Founded in 1899, Buick dates back to the dawn of automobile manufacturing and is the oldest U.S. carmaker still in business. The first Buicks were prototypes with tiller steering, but the first cars for sale--the 1904 Model B--were built in Flint, MI. A total of 37 Models Bs were built in 1904, but none survive.
William C. Durant, the eventual founder of General Motors, oversaw Buick's early growth. Advanced engineering on the Model B, which had a flat-twin engine, led to other, successful cars, such as the Model D in 1907 and the Model F in 1909.
Under Durant's leadership, Buick became the largest automobile company in the United States in 1908, as the company built a then-stunning 8,820 cars. The money rolled in, and Durant used the cash to buy other car companies, and... View more the resulting company became the behemoth General Motors. Buick became a premium line for GM, second only to Cadillac in status and price.
In 1923, Buick built its one-millionth vehicle. In 1925, Buick introduced the Standard Six line, which featured 6-cylinder engines. By 1931, Buick introduced the Series 50, which had an 8-cylinder, overhead valve engine--the first of its kind.
The Buick Century sold more than 28,000 units in 1936, which were big numbers during the Great Depression. In 1938 legendary GM designer Harley Earl--also known as the creator of the Chevrolet Corvette--designed the Buick Y-Job, which was the first real concept car. Earl also designed many of Buick's most famous models during this era, including the Special, Super and Century. Buick installed the first torque converter automatic transmission--the Dynaflow--in the 1948 Roadmaster.
During the 1950s, Buicks got bigger--and huge, chrome-plated front grilles and sweeping lines became trademarks. But, by the early 1960s, Buick cars, such as the Invicta, Electra, Skylark and LeSabre, became longer, sleeker and lost much of the heavy chrome.
The famous Buick V8 "Nailhead" engine was popular with gearheads in the 1950s and 1960s, as the powerful engine could fit into small spaces--yet was easy to service.
In 1963, GM designer Bill Mitchell's Buick Riviera made a big splash and sold more than 40,000 cars. The early Rivieras--from 1963-1965--were famous for high performance and stunning good looks. By the early 1970s, Buick jumped into the muscle car wars, and the 1970 Buick GSX, with its massive 455-ci V8, was the hottest of the marque.
During the 1980s, Buick was known for family cars, such as the Regal and the Riviera. In 1988, Buick rolled out the Reatta, a two-passenger luxury sports car. Buick's 1986 and 1987 Regal Grand National--and the limited-edition 1987 GNX--featured a turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 engine and were the fastest American-built cars of their era.
Despite General Motors' recent bankruptcy, downsizing and reorganization, Buick continues to build cars. For the 2011 model year, Buick offered three 4-door sedans, including the LaCrosse, which gets 30 mpg and is designed to compete with more-expensive imports. Buick plans to offer eAssist--Buick's hybrid electric motor system--on the 2012 LaCrosse and Regal sedans. View less
The Buick Enclave is a four-door luxury crossover SUV. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive come standard, with optional all-wheel drive available. It boasts a spacious interior, yet its...
The Buick LeSabre is a full-size car that was made by General Motor's Buick Division between 1959 and 2005. All vehicles of this model line feature a frontally-situated engine. The most recent model years...
The Buick Lucerne is a full-size, 4-door sedan that rides on the revised H-body platform. Because of the Lucerne's large body, the sedan gets 27 miles per gallon on the highway, making it one of the least fuel...
Created in 1991, the Park Avenue, a full-size luxury sedan, was Buick's flagship model. After the discontinuation of the rear-wheel drive Roadmaster, it became the largest vehicle in the Buick lineup....
The Buick Rainier was a mid-sized SUV that became a very popular choice in that market after its introduction in 2004. It's notable for its body-on-frame construction, rear wheel drive, an optional 5.3L V-8...
The Buick Regal is General Motor's comeback kid". It is a mid-size vehicle that was originally succeeded by the Buick LaCrosse in 2005. The Regal started out as an A-body with a two-door or four-door style....
The Rendezvous was a crossover luxury SUV offered by Buick from 2002 until 2007. Based on the U-body platform that also underpinned the Chevrolet Venture and other similar minivans, the Rendezvous offered a...
The Buick Terraza is a luxury minivan with a front-engine. It's available with front-wheel drive or, in the 2005 and 2006 production years, all-wheel drive. The Terraza minivan is a four door vehicle with...
