1909 Buick Model 16

Roadster

Before there was any such thing as the Chevrolet Motor Company, Swiss born immigrant Louis Chevrolet was an engineer and race driver of note. One of his employers was David Dunbar Buick, for whom Louis drove for in 1909. Buick was among those pioneers who used racing both as a means for testing his products as well as to attempt to prove their worth before the general public. Buick entered several stripped-down passenger cars in the inaugural three days of automobile racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 19-21, 1909 and it is believed this four-cylinder, 298 cubic-inch Model 16B is the very car number 34 which carried Chevrolet to a four-lap, 10 mile victory on the opening day. His average was 64.1 mph. The Buick would win 161 national and international races and set 11 speed records before its retirement prior to May, 1911.

The Buick Motor Company was founded in 1903 by David Dunbar Buick and soon the company caught the attention of William Crappo Durant. In 1908, Buick became one of the first members of the General Motors Corporation. This was also the same year that Buick introduced its Model 10 which carried a price tag of $900. During its inaugural year of production, over 4,000 examples were produced, providing Buick and General Motors with financial prosperity. In 1909 Buick introduced the Model 16 which brought even more financial benefits with sales increasing to 8,100 units produced.

The 1909 Buick Model 16 was availed as a Roadster or a Tourabout, both having a base price of $1,750. Power was from a four-cylinder engine with a cast iron block and a 318 cubic-inch displacement. It had a Schebler carburetor and offered just over 32 horsepower. The engine was mated to a three-speed sliding gear transmission and braking was controlled by mechanical brakes on two wheels. The wheelbase measured 112 inches, which was the second largest platform Buick offered - the largest was the Model 17 which was half-an-inch larger, available as a five-passenger Tourer, and had the same base price as the Model 16.

by Dan Vaughan

The Buick Motor Company was founded by David Buick in 1903 who quickly found himself in financial problems. Dunbar is perhaps more famous, although not widely known, as the individual who developed a method of affixing porcelain to cast iron, resulting in the household white bathtub. In 1909, Buick sold the design for $100,000, giving him the financial ability to enter the automobile business. Although Mr. Buick was a talented plumber and an inveterate tinkerer, he lacked the business skills and experience to operate such an endeavor. Three companies later, the Buick Motor Company was acquired by James H. Whiting who appointed William Crapo Durant as president. David Buick sold his stock and departed the company in 1908.

William Crapo Durant gained control of the company and soon sales, production, and profit greatly increased. In 1908, the Buick Company became a founding member of the General Motors Corporation. This was the same year the Model 10 Buick was introduced. It carried a price tag of $900 which included the Buick Gray paint scheme, oil side and tail lights, acetylene headlights, and bulb horn as standard. The top was optional and cost an additional fee. In total, over 4000 examples were produced in its first year, providing Buick and General Motors with financial prosperity.

In 1909 Buick extended the chassis length to 92 inches. The number of body styles and sales also increased, reaching 8,100 units produced. By 1910, Buick was offering the Model 10 in 13 different body styles. The side-mounted spare and a windshield remained as optional equipment.

Production would last until 1910 with a total of 23,000 units being produced.

by Dan Vaughan