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The Buick Limited was
Buick Buick () is a division (business), division of the Automotive industry in the United States, American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Started by automotive pioneer David Dunbar Buick in 1899, it was among the first American automobil ...
's flagship model line between 1936 and 1942, and, in celebration of GM's Fiftieth Anniversary, a single-year halo car for the Division in model year 1958. Since the 1960s Buick has intermittently used the term "Limited" as a designation denoting its highest level of trim and standard features in its various model ranges. The original line given the Limited nameplate, topped by an extended-wheelbase limousine, was in direct competition with Cadillac senior sedans for clientele, which wanted a GM luxury car but regarded Cadillac as "ostentatious" or "flamboyant" in contrast to Buick's reputation for durable, reliable, and staid premium vehicles.


Buick Series 90 (1931-1935)

Buick's top platform was introduced in 1931 as the Series 90, using the GM " C-body" platform shared with the Cadillac Series 355. It featured a Buick Straight-8 engine OHV engine, developing 104 bhp of power at 2,800 rpm. A premium luxury car, it was intended to compete with the advanced Cadillac V8, the exclusive straight-8 Packard Standard Eight, and other top U.S. marques. Closed cars came with
mohair Mohair (pronounced ) originated from the Arabic word …هيرand it is a fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat (not Angora wool from the fur of the Angora rabbit). Both durable and resilient, mohair is lustrous with high shee ...
velvet interiors, retractable silk passenger compartment shades, and wool carpeting throughout. Roadsters, Phaetons and convertibles came standard with leather interior. Retail prices for the 7-passenger Limousine were US$2,035 ($ in dollars ). The Series 90 offered nearly the same refinement and attention to detail as Cadillac, but lacked its more modern, more powerful engine, while having a more advanced overhead valve train than the Packard's aging flathead design. Standard coachwork for Buick was exclusively supplied by
Fisher Body Fisher Body was an automobile coachbuilder founded as the Fisher Body Company by Frederic and Charles Fisher in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan when they absorbed a fledgling autobody maker. By 1916 the concern had grown into one of the world's large ...
, and
rolling chassis A rolling chassis is the fully-assembled chassis of a motor vehicle (car, truck, bus, or other vehicle) without its coachwork, bodywork. It is equipped with running gear (engine and drivetrain) and ready for delivery to a coachbuilder to be compl ...
were available to coachbuilders. The next year the size grew and a new high-performance engine was introduced developing 113 hp. In 1933 all GM cars received an updated "streamlined" look produced by the corporation's Art and Color Studio headed by
Harley Earl Harley Jarvis Earl (November 22, 1893 â€“ April 10, 1969) was an American Automotive design, automotive designer and business executive. He was the initial designated head of design at General Motors, later becoming vice president, the first ...
. In 1934 the running board was shortened and engine output increased to 116 hp. In 1935 the appearance alone was updated. Total sales for the line was 43,321. In 1936 the model changed its name to "90 Limited". File:1931 Buick 96C convertible (34645408442).jpg, 1931 Buick Series 90 convertible File:1932 Buick 91 (9030435337).jpg, 1932 Buick Series 90


Buick Limited (1936-1942)

The origins of the Limited name date to 1936 when Buick added names to its entire model lineup to celebrate the engineering improvements and design advancements over their 1935 models. It shared its chassis with the top-level Cadillac Series 70 vehicles. Buick had released a new line of cars that were technically superior to their predecessors by offering such features as all-steel passenger compartment tops (GM's Turret Top design), improved front suspension, improved hydraulic safety braking system, alloy engine pistons and an improved engine cooling system. In 1938, the wheelbase was stretched 2 inches from 138 to , and the Limited, along with Roadmaster, lost its wooden structural members for steel, making them the last Buick passenger cars to rely upon wood components. In 1939, Buick products underwent a substantial redesign; however, the Limited's "limited" production merited it to continue using its 1938 body. The 1939 Limited offered a sectioned rear compartment separating the driver from the rear passengers, and a glass partition could be raised to provide privacy. AM radios were first offered as an option. Behind the scenes, Cadillac executives lobbied to get the Limited out of production because it infringed on their market. While it was priced in the lower end of its Fleetwood series price point, the Limited was listed at US$2,453 ($ in dollars ) but almost equaled Cadillac's factory built Imperial Touring Limousine, which cost almost four times as much as the Buick, in its appointments. Buick executives asserted that Limited production averaged only 1,561 vehicles per year for model years 1938 through 1940, an insignificant amount compared to Cadillac's production of its senior cars. For 1940 Buick renamed some of its Series designations and gave names instead. Buick's Series 40 was named the Special, the Series 50 became the
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, the Series 60 was named the
Century A century is a period of 100 years or 10 decades. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c. ...
, the Series 70 was named the Roadmaster, and the Limited was given both the Series 80 and Series 90, with the Series 90 given to a limousine with a wheelbase and 8-passenger capacity. The engine was a Buick Straight-8 engine, improving to by 1939. Limiteds were the most expensive Buicks in production, riding on the company's longest wheelbase of , and the best appointed cars that Buick built. All Limiteds were built at the Buick factory in
Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city in Genesee County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Flint River (Michigan), Flint River northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the Central Michigan, Mid Michigan region. Flin ...
, while all Cadillacs were built in
Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
at the Clark Street Facility while coachwork was provided by
Fisher Body Fisher Body was an automobile coachbuilder founded as the Fisher Body Company by Frederic and Charles Fisher in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan when they absorbed a fledgling autobody maker. By 1916 the concern had grown into one of the world's large ...
. Production of the Limited, and all Buick continued until the eve of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
when the last Buick was built February 2, 1942. Following
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Buick dropped its extended wheelbase models, and cancelled the Series 90 Limited nameplate. The name Limited was truly appropriate to the cars themselves which were limited to touring sedans and limousines; its sales too were the smallest of Buick's entire model range: File:1936 Buick Limited Series 90.jpg, 1936 Buick Limited Series 90 File:1937 Buick. Limited series - 90. (3593514158).jpg, 1937 Buick Limited Series 90 File:1938 Buick 8-90 Limited 01.jpg, 1938 Buick Limited Series 90 File:1940 Buick Limited Convertible Sedan (14364246085).jpg, 1940 Buick Limited Convertible Sedan


