J3Studio Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Title of this thread kind of says it all: what was Buick's inspiration for the Gran Sport name first used in 1965? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjp69 Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 On 7/29/2019 at 4:07 PM, J3Studio said: Title of this thread kind of says it all: what was Buick's inspiration for the Gran Sport name first used in 1965? My guess is that they got it from the Corvette Grand Sport, and dropped the "D" because they didn't gave a (D)amn! But of course that is just a guess, and has nothing to do with the actual facts. :>) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 (edited) While I can't answer the original question with authenticity, i believe Buick was using the "Sport" name for models dating back to the 1920's. So the Gran Sport may have been an extension of that. Edited August 1, 2019 by JohnD1956 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 (edited) Copied from the Bugatti 30 years before and the popularity of Grand Prix racing. https://vandpcars.smugmug.com/1928-Bugatti-Type-40-Gran-Sport-Chassis-40727/ Edited August 1, 2019 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 According to the online dictionaries, Gran is the diminutive for Grandmother. Must have been meant to be a sporty car for your Nana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 Oh come on, now I have to really research, I'm surprised it's not on the internet, cause I want to know, now too never thought about it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J3Studio Posted August 2, 2019 Author Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) 23 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: Copied from the Bugatti 30 years before and the popularity of Grand Prix racing. Hmmm … given Mitchell's (and others of influence) predilection for late 1920s and 1930s designs, that doesn't seem unlikely. There's nothing about the origin of the name in The Buick: A Complete History (6th Revised Edition), but that level of detail may be a bit in the weeds for that tome. Edited August 2, 2019 by J3Studio (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 DISCUSSION 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) Up in these parts the locals had been adjusting to the naming of the Pontiac Grand Prix for about 3 years. There was a bit of hesitation when one took it phonetically (or eagerness depending on the situation). Flint is not a large metropolitan center so I am sure Buick saw Pontiac's attempt at continental flavor being bantered around a bit. They put that big AFB on the Buick 400 at a time when guys were comparing stepping on the gas to flushing the toilet. Thinking about marketing based on the acceleration they might have considered "Grand Spurt" after that exhilarating launch capability. But looking at Pontiac's experience they took Gran Sport as the modest way out. Stranger stuff has happened. Bernie Edited August 2, 2019 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) 19 hours ago, BUICK RACER said: Oh come on, now I have to really research, I'm surprised it's not on the internet, cause I want to know, now too never thought about it! Roberta, let us know what you (or any Buick scholars) actually find out. Everyone is giving hypotheses (or making jokes) so far, but true history, if found out, will be interesting. It's great when the best articles and books have actually interviewed the designers and executives who were there. Edited August 2, 2019 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 How about this then. Still a WAG but perhaps reasonable. Chevrolet was having Success with their Super Sport models. Buick needed something similar, but........ The translation of Gran from French to English is, what else - Super. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 That’s certainly not any French I learned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 6, 2019 Share Posted August 6, 2019 You must have learned the "please excuse my French" translations. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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