Buick and the M18 Hellcat

Buick may be known today for its Regal sedan and Enclave SUV, but during the Second World War it produced a tank destroyer that would help Allied forces to victory in both the European and Pacific theaters. The M18 Hellcat moved over the battlefield at up to 60 mph, earning it the nickname of the “Hot Rod of World War II”.

The German advance through Europe had relied on Blitzkrieg, or lightning war tactics, with tanks forming the vanguard of the attack. When the United States entered the war in December 1941, the Ordinance Corps put out a call for a fast tank destroyer to combat these tactics. To meet the challenge, General Motors called on their legendary design chief Harley Earl, who would later go on to design GM’s futuristic concept cars of the 1950s.

Buick made their last civilian car in February 1942, and production of the M18 commenced. Originally the design called for a Christie suspension and a 37 mm gun, but these were found to be inadequate in combat. To improve performance, Buick developed a torsion bar suspension, a setup that still being used by military vehicles today. The Hellcat’s gun was also upgraded to 76 mm. Full scale production of the standardized design began in July 1943.

The M18’s secret weapon was speed. The heavy German Tiger and Panther tanks were fearsome machines, but could only manage 20 mph. Travelling at up to 60 mph, the Hellcat could even outpace today’s M1A2 Abrams. The M18 achieved this speed using a combination of weight and power. Weight was kept down by using thinner armor and an open topped turret. The power was provided by a Wright R-975 radial aircraft engine. The 9-cylinder power plant had a 16 liter displacement and produced 450 horsepower. Another Buick innovation was mounting the engine on steel rollers, allowing for quick removal if repairs were needed.