| Buick Y-Job | |
| Manufacturer: | Buick (General Motors) |
| Model Years: | 1938 |
| Class: | Concept car |
| Body Style: | 2-door convertible coupe |
| Engine: | 5.2-liter (320 ci) Buick straight-8 |
| Wheelbase: | 1260NaN0 [1] |
| Length: | 208.70NaN0 [2] |
| Designer: | Harley J. Earl |
| Sp: | us |
The Buick Y-Job, produced by Buick in 1938, was the auto industry's first concept car[3] (a model intended to show new technology or designs but not be mass-produced for sale to consumers).[4] Designed by Harley J. Earl, the car had power-operated hidden headlamps, a "gunsight" hood ornament, electric windows,[5] wraparound bumpers, flush door handles, and prefigured styling cues used by Buick until the 1950s and the vertical waterfall grille design still used by Buick today. It used a Buick Super chassis, indicated by the word "Super" located above the rear license plate.
The car was driven for a number of years by Harley Earl, until he replaced it with a 1951 model car. Sometime after that, the car was restored at the Henry Ford Museum, until 1993 when it was returned to the GM Design Center.[6]
The "Y" in the name has two explanations:
In 2001, Buick recreated the Y-Job with modern advancements called the Buick Blackhawk drawing extensively from the Y-Job.
According to the GM Heritage Center, specifications for the 1938 model were:[8]
Engine: 320 c.i. Inline Eight
Horsepower: 141 @ 3600rpm
Transmission: 3 speed manual
Steering: Bendix power steering unit
Measurements: 208in in length and 74in in width
Steering: Bendix power steering
Other: Electronically controlled windows and convertible top