Tuesday, May 6, 2014

BUICK HISTORY





The History of the Buick Automobile thumbnail
The History of the Buick Automobile
The Buick automobile is owned by the Michigan-based General Motors. It's considered an entry-level luxury car positioned above the Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile and below the Cadillac. The Oldsmobile was discontinued in 2004, leaving the Buick as the only mid-level option. The Buick was immensely popular through much of its life and peaked in sales in 1984 when falling oil prices sparked a resurgence in mid-size car sales.


he Buick Motor Company was founded in 1903 by David Buick in Detroit, Mich. It was sold to James Whiting the same year. Whiting hired entrepreneur William Durant to manage the business.
Durant capitalized on Buick's early success by acquiring other automobile companies to form General Motors in 1908. He also developed the corporate policy that no brand compete against another but be targeted to specific customers. The Chevrolet was marketed to the working class; the Oldsmobile and Pontiac to upper middle-class; the Buick to young professionals like doctors, lawyers and mid-level executives and the Cadillac for the wealthy.



The 1936 to 1958 Roadmaster is perhaps Buick's most iconic symbol during the automaker's history. It was Buick's largest and longest car with the 1949 Roadmaster sitting on a 126-inch wheelbase. It came as a sedan, two-door coupe, convertible and five-door station wagon. It featured a huge waterfall grille, "portholes" on the fenders and the trident Buick logo. It was a massive machine powered by a Buick straight-eight or the 322-cubic-inch or 364-ci V-8s.

Like all Detroit automakers, Buick suffered greatly following the 1973 oil crisis as fuel prices skyrocketed. The 1971 to 1976 Electras, for example, measured 233 inches long and featured a 350-ci or 455-ci V-8. But, in 1977, it was downsized by 12 inches and engine options now included the 252-ci V-6 and 307-ci V-8.



Although there had been speculation the Buick may go the way of Oldsmobile, there are no current plans to drop the line. Pontiac was scheduled to be dropped in 2010. For 2010, Buick introduced a new line of LaCrosse and Lucerne cars that are handsome and have tied Jaguar as the most dependable automobile in the United States in a J.D. Power and Associates study.

Whether a classic or brand new right off the showroom floor at Hubcapzone.com we
always have just the parts you're looking for to keep your Buick looking it's best!