In 1899 Scottish-born David Dunbar Buick created the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company to work on internal combustion engines. Although the company’s stated goal was to manufacture engines for agricultural use, Buick, a poorly skilled businessman, was more interested in research and development of a passenger car. Buick burned through his capital, creating only one car. But that car was powered by his “Valve-in-Head” overhead valve engine, which revolutionized the industry, blowing away the rival side valve engine. With additional financing, Buick formed the Buick Motor Company in 1903, which would go on to become the largest carmaker in America, and the cornerstone of the world’s largest auto company, General Motors. Having celebrated their 100th birthday in 2003, Buick is one of the oldest automotive brands in the world, alongside Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac.

The origin of the Roadmaster marque dates to 1936, when Buick renamed its entire line to promote engineering improvements and design advances over the previous year’s models. Roadmasters were produced between 1936 and 1958 on Buick’s longest wheelbase. Between 1946 and 1957, the car was Buick’s premium car, elegant and prestigious, but also the biggest and the fastest. The ideal Buick driver was a traditional luxury car buyer, who didn’t want the ostentation of a Cadillac and preferred a plush ride over sporty performance.

To this end, Buick introduced the Dynaflow transmission as an option in 1948 - the first torque converter automatic transmission offered in U.S. passenger cars. Despite a little trouble with acceleration, Dynaflow became standard on the Roadmaster in 1949, the same year that the car received all new post-war styling, including the infamous Buick “Ventiports,” which allowed air flow into the engine bay. Lesser Buicks had only three on each fender, while the Roadmaster had four, making it instantly recognizable. The Roadmaster also featured Buick’s “dollar grin” front end and trademark “sweepspear,” a curved streak of chrome that ran the length of the car, and was often used to separate color areas on two-tone models.

Jay bought this 1957 Roadmaster from its second owner, and decided to keep it 100% original, so it looks a little more beat up than his other cars. In the 16 years that he’s owned it, he’s done little more than change the oil and transmission fluid - the Roadmaster just won’t quit! In 1957, a new 364 cubic inch, 300 hp V-8 engine was installed in the car, but the Roadmaster would only last one more year. In 1958’s economic recession, Buick slipped to fifth place in the industry, and Roadmaster was axed from the production line, until it was revived thirty years later in 1991. But this new Roadmaster was a car out of time. The market for large, rear-wheel drive, American large barges was almost over, and the car was once again discontinued in 1996.