1949 Roadmaster Sedan Project

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<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Putting some feelers out there to guage interest in a 1949 Buick Roadmaster four door sedan (70 series) project car that I have. The front clip is disassembled and I'm in the process right now of getting the front suspension back on the car so I can get the front wheels back on. At this point, it is not a rolling chassis but it should be soon. From the firewall back, it is pretty much intact. The engine is still in the car and has not been removed or rebuilt.

I have had the car about 7 years. Bought it with intent to restore but got into it and realized it needed much more work than I had the time, money, or expertise to do. It was complete however and when I started digging into it, it appeared to be original. The main problem it has is body rust. The floor pans up front, rockers and body braces need body work. In terms of parts, the car has plenty of good ones and if it ended up being a donor car, it would be a good buy just for that alone.

I have a lot of NOS and NORS parts too for it. Notably, I have two NOS front fenders. I stripped one of the factory primer paint but never got around to painting it. In addition, I have two used front fenders that need some body work. The two front fenders that were on the car had some rust so I acquired these others as replacements. All together, you would have three sets of front fenders more or less. Mix and match to get the best I guess.

I have two used rear fenders too, again, they need some straightening but they are rust free. In addition, I have an extra used front bumper which is in good shape with no rust but needs rechromed. All the brightwork in general on the car needs redone.

I can send a list of the rest of the parts if someone is interested. I accumlated them over the last several years.

I have pics too and so if you are interested, I can send a bunch.

The car is located in Canton, MI (Zip 48187) If I get the front suspension back together, you would still need a flatbed to haul it on to for transport. You would probably need a van or pickup too for the misc. parts like the extra fenders and loose items. Price at this point is $5,000 for the car and all the parts. I would like to sell as a whole lot, hopefully to someone in the Buick community that would make good use of it all.

E-mail me at materal73@gmail.com.

Here is a parts listing of what I have for the most part. All these parts are in addition to what is on the car or was on the car which also goes with the sale. I have a few more misc. parts that aren't on the list but these are the ones I categorized.

Buick Parts Inventory.pdf

Car is still for sale. I will entertain offers if anyone is interested. This would probably be a good parts car unless someone wants to really get into it and do a total restoration. I have done a lot of work on the front end over the past few years and cleaned up and painted a lot of the parts. Everything is there that was on the car including the extra parts on the list. I was hoping to sell as a package. I have some decent NOS parts that are altogether probably worth half of what my asking price is.

Hi BJM, sorry, I don't understand your post. Can you clarify?

I get in trouble for being overly honest. This forum may have a potential buyer but more then likely the traditional tools of ebay, the BCA National "Bugle" magazine and perhaps Craigs List will bring faster and more results.

You are overpriced.

I had a more desirable - and I do not mean that in a bad way because I love the 49 Roadmaster Sedans - model which I couldn't give away and frankly it was in very similar 'disassembled' condition. Mine sold for less then $1000 and I had $3000 in it. I sold parts that did not go with the car for an additional $500.

There was a fairly solid, complete 49 Roadmaster 2 door Sedanette located in southern Michigan for months on Craigs List that started at $3000 and he ended up selling it for around $1000 and it was a bargain at $1000.

Projects are selling very slowly. You seem to be adding up all your costs to arrive at $5,000 which seems logical to me but you are presenting a potential buyer with a dilemma.

The work you have done is probably worth the cost but to restore your car is likely a $30,000 + proposition and some buyers would want to start over no matter what you did.

Others would look to puchase a complete project for $500 to $1000 rather then spend $5,000 on a started project.

Also, there are few people restoring 4 door sedans. An old car is a cool old car to me and most of us, 4 doors or not, but the top price for a #2 condition (very nice) 49 Roadmaster Sedan is $16,000 or so.

So - in addition to my other points, those baby boomers in the market for a nostalgic ride would prefer to place an already done car next to the minivan they haul the grandkids around in, not ask their local muscle car restoration shop to spend $35,000 to restore it.

To guarantee a sell at a loss, run a no reserve ebay auction with a lot of photos and details. Run it for 10 days for maximum market penetration. Results? Hard to say but probably in the $800 to $1400 range.

Right now, just below your ad, is an original 18,000 mile Super sedan for $5,000 or offer, running and driving.

