The history of the fastback roofline is one of crests and troughs; wildly popular in the 1940s, it was almost instantly deemed unfashionable and unceremoniously dumped in the early 1950s (Bentley Continental notwithstanding). Later, it gained traction in the Ford line with the Galaxie, Falcon, and Mustang, before becoming an functional aerodynamic decision in Ford’s NASCAR campaign of the late 1960s with the Torino and Mercury Cyclone. Oldsmobile stunned just about everybody with its graceful fastback Toronado in 1966, and GM also returned to a fastback roofline on its gorgeous 1970 1/2 Camaro and Firebird. Being a Buick lover of long standing, one of my personal favorite fastbacks is this beautiful 1949 Super Sedanet in what appears to be Gala Green Metallic. It may not have been a trend setter in 1949, but it has certainly aged well.
In 1949, the Buick Roadmaster “Hardtop Convertible” was introduced, the first in a long line of Buick hardtops (my ’53 Special is pictured above for reference) that would quickly bring about the end of the fastback’s decade-long popularity. Soon, the Chevy Bel Air and Styleline would replace the gorgeous Fleetline in the public’s esteem and the fastback would slumber to some extent for, as mentioned above, another decade. These days, however, we can appreciate the fastbacks for what they were rather than be embarrassed that they were temporarily behind the times.
This Super, with its dramatic roofline featured here, is differentiated from the Roadmaster by its three portholes on the fenders (as opposed to four), and its truncated front fenders.
Roadmasters, such as the 1949 Sedanet pictured above, used the longer 320-cubic-inch straight eight as compared to the 248 in the Specials and Supers, hence the need for a longer nose. In 1950, the updated 263 would replace the 248, and would also be the last straight-eight-powered Buick (installed for the last time in the 1953 Special).
From the rear, the Buick looks similar to the 1947 Cadillac, right before Harley Earl and Company added the P-38 style fins, as evidenced by this beautiful ’49 Cadillac.
The 1949 Buick is well-loved among Buick enthusiasts not only for being the first all-new Buick design since 1942, but also for being a one-year-only design that still ranks among Buick’s best from the period. Buick’s “dollar grin” would become caricaturistic in 1950 (although I like them, too) before Buick’s designers restrained themselves somewhat in time for the 1951 models to appear.
Buick also continued using their “grand piano” hood, as seen on this 1950 Super hardtop, which would open from either side until the 1953 models were introduced.
In 1949, Buick heavily advertised its Dynaflow Drive, which soon became the overwhelming transmission choice in all Buicks. I’ve always been a little disappointed that my ’53 was the first model year that didn’t wear Dynaflow callouts, but by then it was nothing special.
The ’49 Super had a traditional Buick instrument panel, with its massive radio and full instrumentation. Even though nobody would call a ’49 Buick a sporting car, the driver had an ammeter, engine temperature and oil pressure gauges, gas gauge, clock, and a massive speedometer located in the center. Even the vent windows opened with a crank rather than with one’s smudgy fingers. Buicks were well-built, luxurious cars with a good reputation in the 1940s and early-’50s. Sure, people called them Dynaslugs and “Bucktoothed Buicks,” but they ranked among GM’s best sellers and hundreds of thousands of car buyers aspired to a Buick every year.
I photographed our featured Super back in 2016 at the Motor Muster show at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI. I’m about evenly split between loving the 1949 and the 1953 models, but I’ve been drawn to the smells, sounds, and looks of straight-eight Buicks since I was a little kid wandering Sloan Museum in Flint.
About a year ago, I was tempted by a ’49 Super Sedanet for sale, pictured above, in slightly more patinaed condition than our featured car, but I try not to emulate members of my current fleet too closely. I’m fortunate to get to drive my own straight-eight Buick these days, but I’d also be perfectly satisfied behind the wheel of our featured ’49 (or the one I found for sale). It’s well-worn but solid and usable, and it reminds me (as if I needed reminding) that everyone should experience an old Buick if they like old cars.
