Buick Roadmaster
The Buick Roadmaster was an automobile built by the Buick division of General Motors. Buick Roadmasters produced between 1936 and 1958 were built on a longer wheelbase Buick limousine and not shared its basic structure with entry-level Cadillac and, after 1940, senior Oldsmobiles. Between 1946 and 1957 served as the Buick Roadmaster Buick flagship, and when it was resurrected for the 1991 through 1996 model years that was bigger brand vehicles.
Buick Roadmaster (1936-1937)
The origins of the name Roadmaster 1936, when Buick added names to its entire range of models to celebrate the engineering improvements and design advancements over their Model 1935 Series Buick 40 was named Special, Series 60 was named the century Series 90 – largest and most luxurious vehicle Buick – was named the Limited. The 50 Series was retired, but new for the model year was the Series 80 Buick Roadmaster. The implications were clear name for the 1936 Buick sales catalog said, “It is literally the name itself the first time a test model leveled on the open road.”
The Buick Roadmaster was introduced in a year straight-eight engines were heavily revised valves in the head of Buick. Buick reduced the number of motor two four sizes: 233 cubic inches, work 93 horsepower for the special, and 320.2 cubic inch, big-engine 120 horsepower of the other series. (To put the size and power of the largest straight-eight Buick engine in context, compare it with the new 322 cubic inch mono-block 120-horsepower V-8 that Cadillac introduced that year.) In addition to this important engineering change was also the year 1936 Buick adopted a superior all steel turret and hydraulic brakes. Coil springs were at the front.
The Buick Roadmaster was a big car, in sedan form tipping the scales at 4098 pounds, about 88 more than the new Cadillac Series 60 kilos But for the price, the Buick Roadmaster was a tremendous bargain. The sedan sold for $1,255, $ 440 less than the cheapest Cadillac. The only other body style available was a convertible phaeton four-door, with a price of $1,565 (of which only 1,064 which were produced), at a time when a Cadillac in the same body style sold at prices ranging from $2745 to $7850 New Buick engineering and style was a great success, with sales of the model year more than tripled from just over 48,000 to nearly 158,000, and the new Series 80 Buick Roadmaster contributing a total of 16,049 units that number.
Buick Roadmaster (1940-1941)
In 1940, 80 of the series has been renamed Limited. The Roadmaster name was transferred to the new Series 70, which was introduced at same time as a brand new Super 50 Series. The Buick Roadmaster featured a “torpedo” C-body art. The new C-body shared the 1940 Buick Roadmaster with Super, Cadillac Series 62, Series 90 Oldsmobile, and Pontiac Torpedo shoulders and hips had had about 5 “wider, removing the handle and exterior design which was rationalized and 2-3 “lower. When combined with a shift lever mounted on the column of cars offer true comfort for six passengers. These changes were clearly influenced by the Cadillac Sixty Special.
The 1940 Buick Roadmaster had a shorter distance between axles, was lighter, and was less expensive than the previous model year. Formal fastback sedans and gone, but for the first time a 2-door coupe was available, it sold a respectable 3,991 units. Also new for this year, the company requested the construction of Brunn coach design various custom-body Buicks for 70, 80 and 90 Buick Roadmaster Series Just one example is known to have actually occurred in 1940, one open-front town car is not surprising that draws Townmaster. Overall sales more than tripled to 18,345.
The 1941 styling changes were modest, but the changes under the hood were important. The compression ratio was raised from 6.6: 1 to 7.0: 1 pistons “turmoil” were redesigned, smaller plugs were replaced by the previous type and “Compound Carburetion” was introduced. Compound Carburetion was the precursor of modern four-barrel carburetor, and consisted of two two-barrel carburetors. A unit operates all the time, while the other operated only under hard acceleration. The new engine delivers 165 horsepower. With five horsepower more than a high Packard, 15 more than any Cadillac, and 25 more than the largest Chrysler, which was the most powerful engine available that year in an American car.
