1948 Buick Roadmaster

"When better automobiles are built, Buick will build them."

This Buick Roadmaster from Cienfuegos with its massive, streamlined body is a true sign of a time when everything seemed possible, and the future looked no different than bright. The second world war was over and the economy in the U.S. on an steep upswing into the 50s. America's car manufacturers had practically stopped the civil car production until 1945. The demand for new cars now was exorbitant, as was the eagerness of the customers to spend their money.

But the manufacturers were not ready yet with new products. All of the "Big Three" had to sell revamped prewar-designs, and Buick was no exception. The styling of the 1948 Roadmaster dated back to 1942, and although rock-solid with more than two tons of weight, it's appearance was already a bit outdated. The only novelty for 1948 was the introduction of the new "Dynaflow" automatic transmission for the Roadmaster.

In 1949, GM had it's first postwar-designs ready to roll, and finally could satisfy the customer's demand for fresh, new cars. The 50s styling-craze was about to kick-off. It is impressive to see how the automotive styling should progress in just over a decade...