1941 Buick Roadmaster Convertible Coupe
Buick’s 1941 styling direction marked a decisive break from tradition. Exposed running boards, visible door hinges, and fender-mounted spare tires disappeared, replaced by concealed running boards and enclosed headlights integrated into flowing fender lines.
The Roadmaster Series 70 convertible coupe rode on a 126-inch wheelbase and weighed 4,258 pounds. Full rear wheel skirts emphasized the lengthened fender design.
Production reached only 1,845 units at a base price of $1,457, making this the rarest body style in the Roadmaster range. Its combination of open-air motoring and top-tier trim placed it at the pinnacle of Buick’s prewar lineup.
Compound Carburetion represented Buick’s major mechanical innovation for the year. The dual-carburetor system served as the forerunner to both four-barrel carburetors and the multiple-carburetor configurations popular in postwar performance applications.
Standard on all models above the Special Series 40, the setup extracted 165 horsepower from the 320 cubic-inch Fireball straight-eight, giving Buick the highest-powered standard production engine in America, 15 horsepower more than Cadillac’s contemporary offering.
The three-speed manual transmission delivered power through Buick’s torque-tube drive and live rear axle with coil springs. Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes provided stopping capability appropriate to the Roadmaster’s size and performance.
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