Buick Hits Triple Digits

David Buick Descendents on Hand to Celebrate 100 Years of Auto Production

One of North Americas original luxury car producers turned 100 years old last week Monday, May 19. Initially starting out in the farm and marine engine business just after a stint as a plumbing-fixture manufacturer, Detroit native and founder David Buick joined with Walter Marr, who eventually became Buicks chief engineer. The two men developed a two-cylinder motor with a revolutionary overhead valve system.

Just four months after the business was formed it was sold to Flint Wagon Works and moved to Flint, Michigan. The new company built a small assembly plant in 1903, resulting in a total volume of 34 cars in 1904. From its small beginnings up until 1935, a total of 35 million cars were built, making Buick one of the most successful automakers in North America up to that point.

On its birthday General Motors held a party at GM World in Detroit, where it featured some of the marques most revered models along with its most recent concepts, showing the upscale direction the brand will aspire to. Among the new concepts was the beautiful Centieme crossover SUV, a hit at this years Detroit auto show.

On hand were descendents of the luxury automaker, Sally Buick and son Jeff, helping Buicks General Manager Roger Adams unveil a Michigan Historical Marker honoring the legendary industrialist at Detroits Renaissance Center Thursday, May 23. The plaque describes how David Buick started out manufacturing automobile engines and experimental cars in Detroit, only blocks away from GMs Renaissance Center headquarters, before Buicks move to Flint, Michigan.

But the party is far from over. After the unveiling, Adams announced plans for a year long celebration of its centennial.