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So much has been written about Harley Earl and his great designing abilities. Which if you do your research is a load of bunk. Earl is often credited with the design of the Buick Y-Job. Here is the real truth of who designed the Buick Y-Job.

A fellow named Paul Meyer who was born on July 5, 1910 was the actual designer of the Buick Y-Job. Meyer graduated from the Cleveland School of Art in 1930, and in 1934 took a job with GM in the Art & Colour Department. Which I might add was found by Larry Fischer who hired Harley Earl. Meyer left GM in the late 30's and after WWII took a job Chris Craft the boat builder, where he stayed until 1952. After leaving Chris Craft no one seems to know what happened to him.

John F. Shireman

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John,

As one who needs education badly, especially automotive education, what is the Buick Y-Job?

It's something that happens occasionally in the back seat of a Buick!

Here is a picture of the Buick Y-Job. History details later in the day.

John F. Shireman

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John,

Thanks for the pic. Looking forward to the history lesson later.

MAL; The Buick Y-Job is considered to have put dream or concept cars on the map. The Buick Y-Job was built back in 1938 on a Buick chassis, using Buick's 320 CID straight 8. The Y-Job came equipped with electric window and power operated top. The height of the Y-Job was only 58 inches which was helped with the thirteen inch wheels on the car.

The Buick Y-Job was built during 1938 and revealed to the public in 1939. the Buick Y-job was built and designed at the request of Harlow Red Curtice head of Buick at that time. The Y-Job was a styling exercise to show the public that would compliment Buick's current cars of 30's and build interest in future Buick cars.

Harley Earl used the Buick Y-Job for over 10 years as his own personal transportation until 1951 when it was replaced by the 1951 Lesabre concept car. Many mechanical up grades were made to Y-Job during the ten years and 50,000 miles that Earl drove the Y-Job.

John F. Shireman

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John,

Thanks for that. Interesting that the Buick-YJob was more than a pure show car and served also as a mobile test platform as well as performing as a car should be, that is, driven. Looking forward to more of your automotive snapshots, they help piece together the bigger picture.