The 11 Most Significant Buicks in 11 Decades

Following last week’s article about Buick and what it’s become nearly a century and decade later, we’ve decided to highlight 11 of the most intriguing models the brand has created over the years.

Since May 17, 1903, the Buick brand of General Motors has been a hallmark of excellence in the auto industry. Buick, through innovative engineering and forward-leaning design, has been able to remain near the top of the heap for 110 years.

Following are what are considered the most significant Buick models of each decade from the hundreds of models Buick designed for the American automobile market.

1904 Model B: The first Buick made, sold to Dr. Herbert H. Hills of Flint, Michigan, the Model B has to rank as the most significant model of Buick’s first decade (1903-1912). Even though it was sold decades before Buick became known as the ‘doctor’s car,’ the Model B, a two-door vehicle with a passenger capacity of four to five, undoubtedly set the standard for the models that followed.

1916 D-45 Touring: This was Buick’s top-selling model in 1916. This was the year that Buick switched from the four-cylinder engine to a six-cylinder model. Thanks to the D-45, Buick’s sales reached six digits for the first time in the company’s history.

1931 Series 50: The Series 50 was launched during another upgrade of Buick’s powertrains, when it moved to eight-cylinder engines. This model helped maintain Buick’s image during America’s Great Depression.

1936 Century: The streamlined design and more powerful engine of the Century made it the first car to reach the previously unattainable speed for a road car of 100 mph. Thanks to this model, Buick’s sales continued to grow, reaching over 160,000 in 1936, and continuing upward in succeeding years.

1949 Roadmaster: The Roadmaster, with its signature waterfall grills became one of the all-time most collectible Buicks, and was a featured vehicle in the 1988 movie Rain Man.

1953 Skylark: The Skylark, a convertible with the latest in design and technology, including Italian wire wheels and the owner’s name engraved on the steering wheel, was introduced to celebrate Buick’s 50th anniversary. This model came out at the same time Buick introduced the V-8 engine.

1963 Riviera: The Riviera is Buick’s best known design. A powerful sport coupe that was reportedly inspired by a Rolls-Royce the Buick’s main designer saw in a fog in London, it helped pull Buick out of a period during which its designs had come under fire.

1975 Regal: During the 1970s oil crisis, when other mid-size sedans had the gas-guzzling V-8s, the Regal led the way with a standard V-6 engine that was more economical.

1987 GNX: The GNX, with its 276-hp turbocharged V-6 became Buick’s top line performance car. The lightweight, high-tech engine, which could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 engines contributed to its success in NASCAR events.

1999 Century: The Century was the first Buick built in China for that market, sealing Buick’s standing as one of the most prestigious brands in Buick’s largest market.

2008 Enclave: The final entry in the most significant Buick model of the past 11 decades is the Enclave, which continues Buick’s tradition of models that lead the industry in design, engineering, safety, and high quality. Like most current Buicks, the Enclave is a luxury car that has a luxurious interior with the latest technology, but still offers efficient performance and responsiveness.