As a little kid in the 50’s I was aware of the general feeling among car people (my Dad, uncles, et al) that the fastbacks were considered passe right along with the boxy pre-Exner cars from Chrysler Corp. I never liked them though the Chevrolet Fleetlines were still fairly prevalent in the mid-50s in our small working class town in the Midwest, probably because they initially sold well and were built to last. Our next door neighbor had one from new until it was traded for a new 1957 Chevrolet 210. I remember being surprised when fastbacks came back into fashion in the 1960’s, especially the 65-67 Impalas bought by so many friends and relatives. Though still not my cup of tea, they were pretty attractive cars.
You’re so right about Buicks reputation for quality during that era – and it continued into the 60s. Often called doctors’ cars, our small town doctor bought a new one every other year until retirement in the 70s. When the Wildcat model came out I thought the name was perfect for Dr. S and his lead-footed approach to traveling along country roads. You had to be satisfied with fleeting glimpses of his beautiful new 62 Wildcat coupe with a vinyl roof because it was moving fast. Good times.
Count me as another fan. I just noticed how the Cadillac used a 3 piece rear window on the fastback while the Buick used a single piece of glass. I have always considered these graceful cars.
I am still digesting the oddities of Buick’s model lineup at that time. The big Buicks saw three different bodies in 3 years from 1948-49-50, and how the Special was MIA in 49 due to the lack of a postwar B body. It was also three different bodies in 48-50-51. Buick seemed to be running on its own schedule at that time.
These straight 8 Buicks have a definite charm about them. I am still sorry about one day in the 90s when I was out of the office and a friend of a co-worker showed up in a late 40s Roadmaster convertible and drove everyone to lunch.
I had no idea there was no Special for 1949. Only two series that year it seems, Super and Roadmaster. You learn something new everyday here.
Buick always seemed to be doing interesting things with its models during this era. Dynaflow was initially only available on Roadmaster for 1948, before expanded to all models for 1949 and beyond. Also, it’s first V-8 in 1953 was not available on the Special until 1954. Other quirkiness in this era were the side opening hood, starter incorporated in the accelerator and the radio antenna in the middle of the windshield with a knob on the inside where you could move it out of the way.
I can still recall the soft moan of the Dynaflow backed straight eight of our neighbor’s 1952 Special as it climbed up the hill of the driveway.
In 1956 my uncle passed away ,my father received his 1951 Buick roadmaster , from that time until my father died he always had a Buick. We learned to drive on a Buick LeSabre a 1963, 1966, and a 1967.
I noticed the rear window on the Caddy also. But could it have been two chrome strips attached to the glass?
Why do you say there were no ’49 Buick Specials made?
It’s a well known fact that there were over 6,000 made for the ’49 model year,between the sedanette and the four door sedan, all identified as ’49’s by the ID tags on the firewalls.
Either you weren’t aware of that,or you choose to input your own personal’ ‘spin’ included in your articles.
Exactly I have a 49 buick special sitting in my driveway soo yeah
I was born on the turn of the decade, but as I grew up, hardly ever saw a GM fastback except for one that the son of people up on the bend of the street had in the mid-1960s. It was a green 1950 Chevy Styleline 4-door. I was already a stickler for age-correct whitewalls in my early teens, and I recall being annoyed that he had 1962-style skinny whites on it (It still drives me nuts to see a movie dated 1955 with people in period-correct clothing driving a 1952 Whatsit with sidewalls that wouldn’t be introduced for 10 more years.). I tend to draw a distinction between torpedo backs and straight fastbacks, the former looking much more exotic out of rarity and a more sculpted appearance. They are soooo pretty. That’s why I don’t group, say, a Stingray coupe or a ’72 Riviera in with the Torinos and Toronados.
Correction: “Fleetline”
My Dad had a ‘49 Sedanet in black, with manual transmission, if I recall correctly. He traded it in on a ‘57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan. He always regretted that and the Buick was always his “I shoulda kept it” car.
