Buick Y-Job
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| Manufacturer | Buick |
|---|---|
| Model years | 1938 |
| Class | Concept car |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Engine | 5.2-liter (320 ci) Buick straight-8 |
| Designer | Harley J. Earl |
The Buick Y-Job was the auto industry's first concept car, produced by Buick (a division of General Motors), in 1938.[1] Designed by Harley J. Earl, the car had power-operated hidden headlamps, a "gunsight" hood ornament, wraparound bumpers, flush door handles, and prefigured styling cues used by Buick until the 1950s.
The car itself was actually driven for a number of years by Harley Earl, until he replaced it with a 1951 model car. Sometime after that, the car was restored at the Henry Ford Museum, until 1993 when it was returned to the GM Design Center.[2]
The "Y" in the name has several explanations:
- All experimental cars were called "X", so Earl simply went to the next letter in the alphabet.[3]
- The "Y" designation was selected by Earl because it was used extensively in the aviation industry denoting the most advanced prototypes.[4]
In 2001, Buick recreated the Y-job with modern advancements called the Buick Blackhawk drawing extensively from the Y-job.
[edit] References
- ^ "Inside Line: News, Road Tests, Auto Shows, Car Photos and Videos". Edmunds.com. 2009-01-22. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=116164. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ "1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Images, Information and History (YJob, Dream Car, First Concept Car)". Conceptcarz.com. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z2853/Buick-Y-Job-Concept.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ "1938 Buick Y-Job and Harley Earl-GM PhotoStore". Gmphotostore.com. http://www.gmphotostore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=53217749. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ^ Concept Cars by Larry Edsall pp19 Edizione White Star ISBN 978-88-8095-956-4
[edit] External links
- http://www.carofthecentury.com/the_star_buster.htm
- Edmund´s, The World's First Concept Car: 1938 Buick Y-Job
- Why the 'Y-Job' -- Harley Earl and the Buick Dream Car
- World's first concept car
- http://www.gmphotostore.com/1938-Buick-Y-Job-at-GM-Design-Dome/productinfo/53217131
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