Buick automobile brand created David Dunbar Buick,
who was born September 17, 1854 in the house of a fisherman, to the north of Edinburgh in Scotland, as to David was 2 years old his family immigrated to the U.S. city of Detroit.
For the first time his talent was truly manifested, when David was in the water supply company in Detroit. Young engineer have developed a new method of high-temperature ceramics and iron compounds. As a result, the company was able to produce unique pipes and bathroom equipment, has brought himself to David considerable profit. But Buick did not stop there and invent many more useful things, such as irrigation of lawns and even the device in the tank drain pan. Having succeeded in a field related to plumbing, Buick decides to change the scope of activities. Inspired by the sophisticated mechanics, he became interested in ships' engines, and soon goes to the construction and automobile engines.
In 1899, David founded Buisk-Auto-Vim and Power Co., And after it - Buick Manufacturing Company, producing verhneklapannye engines designed by him. These motors are extremely powerful (up to 29 liters.!) And perfect for its time. Verhneklapanny engine generally has long remained a symbol of Buick, and on the company logo sported the words "Verhneklapannye cars."
David built the first car with his son in 1901 and then sold it to a friend for $ 300. Two years later, Buick risked all his capital and founded the Buick Motor Car Co. And in the summer of 1904 came to light model "B» c 22-horsepower engine and a top speed of 56 km / h. Motor vehicle was verhneklapannym twin, although at the time, even Cadillac treated with a single cylinder. It cost $ 950 a miracle of technology. However, far from the business Buick was not able to solve the financial problems of the young company.
In 1902 appeared the first poster with the word Buick words. Almost after (1904) developed the first emblem "Buick Manufacturing Co." which was published in the first catalog of products in 1904. Uncle Sam on it goes around the world and pulls a Buick engine on wheels with the caption "Known around the world."
In 1904, the Buick Motor Car Co. bought and reorganized by William Crapo Durant. Buick could participate in meetings of the Board of Directors, but such a situation it is obviously not very much, David, and ceased to do business firm.
In 1905. Buick introduced a round emblem that says "Buick" in the center and the words "quality car" ("The Car of Quality") in a circle.
In 1906 he left the Buick, not even requiring the calculation. His follow-up was associated with oil production, however, all initiatives have failed. Its share of David Buick sold for just $ 100 000, Ummah at that time a large, but given the scale of the enterprise it was a little bit. Unfortunately he was unable to save and the money.
Meanwhile, the Buick lineup is undergoing significant changes, most important of which - the new 4-cylinder engine in 1907.
In 1908, Buick is a concern General Motors.
By the number of cars sold Buick quickly took the first place - in 1908, sold 8820 vehicles. In the same year the company was joined Buick two - Maxwell-Briscoe and Reo. Since September 16, 1908 was born corporation General Motors. Lots of fresh technical solutions used in the construction of vehicles allowed Buick to feel confident in the market. During the First World War the company produced everything from artillery shells and finishing medical vans.
In 1911, the logo was changed, which was a large letter "B" and "uick" inside it.
On the racing success of the Indianapolis Motor Speed Motor Buick was obvious. He has shown excellent results on the reliability of the country and around the world. Buick was the only car that came to the finish line during relay race Chicago - New York City in 1906. There was also the first that has traveled in 1914. all Yuzhnoyu America, traveled from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santiago, Chile.
Durant first started talking about combining with other manufacturers operating in the low price field, such as Henry Ford and Ransom Olds, who then headed REO.
When these discussions failed, in September 1908, Durant single-handedly created a holding company General Motor, and immediately turned to her brand of Buick, and later Oldsmobile. Then they were joined by Cadillac and Oakland (forerunner Pontiac) and the business of auto parts (AC Spark Plug).
Durant has exceeded its financial condition, when inhaled over 30 companies to GM during the 1908-10d. In 1910, he lost control of the financial group GM.
Along with Lewis Chevrolet in the following year they created a company Chevrolet. In 1915, Durant used Chevrolet, to regain control of GM. As strange as it he udalos.Prezidentom GM, he appointed Charles W. Nash.
In 1913, the new brand logo has been changed, now etobyla inscription "Buick" on a blue rectangle with a white frame. Has also been developed for authorized dealers emblma Buick.
Let's go back to the creator of brands initially, David Buick had moved west to California to try his hand in the oil business. He later tried his hand at real estate in Florida. None of these attempts was successful. In 1928 Vuick is to serve as an instructor in a vocational school in Detroit.
