1948 Buick Series 50 Super

The 1948 Buick Super was the company's mid-range model, priced above the entry-level Special and below the range-topping Roadmaster. The Special had a wheelbase that measured 121-inches, the Super on a 125-inch wheelbase, and the Roadmaster on a 129-inch platform. The Buick Special was equipped with a 248 CID inline-8 with five main bearings, 6.3:1 compression, mechanical valve lifters, and 110 horsepower. The Super came with the same engine but with 6.6:1 compression, boosting horsepower to 115 bhp at 3,600 RPM. The Roadmaster was powered by a 320.2 cubic-inch inline-8 with overhead valves, a cast-iron block, 6.6:1 compression, five main bearings, and delivering 144 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission with a column-mounted shift lever was standard, and a Dyanflow automatic was optional on the Roadmaster. With the Dynaflow installed, the engine was given 6.9:1 compression and horsepower rose to 150 bhp.

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. The 1948 Buick offered convertibles in its Super and Roadmaster lines. A two-door Sedanette was common to all 1948 Buicks. The Roadmaster and the super both included a station wagon.

The Buick Super Sedanate listed for nearly $2,000, the sedan at $2,090, the convertible coupe at $2,515, and the station wagon at $3,125. The most popular body style was the sedan with 47,991 examples built for the home market, with 5,456 for export. The sedanette was also popular with 32,860 examples built (959 for export), 18,311 were convertibles (906 for export), and 1,955 were station wagons (63 for export).

Buick had returned to civilian automobile production using mildly updated designs of its pre-war vehicles. The all-new post-war designs were introduced in mid-year 1949. The 1948 models were slightly updated versions of the 1947 models with designs that originated in the pre-WWII era. A 'Super' script on the front fender and on the bumper guard crossbar was the most visual change for the 1948 Super over its 1947 counterpart. The Harley Earl-supervised styling featured a broad grille, fade-away front fenders, and remarkably restrained bright-trim accents. Riding on 7.60x15 tires, the Super rested slightly closer to the ground. The interiors were trimmed in new cloth with leatherette scuff pads and trim risers. The revised instrument panel had silver-tone instruments on a two-tone gray panel. The convertible had cloth and leather interior trim, a power top, power seat, and power front windows. The sedan had carpeting in the rear with a carpet insert in the front rubber mat. The station wagons wore wooden upper bodies built by Ionia.

Calendar year production for Buick in 1948 was similar to its 1947 figures, with 275,503 units built compared with 277,134 the previous year. Buick had 7.5 percent of the total domestic market in 1947, and 7-percent in 1948 earning it a fourth-place within industry sales.

In 1949, the Buick Super would share a new G.M. C-body with its larger sibling, the Roadmaster, but resting on a shorter wheelbase. Design cues would include three chromed ventiports on each front fender, new fender edge taillamps, and rear fender skirts.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021