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Golden Anniversary 1953 introduced first-time availability of power steering and a 12-volt electrical system, however the highlight was a fantastic new overhead-valve V-eight for Super and Roadmaster. The Riviera identify also graced nicely-proportioned 1950-fifty one Super and Roadmaster 4-door sedans with special lengthy wheelbases (125.5 and 130.Three inches, respectively). Roadmasters had been demoted to a 121.5-inch wheelbase save the Riviera sedan, which shared the Super’s 125.5-inch span. The ’49 Riviera was a handsome, luxurious brute with a wonderful pillarless roofline. Buick stretched its ’42 tooling by way of the 1949 Special, then got here again with a model-new Special for 1950. (One yr could make a giant distinction in the automobile enterprise.) Exotic customs didn’t return; they simply weren’t needed. Production dropped nearly 100,000 for the model, to 288,000, making Nova the only Chevrolet series to point out a gross sales decline for 1978. Sales of the Nova hatchback body style lagged well behind common coupes and sedans, and base models handily outsold Customs. The all-new ’49 fashions swelled Buick volume to 324,276 units — again right behind Chevy-Ford-Plymouth.

The 1990s offered solely about 1300 items better. The successor Twin-Turbine Dynaflow of 1953 was more positive and gave better oomph. Buick would maintain this primary lineup by 1953. This, too, would persist by way of ’53. First launched in 1939, the Studebaker Champion was a full-size car for its first three generations, and then a mid-measurement automotive beginning in 1953. Available as a sedan, coupe, station wagon or convertible, the Champion was designed to be reasonably priced and was also made to be mild (“weight is the enemy” was the mantra of its designers). Also slot gampang menang was the primary of Buick’s trademark “portholes” or “VentiPorts,” an concept from designer Ned Nickles. Buick’s usually sturdy gross sales within the ’80s mirrored a constant mannequin lineup, which advanced in step with these of other GM divisions but was, perhaps, extra clear-minimize to patrons from 12 months to yr. As it was, production peaked with the ‘eighty four fashions — over 145,000 built. But thanks to its ‘forty two redesign, Buick resumed civilian production in nice fettle. Among production ’41s, the 2 Limited strains have been combined into a single Series 90 on a 139-inch wheelbase. Styling was cleaned up via single instead of double facet moldings, less complicated grille, and the first of Buick’s distinctive “gun-sight” hood ornaments.

Also highlighting Buick’s 50th year was a flashy new limited-version Roadmaster convertible. Buick’s most eye-catching ’49 was the Roadmaster Riviera, launched at midyear together with Cadillac’s Coupe de Ville and Oldsmobile’s Holiday. With the principle emphasis on styling, the ’49 Buicks modified little mechanically, although Dynaflow-outfitted Supers obtained ­higher, 6.9:1 compression that improved horsepower to 120. Roadmaster had been equally raised to 150 in 1948, and continued that method with Dynaflow standard. The 1950 Special engine delivered a hundred and fifteen bhp (120 bhp with Dynaflow) from its normal 248 cid. There were new engines, too: a 225-cid V-6 (a novelty for Detroit) with 155 bhp, and a forged-iron 300-cid V-8 with 210/250 bhp. While the first postwar Buicks have been mainly ’42s, there were fewer of them: Special, Super, and Roadmaster sedans and sedanets; Super and Roadmaster convertibles; Super Estate wagon; no Centurys or Limiteds; only one Special collection. And there have been no ’94s in any respect. Like 1953’s corresponding Olds Fiesta and Cadillac Eldorado, Skylark was principally a custom-made normal convertible, with 4-inch decrease windshield and top, plus totally radiused rear wheel cutouts. 2003: Some automobiles skilled a failure of the lower screw connection of the rear struts to the chassis. Harley Earl’s crew successfully translated aircraft themes to an car, and solely a hint of the old separate rear fenders remained on Super and Roadmaster.

The ‘fifty three Roadmaster Estate price a hefty $4031 and weighed 4315 pounds. Both traces additionally included woody Estate wagons by way of ’53, with struc­tural physique elements of mahogany and white ash. Body kinds stayed the same, save the new hardtop. The vitality you save shall be your individual. Compound Carburetion did not return either, so Special/Super remained at a hundred and ten bhp. The 1941 Special/Super engine gained new-design excessive-compression pistons for more-efficient combustion that lifted horse­power to 115. Available for the forty touring sedan and sedanet was “Compound Carburetion” — two carburetors with a progressive linkage that added 10 bhp. Unique twincam heads with 4 valves per cylinder, dual fuel injectors at every port, and heavily fortified internals boosted output to rarefied levels: 550 bhp and 500 pound-toes of torque. Start at Sixth Street and Lamar with Girl Next Door (500 North Lamar), carried out up in girly pink and brown and offering L.A. Though Ford replaced pistons by the thousands to ease owner worries, the engine difficulties damage sales.