Buick is generally considered to be the oldest active automobile brand in the United States. Buick was founded in 1899 by David Buick as the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company which manufactured internal combustion engines. Walter Marr, Buick’s chief engineer, made the first two Buicks between 1899 and 1900. However, David Buick was more comfortable manufacturing marine engines than entering into the growing American automobile market. Walter Marr left Buick in 1901 to found his own automobile company.
In 1902, Buick set up a second company, the Buick Manufacturing Company for the purpose of marketing his engines to car manufacturers and to make his own car. The third Buick was made in 1903 by Marr’s replacement, Eugene Richard. However, Buick was soon out of money and obtained financial help to form the Buick Motor Company.
That same year, James Whiting, the owner of Flint Wagon Works, acquired Buick with the idea of adding Buick’s engines to his farm wagons. Whiting moved the company to Flint Michigan. Marr then returned to Buick in 1903 to help oversee the production of automobiles. In 1904, Whiting brought in William Durant to manage the company. Under Durant’s leadership, Buick became the largest car maker in America by 1908.
In 1904, Buick manufactured 37 automobiles for sale and this number increased to 750 in 1905, 1,400 in 1906, 4,641 in 1907, and 8,800 in 1908. In 1908, Buick Motor Company became the Buick Motor Division of General Motors (GM) and the Buick brand became one of GM’s cornerstones. GM was founded by William Durant.
Durant envisioned a large corporation with each division making cars for one class of buyer. Within this scheme, Chevrolet was to be an entry level car and Cadillac was to be GM’s prestige brand. Buick was to be near the top and the ideal buyer would be moderately wealthy, but unable to afford a Cadillac.
David Buick left the company he founded in 1906. He died, complete penniless, in 1929 at the age of 74.
Shown below are photographs of some of the Buicks which are on display in automobile museums.
Montana Auto Museum
Shown above is a 1912 Buick Model 35 Four.
Shown above: 1929 Buick 4-Door Sedan.
Shown above is a 1936 Buick Special Business Coupe.
According to the display:
“The 1936 Buicks are regarded as the cars that marked the start of the Buick renaissance by Buick historians everywhere. Buick was not at all bashful about touting the top speed ability of these new cars. The Special was capable of 85 miles per hour.”
Shown above is a 1939 Buick Roadmaster 4-Door Sedan. It sold for $1,789.
Shown above is a 1964 Buick Wildcat. The Wildcat was produced from 1963 to 1970. It sold for $3,327.
LeMay—America’s Car Museum
Shown above is a 1916 Buick D-45 Touring.
Shown above is a 1923 Buick 23-35 Touring. My nephew is driving.
Shown above is a 1949 Buick Super, 4-Door Station Wagon. In 1949, Buick ranked fifth in terms of total production.
Shown above is a 1957 Buick Century, 4-Door Station Wagon.
Shown above is a 1960 Buick LeSabre, 2-Door Convertible.
Shown above in a 1965 Buick Riviera GS, 2-Door Hardtop. General Motors intended the car to “look like a Rolls-Royce with the flavor of a Ferrari.”
Shown above is a 1966 Buick Skylark Gran Sport, 2-Door Hardtop. It was intended to attract performance-mind youth.
Shown above is a 1972 Buick LeSabre Custom, 2-Door Convertible.
Shown above is the 1989 Buick Regal “Chattanooga Chew.”
