1948 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster

Buick returned to civilian automobile production following World War II with its 'entry-level' Special Series 40, the intermediate Super Series 50, and the top-of-the-line Roadmaster Series 70. All were noteworthy icons of America's postwar automotive boom. The Special rested on a 121-inch wheelbase, the Super had a 124-inch platform, and the range-topping Roadmaster had a 129-inch wheelbase. All models came equipped with a three-speed manual transmission with a steering column-mounted shift lever. The Special and Super were powered by a 248 CID inline-8 with overhead valves, 6.3:1 compression, five main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, and produced 110 horsepower. The Roadmaster had a larger 320.2 CID inline-8 with 6.6:1 compression and delivering 144 horsepower at 3,600 RPM.

The Buick Special wore General Motors' Fisher B-body design introduced prior to the onset of World War II. The Buick Super combined the body of the Series 70 with the affordable engine of the Series 40. The Roadmaster shared its basic structure with the entry-level Cadillac and high-end Oldsmobile.

Prior to the onset of World War II, the hierarchy at General Motors was well defined, a ladder built by GM boss Alfred P. Sloan and began with Chevrolet, then Pontiac a rung up, followed by Oldsmobile, Buick, LaSalle, and Cadillac. Although positioned between Oldsmobile and LaSalle, there was nothing inexpensive or bare-bones about the Buick. Exclusively powered by eight-cylinder engines beginning in 1931, the Buicks were high-quality vehicles that communicated a high level of status in their own right.

Styling was regularly updated, and the Roadmaster appeared in three distinct series through 1941. The fourth-generation of styling for the Roadmaster was ready for the 1942 model year, however, America's entry into World War II dictated that only a few thousand cars were produced. Production did not resume again until 1946.

The 1946 Roadmaster received richer interior fabrics than its similarly styled Super sibling, a new grille and two-tone neutral-colored instrument panels (except for convertibles) in 1947, and an additional series script on the front fenders in 1948. The previous white Tenelite steering wheel was replaced by a black version to match the change from a two-tone woodgrain instrument panel to two-tone gray-with-silver instruments, except on convertibles which used a body-color instrument panel. When equipped with the automatic, The steering wheel promoted the engine and transmission with 'Buick Eight' in the spokes and 'Roadmaster Dynaflow' in the center cap.

1948 Roadmaster body styles included a two-door sedanette priced at $2300, a sedan at $2420, a convertible coupe at $2840, and a four-door station wagon at $3,435. The sedan was the most popular with 47040 examples built (including 527 for export), 20,542 sedanettes (plus 107 exports), 11,367 of the convertible coupe (plus 136 for export), and 344 of the station wagon (plus 6 for the export market).

The Roadmaster came standard with a cloth interior, a two-tone gray instrument panel with silver-tone instruments, chrome full wheel discs, an automatic choke, an ash receiver, and turn signals. The Custom Trim option added cloth upholstery with leather bolsters, lower door panels in leatherette, and a robe cord cover. The Convertible body style came standard with power windows, a power seat, and top.

Both the Special and the Super were powered by a 248 CID inline-8 with 110 horsepower and backed by a three-speed manual transmission. The Roadmaster was equipped with an overhead-valve inline-8 with 320.2 cubic-inch displacement and 144 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. It came standard with the three-speed manual or could be equipped with a Dynaflow automatic. With the automatic, compression rose from 6.6:1 to 6.9:1 with horsepower rated at 150 bhp. GM's new Dynaflow transmission was the first torque-converter transmission fitted to a passenger car. It was so popular that it was adopted as standard equipment for 1949. Production facilities were at first doubled, then tripled, and finally quadrupled to satisfy the public's thirst for the new convenience. Within two years, 85 percent of all Buicks were equipped as such.

New designs were introduced for 1949, with both the Super and the Roadmaster sharing the General Motors' C-body platform. The Super had a shorter wheelbase size of 121-inches which it shared with the Special, and the Roadmaster measured 126-inches.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe

The 1948 Buick Roadmaster Convertible was a pre-war design but it received the famous Dynaflow transmission, which was the first torque-converter automatic transmission on an American-built car. The engine is a 320.2 cubic-inch, in-line eight with a power rating of 144-150 hp.

