500 Abarth

Make
Fiat
Segment
Hatchback

As much as we like roadsters and muscle cars, somewhere deep down inside we have to admit to having a soft spot for old woodies. That may sound a little dirty, but we're talking about the golden age of wood-sided American automobiles that gave us such fine examples as this '47 Buick Roadmaster. Buick's top-of-the-line model, the wood-paneled Roadmaster Estate Wagon debuted in 1947 as the ultimate rendition of its Super Series.

Legend has it that Buick only started building this model when a wealthy lady told the marque's management that the only reason she didn't buy a Buick was because they didn't offer a wagon version. Model 79 carried a sticker price of $3,249 when it hit the market - making it Buick's most expensive product at the time - but this particular example is hitting the auction block over half a century later with a pre-sale estimate between $90,000 and $120,000. It underwent a complete restoration to original condition four years ago, respraying it in its original Royal Maroon Metallic and fitting it with new maple and mahogany woodwork.

144 horsepower comes from a 320 cubic-inch (5.2-liter) V8, with a red leather and cloth interior. As a result of the restoration, this Roadmaster was displayed at the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in 2008 and the Glenmoor Gathering in 2009. It's now part of RM's consignment for the Arizona Biltmore auction in a couple of weeks. Photos by Aaron Summerfield, courtesy of RM Auctions.