Beautiful examples of GM Design, when it was the leader of style trends! Curiously a current Buick ad for some suv is running alongside these photos of yesteryear. NO comparison; just another ho-hum scooped out tackymobile vs. these design gems of my child hood. The late 40s fast backs are among my personal favorites.
I had a uncle who drove new Buicks back then. They were quite the dramatic change from my dad’s Jeep!!
Thanks for the pics and comments! 🙂 DFO
You’re welcome!
Although my family sold our 1950 Riviera just before I got my license, I did manage to get some left seat time in it on private property and I agree with Aaron65 when he says driving that vintage straight 8 Buick leaves a lasting experience. The huge steering wheel was needed because it was a bear to turn when moving slowly to park or maneuver in tight spots (ours did not have PS – not sure if any did).
The motor boat exhaust sound reinforced the marine concept of the Dynaflow vehicle taking its time to catch up to the throttle setting. For example, put a propeller driven boat in gear, set the throttle to, say 1500 rpm, and the stern dips, the exhaust does its 1500 RPM thing, and the craft slowly moves, increasing its speed until it finally hits the rate that the engine’s RPM call for. Very Dynaflow Buick-like, including the dipping stern.
The suspension was also marine-like in a way. While planning hull boats (speed boats) would lean into the turn, the Buick was more like a displacement hull ship leaning away from the turn.
Dropping the stubby black tipped chrome shift lever into Low made a big difference in the car’s ability to do [relatively] quick starts (though the owners manual generally discouraged the use of that gear).
One more thing, to start the car, step all the way down on the gas. Don’t worry about flooring the car while driving; engine vacuum prevents the starter from engaging once the engine is running.
I’d love to just sit in an early 50s Buick again as the smell alone would bring back a flood of memories.
Yep…engine vacuum locks out the starter switch; additionally, when the generator starts charging, it also cuts out the starter circuit as a double failsafe. Still, if you keep your foot on the gas after it starts (to keep it running), and the engine starts to die before you can remove your foot, the starter WILL reengage with cacophonous results. 🙂
I suppose a pillarless fastback was literally a bridge too far in the 50s.
Like the later Aerobacks, four door fastbacks of this era are just plain odd looking.
I owned a ’53 Special briefly in the early ’70s. It was your basic $50 winter beater. As far a winter beaters go, it wasn’t a particularly good one. The straight 8 was hard to start when the temperature dropped below zero and the air cleaner made it awkward to prime the carb. Besides having a good heater, a winter beater needs to be easy to start. Mine wasn’t. The redeeming feature was old Dynaflows could still be push started.
Driving it home from college over Christmas, I had occasion to take my Mom to the grocery store in it. She didn’t know much about cars, but she noted my Buick had “Fisher windows” and that they were the mark of a good car.
I didn’t know what she meant and asked her to explain. She told me Grandpa called crank open vents Fisher windows and said any car that had ’em was well built. I guess the feature was unique to GM cars. Since we didn’t own one, I had never heard the term before.
For some reason, I was fascinated by this bit of trivia and later noticed that my aunt – who had a Pontiac – also called vents Fisher windows. Have no idea whether this was one of those unique Minniconsin expressions or if it enjoyed wider use among people of a certain age.
I’ve never heard them called “Fisher Windows” either. Neat!
I never heard the term Fisher windows either, but I was aware as a child in the late 50s and early 60s that only GM among the domestic makes had crank-operated vent windows.
Enjoyed the story. If you remember the 49 Roadmaster hardtop/convertible was the first Riveria. Cadillac introduced the Coup De belle also Oldsmobile call there’s the Holiday coup. Riveria was a body style from Buick. Your 1953 Special is a Riveria. I was raised in Buicks and Cadillacs. A friend of my dad’s had a new 49 super sedanet green.
