Facts and History of Early Buicks
The Buick was General Motors answer to the luxury car and can be sumed up with one word: plush.
Up through the 1950s a Buick was bought by older folks as a reward for years of hardwork. Buy a Buick and retire.
David Buick founded Buick in 1903 and built his first car in 1904 (Model B). Bill Durant bought
Buick out in 1907 and called the new company General Motors. During the 1940s and 50s, General Motors created the Estate Wagon
and the Roadmaster. Buick had the first 12-volt electrical systems, the first torque converter transmissions, power brakes
and steering.
Starting in 1949 Buick's starting sporting the now-famous three (lower class models) or four portholes
(upper class models) or vents on the front fender behind the front wheels. Note that these portholes and the Buick
mascot bombsight on the hood gave World War II veterans the feel that they were actually in a fighter plane.
Another Buick style included the sweeping chrome line across the sides of the cars. Sometimes
the chrome sweepline separated two colors but not always.
Also, dating back into the 40s, Buick's grille was a flat oval stretching across the front with chrome ribs inbetween.
