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Buick Cars

Buick, an integral segment of the General Motors line-up of vehicles, has been known in America for its luxury and overall bigger size of vehicle. It is also one of the divisions that has survived what is being called the “GM Reinvention” of 2009. Still considered one of the higher end vehicles in the domestic marketplace, Buick typically appealed to a more mature and discerning audience. If one was asked “who drives a Buick?”, the typical response will be “old people”. Grandfathers and older aunties desiring something elegant, respectable, and bigger than the average vehicle would be the normal answer. A car that says you have arrived at a stage in your life where you can afford something solid and fancy but subtle.

It seems, however, that the car has come a long way from its previous image. More and more mothers are buying the brand, as the cars are considered conducive to carrying small children. In addition, several reviews by independent users suggest that the cars are more sporty than in the past. Still considered luxury vehicles, Buick competes with Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Toyota. But in 2005, J.D.Power (“a global marketing information firm that conducts independent and unbiased surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality and buyer behavior”) stated that Buick was the top performer of the four brands. Further, the Century and the LeSabre ranked highest in the premium mid-size and full-size car classes.



Founded in 1903 as the Buick Motor Company by David Dunbar Buick, the company control is quickly assumed by William Durant (later founder of GM) in 1904. But in 1908, by way of incorporating the Buick Motor Company, General Motors is founded. That same year, Buick far exceeds the productivity of both Ford and Cadillac becoming the number one producer of vehicles. So brisk are sales that by 1923, the company has built its one-millionth vehicle. And the accolades just keep coming as Buick seems to be the first at many things while capturing the attention and pocketbooks of the American public.

Milestones for Buick:

• 1920s Introduces four wheel brakes, a first on mass production vehicles
• 1925 Introduces six cylinder standard six economy line
• 1931 Produce an eight cylinder car
• 1938 Unveil the world's first concept car, the Y-Job
• 1939 Flasher operated rear turn signals are released. Another first for Buick.
• 1942 Focus turned to war and they build tanks
• 1949 Portholes on the fenders become features of the cars
• 1952 Power steering is introduced in Buick, Cadillac and Olds vehicles
• 1953 In addition to Cadillac and Oldsmobile models, power brakes are introduced in Buicks
• 1981 Buick Regal is used as the fifth pace car at Indy
• 1981 Famed NASCAR driver Richard Petty wins the Daytona 500 in a Buick Regal. So popular was the car, there were another thirteen Buicks in the starting field. Apparently the edge that Buick provided was its advanced aerodynamics. In fact, its racing domination continued until 1983 when other brands finally developed similar features.
• 1964 Buick releases the Opel Kadett and a new campaign effort to match. Trying to convince families that they need two cars, the Opel comes as a Sport Coupe and a Station Wagon. Promotional material plays upon the fact that the mother is left home stranded with the children while the father plays golf. Because Buick's station wagon was considerably less expensive than other brands, it only stood to reason that the family should own both vehicles which together were quite economical, according to the magazine ads.
• 2002 Release the first truck-based vehicle since 1923 called the Rendezvous Crossover
• 2002 Marks the one-hundredth birthday

Models and Years Released:

• 1904 Model B Touring Car
• 1907 Model D
• 1931 Series 50
• 1936 Buick Century
• 1936 Buick Roadmaster
• 1938 Y-Job Convertible
• 1940 Estate Wagon
• 1941 Buick Super
• 1949 Roadmaster Convertible
• 1950 Riviera Coupe
• 1950 Riviera Super
• 1951 LeSabre and XP-300
• 1953 50th Anniversary Roadmaster Skylark Convertible
• 1961 Invicta
• 1962 Skylark
• 1963 Riviera
• 1964 Opel Kadett
• 1965 Wildcat
• 1970 Gran Sport (GSX)
• 1981 Regal
• 1982 Riviera Convert
• 1987 Regal Grand National (GNX)
• 1988 Reatta
• 1991 Park Avenue
• 1992 revamped Roadmaster
• 2002 Rendezvous Crossover
• 2004 Rainier SUV
• 2005 Terraza SUV
• 2005 Buick LaCrosse
• 2005 Buick Lucerne
• 2008 Buick Enclave Crossover
• 2008 Invicta Concept