Used Buick Dealership Near Lexington

The Origins and Legacy of Buick

For over a century, Buick has been a leader in the auto industry and paved the way for many of its rivals that follow in its dust. There are plenty of car companies out there that are a few decades old and even several that are more than 100 years old, but Buick has the honor of being the oldest American car company still in business today. That kind of success and longevity only happens by accident or sheer luck; it requires tremendous leadership and the willingness to create vehicles no one else can match. For more than 120 years, Buick has been doing exactly that and making a name for itself unlike anything else in the auto industry.

The Buick legacy began at the turn of the century when the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company produced two automobiles: the first in 1899 and the second in 1900. Company owner David Dunbar Buick was uncertain about moving forward in the new auto industry and wanted to stick with making engines, but they received a patent in 1904 for a valve-in-head or overhead valve engine that would change everything. Around this same time, the company changed its name to Buick Motor Company, moved from Detroit to Flint, Michigan, and began working on increasing production.

Buick made a third automobile in 1903, but things really began in 1904 when production reached 37 vehicles. It was around this time that Buick Motor Company needed an influx of capital, and they found it with William C. Durant, who became a controlling investor in 1904. Durant had a vision for a different kind of car company, and Buick would be a major part of that; he continued to push for increased production in the years that followed: Buick made 750 vehicles in 1905, followed by 1,400 automobiles in 1906, then more than 4,600 vehicles in 1907, and 8,800 automobiles in 1908, making it the biggest car company in the country.

Much of Buick’s early success came from that overhead valve engine design and the impressive performance it delivered. At this point, Durant used Buick's success to acquire more car companies and created General Motors, including Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac. In the following decades, Buick remained a major part of GM’s foundation, offering premium models just below Cadillac in terms of overall market position. Accessible luxury and sophistication remain a hallmark of Buick along with the engines that built this legacy—from the original overhead valve to the legendary straight-six found in the Buick Master Six. The modern Buick lineup has something for just about every driver, with impressive performance and gorgeous styling that remain the foundation of this remarkable company.