version that produced 255 horsepower. The Special and the Century came standard with a three-speed manual transmission, while the Roadmaster and Super came standard with a Dynaflow Drive automatic.

Power steering was standard on the Roadmaster and Super, and a $108 option on the other models. The Special, Super, and Century had Custom Cordaveen interior while the Roadmaster had Custom Nylon and cord combinations, and leather in the convertible. Two-door Roadmaster models had bright front seat cushion bands. The two-door hardtop and convertible body styles had power windows and seat adjuster as standard equipment.

Optional equipment on the 1956 Buick models included a rear seat speaker, tissue dispenser, seat belts, Sonomatic radio, Selectronic radio, electric antenna, visor vanity mirror, Spotlite, cushion topper, exhaust pipe trim, DorGard, and air conditioning.

While most automakers only offered a convertible body style in the most upmarket series, Buick was a notable exception, offering convertibles in all series from 1951 through 1957.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe

Roadmaster was the top-of-the-line offering for Buick in 1956. Buick produced 4,354 Roadmaster Convertibles and that was less than 1% of the total Buick production.

The car weighs 4,395 pounds and was powered by a 322 cubic-inch, V8 engine. Horsepower was increased to 255 and the car is capable of doing 110 MPH. Base cost was $3,704 plus options.

This particular car was manufactured in the Wilmington, DE General Motors assembly plant.

Convertible Coupe

This 1956 Buick Roadmaster Series 70 Convertible is an all-original automobile that rides on its original tires. The odometer shows only 30,600 miles from new. The paint, chrome and interior are just as they left the Buick factory. The current owner purchased the car from its original owner in 1986.

The Roadmaster was powered by Buick's 322 cubic-inch V8 that developed 245 horsepower that was good for zero-to-sixty in 11.7 seconds and was capable of 110 miles per hour.

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 7C3042813

1956 was the final year of the sixth-generation Roadmaster. Introduced in 1954, the chassis was lowered and widened relative to its predecessor, power was from a new 322 cubic-inch V-8 engine, and the bodywork was more streamlined. The styling of the Roadmaster was similar to the lesser models in Buick's lineup, although with four fender-mounted 'ventiports' - one more than the 'lesser' models.

During the production lifespan of the sixth generation Roadmaster, Buick update the look, with the 1956 model distinguished by twin chrome strips on the trunk lid, 'bomb sights' atop both front fenders, added 'Roadmaster' script in several locations, and a chrome side strip with less of a dip toward the rocker panel. The interiors featured full carpeting, chrome bands on the seats of two-door models, rear armrests on sedans, and posher nylon, broadcloth, and leather upholstery combinations. The list of standard equipment on the 1956 Roadmaster included power brakes, power steering, Perimeter Heater, an improved variable-pitch Dynaflow automatic transmission, backup lights, windshield washers, glare-proof rearview mirror, electric clock, deluxe wheel covers, foam-cushioned seats, foam-backed carpets, padded dash, and, on certain models, power windows and a power seat.

This particular Roadmaster Convertible is one of 4,354 examples produced for the 1956 model year. It is finished in a two-tone color combination of Tahiti Coral and Dover White over a black and white leather interior. It has power brakes, power windows, power steering, power seat, and a power-operated soft top. There are wide-whitewall tires wrapped around wire wheels, and there is a Selectronic AM radio and under-dash heating controls.

by Dan Vaughan

The Roadmaster's name first appeared on Buick automobiles in 1936, known as the Series 80 Roadmaster and as a celebration of the engineering improvements and advancements in design. The Roadmasters were built on the longest wheelbase Buick had to offer, and 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 body styles. A hardtop coupe was added in 1949 and dubbed the Riviera.

The Roadmaster's 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 Dan Vaughan