Buick Roadmaster
| Buick Roadmaster | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Buick (General Motors) |
| Production | 1936–1958 1991–1996 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Buick Park Avenue |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1936–1937 |
| Assembly |
South Gate, California, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Linden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Designer | Harley Earl |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door convertible |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related |
Cadillac Series 80 Cadillac Series 70 Cadillac Series 65 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 320 cu in (5.2 L) Fireball I8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed sliding shift manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 131.0 in (3,327 mm) |
| Length | 210.3 in (5,342 mm) |
| Width | 75.0 in (1,905 mm) |
| Height | 1936: 69.5 in (1,765 mm) 1937: 68.0 in (1,727 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,300–4,500 lb (1,950–2,040 kg) |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1938–1939 |
| Assembly |
South Gate, California, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Linden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Designer | Harley Earl |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door convertible |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related | Cadillac Series 65 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 320 cu in (5.2 L) Fireball I8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed sliding shift manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 133.0 in (3,378 mm) |
| Length | 213.3 in (5,418 mm) |
| Width | 75.5 in (1,918 mm) |
| Height | 68.0 in (1,727 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,200–5,100 lb (1,900–2,300 kg) |
| Third generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1940–1941 |
| Assembly |
South Gate, California, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Linden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Designer | Harley Earl |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door convertible 2-door coupe 2-door convertible |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related |
Cadillac Series 62 LaSalle Series 52 Buick Super Oldsmobile 90/96/98 Pontiac Torpedo |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 320 cu in (5.2 L) Fireball I8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed sliding shift manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 126.0 in (3,200 mm) |
| Length | 1940: 214.0 in (5,436 mm) 1941: 215.0 in (5,461 mm) |
| Width | 1940: 75.8 in (1,925 mm) 1941: 76.5 in (1,943 mm) |
| Height | 66.1 in (1,679 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,200–4,600 lb (1,900–2,100 kg) |
| Fourth generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1942–1948 |
| Assembly |
South Gate, California, U.S. Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Linden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Designer | Harley Earl |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 2-door Sedanet coupe 2-door convertible 4-door Estate wagon |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related |
Cadillac Series 62 Buick Super Oldsmobile 98 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 320 cu in (5.2 L) Fireball I8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed sliding shift manual 2-speed Dynaflow automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 129.0 in (3,277 mm) |
| Length | 1942: 217.0 in (5,512 mm) 1946–47: 217.1 in (5,514 mm) 1948: 217.5 in (5,524 mm) |
| Width | 78.6 in (1,996 mm) |
| Height | 66.1 in (1,679 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,200–4,700 lb (1,900–2,100 kg) |
| Fifth generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1949–1953 |
| Assembly |
South Gate, California, U.S. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Linden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Designer | Harley Earl |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door Riviera sedan 2-door Sedanet coupe 2-door Riviera hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door Estate wagon 2-door Skylark convertible |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related |
Cadillac Series 62 Cadillac Series 61 Buick Super Oldsmobile 98 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 320 cu in (5.2 L) Fireball I8 322 cu in (5.3 L) Nailhead V8 |
| Transmission | 2-speed Dynaflow automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1949: 126.0 in (3,200 mm) 1950-52 Riviera sedans: 130.3 in (3,310 mm) 1950–52 others: 126.3 in (3,208 mm) 1953 Riviera sedans: 125.5 in (3,188 mm) 1953 others: 121.5 in (3,086 mm) |
| Length | 1949: 214.1 in (5,438 mm) 1950 Riviera sedans: 214.9 in (5,458 mm) 1950 others: 210.9 in (5,357 mm) 1951–52 Riviera sedans: 215.0 in (5,461 mm) 1951-52 others: 211.0 in (5,359 mm) 1953 Riviera sedans: 211.6 in (5,375 mm) 1953 others: 207.6 in (5,273 mm) |
| Width | 79.9 in (2,029 mm) |
| Height | 63.0 in (1,600 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,200–4,700 lb (1,900–2,100 kg) |
| Sixth generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1954–1956 |
| Assembly |
South Gate, California, U.S. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Linden, New Jersey, U.S. Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