Buick Roadmaster (1942-1948)
The 1942 Buick Roadmaster was longer, lower, wider and more spacious than before (a brand Harley Earl), thanks in part to a longer wheelbase. There was also a new vertical bar grille and fenders “Airfoil” that stretched back all the way to the rear fenders, which in later generations became the chrome “sweepspear”. Both features became an icon Buick exposed in one way or another in the coming years, and were influenced by the concept car called the Buick Y-Job. The 4-door Phaeton fell and never return. Coupes adopted Sedanet attractive fastback style had been the sensation of 1941 in the special century.
Cash at beginning of 1942, new cars were available only to those in occupations deemed essential to the war effort. In mid-January, cars without external chrome trim apart from the bumpers were produced. In February production of passenger cars was completely closed. Despite the abbreviated model year a total of about 8,400 were sold. A new grille emblazoned with a separate top bar was used in 1947. The Buick Roadmaster name appeared in red-filled script on a button in the Guard chrome bumpers front and rear crossmembers. Everything was a new body style Estate wagon. 300 units were sold and instantly became the top of the line in the pickup truck market.
In 1948 a serial script appeared on the front fender and white ruffle Tenelite that had been used previously was changed by one black, in order to match the change of an instrument panel woodgrain two-tone instrument panel two-tone gray with silver tone instruments. A new optional custom fit option was offered, consisting of upholstery fabric with leather reinforced with cable sheath gown and lower door panels trimmed in leatherette. Convertibles acquired power windows, seat and top as standard equipment. But the biggest breakthrough was the introduction of Dynaflow, the first passenger car transmission torque converter. Optional on Buick Roadmaster in its first year, was so popular that by the following was the standard. Total sales were just under 80,000 in both 1947 and 1948, more than four times higher than in any year before the war.
Buick Roadmaster (1949-1953)
The Buick Roadmaster received its first major postwar restyling in 1949 Its wheelbase and overall length is reduced, but the weight was actually increased marginally. The biggest change was a much larger two-piece curved glass windshield that the sales brochure described as a “self-observation”. It was also in 1949 the Buick introduced “Ventiports.” Four were displayed on each of the front fenders of the Buick Roadmaster, with three in the defenses of all the other Buicks. The sales brochure said Ventiports helped ventilate the engine compartment, and perhaps that was true in early 1949, but sometime during the model year stoppered.
The idea arose from a modification Ventiports Buick style boss Ned Nickles had added to his own 1948 Buick Roadmaster had been installed four lights amber on each side of the hood of your car to the dealer wired to turn on and off as each piston simulating flames shot the exhaust stack of a fighter jet. Combined with the bombsight mascot, Ventiports put driver at the controls of an imaginary fighter airplane. Seeing this, the head of Buick Harlow Curtice was so delighted that he ordered (non-lighting) Ventiports be installed on all 1949 Buick, with the number of Ventiports (three or four) for the relative displacement of the straight-eight engine installed.
The 1950 restyling featured a toothy grill as Consumer Reports said that “a toothbrush for dentures is extra.” The sweepspear had proved so popular in its first year it was made standard on most body styles in the beginning of the 1950 model year, and the station wagon and the new sedan long wheelbase midyear. The sedan long wheelbase an extra four inches (102 mm) stretched. Like the convertible, the Riviera and the luxury sedan Extra long wheel axles came with two windows and power seats as standard equipment. Overall sales fell to 75,034 Buick Roadmaster, with share in total production falling Buick Roadmaster 12 percent, mainly due to the increasing popularity of the special. In 1951, the long-wheelbase sedan is also called Buick Riviera, although it was not a hardtop. The distance between Sedanet sedan and regular shafts were canceled.
By 1953 the Buick Roadmaster straight eight to 16 years and had become seriously dated. All major competitors had displaced Roadmaster short stroke V-8 engines, and if Buick still wanted to be the paragon of longer, lower and wider, you need one of their own. The new engine was ready in time for the 1953 Golden Anniversary Buick years. Although Nailhead (as he was popularly called) was almost identical in displacement to Fireball straight eight (322 compared to 320 cubic inches), which was 13.5 inches (340 mm) shorter than four inches (102 mm) lower and 180 pounds lighter, but with 188 horsepower, which was 11 percent more powerful. The compression ratio increased from 7.50: 1 to 8.50: 1 and the torque increases from 280 to 300 lb-ft (410 N · m).
