The Ned Nickles Roadmaster designs won over folks not quite ready for the price or the societal weight of owning a Cadillac.
Convenient ash trays are obviously prominent accessories for the 1950s driver and passenger. Practically speaking, the original owner must have spent his wad on the heater because he did NOT opt for the top of the line Selectronic radio ($106.50 or 3% of the base selling price! For a radio!) opting instead for the Sonomatic radio option at just $80.00 additional. In 1950, this heater and defroster cost you an additional $57.90. One option that is particularly interesting in the subject car is the big chrome box in the middle of the dash with the heat controls.
There weren’t many options on the Series 70 Roadmaster because practically all the latest Buick features–like DynaFlow–were standard on the flagship. There is not enough of the VIN provided to trace manufacturing plant site or other pertinent information.
This car calls Hayward, CA home, and from its condition inside and underneath, she may have been a California girl her whole life. No mention in the posting whether this is a matching numbers car. In this case, Buick used a 320 cubic inch 152 hp hydraulic lifter engine bolted to the well-marketed Dynaflow automatic transmission (“Dynaflow” is molded into the back truck emblem). If you’re wondering why the hood seems as long as the deck of a supertanker, remember that Buick housed a straight eight under that hood bedecked with four VentiPorts. The seller claims this Roadmaster was repainted about 12 years ago and that the interior was redone in the same time period. The Roadmaster in that film is a 1949 model. *“Rain Man,” 1988, United Artists, Screenplay by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. This is NOT the car Raymond drove in the classic film. Buick made 2,964 of the Series 70 convertibles in 1950 this car is a Model 76C, selling new for $2,981, and weighing in at around 4,300 pounds–an astounding $0.69 a pound! Wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss her, Charlie, as we’ve seen these cars go well into the six-figures lately–no joke (nearly $35.00 a pound). Ten minutes to Wapner.”* The car, as you may recall, had a star role in the premise of the film-Charlie had been expecting to inherit a large part of his father’s estate but, instead, surprisingly, only got the Roadmaster. Charlie: When did you drive? Raymond: I drove slow on the driveway when my dad came to Walbrook. Visualize this scene: Dustin Hoffman (Raymond) and Tom Cruise (Charlie) in a white Buick Roadmaster convertible: “Raymond: I’m an excellent driver. There doesn’t appear to be a reserve or BIN price either. Currently bidding is at $16,300, WELL-PRICED shall we say? for this California-based sultry siren. (Pacific Standard Time and DON’T FORGET to wind your clock BACK Saturday night). Gotta hurry, though, this auction on eBay is expiring Monday at 10:00 a.m.
Other optional luxuries were available, but they may be lost to time by now if this car has been sitting and pulled apart for the occasional weekend project.While British sports cars in the 1950s were aiming for the “size zero,” more angular and slender runway model type of vehicle designs, Buick was full steam ahead in quite the other direction: plus-sized, plush, sensuously round in all the right places with mouths full of perfect chrome teeth cars just wanting to quietly whisper “Dahling.” This 1950 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster convertible was the flagship of the Buick line, post-war elegance and decadence at its peak. While I love a good project, it’s a shame to see this Roadmaster fallen so far from grace – these cars were loaded with special features when new, including upgraded interiors and the famed straight-eight engine. You may have to do some digging to find that hood and the fenders, as the seller removed them since the photos were taken in preparation to swap in a Cadillac front clip. All the hallmarks of a Roadmaster are there, with the famous multi-toothed grill and the 4 VentiPorts dotting the hood.
Unfortunately, this 1950 example here on craigslist for $5,000 in Plano, Texas is going to need quite a bit of work to live up to its past anytime soon. The Buick Roadmaster is one of the most iconic of classic automobiles, with an instantly-recognizable shape and the potential to pack some real power.