1958 Limited

In celebration of GM's Fiftieth Anniversary, the Buick Limited name was revived as a single-year halo car for the Division in model year 1958. In comparison to the chrome-laden junior models in the Buick lineup, the GM C platform-based Limited was slightly more restrained than the Special,
Century A century is a period of 100 years or 10 decades. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c. ...
,
Super Super may refer to: Computing * SUPER (computer program), or Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, a video converter/player * Super (computer science), a keyword in object-oriented programming languages * Super key (keyboard butto ...
and Roadmaster. Instead of a chromed side panel trim, it got a body color-keyed insert decorated with fifteen slanted hash marks (three groups of five). The Limited also received its own rear tail treatment that traded the heavy chrome tail light housings for a wraparound tail light lens broken up by four chrome bands. Rear bumper "Dagmars" housed "Dual Jet" back-up lights. In the front, it received the same aggressive ''Fashion-Aire Dynastar'' grille, cast of 160 chrome squares, each "shaped in a design to maximize the amount of reflective light"according to Buick PR. Power brakes were standard. Available only as a 4-door hardtop, 2-door hardtop coupe or convertible, the Limited rode Buick's wheelbase, and overall length . Interiors were of high quality fabrics in sedans and coupes, full leather in convertibles. Buick sold only 7,438 Limiteds, due in part to their price. The Limited's four-door hardtop sedan started at a base price of $5,112, ($ in dollars ) which was $221 ($ in dollars ) higher than Cadillac's entry-level Series 62 four-door hardtop sedan at $4,891 ($ in dollars ) of which
Cadillac Cadillac Motor Car Division, or simply Cadillac (), is the luxury vehicle division (business), division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Its major markets are the United States, Canada and China; Cadillac models are ...
sold 13,335 units. For the 1959 model year, Buick renamed its entire lineup, with the
Super Super may refer to: Computing * SUPER (computer program), or Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, a video converter/player * Super (computer science), a keyword in object-oriented programming languages * Super key (keyboard butto ...
becoming the Invicta, the Roadmaster becoming the Electra 225. File:Buick Convertible 1958 3.jpg, 1958 Buick Limited Riviera convertible File:Buick Riviera Limited Coupe (Cruisin' At The Boardwalk '10).jpg, 1958 Buick Limited Riviera coupe File:1958 Buick Limited.jpg, 1958 Buick Limited Riviera sedan rear


Limited trim package

The Limited name was used again in 1967 as a trim option on the Electra 225 Custom model and other models. Between 1971 and 1979, Buick added the "Limited" name to its top trim Electra 225, which was previously known as the Electra 225 Custom. The cars were not badged as Electra 225s, but instead wore "Limited" scripts. However, these cars were Electra 225s, and in a break from tradition, the "Limited" trim level could be optioned with either the Park Avenue or Park Avenue DeLuxe options package, each even more well-equipped than the Limited model alone. Buick continued to use the designation of "Limited" through 2005 on its various models to typically denote the highest trim level in a model range. File:Buick Electra 225, 1965 (41616043425).jpg, 1965 Buick Electra 225 Limited File:1973 Buick Electra 225 Limited (29069885071).jpg, 1973 Buick Electra 225 Limited File:Buick Electra Limited 1975.jpg, 1975 Buick Electra 225 Limited File:1979 Buick Electra Limited Landau Coupe, front left (Hershey 2019).jpg, 1979 Buick Electra Limited Landau Coupe File:Buick Century Limited -- 03-24-2011 1.jpg, 1985 Buick Century Limited File:Buick Skylark Limited (10022672263).jpg, 1985 Buick Skylark Limited File:'86-'87 Buick Somerset Limited.jpg, 1986 Buick Somerset Limited File:1987 Buick Regal Limited (1).jpg, 1987 Buick Regal Limited File:1991 Buick Regal Limited Coupe (29497345741).jpg, 1991 Buick Regal Limited File:Buick LeSabre Limited (6292736020).jpg, 1992 Buick LeSabre Limited File:Buick Roadmaster Limited Estate Wagon 1996 (11499033763).jpg, 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited File:1997 Buick Skylark Limited (29781481810).jpg, 1997 Buick Skylark Limited File:1998 Buick LeSabre Limited, Emerald Green, front right.jpg, 1998 Buick LeSabre Limited File:1999 Buick Century Limited, Front Left, 05-16-2020.jpg, 1999 Buick Century Limited


References

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External links


King of the Road
{{Buick postwar timeline Limited Cars introduced in 1936 Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States Cars discontinued in 1958 Full-size vehicles Luxury vehicles