About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Oh wait! It says Buick Eight on the grill. Also love the directional lighting above the headlights.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Don’t know the 50s? car/owner but it looks like it just came off the showroom floor. Amazing! The circles on the fender is ‘Buick’ I believe, that later changed to rectangles.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
That looks like the 1949 Buick Roadmaster that was in the movie “Rain Man” starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. It is currently owned by the director of “Rain Man”, Barry Levinson, who had it restored by Wayne Carini of the Velocity Channel’s “Chasing Classic Cars” show.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
From Hugh Nutting:
The 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible is one used in the Rain Man movie. It is one of 4 like cars used. One of the 49 Buicks was in the Bob Pond car collection until 2014. It sold for $180K. If you look closely you can see script on at least one – front fender below the port holes. It is too short to be the Roadmaster script – must be a Super with a 4th port hole added. For filming a Super and Roadmaster would not look much different on several angle shots.
One is owned by NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and has been repainted light green and has a red leather interior.
BTW, my cousin had a new one in the movie color. She traded it in for a new 55 Chrysler. In 1959 she got her second new Buick convert, a new blue 1959.
Hugh
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
A ‘49 Buick Roadmaster, owned by Barry Levinson, the Hollywood movie director who directed the film “Rainman” in which this auto was prominently featured being driven by Tom Cruise with his brother passenger, Dustin Hoffman.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
hmmm. it is a 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible. I’m guessing it is the car from Rain Man.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
“Rainman” Buick?
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Tom Cruise’s 1949 Buick Roadmaster from ‘Rain Man’
even the plate is the same !!
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
what do you think it was for? a exit for access to a farm or a main road? have you access to any old road maps for research? i have walked and biked many times growing up in the 60’s on the old parkway and remember where it had many exits with wrourd iron fencing near the springfield gardens areas. also by lakeville rd it ran behind the great neck school and went east to a golf course.
From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens
I think it is a 1949 Buick Roadmaster. Was in the movie “RAINMAN” with Dustin Hoffman & Tom Cruise. I believe Len Carini of Chasing Classic Cars show is now the owner. Bob A
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Hi Howard,
It’s the 1949 Buick Roadmaster from Rainman owned by the director of the movie, Barry Levinson.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible
This is one of 2 ‘49 Roadmasters used in the filming of the movie Rain Man
The photo was taken at the 21st Annual Amelia Island Concours in March of 2016
The current owner is Barry Levinson he was the director of the movie and recently had the car restored by Wayne Carini.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Sam & Dave,
Well done….
From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens
The Clearview Expressway ended at the LIE from 1961 to 1964, and was extended to Hillside Ave. in time for the 64-65 World’s Fair in 1964. By the time the Clearview extension opened in 1964, I was 16 y/o and no longer rode the Vanderbilt Parkway for fun. However, in the early 60s when the extension construction was underway, my friends and I would walk our bikes over the earthen embankments of the Clearview extension to “pickup” the Vanderbilt Parkway.
From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens
1949 Buick Roadmaster owned by Wayne Carini, the Car from the movie Rainman
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
I think it’s about a 1952? Buick Roadmaster and I’m guessing from the movie Rainman,
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
Explored the whole area on both sides of Union yesterday, Nov 19, with my brother Dennis and son Gram. Must note yet again that the thought of such an underpass seems nearly mad in a Gotham-ish and Arkham sort of way. Easier engineered pedestrian overpasses would have been far simpler and sightly. My brother tells my our dad talked often of this underpass as being a facilitator for patient movement but I’m still unconvinced it would have been a safe and sane activity. The Union roadway overpass just east of the location was a constant source of wonder for me and my fellow day hikers in the late 50s and early 60s where we would throw down a ball in order to engage both Creedmore workers and patients in friendly conversation. None of it was mean spirited in any way. We just wanted to know more about the giant hospital we grew up in the shadows of.
From The Union Turnpike/Long Island Motor Parkway Pedestrian Underpass
In the late 50s and very early 60s this sliver of the parks and parkway was the location of a rather large hobo camp. That all disappeared as the Clearview got built.
From Sam & Dave's Excellent "Lost" Motor Parkway Adventure I: Clearview Expressway-Queens
Hi Howard
The Mystery photo is the 1949 Buick Roadmaster used in the movie Rain Man and owned by the film’s director Barry Levinson. It was restored by Wayne Carini and featured on one of his Chasing Classic Cars episodes. The pictures are from Amelia Island. Right? Thanks for your fun website.
Tobey Ross
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible driven by Tom Cruise in the movie Rain Man. Seen it at the Greenwich Concours.
From Mystery Auto Foto #47 Solved: Definitely a 1949 Buick Roadmaster that Starred in the Film Rain Man
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