Buick: Difference between revisions

File:Sparklybuicklogo.jpg

Buick is a brand of automobile built in the United States and China by General Motors. Buicks are also sold in Canada and Israel.

History

Buick originated as an independent motor car manufacturer, the Buick Motor Company, incorporated on May 19, 1903 by David Dunbar Buick in Flint, Michigan. In 1904 the struggling company was taken over by James Whiting, who brought in William C. Durant to manage his new acquisition. Buick himself unwisely sold his stock for a small sum at his departure, and died in very modest circumstances forty years later.

Buick Y-Job, 1938

Durant was a natural, however, and Buick soon became the largest car maker in America. Using the profits from this, Durant embarked on a series of several dozen corporate acquisitions, calling his new mega-corporation General Motors.

At first, the different manufacturers who comprised General Motors competed against each other, but Durant put a stop to that. He wanted each General Motors division to target one class of buyer, and in his new scheme Buick was near the top—only the luxurious Cadillac brand had more prestige. Even today, Buick retains that position in the GM lineup. The ideal Buick customer was comfortably off; possibly not quite rich enough to afford a Cadillac or not desiring the ostentation of one, but definitely in the market for a car a cut above the norm.

Distinguishing features

File:Buick logo.png

File:Buick Electra.jpg

1962 Electra with portholes

Buick's emblem is three shields arranged touching on a diagonal, within a ring. This design was adopted in 1960 and represents the three models that comprised the lineup that year—Electra, LeSabre, and Invicta. The shields are adopted from the shield of the Buick family crest, which in modified form had been used on Buicks since the 30s. A version of the traditional crest appeared on Electras through the 70s.

A traditional Buick styling cue dating to 1949 is a series of three or four portholes or vents on the front fender behind the front wheels. These were originally called Ventiports (later just portholes), and have appeared sporadically on several models since. As of 2003 they have been re-introduced on the Buick Park Avenue.

Geographical distribution

Unlike some of GM's other brands, Buicks are not marketed globally, although in the early years of the marque Buick had a substantial export presence.

Currently most Buick sales are restricted to the United States and Canada. One exception is Israel, where the Buick LeSabre and Buick Rendezvous are imported.

Since 1999, a Chinese version of the Buick Regal has been produced and sold in China under Shanghai GM and has proven to be popular among upscale, professional families. In addition to the Regal, Buick of China also sells the compact Sail, sourced from GM's Asian operations, and a modified version of the US market Venture/Montana/Silhouette minivan named the GL8. Buick has stated that it expects China to become its second largest market.

Buick models

• Buick Apollo
• Buick Caballero
• Buick Centurion
• Buick Century
• Buick Eight
• Buick Electra
• Buick Estate
• Buick Grand National
• Buick Gran Sport
• Buick GSX
• Buick Invicta
• Buick LaCrosse (to be introduced in fall 2004 as a 2005 model)
• Buick LeSabre
• Buick Limited
• Buick Park Avenue
• Buick Rainier
• Buick Regal
• Buick Rendezvous
• Buick Riviera
• Buick Roadmaster
• Buick Skyhawk
• Buick Skylark
• Buick Special
• Buick Sport Wagon
• Buick Super
• Buick Terraza (to be introduced in fall 2004 as a 2005 model)
• Buick Wildcat

See also

• List of automobiles

External links

• Buick home
• Buick in China (English & Chinese)
• Buick in Canada EnglishFrench
• Buick in Israel (Hebrew)