• The 1947 Buick Roadmaster was king of the road in the late 1940s and early 1950s.Mark Lewis/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  The 1947 Roadmaster was the biggest and best car Buick had in the post-war era when everyone wanted a car. America was falling in love with the automobile, and Buick was trying to capture the upper end of the market. The Roadmaster was an old design from before the war, but with the added luxuries, it continued to be produced through 1957.
  
  

Drivetrain

• The 1947 Buick Roadmasters rode on the largest Buick frame and had a 129-inch wheel base. All ran on the big 320-cubic inch V8 that was big enough to power even these large cars with 144 horsepower. The engine held seven quarts of oil. The engine had overhead valves and a two-barrel carburetor that boosted the power. Mechanical valve lifters were used, with two valves per cyclinder, and it had a cast iron block. The Roadmaster had a smooth ride with independent coil springs front and back. Brakes were hydraulic drum brakes. The engine was called the "Fireball Dynaflash" with a lot of reliable power, though it did not accelerate quickly. A three-speed manual transmission was the only type available.
  
  

Dimensions

• The 1947 Buick Roadmaster was a large, elegant car, weighing around 4,000 pounds. The was an estate wagon that weighed 4,400 pounds, but only 300 were made. Other than the wagon, Roadmasters were coupes, convertibles or sedans. The Roadmasters were all the same size, 217 inches long, 78 inches wide and 65 inches tall. The Roadmaster had a 19-gallon gas tank and ran on 16-inch tires. While there were only 300 wagons made, the other styles sold well. Convertibles accounted for 12,074 vehicles, 1,927 two-door coupes were sold and 47,152 sedans were sold. The Roadmaster was at the upper end of price range for new cars, starting at $2,2131 for the couple, $2,232 for the sedan, $2,651 for the convertible and $3,249 for the wagon.
  
  

Options

• The Buick Roadmaster was going for the luxury market, so it has some nice appointments. Turn signals and heaters were relatively new things for automobiles, but they were standard on the Roadmaster, as well as a window defroster. The car also had a power top for the convertible, which was a new innovation in 1947. A hard top and a canvas top were coverings for the convertible. Optional items included power windows, power seats, radio and clock, cigar lighters and ash trays in front and back. Standard was a day/night rearview mirror, but outside mirrors on both sides were optional.