Buick Roadmaster (1954-1956)
In 1954 Buick Roadmaster and Super shared with Cadillac and Oldsmobile 98 new C-body General Motors, the adoption of the new look “Ponton” and adding “caps” Dagmar forward. These were large, spacious cars, as much as five and a half inches longer distance between axles and more than nine inches (229 mm) longer overall than in 1953 Buick Roadmaster writing found in the hindquarters and within Ornament cover. Rear fenders had a blunt trailing edge flap with dual taillights “bullet” below. A new vertical panoramic windscreen side pillars was used. I had seats chrome 2-door models and rear seats had armrests in the bands 4-door models. The front suspension was improved and the power was increased to 200 Buick Roadmaster The pillared coupe and the Estate wagon is no longer offered as body styles. Overall sales fell to 50,600.
In 1955 broad bands lower rear fender, dash cover and Roadmaster hood ornament gold bars hubcaps and grille accented gold distinguish Buick Roadmaster was added. Horsepower increased to 236, and a new variable pitch Dynaflow, wherein the stator blades changed pitch under hard acceleration, always quick getaway off the line. Back up lights were now standard. Total sales were 64,500.
In 1956 Buick Roadmaster had a shallower sweepspear not wet all the way to the rocker panel as in other models. Twin chrome trim adorned the trunk lid with Roadmaster forth between them. Roadmaster script now appeared in the doorway below the windows for ventilation. Fender double bombsights tip were standard. Two stator wheels adopted as Dynaflow improved. A brand new 4-door hardtop Riviera, was the most popular Buick Roadmaster, with 24,770 units sold and outselling the sedan columns for more than two to one. Total sales were 53,500. A padded dash became standard.
Buick Roadmaster (1957-1958)
A lower body Buick Roadmaster appeared in 1957 with a panoramic windshield equipped with reverse inclined columns. A full lined the red sweepspear bodysides panel and a rear fender chrome lower filled the area between the wheelhouse and the end bumpers, while still providing “Dagmar bumpers” on the front. A new fuel tank was found centered on the rear bumper, the ends of which the optional single or dual exhaust pass through. Buick Roadmaster script was found in the emblems of the deck and grill. Two door models had a trio of gallons in the hindquarters, but the four-door models had a Roadmaster emblem sweepspear nestled within the dip. Interiors featured a padded dash and were of cloth and nylon 4-door, 2-door nylon and leather in convertibles. There was a new 364 cubic inch engine, developing 300 horsepower. A new suspension system for better handling patella.
Obviously, the 4-door Riviera hardtop was so popular in its introduction last pillars of the sedan was dropped completely from the lineup year. Also, new this year was a 75 Buick Roadmaster, which seats and standard power windows, carpeted lower door, rear window in one piece (instead of a three-piece), hubcaps class is distinguished Series 75 Writing in the hindquarters or doors. However, overall sales fell Roadmaster 33,000.
In 1958, the Roadmaster can only be ordered as well equipped Buick Roadmaster 75, and his body was adorned with chrome style more strongly bulky. A new grille was used “drawer pull” formed by rectangular chrome squares. For the first time since 1948 there was no Ventiports similar badges in the front fenders. On the back cover the Buick Roadmaster name was spelled in block lettering under a Buick emblem hosting the trunk lock slot. The wheelhouse had bright moldings, rocker panels had gone trim and a bright flash rear fender with chrome inserts ribbed panel replaced the rear fender below the previous year. Four headlamps were standard. New brakes, cast iron liners in aluminum drums proved to be the best in the industry. But sales fell further to around 14,000. There was a complete redesign for 1959, but this time the names of the various series were changed. It was not until 1991 would there again be a great known as the Buick Roadmaster; larger models of Buick Electra were renamed.
