General Motors quietly but thoroughly shook up the American automobile industry in 1949 with a new two-door coupe design featuring a roof that seemed to float above the body, supported by little other than the windshield and backlight. Inspired by a convertible, with chrome strips running along the headliner in the style of top bows, it offered all the beauty of a droptop with a closed car’s practicality. Cadillac offered the new design as the Coupe de Ville and Buick as the Riviera—the first use of both divisions’ soon-to-be-iconic monikers.

Built in its inaugural season on the top-of-the-line Roadmaster chassis, the Riviera featured a convertible-style leather and cloth interior. It sold 4,343 copies, a reflection of its elite status. Soon its design would take Detroit by storm, however, and in the years to come, the stylish “pillarless hardtop” would become a staple of American carports.

Offered here is a particularly attractive example of the Roadmaster Riviera. Believed to have been restored in the early 2000s, it is finished in a striking year-correct combination of Cumulus Gray and Sunmist Gray, with a red and gray interior that is an excellent, sporty yet subtle counterpoint. It should be noted that the original chassis number plate is no longer present and, in previous ownership, an Oregon-assigned VIN was fitted.

Under the hood is the Roadmaster’s revered inline eight-cylinder engine, mated to the Dynaflow automatic transmission, an option so popular that Buick reportedly had to double the number of planned installations for the model year. Well-kept and enjoyed in present ownership within a significant collection, it is accompanied by invoices for various services and improvements, which included replacing the water pump, wiring, and tires.

A beautiful Buick to use and enjoy, this Riviera represents the winds of design change about to blow across the American automobile industry, in what truly became the decade of the hardtop.