You may already know I’m a Buick and GM aficionado, and the history I’m going to let you in on today is from one of my favourite design periods, the post-war 1940’s. The beautiful black 1947 Buick Roadmaster Series 70 sedan you can see pictured amongst my archives is a car that eluded me in Los Angeles for many years, but I eventually acquired it in Camarillo CA in 2017. I am minded to share this wonderful story about this fabulous car and it’s inspiring owner.
Enter one Domenick ‘Dodo’ Miretti. Born in Rancho Palos Verdes Southern California 1932 to immigrant Italian parents, whom were farmers that had relocated from Europe in search of a better life. Having been given a small portion of the family’s ranch to farm, the teenage Dodo began to harvest beans and soon amassed a small fortune in cash. At 15 years old he walked into a Los Angeles Buick dealership in 1947 and bought this imposing top of the range long wheelbase Buick Roadmaster sedan. Wow! Not only was this astonishing because of Dodo’s age and I might add, without being old enough to obtain a driving licence, but this was a big expensive and hugely impressive car from GM’s premium line in 1947, a car that many would argue was on a par with that years Cadillac Series 60 Fleetwood.
Of course the young man was indeed the talk of the town, but the ambitious and entrepreneurial Dodo was on a mission and soon headed to the waterfront at Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles in the big Straight 8 Buick, where he intended to establish a business with some members of his family. The Big Buick became as reknown as the young businessman himself, who quickly became one of the most senior and respected figures in the Los Angeles shipping world and the associated Dockers Unions in a career that would surpass 50 years. At age 63, Dodo’s significant influence in Los Angeles business circles was unquestionable, but he continued his advancement furthermore achieving a Doctorate in Geography and working as a Teaching Professor at East los Angeles College and USC. As Professor Miretti, he worked tirelessly to advocate the Port of Los Angeles in world trade and continued to lobby and bridge the gap between Dockers Unions and the American Government.
In all that time, Dodo never parted company with his 47 Buick Roadmaster. For many years it was a regular sight on the waterfront of Long Beach, as was the man himself. I heard about this car many times in my hunting in the Los Angeles Metropolis but never got chance to see the car or meet the man in person. I think it would have been a great experience to have met, as both he and I shared a passion for 40’s Buicks, International business, trade, and we are both Geography graduates. I think we had much in common!
Sadly, Domenick died in 2016, but in 2005 he had decided to have the Roadmaster completely restored at no expense spared. In my experience, this is quite unique, as these big sedans rarely get the full restoration treatment because the huge expense and phenomenal number of man hours that are required to complete a quality job far exceeds today’s market values for such a car. These beautiful big impressive Sedans of the 30’s through 50’s will never hold the values of the equivalent year convertible, and actually cost more to restore. But for me these cars encapsulate American life, wealth and successes of the day. A full-size luxury automobile that could confidently cross a Continent through an array of climatic conditions with ease, and in doing so, expressing such a high degree of the day’s fashion and style? …Wow. Only Detroit could produce such a vehicle.
So at 72 years of age, Dodo was getting his 47 one-owner-from-new Roadmaster fit for a King once again. And a Buick fit for the King of the Waterfront had to be something to behold. The car had suffered zero body corrosion in it’s almost 60 years due to the low humidity climate of Los Angeles and the quality of it’s original construction using the finest quality mild steel ever used by the global automobile industry. The car would not need a body-off or any reconstructive sheet metalwork. Dodo commissioned the best Engineers and Craftsmen he could find and the car was adorned with new paintwork, triple-plated chromework, full Connolly leather, Wilton carpets and dash fascia French polishing. Mechanically the Buick needed little more than a refresh, but by this time Dodo would be needing some modern appointments of electric assisted power steering, power disc brakes, air conditioning and a modern entertainment system to enjoy the car fully. In excess of $100,000 later, what emerged was, in my opinion, probably the world’s finest 1947 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster sedan, and believe me, I’ve owned many so I know what I’m talking about. This fantastic one owner California Roadmaster would wow people on the streets once again.
Domenick ‘Dodo’ Miretti ensured the preservation of one of the most impressive big American sedans of the late Forties, and for that I salute him, and I will continue to preserve his memory and great character. In 2017 I purchased the car from Dodo’s Grandson Devin Christiansen who was bequeathed it in his Will. It was shipped to the UK and now resides with a new Collector owner and is on display at The Carding Shed visitor experience in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.