Buick Super — BrandWiki

Buick Super

Overview

Third generation

model years	1949–1953
platform	C-body
successor	Buick Skylark (convertible only)
body style	4-door sedan 4-door Riviera sedan 2-door Sedanet coupe 2-door Riviera hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door Estate wagon
assembly	(main plant) Flint, Michigan, USA (Buick City) (branch assembly) Doraville, Georgia, USA (Doraville Assembly) "Atlanta" Framingham, Massachusetts, USA (Framingham Assembly) Kansas City, Kansas, USA (Fairfax Assembly) Linden, New Jersey, USA (Linden Assembly) South Gate, California, USA (South Gate Assembly) Wilmington, Delaware, USA (Wilmington Assembly)
engine	248 cuin Fireball I8 OHV 263 cuin Fireball I8 OHV 322 cuin Nailhead V8 OHV
transmission	3-speed sliding shift manual Twin turbine Dynaflow automatic‡R4R‡
wheelbase	1949: 121.0 in‡R7R‡ 1950–53 Riviera sedans: 125.5 in 1950–53 others: 121.5 in
length	1949: 209.5 in‡R4R‡ 1950 Riviera sedans: 213.5 in 1950 others: 209.5 in 1951–52 Riviera sedans: 210.2 in 1951–52 others: 206.2 in 1953 Riviera sedans: 211.6 in 1953 others: 207.6 in
width	79.9 in
height	63.0 in
weight	3800 - 4300 lb
related	Cadillac Series 62 Cadillac Series 61 Buick Roadmaster Oldsmobile 98

The Buick Super is a full-sized automobile produced by Buick from 1940 through the 1958 model years, with a brief hiatus from 1943 through 1945. The first generation shared the longer wheelbase with the top level Roadmaster while offering the smaller displacement engine from the Buick Special. The Super prioritized passenger comfort over engine performance. For several years, it was called the "Buick Eight" or "Super Eight" due to the engravement on the grille while all Buick's since 1931 were all installed with the Buick Straight-8 engine with varying engine displacement.

Super returned as a performance trim level on V8-powered LaCrosse and Lucerne sedans from 2008 until 2011.

Series 50 (1930–1935)

Originally the Series 50 had a 5431 cc Buick Straight-6 engine developing 99 bhp of power at 2,800 rpm, and Buick manufactured 28,204 cars. In 1930 all Buicks were installed with the all-new Straight-eight, and the 1931 the model remained almost unchanged, aside from minor appearance changes. With the introduction of the Marquette Companion brand

1942, 1946–1948

The 1942 Super coupes adopted the appealing Sedanet fastback style that had been the sensation of 1941 on Century and Special. New wider and lower bodies were offered and "Airfoil" front fenders that flowed into the lines of the rear fenders were introduced on convertibles and sedanet models. The Super had new front fender trim featuring parallel chrome strips. Also featured for 1942 was a handsome new grille with a lower outline and thin vertical strips. A feature shared with other Buicks was a new interior air intake positioned near the front center grille that eliminated the old cowl-level ventilator. The number of body styles was reduced to three with the elimination of the one year only Business coupe.[1]

After the government prohibited the use of chrome on January 1, 1942 a number of body styles were dropped and most trim was now painted. Cast iron pistons were used in the 248 cuin Fireball straight-eight engine. The last of the 1942 Buicks were completed on February 4, 1942. Only 33,034 Supers were built in the abbreviated model year.[1]

In 1946 Buick once again combined the large Series 70 Roadmaster body with the economical Series 40 Special powerplant to create the Series 50 Super line. Basic styling was continued from 1942 now sedans had the front fender sweep across the doors to the rear fenders as did the Sedanet and convertible styles. A stamped grille with vertical bars dominated the frontal ensemble. Single stainless body trim lines began on the front fenders and ended at the rear edge of the standard rear wheelhouse shields. Standard equipment included an automatic choke, clock, ash receiver, turn signals and a painted woodgrain instrument panels.[4] Exterior series identification was found on the crossbar between the bumper guards front and rear. Cloisonne emblems carried the Super emblem. Compound Carburetion was eliminated and the compression ratio was reduced to 6.30:1. As a consequence the 1946 Super's horsepower fell from 125 to 110. Torque on the other hand was hardly affected. The number of body styles increased to four with the return of the Estate wagon after a six year absence. A total of 119,334 units were sold. The front suspension was independent with coil springs.[5] 76.98% of Buick sales this year were Supers.[4]

Combining big Roadmaster room with an economical Special engine continued to make the Super an American favorite in 1947. The Super was little changed from its 1946 counterpart, except for new stamped grille that had separate upper bar and new emblem. Stainless lower body moldings made a single line along the body and continued onto the standard wheelhouse shields. A white Tenite steering wheel was standard while the instruments were round and set into a two-toned dash panel. Exterior series identification was found on the crossbars between the standard bumper guards. A chrome emblem was used with the series script embossed and filled with red. Sales reached a record 159,588. The height was 64.9 inches.[4] Brakes were 12 inch drums.[6]

The main external change to the 1948 Super from its 1947 counterpart was the "Super" script on each front fender. Other series identification continued to be earned on the bumper guard crossbar. The car was a bit lower than in 1947 rolling on new 7.60 x 15 tires mounted on wheels with trim rings and small hubcaps. Super script was also found on the center crest of a new black Tenite steering wheel. New cloth interiors featured leatherette scuff pads and trim risers. The instrument panel was redone, using silver-tone instruments on a two-tone gray panel. The sedan was carpeted in the rear with a carpet insert also found in the front rubber mat. The convertible also featured cloth and leather interior trim with power top, seat and windows standard. Total sales were 108,521.[4]