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The 1949 Roadmaster introduced sweeping chrome side moldings and the distinctive VentiPorts, both of which would go on to define Buick's identity. Explore more classic car images.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.The 1949 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon was the rarest of all 1949 Buick station wagons, with just 653 units produced, including 21 built for export. In total, only 2,500 station wagons were made that year.
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The 1949 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon was the priciest model at $3,734, $500 more than the next highest, the $3,203 Riviera. It was also the heaviest, tipping the scales at 4,490 lbs. Buick's advertising proudly highlighted its weight, boasting: "Four coil-springed wheels and honest heft that levels the miles with majestic smoothness."
Inside the 1949 Roadmaster, you would find elegant mahogany veneer panels and leather upholstery. Both the floor and cargo areas were plushly carpeted.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.The 1949 model introduced two design features that would become synonymous with Buick: the sweepspear chrome side moldings and the VentiPorts. The sweepspear debuted on select late-1949 cars and remained a staple throughout the 1950s. VentiPorts, affectionately called "mouseholes" by some, would continue to appear in various iterations up through the 1980s.
On the 1949 models, VentiPorts were circular and mounted on the front fenders. The Super models had three per side, while the top-tier Roadmasters boasted four.
Distinctive features of the 1949 Buicks included the signature toothy grille, which first appeared on the 1942 models; the "bombsight" hood ornament, inspired by the 1940 Y-Job concept car; and the Dynaflow script on the rear fenders, signifying the new torque converter automatic transmission Buick introduced in 1948, standard on all 1949 Roadmasters.
Roadmasters were built on GM's C-body platform, featuring a 126-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 214.125 inches. Under the hood, they housed Buick's largest valve-in-head straight-eight engine, a 320.2-cubic-inch powerplant that produced 150 bhp with a 6.9:1 compression ratio. Full wheel trim discs and fender skirts added a touch of sophistication to an already elegant automobile.
A total of just 653 1949 Roadmaster Estate Wagons were produced.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.The 1949 Roadmaster Estate (model 79R) retained the classic woody styling, though its Ionia-built body featured significantly less wood compared to earlier wagons. Inside, mahogany veneer and leather upholstery created an air of sophistication, while both the floor and cargo areas were carpeted.
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