1949 Buick Roadmaster Sedanet. General Motors first introduced fastback styling on its entire line of cars, including Cadillac, in 1941. Fastbacks proved to be so popular that GM continued this body style after the war. Indeed, when GM introduced its first new post-war styling with Oldsmobile and Cadillac in 1948, the fastback remained in the model lineup for both cars. Likewise when Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Buick introduced their first new post-war cars, the fastback was present, Chevy and Pontiac offering both two and four door models, with Buick offering a two-door "sedanet in all series.
The 1949 Buick was a handsome car with its all new styling featuring several "firsts" that would remain famous Buick trademarks for years to come. Mechanically, however, Buick was basically the same as the 1948 model it replaced. Under the hood was the tried and true 320 cubic inch straight eight engine developing 150 horsepower coupled with Dynaflow automatic transmission as standard equipment in the Roadmaster series. Buick styling however was fresh and new. Buick's verticle bar grille first introduced on the pre-war '42 models now had a broader toothy smile, extending the width of the front of the car. Smart new parking lights sat atop front fenders in chrome housings that started directly above the headlamps, and extended down almost the entire length of the fenders. Tailamps were integrated into graceful rear fenders that curved and tapered down to meet the rear bumper. Side trim was all new, especially the ventiports or portholes carried on the front fenders above the wheelwell. These ventiports were used to designate series status. Roadmasters had four ventiports, while Super series had three. Old pre-war bodies were retained for entry level Special series cars, and they would have to wait until a totally new 1950 Special was introduced before obtaining three, the same as the Super series. Another famous Buick trademark, a chrome gunsight ornament, adorned the hood.
This graceful and beautiful black fastback sedanet was soon to disappear as a model offering however, when in mid-'49 Buick introduced the first mass production pillarless "hardtop convertible" called "Riviera", Cadillac debuted the Coupe DeVille, and Oldsmobile, the "Holiday Coupe". This new hardtop body style, with no obstructing center posts, gave one the feeling of being in a convertible with the windows down and the top up. By the mid-fifties the hardtop was rivaling bread and butter four door sedans as the top selling body style in any makes'model lineup. Thus it was just a matter of time before the GM fastbacks would disappear. By 1951, they were gone from Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac lineups. 1951 would see the last of this body style at Pontiac, and Chevrolet phased it out during the 1952 model year.
Also, another Buick styling trademark would also appear for the first time on mid-49 Roadmaster Rivieras and Convertibles.... the chrome sweepspear. By 1952, all Buick series and models would have them in some form or another through the 1958 model year. Look for these styling cues to reappear in some form or another on future Buicks, a car with a very proud heritage.
