Buick XP-300
The Buick XP-300 (initially designated the XP-9) is a concept car created by General Motors in 1951. It is a counterpart to GM's Le Sabre concept, with which it shares many mechanical components, including its supercharged V8 engine, which could run on either gasoline or methanol. The XP-300 is representative of GM's "long and low" design philosophy in the 1950s, and includes numerous innovative features ranging from push-button power windows and seats to hydraulic jacks and de Dion axles.
| Buick XP-300 | |
|---|---|
Buick XP-300 at the Alfred P. Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Production | 1951 |
| Designer | Charles Chayne Ned F. Nickles |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Concept car |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 335-horsepower (250 kW) supercharged V8 engine |
| Transmission | Dynaflow automatic transmission |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 116 in (2,946 mm) |
| Length | 192.5 in (4,890 mm) |
| Width | 80 in (2,032 mm) |
| Height | 53.4 in (1,356 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,125 lb (1,417 kg) |
Claimed to have attained a top speed of 140 mph (230 km/h) during testing, the XP-300 was displayed at auto shows across the United States, including the Chicago Auto Show in February 1951 and GM's 1953 Motorama tour. Together with the Le Sabre, the XP-300 pioneered the wraparound windshield, although it ultimately had much less influence on future car design than its counterpart. In 1966, the XP-300 was refurbished and donated to the Alfred P. Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan, where it remains as of 2018.