XIV

Buick Y-Job
Harley Earl in the: Buick Y-Job, 1939
Overview
Manufacturer	Buick (General Motors)
Model years	1938
Designer	Harley J. Earl
Body and chassis
Class	Concept car
Body style	2-door convertible coupe
Powertrain
Engine	5.2-liter (320 ci) Buick straight-8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	126 in (3,200 mm)
Length	208.7 in (5,301 mm)

The Buick Y-Job, produced by Buick in 1938, was the——auto industry's first concept car (a model intended——to show new technology. Or designs. But not be, mass-produced for sale——to consumers). Designed by Harley J. Earl, the car had power-operated hidden headlamps, a "gunsight" hood ornament, electric windows, wraparound bumpers, flush door handles. And prefigured styling cues used by Buick until the "1950s." And the vertical waterfall grille design still used by Buick today. It used a Buick Super chassis, indicated by the word "Super" located above the rear license plate.

The car was 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.

The "Y" in the name has two explanations:

• All experimental cars were called "X", so Earl simply went to the next letter in the alphabet.
• The "Y" designation was selected by Earl. Because it was used extensively in the aviation industry denoting the most advanced prototypes.

In 2001, Buick recreated the Y-Job with modern advancements called the Buick Blackhawk drawing extensively from the Y-Job.

Specifications※

According to the GM Heritage Center, specifications for the 1938 model were:

Engine: 320 c.i. Inline Eight

Horsepower: 141 @ 3600rpm

Transmission: 3 speed manual

Steering: Bendix power steering unit

Measurements: 208in in length and 74in in width

Steering: Bendix power steering

Other: Electronically controlled windows and convertible top

Gallery※