Further down is a solid $1000 55 Super 2 door hardtop, still unsold.

It's the market and so your choices are to sell for a loss, keep some parts on the side and sell on ebay to recover some more money or keep it and restore it.

Bryan, thanks for your honesty and input. It is appreciated and hopefully the Buy/Sell Police won't arrest you. It's too bad that these cars don't bring more. There are so many good parts on the car that you could easily take it and use it to restore a more valuable two door or convertible. I guess I could part it out but I always hate to see that happen to cars that are pretty much complete.

I'll probably continue working on it as it gives me something to do, especially in those long cold Michigan winters. If anyone is reading this that is interested, I would still entertain offers. Throw something out there to me, I'm fairly open.

For any of those in the BCA who are interested in this as a parts or project car, let me know. I will either start parting it out in the spring or put it up for sale as a project on e-bay. The list of parts is still accurate that is on here plus a few more that I have purchased since I posted it. If you just want the car itself and the parts that came off it, I would sell you that or if you want everything including the extra parts I have purchased, I would sell as a package.

Do you have any radio knobs by chance?

I will probably end up doing something like that. Thanks Jake. I have some decent parts, I think the car is worth more in pieces than as a whole!

I will probably end up doing something like that. Thanks Jake. I have some decent parts, I think the car is worth more in pieces than as a whole!

It is, but then people always want to sell their cars complete because and take less because otherwise they end up with a carcuss they have to dispose of.

PRICE REDUCED! Taking the advice of all that have commented on this project and offering it as is for $1,200. I had it on ebay a couple times over the past few weeks and didn't get much interest. I would like to offer it again to someone in the Buick community that will put the parts or car to good use. The car is in Canton, MI which is between Ann Arbor and Detroit. A trailer or flatbed with a winch will be needed to get it. I am posting a few more recent pics taken in the last few weeks.

Some recent pics.

Well thanks for posting again. Sorry ebay did not work. Really you have a great project. Without offending owners of Supers or Specials, it's called Roadmaster for a reason and the lines of the new for 49 bodies are well evidenced in even 4 door sedans. Lots of style.

I looked at your parts list which is impressive as a start. The rusted out sections can be patch welded. I have found Craigs List (and probably Angies List would work) ads requesting welding result in several qualified welders that can replace floor pans. The body looks straight and original paint.

<HR SIZE=1>

<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Putting some feelers out there to guage interest in a 1949 Buick Roadmaster four door sedan (70 series) project car that I have. The front clip is disassembled and I'm in the process right now of getting the front suspension back on the car so I can get the front wheels back on. At this point, it is not a rolling chassis but it should be soon. From the firewall back, it is pretty much intact. The engine is still in the car and has not been removed or rebuilt.

I have had the car about 7 years. Bought it with intent to restore but got into it and realized it needed much more work than I had the time, money, or expertise to do. It was complete however and when I started digging into it, it appeared to be original. The main problem it has is body rust. The floor pans up front, rockers and body braces need body work. In terms of parts, the car has plenty of good ones and if it ended up being a donor car, it would be a good buy just for that alone.

I have a lot of NOS and NORS parts too for it. Notably, I have two NOS front fenders. I stripped one of the factory primer paint but never got around to painting it. In addition, I have two used front fenders that need some body work. The two front fenders that were on the car had some rust so I acquired these others as replacements. All together, you would have three sets of front fenders more or less. Mix and match to get the best I guess.

I have two used rear fenders too, again, they need some straightening but they are rust free. In addition, I have an extra used front bumper which is in good shape with no rust but needs rechromed. All the brightwork in general on the car needs redone.

I can send a list of the rest of the parts if someone is interested. I accumlated them over the last several years.

I have pics too and so if you are interested, I can send a bunch.

The car is located in Canton, MI (Zip 48187) If I get the front suspension back together, you would still need a flatbed to haul it on to for transport. You would probably need a van or pickup too for the misc. parts like the extra fenders and loose items. Price at this point is $5,000 for the car and all the parts. I would like to sell as a whole lot, hopefully to someone in the Buick community that would make good use of it all.

E-mail me at materal73@gmail.com.

Im very interestd in your car email me at rsoundz@att.net or call me at 313-918-8485 thankss