What kind of Buick is this?

[Guest Straight eight]

This is one of the cars on the Buick web site. Anybody know about it?

[Centurion]

This is the Wildcat III dream car. Surprisingly, most of Buick's 1950's dream cars survived, but this one was evidently destroyed -- which was supposed to be GM's normal practice at the time. I am not entirely clear about the dates of this car. "Seventy Years of Buick" says -- if I recall correctly -- that the car dates from 1959, but I feel quite confident that that date is incorrect. I'm guessing 1955, which would put it between the Wildcat II (1954) and the Centurion (1956). Stylistically, that seems like a reasonable guess.

[BUICK RACER]

Maybe, maybe not, it almost looks like the '56 car that Don Mayton, from the West Michigan Chapter has, except that one is blue, has alot of the same features. The car Don has was supposedly a concept too! Has flat trim stainless like a Skylark, seems to me. I'll have to look around, for some pics or maybe one of Don's West MI buddies has some pictures.

[NTX5467]

I just went back into the website to find those pictures and such. Seems they've rearranged things from what they were before the Centennial.

Seems like there's a name plate on the front of the quarter panel, above the side molding. This is why I wanted to find the picture again, to verify that. Otherwise, I suspect it would be circa '55 or so as the body seems to be a stretched version of what became the '57s.

I seem to recall that many of the concept/show/dream vehicles were destroyed for tax reasons. I know that was the fate of most of the Chrysler turbine cars so they wouldn't have to pay duty taxes on the imported bodies. Probably something similar with the domestic ones too?

NTX5467

[Centurion]

Roberta, I would be very curious to learn what you turn up about Don Mayton's car. I was unaware of a surviving concept car, except for those that were displayed in Flint and the Wildcat I of the Bortz Collection.

NTX, my understanding is that the dream cars were typically destroyed because they were not built for regular use and GM had liability and warranty concerns.

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

CENTURION YOU ARE CORRECT

1955 WILDCAT III

Red two-door four passenger convertible with red leather interior.. It had a sloping belt line and the rear wheels were completely exposed. The hood sloped toward the front of the car, increasing immediate forward vision. The fine screen grill was wide and low and the parking and directional lights were housed in the bumper bombs. Wldcat III is no longer in existance (supposedly). Actually it is sittin in my barn.

Key Features: Fiberglass body

Dimensions: Wheelbase 110.00 in

Overall Length 190.50 in

Height 51.75 in

Width 72.00 in

Engine: V-8 280 HP

Credit-The Buick A Complete History

And BTW as if I have to tell, I was just kiddin (dreamin actually) about it being in my barn <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Lamar in Athens, Georgia HOW 'BOUT THEM DAWGS

1954 Roadmaster 76R

1954 Roadmaster 72R

1954 Century 61

[NTX5467]

Centurion, from what I have read, in the case of the particular Chrysler turbines, there was a duty that would have had to be paid on them by a certain date (like within a year?) so, when they were through with their promotional tour of dealers and potential owners, most were destroyed. I'm not sure how the few remaining ones got past that, but am glad they did.

Typically, concepts and dream cars were not fully functional cars, or just marginally so. Not that many were fully functional vehicles when they were built. They might run and drive, but not reliably so in many cases--which is probably why many are limited to 35mph when the press gets to "drive" them for a story. Many of the cars that Ford recently auctioned off for charity were not fully functional cars.

Their degree of functionality is highly variable, but their mission is to get us excited about them.

Enjoy!

NTX5467