Roadmasters, such as the 1949 Sedanet pictured above, used the longer 320-cubic-inch straight eight as compared to the 248 in the Specials and Supers, hence the need for a longer nose.
The 320 block is three inches longer than the 248, but the wheelbase of the Roadmaster is five inches longer, so that leaves two inches for prestige factor alone? 🙂
Of course! That’s why GM tacked so much trunk onto a Bonneville, 98, and Electra…the louder the driveway tailpipe scraping, the more elegant the car!
I wonder what Cadillac said about that long Roadmaster hood.
I credit the ’49 portholed assemblage as my intro to car madness as a kid. After WWII the neighborhood denizens scrambled to show off their new Hudsons, & Studebakers. As dad had a ’41 Buick Special 4 door fastback, he was “A Buick man”, & when the ’49 hit the streets he was overjoyed, but not wealthy enough to follow the dream, But about 5 years later I spied a used ’51 Roadmaster 4 door sedan in a dealer’s lot, told dad about it, & the next day we owned his metallic green dream – with FOUR portholes. Three years after, this beast became my “learner” car, & the one that screamed for power steering. It got me to many high school dates at the drive-in, & the sound of that AM Son-O-Matic radio warming up was pure comfort. And, Lo gear made it moderately quick (up to 40 mph) – Well, as the Dynaslow tranny eventually died, dad reluctantly switched to a used ’59 Olds – but always missed his portholes.
Thought I recognized buildings in the Village in some of your pix. When the guys were here in 2017, they missed the Motor Muster by a week. If they ever hit the Gilmore, they should time it to have a day to check out everything in the buildings, and a day for one of the shows, the “Red Barn Spectacular” being the biggest.
When Tom McCahill was celebrating his 20 years of writing road tests for MI, he revisited the first two car models he had tested a 46 Ford, and a 46 Buick.
In the Netherlands
Proud owner off this 49 sedanette
Enjoying evers moment on the road
Which one, Vince? The green one or the cream one?
When the idea of “old car” pops into my head these Buicks immediately come to mind. Anything pre-war is an antique car, at least in my mind. My Uncle had a ’49 Cadillac Sedanette which I rode in several times during the late 1950’s. It seemed very solid, but very old, especially compared to my Dad’s new ’59 Impala. ( which had a bright red interior!) I would love to have a car like this, but that straight 8 is daunting.
Went to a car event this weekend (“Pavillions”) where the local Oldsmobiles turned out in force. This resulted in speaking with two or three Olds owners about both their brand and the corresponding Buicks. Generally they are Olds guys and Olds only. Buick seemed to be only another brand. Two of the guys talked about the delayed introduction by Buick of a V-8; their brand had the Rocket V-8 in ’49. They told me about the progression from 303 to 324 to 371 to 394 in the ’50s. One guy made fun of the “Fireball 8” as being anything but fast.
No Oldsmobiles of the era of this Buick were present. Reading about this Super and the Cadillac, I also think about the fastback Rockets from this era that were equally attractive – both 88s and 98s
It was fun listening to the Olds guys; they knew the cars of their era. It was fun to see the cars too. My favorite was a grey and yellow ’56 Super 88 two door hardtop. There was a ’57 Super 88 two door hardtop (three rear windows) parked two cars away from a ’57 Special two door hardtop with the same style roof.
Sounds fun! I used to regularly haunt the Pavillions saturday night gatherings when I lived in AZ. I do miss that high quality weekly show!
Super find! (did nobody else succumb to using that?). The 49 is certainly beautiful and I am a fan of the fastbacks. In your choice between the 49 and 53, I think I would take the 53. The 49 styling is really clean, but perhaps too much so for me. I prefer the more “eventful” fender flow as well as the sweepspear (which IIRC was first featured on the 49 Riviera only). And the 53 has cool hubcaps. I would love to take your advise to experience driving an old straight 8 era Buick sometime!
In the Netherlands
Enjoying evers moment when whe are on the road