Five Fun Facts About Buick

Buick vehicles have been in production for 115 years! Today, they have state-of-the-art facilities around the world.

But the first Buick was hand-built in a small barn behind David Dunbar Buick’s Detroit home. The transformation from a passion project to one of the most popular automobile companies in the world has created many memorable moments for the car company.

Today, the Thompson Sales team will share some of the most interesting fun facts about the company and cars that you may, or may not know.

Whether you’re a Buick enthusiast or simply looking to learn some neat facts to share with your friends, read on to learn the top five fun facts about one of our favorite car companies.

What are five fun Buick facts?

1 – The truth is, no one is really certain that is was actually David Dunbar Buick who built the company’s first car. Some say it was Walter L. Marr, Buick’s engineer, who built their first automobile between 1899 and 1900. Buick, however, says its official founding was May 19, 1903, when the company was incorporated as the Buick Motor Company and moved from Detroit to Flint, Michigan. 

2 – Buick began the race to create powerful automobile engines. They were the first automaker in the world to equip its vehicles with overhead valve engines. Walter Marr developed a prototype for a cylinder head with integrated overhead valves, which was much more complex than previous flat head and sleeve-valve designs. While overhead valve engines were complex, they also provided their cars with huge power gains.

3 – The Buick triple-shield emblem has had many different iterations over the years, but they share one thing in common. The triple-shield design was based on the coat of arms of the Buik family in Scotland. When the three shields first appeared in 1960, they represented the company’s three active models: Electra, Invicta, and LeSabre.

4 – Buick is actually a huge producer of automobiles in China. Around 80% of their worldwide sales all happen in China. This is likely a result of them being one of the first brands GM’s Chinese joint venture launched in the 1990s. 

5 – In 1942, Buick switched its focus from producing automobiles to helping with the war effort as WWII came around in full force. During this period they engineered aircraft engines, ammunition, and most famously, the M18 tank destroyer, otherwise known as the Hellcat.

Where can I purchase a new Buick vehicle in Springfield, Missouri?

Visit Thompson Sales today! We have a huge lineup of Buicks, GMCs, and Cadillacs, both new and used. If you want a great car at an even better price, Thompson Sales is for you. Contact our sales team today at (417) 763-6811.