![1950 buick 1950 buick](https://images.classic.com/vehicles/274d7761e1fb01722685541bcf0c09511b54ec6d.jpg)
Curtice was succeeded at Buick by Ivan L. It has been said that Harlow Curtice, who moved up into GM corporate management at the end of 1948, and finally to the GM presidency in 1953, was particularly lukewarm to the P-38 body. The prevailing feeling seemed to be that it was just too radical a design for GM's top-end cars. The larger C-body ended up being an extremely controversial design with dealers, top management, and especially with the Buick Division, which adapted it for only one short year.
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Chevrolet and Pontiac developed their own much smaller A-bodies a year later, and the Olds 76 and 88 also used it. The P-38 was developed as a Cadillac, with Olds stylists executing their own distinctive version. It was directly inspired by the Lockheed P-38 Lightning airplane, and the key to its design was a high belt-line, but not quite up to the windowline, running in a straight line from the front of the vehicle to the very rear. This so-called P-38 body was developed by designer Frank Hershey under the strong influence of GM styling czar, Harley Earl. Most likely, Buick's powerful general manager, Harlow Curtice, felt that his division - the most successful of the three - didn't need a radical and untested body to further improve sales in 1948. In any case, Buick passed on it for 1948, then adopted it for 1949, for reasons that have never been made entirely clear. Actually, it had originally been designated the B-body, but became the C-body late in the game. This 1950 Buick Roadmaster convertible is just one of manyĬlassic cars that Buick was known for in the 50s.įor 19, GM provided a very unique and advanced C-body for the Oldsmobile 98 and Cadillac. GM's Flint, Michigan, division did it with a combination of bold styling, innovative marketing, and a dealer organization second to none. In the days when the buck stopped with Harry Truman, and well into the Eisenhower years, Buick absolutely dominated the American automobile scene above the Chevy- Ford-Plymouth trio. The ubiquitous Buick offered a model for every buyer in most every price class.
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No other car symbolizes postwar promise and prosperity like the bulbous, toothy Buick. That being said, I’d drop it in a second for a similarly priced Special Jetback Sedanet like this one that recently sold through Mecum.Buicks of the 1950-1953 period have become American icons in the tradition of Coca-Cola machines, Route 66 signs, and Standard Crown gas pump globes. If I was though, this one would definitely bear consideration. I’m not in the market for a classic daily driver. As such, Hagerty values it at around $4,100 - pretty close to the sellers asking price of $4,500. Though we don’t get to see the interior, I would say that the car appears to be in “fair” condition overall.
#1950 buick driver#
The exterior is all there with a nice daily driver level of patina. The seller claims that this car runs, drives, and has very little rust.
#1950 buick manual#
Though an automatic was an option, this one has a manual transmission with a 110 horsepower straight-8 driving the rear wheels. I like that split windshield too.Īccording to Hemmings, Buick sold over 140,000 Special 41D sedans in 1950. Though mostly identical in looks to its more expensive Super sibling, the toned down trim gives it a cleaner look in my book. The deluxe model included chrome trim around the windows, a chrome body-side molding, and not much else. Given the current state of the car, it could also stand for “Dirty”. Though the seller doesn’t mention the specific model in the ad, this one looks to be a 41D sedan. To me, this Special looks a little more “special” than any of my past rides. My dad drove a ’65 Skylark convertible into the early 80’s, I learned to drive in a LeSabre, and later crisscrossed the country in an ’87 Century wagon.
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Still, there was something special about them. Specials featured a big Buick grill up front but, aside from that, there wasn’t much more luxury baked into these cars. This one is available for $4,500 or best offer through craigslist in upstate New York. That grill though! The Special was Buick’s entry level offering in 1950.