I own a 1949 Buick Super Sedanet, and was wondering how many Hamber's own 49 Buicks of any body style. It's a car you don't see very often, and I am not sure why. So check in and let's see if there is more than 3 or 4 of us.
I have two sedanets and one four door and would like to build a sedanet as soon as I finish about ten other projects.
From the late '50s until a few years ago, the last car anyone wanted was a great big Buick that took half a minute to get to 45 MPH ... all that changed when having a strange car became popular. In the late '70s, I bought a black '49 Super 4dr that looked 2 years old, $125, I think. Drove it for a couple months when a guy offered me an air conditioned '55 Imperial coupe straight across for it. After 5 seconds of deliberation, I owned an Imperial ...
Love 'em. Don't own one, but the back end, fenders, lights, and especially the cool as hell bumper looks so custom from the factory. Front end ain't bad, either.
I think my build thread is still up on my 49 Sedanette but moving and building a new shop over the last two years plus an upholster who disappeared after starting the headliner really slowed the project.
Brian, I don't think you realize how rare these cars are. You, me and Walt (Fat 47) are the only people I know that have them.
Hello, When our family first arrived in Long Beach from a long drive down the inland desert area of California from the Oregon border, it was 1946. My brother and I had no idea where we were. It was just a long trip full of food, snacks, drinks, and naps. Our dad drove on until he could not and we all stayed in some small motel along the route to So Cal. We eventually arrived in Long Beach, but it was not the Westside of Long Beach. It was just on the other side of the Los Angeles River in an industrial park with a several block radius of small/large trailers for our home. (and for our relatives, too.) Then after several years of living in the trailer court, our dad had again, saved up enough for a down payment on a “real house.” It was a two bedroom one bath Craftsman Style house with a huge fenced in yard. Now, this was as far West as Long Beach border could go in that direction. On the other side of our yard and the railroad tracks was Wilmington, CA. There was an old rickety multiple car garage at the end of our yard and attached to the garage was an odd studio apartment. That was our rainy day playground and “get out of the house” place for sanctuary. Upon arriving in the new house, my dad tried to park in the small garage spaces that had individual doors. It was a nightmare, since the opening was too narrow for the Buick Fastback Sedan. Also, the two barn style doors would not close all the way. So, the place to park was out in front of our picket fence, under a couple of huge palm trees. By 1949, my dad has sold the 41 Buick and bought another huge 1949 4 door Buick Roadmaster. The poor 1941 Buick Fastback never got to stay in a garage for its whole life. Either did the 1949 black Buick Roadmaster 1946 trailer park parking lot and 1948 on the street Westside of Long Beach parking on the street. (Note: The whole block is now, history. The houses were all torn down and leveled for a new elementary/middle school complex in the modern times. But, they kept our address as the schools listed address: 2335 Webster Ave.) Jnaki One of the most memorable things at this far Westside location was to be allowed to steer the big Buick sedans down the street. When I ran to meet our dad everyday at a pre-arranged time, he picked me up and allowed me to steer his big Buick back to our house. It was a block long adventure for me. Finally, I could turn towards the curb and pull away just before the tire hit the curb. Then the Buick was in front of our white picket fence and yard. To this day, I have always thanked my dad for getting me involved in the steering of his Buick Fastback Sedan. Now, if I could only be tall enough to step on the brake AND gas pedal… After doing this daily early evening driving (steering) lesson, my mom was wondering where I was going every day at 5:45 pm every day. She never saw me steer the 1941 Buick, as my dad bought a giant black 1949 4 door Buick Roadmaster sedan and the lessons continued. One time she saw the black Buick pull up to the curb and there I was, looking out of the window, waving. Needless to say, the $#!%&$ hit the fan and my dad was in the doghouse. But, for all of the times we did those steering episodes, I was able to get a clear understanding of my skills of steering a car back/forth and moving to a specific location. It was my first behind the wheel lesson and experiences. Thanks, Dad… Boooo, on my mom… 7 years old on the 1949 Buick Roadmaster. The only custom thing our dad did to his 49 Buick was to put on a big tube on the side of the passenger window to cool all of us off inside during those hot summer months. That did not last long as our mom had water blowing on her and the thing dripped water all of the time. It was gone in a couple of weeks. My brother and I had a great playground in that huge back seat from 49 to 53, when a different house and another Buick sedan came into the picture.
There is a nice looking (project) Buick Riviera listed here on the HAMB right now. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1949-buick-roadmaster-riviera.1235422/ Looks like an affordable way to get one of these Buicks.
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