Built in 1938 and put on the road in 1939 the Buick Y-Job is considered the first concept car. Created by General Motors Styling and Buick Engineering. It was designed by Harley Earl, GM's first design chief, and built on a production Buick ch***is modified by Charlie Chayne, then Buick's chief engineer. Buick called it Y because so many makers dubbed experimental cars as an X. Styling and mechanical features of the Y-Job showed up on GM products, particularly Buick and Cadillac throughout the 1940s.
Man, the styling cues on later vehicles are ALL OVER this car!! Most people think vacuum operated hidden headlights debuted on Rivieras and RS Camaros...
Amazing car, saw it at Pebble Beach in 2008 He drove it regularly to work too...Imagine seeing it coming down the road in 1939/1940!
Reminds me of the 2000 Buick Blackhawk car that was planned for limited production. I think a few were made, but not for public sale.
Probably similiar to those vacuum operated headlight covers on the 49-51 Lincolns. I forget the models.
thats bad ***, i freakin love the head lights. never seen this many pics of this car until now, always thought it was cool, but it makes me appreciate it even more.
Anson models produced a greatly detailed 1/18th scale model of the Y job.I bought one of e-Bay from a guy in England.Not sure if they ever released it in the States.
One fine looking car! Harley knew what he was doing. I think he also had a pretty good idea what the public wanted in a car as well.