1942 Buick Roadmaster Series 70

Buick introduced its 1942 models just two months prior to Pearl Harbor and the United States' entrance into World War II. Like other manufacturers, civilian automobile production ceased early in February of 1942, and Buick's plants were quickly converted in support of the war effort. Despite the shortened model year production, Buick managed to produce 94,442 vehicles, a pace that would more than have kept up with its record 1941 production.

The 1942 Buicks wore completely new styling, with the Super and Roadmaster models distinguished by Buick's 'Airfoil' fender design which swept back through the doors to meet the rear fenders, as General Motors kept pace with the aerodynamic envelope bodies witnessed throughout much of the industry. Resting below the headlights, the parking lights were integrated into the front fender and wore chrome tails that feathered into the front wheel wells. Slender teardrop latches on either side operated the dual-opening hood. All 1942 Buicks received a new grille with thin vertical bars rather than the horizontal pattern used on the previous year's design.

The 1942 Buick model lineup included the Special (Series 40A and 40B) priced from $990 to $1,450 and resting on a 118-inch wheelbase. The Super Series 50 employed a 124-inch wheelbase and was offered as a Sedanette, Touring Sedan, and Convertible Coupe with prices in the low-$1,000 range. The Century Series 60 used a 126-inch platform and offered as a $1,350 Sedan and a $1,300 Sedanette. The top-of-the-line model was the Limited Series 90 with a 139-inch wheelbase chassis that accommodated stately 6- and 8-passenger closed body designs. Prices ranged from $2,250 to $2,720.

The Roadmaster was positioned below the Limited and above the Century, resting on a 129-inch wheelbase that measured 217-inches in length. The two-door Sedanette with seating for six was priced at $1,365, the touring sedan at $1,465, and the convertible coupe at $1,675. The most popular was the touring sedan with 5,418 examples produced, followed by 2,471 of the sedanette, and 509 of the convertible coupe.

The Century, Roadmaster, and Limited shared Buick's largest 1942 engine, a 320.2 cubic-inch inline-8 with five main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a Carter or Stromberg carburetor, and delivered 165 horsepower at 3,800 RPM and 280 lb-ft of torque at 2,200 RPM. The engine was backed by a three-speed sliding gear transmission with a single dry plate clutch and column controls. Hydraulic drum brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power.

The 8,398 examples of the Roadmaster produced represented approximately nine percent of Buick's total 1942 production.

Following World War II, when civilian automobile production resumed, Buick continued to produce the Special, Super, and Roadmaster model, with the Roadmaster serving as the top-of-the-line vehicle.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021