1953 Buick Roadmaster

This 1953 Buick Roadmaster is one of 670 wood-sided Estate Wagon examples produced for the model year, and it was acquired by the seller in 1989 from its reported second owner. In 2017 the body was refinished in burgundy and the brightwork was refreshed, and the interior sports a two-tone color scheme. Power comes from a Fireball 322ci V8 paired with a Dynaflow automatic transmission, and features include power steering, a wood roof rack, chrome-finished trim, whitewall tires, and an Alpine CD player. This Series 70 Roadmaster woodie wagon is registered as planned non-operation in California and is now offered at no reserve with service records, magazines, and a clean California title in the seller’s name. The car features wood paneling at the rear and surrounding the windows as well as a custom wood-slatted roof rack, fender portholes, and “sweepspear” stainless trim. The seller states that the body was refinished in its current burgundy shade in 2017, at which time the brightwork was refreshed. Imperfections including chips along a door seam, crazed taillight lenses, and blemishes in the wood are shown in the photo gallery below. Black-finished steel wheels wear wire-style covers and are mounted with whitewall tires. The interior features two-tone red and white upholstery that covers the front and rear bench seats and also the door panels. Red carpeting is fitted throughout, including in the rear cargo area; the seller indicates that the carpeting should be replaced. A Buick Sonomatic AM radio is located in the center of the dashboard, and an Alpine CD player has been mounted below the dash. A banjo-style steering wheel fronts instrumentation that includes a 120-mph speedometer, auxiliary gauges, and a clock on the opposite side of the dash. The five-digit odometer shows nearly 4k miles and has rolled over. The seller has added approximately 40k miles over the past three decades. The Nailhead (a.k.a. Fireball) 322ci V8 was new for the restyled Roadmaster in 1953 and rated at 188 horsepower. Features include a four-barrel carburetor as well as a 12-volt electrical system, and the engine is said to have been rebuilt in the 1980s. The seller states that the car has been stored since 2018. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Dynaflow two-speed automatic transmission with two turbines in the torque converter. The seller mentions that the chassis was repaired approximately three decades ago, and evidence of rot in the chassis from rust is visible in underside photos shared below. The car bears a replacement California-issued VIN tag on the driver-side door jamb, which reads CA459620. This number matches the VIN listed on the 1989-issued title that the car is being sold with.