The financial situation of David Buick was on the brink, he barely made ends, most of the friends with whom he began to forget about him, the press just stopped writing about him.
In early March 1929 he fell ill and was taken from his home in the ambulance to the hospital. Okazalo that he had colon cancer. It was decided to have surgery, in those years, medicine has successfully made it possible to conduct such operations. But a fatal course of circumstances, David Buick strongly supercooled at night in her room because of bad prilazhenoy vents through which constantly through the cold air. The already weakened body could not help David Buick died March 5, 1929 in Harper Hospital in Detroit. His wife died several years later and his son Thomas died in 1943. He was buried in Woodmere Cemetery (Woodmere) in Detroit.
Ben Briscoe wrote sadly that in 1921, David was forced to sell their shares for 100 000, if he udalo save them, they in 1929 would cost more than $ 10,000,000. Their value today would be almost impossible to calculate.
In the early 30-ies in the Buick lineup has undergone great changes. On some models have begun to install an 8-cylinder engines. Each year, production increased: in 1933, was issued 47 000 cars, and after four years almost five times more - 220 000! In 1936, with the first rolled off the Roadmaster. Beginning with this year's Buick cars each series in addition to the numbers are still received and its own name. Series there were four: 40 Special, 60 Century, 80 Roadmaster, and 90 Limited. In 1937 came the first Buick emblem shield.
B 30's Ralph Pew (Ralph Pew), designer of GM, used the family coat of arms for the kind Buik new logo.
During the Second World War, Buick has received more than a billion dollars worth of orders. So that means there is enough to make the post-war years immediately start work on new models. In 1948 the company car for the first time established an automatic gearbox Dynaflow. Appeared on the front fenders holes that simulated exhaust pipes fighters during the war. By the way, this design element has been the hallmark of Buick about 45 years! Against the background of these changes new curved windshields and tinted side windows seem something quite ordinary.
In 1953 the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. In honor of this release Skylark'53. Five years later, it is joined by three more models - LeSabre, Invicta and Electra. They were originally destined to become the symbols of the company, because when you change the logo in 1959, it decided to include two more Scottish shield, each corresponding to a car of this trio.
This all took place September 15, 1958 when the newly appointed general manager of Buick, Edward T. Ragsdale, said the company will now produce not just a brand-new Cars - they are even now be called in new ways. "Now, no Special, Roadmaster, Sentury, Limited, and similar banalschiny! They will be replaced by an economical, but calling Le Sabre, fast and luxurious Invicta Electra". Old-timers chuckled enterprise, but to recognize that new car look perfectly, they still had.
Styling the new "Buick" was sensationally simple. In the showroom were long and very low car with a characteristic curved delta wings, diamond-shaped radiator and the band position lamps. All of its elegant look, they have challenged the dominance of chrome-plated radiator bagatelles for lining and sides, so fashionable in the late fifties. The filling was a match for the new forms and new names. The choice had two V-shaped "eight" 250-horsepower Wildcat for "Le Sabre" and the 325-strong Wildcat 455 for "Invicta" and "Electra." Of course, these "wild cats" had to be able to properly heel, so the chief engineer offices Buick, not without pride, said that "today no one in the U.S. Cars Gallery does not have such a reliable and effective braking system." The front brake drums cast aluminum and have air-cooled, rear-ribbed steel and had reached 30 inches in diameter. And, of course, steering with servo, which was improved from year to year and is now an easy and compliant - "cake" was from stop to stop two and a half turns.
When the car rolled onto the asphalt, all seen in the fact that the new generation of "Buick" great road holding. Editor-in Mechanics Illustrated, inimitable Thomas Mc-Cahill, whom everyone called in the same way as one of the most popular in American literature, Blacks - Uncle Tom, drove a new Buick Invicta "through all the circles of hell" in GM Avtopoligona Milforde. After a trip Avtozhurnalist issued a metaphor: "Cars Gallery bites into the pavement with the same force, like a mosquito in a buffalo." Drawn by the call of duty Uncle Tom was trying to turn the Cars Gallery, sharply twisting the wheel at a speed of 180 km / h. Eyewitnesses told the madness that was sitting in the passenger seat engineer just silly giggling - he knew that this is almost impossible to put Cars Gallery into a skid. In fact, besides the brakes it was designed for an entirely new anti-roll bar.
see also:
History of Automobiles: Buick Electra