1910 Buick Model 17

The Buick Company was founded by David Dunbar Buick with Walter Marr as chief engineer. In 1904, William C. Durant acquired a controlling interest in the company and would form the underpinnings of Durant's General Motors Corporation. During the early years of the last century, it was Buick's cash flow and sales which fed Durant's acquisitive urges. Buick outsold the Ford Model T in 1909 and 1910, even though Buicks were priced twice as much as the Fords.

By 1908, Buick offered six models with four different engines, an inline two-cylinder which had been Buick's bread-and-butter since the beginning in 1904, a T-head four offered since 1907, a bigger T-head four new in 1908, and a new valve-in-head four, the new Model 10. Its 165 cubic-inch engine had inline vertical overhead valves operated by exposed rocker arms and pushrods from a camshaft set in the crankcase. Rated at 22.5 horsepower, the power was sent to the rear axle through a 2-speed planetary transmission and driveshaft, had semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension at the front and full elliptical leaf springs at the rear, right-hand drive, and rear-wheel brakes.

The Buick Model 10 was priced to compete with the Ford Model T, with a price of $850. It was the best-selling Buick Model in 1909 with over 8,000 examples sold. Nearly 11,000 examples were sold the following year, with a total production of all models reaching 29,425 units, making it one of the industry's major producers. Promoted as 'The White Streak,' it was offered in 'Buick White' in recognition of the competition successes which it had achieved. Buick advertising called it the car for 'men with real red blood who don't like to eat dust.'

The 1910 Buick lineup ranged from a 2-cylinder chain-drive roadster through 10 different series and models. The Model 16 was the mid-priced 4-cylinder offering powered by a 318 CID engine (4.5 x 5-inch bore and stroke) with a cast-iron engine block rated at 48 horsepower. It had mechanical valve lifters and a Stromberg carburetor.

The Buick Model 17 was available as a 5-passenger touring car that had a base price of $1,750. Sales were strong with just over 6,000 examples built in 1910. It had the largest wheelbase in the lineup, measuring 112.5 inches and powered by a 318 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine and offering 32 (SAE) horsepower. It featured mechanical valve lifters and a single Stromberg carburetor. There was shaft drive from the 3-speed transmission and a multi-disc clutch to the rear axle. Steering was by worm and nut.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016