conceptcarz.com

1951 Buick LeSabre Concept

The first post-war dream car built by General Motors was the LeSabre, introduced in December of 1950. It was a two-passenger convertible featuring styling cues evocative of its namesake the F-86 LeSabre fighter jet. Design elements include a 'front-intake' nose cone, wraparound cockpit windshield, tall tail fins, and a barrel-shaped trunk with glowing 'afterburner' brake light.

The brainchild of GM Design Chief Harley Earl, its design reflected his attempt to merge the modern jet aircraft into the style of the automobile. Jets symbolized the very latest design and engineering and Earl's ideas transcended into the LeSabre concept.

The LeSabre was built to be roadworthy so that following its tour on the auto show circuit, it could become Earl's personal automobile - and it was, for two years. The body is made of aluminum, magnesium, and fiberglass and the car is powered by a 215 cubic-inch aluminum, 335 horsepower supercharged V8 engine designed to run on both gasoline and ethanol with two separate fuel tanks and two carburetors.

It features GM's first rear-mounted HydraMatic transmission along with a 12-volt electrical system, heated seats, electric headlamps concealed behind the central 'jet intake' front bumper Dagmars, a water sensor to activate the power top, and electric jacks integral to the chassis. Along with its predecessor, the Buick Y-Job, it is perhaps the most famous concept car of all time.

After a publicity tour that included a tour of France and Belgium, Harley Earl updated the LeSabre's sheet metal for the 1953 Motorama where it captured the imagination of more than a million spectators.

Although the LeSabre Concept is often labeled a Buick, partly due to the use of the name on Buick products, the LeSabre Concept did not wear any Buick marque insignia.

Related Reading : Buick LeSabre History

With over half a centurys worth of memories, the earlier models of the LeSabre inspire a sense of nostalgia back to a time when life was supposed to be simplified. The image of technology in the early stages, design, dynamic lines, unique and individual accessories, and the advanced exterior engineering is apparent in the LeSabre models of old. Maintaining the same qualities that carried it through....
Continue Reading >>

1951 Buick LeSabre Concept Vehicle Profiles

1951 Buick LeSabre Concept vehicle information
Roadster

Designer: Harley Earl

Recent Vehicle Additions

Related Automotive News

Four Harley Earl Designs from the General Motors Heritage Collection - Including Legendary Y-Job and LeSabre Concepts - to be Featured at Detroit Concours d'Elegance

Four Harley Earl Designs from the General Motors Heritage Collection - Including Legendary Y-Job and LeSabre Concepts - to be Featured at Detroit Concours d'Elegance

Four iconic vehicles from the GM Heritage Collection to be part of the Cars of Harley Earl featured class Rarely seen together outside the GM Heritage Center Y-Job and LeSabre, two of the most influential concept cars ever built, return to the str...
BUICK TURNS 110: 11 HIGHLIGHTS OF 11 DECADES

BUICK TURNS 110: 11 HIGHLIGHTS OF 11 DECADES

Buick vehicles today are built in state-of-the-art facilities around the world. The Enclave luxury crossovers Lansing Delta Township plant was the industrys first LEED Gold-certified manufacturing facility. The brand has evolved in many ways since...
Four Harley Earl Designs from the General Motors Heritage Collection - Including Legendary Y-Job and LeSabre Concepts - to be Featured at Detroit Concours d'Elegance

Four Harley Earl Designs from the General Motors Heritage Collection - Including Legendary Y-Job and LeSabre Concepts - to be Featured at Detroit Concours d'Elegance

Four iconic vehicles from the GM Heritage Collection to be part of the Cars of Harley Earl featured class Rarely seen together outside the GM Heritage Center Y-Job and LeSabre, two of the most influential concept cars ever built, return to the str...
Century  X - Bill Mitchell's 'Special Order' Factory Custom Buick Joins The Amelia's Cars Of Harley Earl Class

Century X - Bill Mitchell's 'Special Order' Factory Custom Buick Joins The Amelia's Cars Of Harley Earl Class

Jacksonville, FL - Buicks unique and obscure Century X styling department custom will make its international concours debut in the Silver Anniversary Amelia Concours dElegances Cars of Harley Earl class on March 8, 2020. Bill Mitchell was...
Concours Celebrates GM's Jet-age Turbine Gas Dream Cars

Concours Celebrates GM's Jet-age Turbine Gas Dream Cars

The Concours dElegance of America, held annually at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth Michigan, celebrates its 40th Annual event July 27-29 by recognizing the 70th anniversary of Porsche with special displays and exhibits - including vehicles rarely...
Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale Auction

Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale Auction

Over a period of ten days, the Barrett-Jackson auction company had 1,611 vehicles cross their block, which resulted in over %24131.9 million in vehicle sales along with %246.55 in automobilia sales. This record setting performance makes it the companys...
Corvette Shines in the Big Apple

Corvette Shines in the Big Apple

All-new Corvette Stingray comes to New York City 60 years to the day after Motorama debut 2013-01-16 Sixty years ago tomorrow, spectators lined New York Citys posh Park Avenue, waiting to get a glimpse of the ground-breaking Chevrolet...