The Roadmaster received its first major postwar restyling in 1949. Its wheelbase and overall length were reduced. The biggest change was a much larger two-piece, curved glass windshield. This was the year that Buick introduced "VentiPorts." with 4 displayed on each of the Roadmaster's front fenders. Dynaflow was now standard equipment, and engine output was increased to 150 ghp. In the middle of the year, the Riviera 2-door hardtop joined the body style lineup.

The 1949 Super shared a new General Motors C-body with the Roadmaster, but on a shorter wheelbase. It featured three of the new chrome VentiPorts on each front fender to denote its smaller straight-eight engine.  Full wheel trim discs were standard along with such features as a cigar lighter, ashtray, and automatic choke. Halfway into the 1949 model year, Buick Specials received all-new bodywork, the first fully postwar design for the series. New was also the 40D-series, a better equipped version called the Special DeLuxe. The engine remained the 248 CID straight eight which had been used since 1937.

Production for 1949 increased again, with Specials dropping in sales to 10,408 due to the late-year body upgrade. Super was still the bread and butter Buick with 220,135 delivered, and 80,625 Roadmasters were produced, for a grand total of 311,168, a whopping 106,655 increase! 

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