The first ever concept car in 1938 looks like an epic bit of kit
Published on Jul 25, 2023 at 4:44 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Oct 18, 2023 at 9:08 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
What you’re looking at here is the auto industry’s first ever concept car.
Built in 1938 by GM’s styling section, the Buick was given the name the Y-Job, because it was one step beyond an “eXperimental” car.
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Led by legendary stylist Harley J. Earl, the first VP in charge of design for GM, his team created the sleek convertible in Art Moderne style.
The Y-Job represented the essence of Earl’s design philosophy – low and streamlined.
And it included a bunch of features considered ahead of their time.
It had fenders sweeping back into the doors, concealed running boards, a short horizontal grille (which became standard on automobiles that followed), and hidden headlights.
It also had a gunsight hood ornament, high “power dome” hood extending to a two-piece V-shaped windshield, hidden turn signals in the grille, and a boattail rear end.
That was in addition to integrated tail lamps in the fenders, recessed door handles, an electrohydraulic convertible roof, and power windows.
The Y-Job used a custom-lengthened Buick Series 50 Super chassis, indicated by the word “Super” located above the rear license plate.
Under the hood was a straight eight-cylinder 248-cubic-inch engine with a 1941-42 dual carb intake.
It was originally fitted with a three-speed manual transmission, but that was replaced with a Dynaflow automatic.
The prototype Bendix power steering system was eventually removed, too.
The Y-Job was originally fitted with aircraft style “expander-tube” brakes, but they were later converted to standard type hydraulic brakes.
At 6 foot 4 tall, the Y-Job had a sunken gas pedal to accommodate Earl – but why was that important?
Because the Y-Job wasn’t just the first ever concept car, it served as Earl’s daily driver throughout the 1940s.
By the 1950s, the car made its way into the Buick Heritage Collection and today, it remains in the care of GM.
In 2016, the Buick Y-Job became the 14th car added to the National Heritage Vehicle Register.
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Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
