1948 Buick Roadmaster
The 1948 Buick Roadmaster is another late-40s convertible that owes its success in one way or another to the post-war buying frenzy surrounding the end of World War II. Buick completely restyled on the eve of World War II, so its design was technically just a year old when civilian production resumed in late 1945. That means its cars still looked fresh, so it's no wonder that sales went nowhere but up.
The 1948 Buick Roadmaster stood out from the pack of
post-war convertibles due to Buick's prewar restyling.
See more pictures of classic convertibles.
Although there were far fewer Buick models than in '42, the 1946-48 lineups again included convertibles in the mid-range Super series (124-inch wheelbase) and top-line Roadmaster (129). Both used smooth straight-eight power -- a 248 and a 320, respectively -- and engine tweaking for 1948 increased horses to 115 and 150. But the big news that year was Dynaflow automatic transmission, a $244 option exclusive to Roadmasters. Though not as responsive as Hydra-Matic, Dynaflow proved so popular that Buick had to double planned installations. So equipped, a Roadmaster ragtop sold for $3081 -- rather pricey then. Still, most of the 11,503 built probably got the new automatic -- and definitely got a lot of looks.
The styling of the interior hearkened to prewar styles while other
automakers went in new directions.
For more classic convertibles of the 1930s and 1940s, see:
1933 Ford Cabriolet
1934 Pierce-Arrow Salon Twelve
1938 Oldsmobile L-38
1939 Cadillac Series 90
1941 Lincoln Continental
1941 Packard One Twenty
1942 Dodge Custom
1946 Hudson Super Six Brougham
1946 Mercury Sportsman
1947 Cadillac Series 62
1947 Chrysler Town & Country
1949 Frazer
Manhattan
1949 Cadillac Series 62
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