Vehicle Description
1952 Buick Roadmaster Riviera
"Roadmaster" - what a wonderful name for a car! It had emerged
during 1936 and would last until it was foolishly removed for 1959.
It was the perfect term for the top of the Buick line, a car
bordering on Cadillac price territory, preferred transport for the
up-and-coming professional - the doctor, the lawyer, and anybody
else who could not quite afford a Caddy. Buick catered to this
clientele with flashy styling-far and away the flashiest of the GM
divisions-plus luxury and a host of novel design ideas: the famous
pop-art grille, the gun-sight hood ornament, the hardtop
convertible, the sweepspear, and the porthole. The latter three all
arrived in 1949, when Buick sales correspondingly increased by 50
percent, and then doubled in 1950. In that long-lost halcyon era,
this was the kind of car America wanted -and bought.
Here we offer up for consignment what could be best described as
large and in charge. Not quite a Caddy, but who cares, it is from
an era where the more chrome the better, make use of big rounded
steel panels like the aircraft of the time, and add features that
are decidedly Buick. A success story in this 1952 Roadmaster
Riviera with a restoration from 20 years ago still showing well.
Consigner states, and we can see its true for the excellent frame,
and plenty of rebuilds recently to bring her up to snuff. " I'm an
excellent driver, and this is an excellent car, I know this car, I
know this car, I always drive on Mondays...UUhhh OH!!
Exterior
With a seemingly open mouth and toothy smile this front bumper is
worth the price of admission. Buick Eight script is carved into the
top "lip" of the smile and just above begins the long journey of
the hood on its way to the windshield. Prior to its rise, a
cloisonne badge looks upward to the chromed gun sight hood ornament
atop the bulbous shaped hood front. On the side front fenders which
flank this beautiful hood, the famous Buick portholes chromed and
styled with more aircraft influence lead the way for the large
beautiful sweep spear which will run through each massive door then
widen and dive down just before the rear wheel well. More shiny
trim in excellent condition, makes a lap around the door sills,
windows and rear roofline and has dual chromed mirrors hanging off
on either side. A small bump out for the rear fenders which are
topped with chromed fins and backed by vertically oriented oval
taillights with shiny bezels. A large bumper frames the back lower
and another beautiful big cloisonne badge adorns the center of the
trunk. All lower steel panels are straight and rust free and
painted in Mazda Maroon and the paint looks good. The hardtop is
presenting in cream color and is a good contrast to the maroon.
Polished dish styled wheels with a bump out dog dish center for the
wheel covers and these are wrapped in wide whites to complete the
effect. "Lights out at 11, right after Judge Wapner."
Interior
A swing of the doors and the hits just keep on coming! Snazzy
broadcloth panels with horizontal piping bordering the tuck and
roll, some chrome curved trimmings, power window toggles and still
the wing window crank and chromed door actuator lever...this is
awesome. Slipping inside more tan broadcloth inserts for the two
benches which are surrounded by contrasting smooth maroon leather
bolsters. The original looking two tone dash in maroon and tan, has
round instruments and a large chromed center panel with the radio
and just below all the control buttons. A big round bakelite maroon
steering wheel with a chromed center horn ring shows just a few
cracks and a nice center badge. Tan carpet floods the floors, and
above is a beautiful vinyl headliner in maroon with chromed
separators curved with the roofline.
Drivetrain
A tilt of the hood and we shake hands with the Fireball inline 8
which is definitely original. 320 cubes sport an aqua valve cover
and sit snugly into the restored and very clean engine bay. A
single 2-barrel carburetor is on the side, and on back is the
famous Dynaflow 2-speed automatic which has been recently rebuilt.
As noted, the consigner has worked this engine, not a rebuild but
new gaskets and seals, fuel pump, fuel lines, gas tank, rebuilt
carburetor to name a few. "I only fly Quantas, Quantas Airlines, no
Crashes, No Deaths."
Undercarriage
Looking underneath there is surface rust and patina, but the X
frame remains solid. Some invasive rust is noted on the interior
underside skinning near the rear wheel wells, but this is not
affecting the structure. New wheel cylinders, and a new fuel tank,
and drum brakes for all 4 corners are noted. We also note some
invasive rust on the inner rockers and prior floor pan repairs.
Drive-Ability
She started right up and on the test track worked swimmingly.
Smooth acceleration, bias free stopping, and a wonderful cushy ride
just like its name states. I found the radio to be in-op, as well
as the blower motor, and rear window switches were a bit finicky,
otherwise all was well.
A full 2 thumbs up for this wonderful machine all blinged out with
massive chrome, good paint and a snazzy interior. Just a beauty of
a design, and personally I would take this over the same year Caddy
any day. A fine example and don't drop the toothpicks! (I'll have
to count them!)
VIN DECODE
16603992
1-Flint, MI Assy Plant
6603992-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
1952 MOD 52 767R-1952 Buick Roadmaster Riviera
STYLE NO 524737x-Buick Roadmaster Riviera
BODY NO G365-Flint Body #
TRIM 83-Beige Nylon Cloth, Red Leather
PAINT 44-Beach White Top, Teal Blue Body
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