Buick Roadmaster (1991-1996)
Buick revived the Buick Roadmaster name for a B-body station wagon in 1991, replacing the wagon to the lineup. Using the wheelbase of 115.9 inches (2,940 mm) which was introduced for the 1977 model year, the car was called the Roadmaster Estate Wagon. A sedan joined the wagon for 1992, with its own distinct sheet metal, although it shares parts with other GM models full size. The Roadmaster Estate was a badge engineered Chevrolet Caprice Estate (also sold as the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser) the three alternatives that differ mainly in grille design and trim.
Simulated woodgrain side and rear panels (vinyl) are standard on the Buick Roadmaster Estate, although a removal option (delete WB4 wood) was available for credit. The “Vista Roof”, a fixed sunroof seats in the second row that was not available in the Caprice, was standard too. The Roadmaster Estate could seat up to eight with optional third row of seats. All these wagons initially used 5.0 L V8 small block Chevrolet, but both Buicks used the larger 5.7 L version from 1992.
From 1994-1996, the Buick Roadmaster, like all variants B-body, began to use the version of the iron head LT1 V8 Gen II, its 350 ci / 5.7 liters producing 260 horsepower (194 kW) and 335 lb ft (454 N · m) of torque. The change from the 5.7l V8 Gen I TBI was due to higher emissions standards and fuel the aging Gen could no longer meet. This engine was shared with the Impala SS from the same period and was associated with 4.3 l / 265 ci L99 V8 was the base engine for the Chevrolet Caprice and varied body mainly F and Corvette applications. Using iron heads instead of aluminum (specified by police departments for durability and used throughout the line B-Body) B) a milder cam produces better torque curve for heavy B-bodies . C) different intake silencers used to make it more acceptable to the luxury market and / or pass drive-by noise regulations motor. D) two main magazines holes bearing caps (also true with the motors LT1 F-body but not the Corvette).
The Buick Roadmaster was delivered with only 5.7 l LT1, however, and these cars can be visually detected by a factory installed stainless steel dual exhaust. The interior of the LT1 cars are distinguished by the use of analog gauges rather than digital. However, unlike their stablemates, the Caprice 9C1 and Impala SS the Roadmaster was limited to 108 mph (174 km / h) due to the tires fitted at the factory are not qualified to run 140 mph (230 km / h) over the 9C1 and SS were capable of. The engine returns 17 mpg-US (14 l / 100 km, 20 mpg-imp) city / 25 mpg-US (9.4 L / 100 km, 30 mpg-imp) highway for 4200 pounds (1,900 kg) car Full size (4500 pounds for the car) up to 1 mpg in American city from the previous version. The transmission was changed from 1994 to 1996 the 700R4 / 4L60 ‘analogue’ to the electronically controlled version of the same, the 4L60E.
We ordered the tow package, the 94-96 Buick Roadmaster was announced to tow up to 5000 pounds, although the owner’s manual Estate Wagon 7000 lbs learned that when a weight distributing hitch, double roll control, increased use the pressure of the rear tires to 35 psi and disable the electronic level control. The tow package added 2.93 gears and a limited slip differential, cooling system, high strength, including oil and transmission coolers, self-leveling rear suspension and factory installed consisting of air springs, sensor height between the rear axle and the body and an onboard air compressor. The most distinctive feature was the combination of a conventional mechanical drive fan motor with an electric fan, left shift (not towpack cars came with two electric fans).
Buick Roadmaster 1949 Convertible
GM discontinued both the Buick Roadmaster sedan and Estate in 1996, ending production on December 13 of that year. This was attributed to the smaller but more expensive and luxurious Park Avenue growing in size; Roadmaster trim levels never exceeded the smaller but still full-size Buick LeSabre, as this allowed the Park Avenue remain the flagship Buick car. Another reason was largely a response to the SUV craze, as factory Arlington, Texas, where the assembly line that specialized in rear wheel drive cars were built became truck and SUV production. When discontinued, the Buick Roadmaster Estate and the similar Chevrolet Caprice wagon brought the end of the era of the same size family station wagon, and the end of production of General Motors rear-wheel drive full-size cars.
