Buick Y-Job

The 1938 Buick Y-Job is claimed to be the first concept car in history. [http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=116164]

Designed by Harley J. Earl, the car had power-operated hidden headlamps, "gunsight" hood ornament, wraparound bumpers, flush door handles, and prefigured styling cues used by Buick until the 1950s.

The "Y" in the name has several explanations:
* All experimental cars were called "X", so Earl simply went to the next letter in the alphabet. [http://www.gmphotostore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=53217749]
* The "Y" designation was selected by Earl because it was used extensively in the aviation industry denoting the most advanced prototypes. ["Concept Cars" by Larry Edsall pp19 Edizione White Star ISBN 9788880959564]

References

External links

* http://www.carofthecentury.com/the_star_buster.htm
* [http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=116164#24 Edmund´s, The World's First Concept Car: 1938 Buick Y-Job]
* [http://www.prewarbuick.com/features/why_the_y_job Why the 'Y-Job' -- Harley Earl and the Buick Dream Car]
* [http://www.carofthecentury.com/world's_first_concept_car.htm World's first concept car]