Buick introduced its fifth generation of the venerable Roadmaster name in 1949. The car was the first of the “four-hole” Buicks of its era, with the brand’s trademark “ventiports” placed prominently on the front fenders. At first, these actually provided some ventilation for the engine compartment, but the ports were soon plugged and used thereafter as a visual cue only. The cars were slightly smaller than the 1948 models, and were markedly more modern visually, especially with the car’s large curved windshield.