Buick is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Started by automotive pioneer David Dunbar Buick, it was among the first American marques of automobiles, and was the company that established General Motors in 1908. Before the establishment of General Motors, GM founder William C. Durant had served as Buick’s general manager and major investor.
For much of its existence in the North American market, Buick has been marketed as a premium automobile brand, selling luxury vehicles positioned above GM’s mainstream brands, while below the flagship luxury Cadillac division. Buick’s current target demographic according to The Detroit News is “a successful executive with family.”
After securing its market position in the late 1930s, when junior companion brand Marquette and Cadillac junior brand LaSalle were cancelled, Buick was recognized as an upscale luxury car with a conservative appearance, as opposed to more ostentatious Cadillac and technology-rich, forward-thinking Oldsmobile. During this same time period, many manufacturers were introducing V8 engines in their high-end models, while Buick used a straight-8 for all models starting in 1931. The first Buick V8 was introduced in 1953, then in 1962, the Buick V6 was introduced for the compact Special model. Buick engines, with few exceptions, have always used overhead valves which the company pioneered in the 1904 Buick Model B.
In 2017, Buick sold more than 1.4 million vehicles worldwide, a record for the brand. The main market is now China, where 80% of Buick-branded automobiles are sold. Buicks are also sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. (Wikipedia)
Here is a cool photo collection from Dave Gelinas that shows the 1940s and 1950s Buick cars on streets.
1948 Buick – Atlantic City , NJ – Driveway Scene, circa 19491948 Buick Super – Sunoco Gas Station on Wrexham & Sullivant Ave., Columbus, OH circa 19491948 Buick Super Woody Wagon – Ranch Home, circa late 1940s1948 Buick, Boat Dock Scene, circa 19491949 Buick – Mother And Son, circa 1950s1949 Buick- Family Photo, circa early 1950s1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible, circa 19491949 Buick Super Coupe – Texaco Gas Station, US Route 25E, Park Street & Walnut Street, Pineville, KY, circa 19491949 Buick1950 Buick – Airforce Servicemen Camp Scene, Alabama Plate, circa 19521950 Buick – Grand Union Supermarket, Tupper Lake, New York, circa 19501950 Buick Jet Back – Driveway Scene, Illinois Plate, circa 19521950 Buick Jetback – Civil War Cannon, Illinois, circa 19521950 Buick Roadmaster Convertible – New York Lake Scene, circa 19511950 Buick1950 Buick1951 Buick XP-300, circa 19511951 Buick, circa early 1950s1952 Buick1954 Buick – Long Beach, California, circa 19551954 Buick Special, circa 19541954 Buick1954 Buick1955 Buick – 1955 Chevrolet – 1951 Plymouth – 1949 Oldsmobile – California Plates, circa 19551955 Buick – Autumn Scene, circa 19551955 Buick – Vintage Shell Station, Missouri, circa 19551955 Buick Century – Snow Bank, Glacer Point, May 19641955 Buick Convertible – Wedding Car Scene, circa 19551955 Buick Special – Boston Street Scene, circa 19551955 Buick Special Convertible – Butler Buick – Jackson, Michigan , circa 19551955 Buick Super1955 Buick1956 Buick1956 Buick – Backyard BBQ, Hannibal, MO, circa 19561956 Buick – Driveway Scene, Florida Plate, circa 19591956 Buick – Neighborhood Street Scene – Two Lady Friends1956 Buick – Wash Day1956 Buick Century – Shell Gas Station, Lake Tahoe, circa mid-1950s1956 Buick Century Convertible Parade Car – Parade Queen, Wood River, IL, circa late 1950s1956 Buick Century Estate Wagon1956 Buick Super1956 Buick Super1957 Buick Caballero Station Wagon – Big Hole National Battlefield, Montana, circa 19581957 Buick Caballero1957 Buick Roadmaster – Shell Gas Station, Flint, Michigan, circa 19571957 Buick Super1957 Buick, Pontiac – Columbia State Historic Park in the Gold Rush Country of Northern California1958 Buick- Miss Cover Girl, Mercedes, Texas, March 13, 19581958 Desoto Fireflite – 1956 Buick – Driveway Scene, December 19611959 Buick Indy Pace Car – Indianapolis Motor Speedway, circa 1959
