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The Buick Roadmaster was first introduced 1935, was produced until 1958, and was paid homage to from 1991 until 1996. True to Buick's character, the Roadmaster followed the trends of American car manufacturing closely, therefore seven different generations hit the market. This spacious American cruiser was built as an indestructible road hog, showcasing not only uttermost luxury and astronomical large dimensions, also under the hood American knowhow of building strong engine is demonstrated.
Buick has long been part of the luxury segment of General Motors. With the introduction of the Roadmaster, it became clear once again that they rightly belong to that category. In 1936, the Roadmaster hit the market as a typical imperial pre-war car. It was equipped with a straight-eight engine that produced 120 hp, which was a lot at the time. In 1938, a more powerful second generation was introduced, available in both convertible and sedan, but this time with a slightly sleeker design. The third generation was more aerodynamic, albeit avant la lettre, it was also cheaper than before, and it was slightly smaller. Short production runs and rapidly implemented changes are characteristic of the pre-war Roadmaster, as Buick always pushed its boundaries. In 1942, a fourth generation was made, but, despite good sales figures, production was soon stopped due to the World War. After World War II, the Roadmaster became very famous and widely spread in the United States, sales also skyrocketed. In 1949, a fifth generation was launched. It featured the straight-eight engine, that was replaced by a V8 engine in 1953. The fifth Roadmaster was visibly decorated with elegant chrome trim and extravagant curves. This design momentum continued even with the design of the sixth and seventh generations, appearing in 1954 and 1957. In 1991, Buick paid a short and unofficial tribute to the Roadmaster, using the name again for their Buick Estate.
Nowadays, the Roadmaster has secured its strong position, people simply love it. It is coveted, partly due to its extravagant and outstanding design brings back nostalgia to 1950s America.
Buick Roadmaster - fifth generation
Despite the promising sales figures of the post-war fourth generation, Buick decided to make changes in 1949, when the Roadmaster underwent mainly aesthetic changes. The most significant visual distinction was the introduction of the so-called VentiPorts, the portholes on either side of the hood that initially had to light up when the cylinders were fired on, but that idea was never embodied, thus the holes just stayed there. Besides the visual changes, the 2-speed automatic Dynaflow transmission from Buick became standard, as well as the 5.2-litre straight-eight engine, which was previously the standard. In 1953, a 5.3-litre V8 engine was designed and replaced the straight-eight engine. The Roadmaster was also offered in various versions: a convertible, a sedan, a coupe, or an estate car; many of which were available in both two and four-dour edition.
The fifth-generation Roadmaster was a people’s favourite, it even broke some sales records in the Roadmaster series. It does not need to be emphasized that the fifth Roadmaster was glorious, and over the decades, that is still the case. The Roadmaster remains a true eye-catcher and a highly coveted classic, and that is not solely due to its large dimensions.
Technical information:
Body work
Mechanics