| Designer | Harley Earl |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door Riviera hardtop 2-door Riviera hardtop 2-door convertible |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related |
Cadillac Series 62 Buick Super Oldsmobile 98 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 322 cu in (5.3 L) Nailhead V8 |
| Transmission | 2-speed Dynaflow automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 127.0 in (3,226 mm) |
| Length | 1954: 216.8 in (5,507 mm) 1955: 216.0 in (5,486 mm) 1956: 213.8 in (5,431 mm) |
| Width | 79.8 in (2,027 mm) |
| Height | 62.6 in (1,590 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,400–4,600 lb (2,000–2,100 kg) |
| Seventh generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1957–1958 |
| Assembly |
South Gate, California, U.S. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Linden, New Jersey, U.S. Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
| Designer | Harley Earl |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door Riviera hardtop 2-door Riviera hardtop 2-door convertible |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related |
Cadillac Series 62 Buick Limited Buick Super Oldsmobile 98 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 364 cu in (6.0 L) Nailhead V8 |
| Transmission | 2-speed Dynaflow automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 127.5 in (3,238 mm) |
| Length | 1957: 215.3 in (5,469 mm) 1958: 219.2 in (5,568 mm) |
| Width | 79.8 in (2,027 mm) |
| Height | 60.0 in (1,524 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,500–4,900 lb (2,000–2,200 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Buick Electra |
| Eighth generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1991–1996 |
| Assembly | Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
| Designer | Wayne Kady (1989) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | GM B platform |
| Related |
Buick Estate Chevrolet Caprice Chevrolet Impala SS Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Cadillac Fleetwood |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.0 L L03 V8 5.7 L L05 V8 5.7 L LT1 V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed 4L60 automatic 4-speed 4L60-E automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 115.9 in (2,944 mm) |
| Length | 215.8 in (5,481 mm) (sedan) 217.7 in (5,530 mm) (1991–93 wagon) 217.5 in (5,524 mm) (1994–96 wagon) |
| Width | 78.1 in (1,984 mm) (sedan) 79.9 in (2,029 mm) (wagon) |
| Height | 55.9 in (1,420 mm) (sedan) 60.3 in (1,532 mm) (wagon) |
| Curb weight | 4,400–4,700 lb (2,000–2,100 kg) |
The Roadmaster is an automobile that was built by Buick from 1936 to 1958, and again from 1991 to 1996. Roadmasters produced between 1936 and 1958 were built on Buick's longest non-limousine wheelbase and shared their basic structure with entry-level Cadillac and, after 1940, senior Oldsmobiles. Between 1946 and 1957 the Roadmaster served as Buick's flagship, and when it was resurrected for the 1991 through 1996 model years it was the marque's largest vehicle.
The Series 80, which belonged to an upper category trim package, had a 344.8 cu in (5,650 cc) straight eight engine developing 104 hp of power to 2,800 rpm. The next year the pace grew and was introduced a new high performance engine power unit developing 113 hp. In 1933 the model was completely revised. At the end of 1933 the 80 series was discontinued after 24,117 units produced. In 1936 the model was re-introduced and changed its name to "Series 80 Roadmaster".
The origins of the Roadmaster name date to 1936 when Buick added names to its entire model lineup to celebrate the engineering improvements and design advancements over their 1935 models. Buick's Series 40 was named the Special, the Series 50 became the Super, the Series 60 was named the Century and the Series 90 — Buick's largest and most luxurious vehicle — was named the Limited. The Series 50 was retired, but new for the model year was the Series 80 Roadmaster. The implications of the name were clear, for as the 1936 Buick sales catalogue said, "It literally named itself the first time a test model leveled out on the open highway."
The Roadmaster was introduced in a year when Buick's valve-in-head straight-eight engines were heavily revised. Buick reduced the number of engines from four sizes to two: a 233-cubic-inch, 93-horsepower job for the Special, and a big, 320.2-cubic inch, 120-horsepower engine for the other series. (To put the size and power of Buick’s larger straight-eight engine in context, compare it to the new 322-cubic-inch mono-block 120 horsepower V-8 that Cadillac introduced that year.) In addition to this major engineering change 1936 was also the year Buick adopted an all steel turret top and hydraulic brakes. Coil springs were in the front.
The Roadmaster was a big car, in sedan form tipping the scales at 4,098 pounds, some 88 pounds heavier than Cadillac's new Series 60. But pricewise, the Roadmaster was a tremendous bargain. The sedan sold for $1,255, $440 less than the least expensive Cadillac. The only other body style available was a four-door convertible phaeton, priced at $1,565 (of which only 1064 were produced), at a time when a Cadillac in the same body style sold at prices ranging from $2,745 to $7,850. Buick’s new engineering and styling was a big hit, with model year sales more than tripling from just over 48,000 to nearly 158,000, and with the all new Series 80 Roadmaster contributing a total of 16,049 units to that number.
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Wikipedia