Known for interior luxury and quiet operation, there were few other cars like them of this era. The sleek styling of these particular two-doors elicited an emotional response from the motoring community that surpassed the expectations of GM.

This is a low mileage car that has benefited from a frame-off restoration. It is equipped with hydraulically operated push-button controls for the top, windows and front seat.

Station Wagon

Buick Roadmasters, produced between 1936 and 1958, were built on Buick's longest wheelbase and shared its basic structure with the higher end Oldsmobile's. Between 1946 and 1957, the Roadmaster was Buick's premium and best appointed model. The Estate Wagon 'Woody' body was built at the Hercules Body Company in Indiana which accounted for most Buick Estate Wagons as they were called rather than 'Station Wagons.' This car was once owned by the Harrah Collection and is in original color paintwork and original wood.

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 50270587

The 1948 Buick Roadmaster was a Harley Earl design featuring a 320 cubic-inch engine mated to a 2-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission. This convertible was purchased in May of 1998 by the current owner.

In 1948 a series script appeared on the front fenders and the white Tenelite steering wheel that had been used previously was traded in for a black one, in order match the change from a two-tone woodgrain instrument panel to a two-tone gray instrument panel, with silver tone instruments. A new optional Custom Trim option was offered, consisting of cloth upholstery with leather bolsters with the robe cord cover and lower door panels done in leatherette. The convertible models received power windows, seat and top as standard equipment.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 44897500
Engine number: 51136117

Prior to World War II, the hierarchy at General Motors began with Chevrolet, followed by Pontiac, then Oldsmobile, Buick, LaSalle and Cadillac. Although Buick was positioned between Oldsmobile and LaSalle, it was a high quality car that was neither inexpensive nor lacking in power or amenities. As the 1930s came to a close, Buick adopted an all eight-cylinder range that would continue for years to come. The Buick Roadmaster range was available in three distinct series through 1941. The fourth-generation Roadmaster was ready for the 1942 model year, but the onset of war meant that only a few thousand were produced before production came to a close. Production did not resume again until 1946.

For 1948, the Roadmaster Model 76C Convertible Coupe was very well equipped, with power windows, seat and top. New for this year was GM's Dynaflow transmission, the first torque-converter transmission fitted to a passenger car. It could be added as an option on the 1948 Roadmasters; many buyers had the option installed which convinced GM to make it standard equipment for the 1949 model year.

This Buick Model 76C Roadmaster Convertible was formerly a part of the collection of Charles Cawley. While in the collection, the car was restored in-house to show condition. It is currently in period color combination of dark blue over red upholstery, and rides on period-correct wide-whitewall BF Goodrich Silvertown bias-ply tires. It has a black top with red piping.

The car is powered by Buick's 'Fireball Dynaflash Eight' with correct style lettering on the valve cover promoting the 'valve in-head' engine design. In the trunk is a spare tire and jack. Inside is an original tube-type radio, 120 mph speedometer, and a clock.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedanet
Chassis number: 14862969
Engine number: 50751327

The Dynaflow was Buick's first automatic transmission. A $244 option on Roadmasters like this Sedanet, it used a torque converter developed by Buick during the war while producing the Hell-Cat tank destroyer. It appeared as an option only on Roadmasters this year, but the demand for the new torque converter type of transmission was so great that production facilities were at first doubled, then tripled, and finally quadrupled.

This particular Roadmaster Sedanet is finished in two-tone with a contrasting cloth interior. Options include auxiliary driving lights, dual outside spotlights, whitewall tires, clock, deluxe heater, and Sonomatic radio.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 14847808
Engine number: 50483517

The 1948 Buick models continued to wear pre-war styling but despite the longevity, the designs remained popular with buyers. This particular top-of-the-line Buick wears convertible coachwork and is powered by a 320 cubic-inch Dynaflash straight-eight cylinder engine backed by an optional new-for-1948 Dynaflow automatic transmission. It currently wears a shade of Regency Blue Metallic, replacing the original Cumulus Gray paint scheme, with a red leather interior.

This Buick has a power front bench seat (now equipped with seat belts), power windows, power-operated convertible top, power brakes, an AM radio, clock, carpeted floor mats, and a heater. The chrome-ringed odometer currently displays 60,100 miles.

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