Three Great Additions to Your Holiday Playlist

Maintenance Mondays: What to Check and When

Keeping your vehicle in top condition depends on a regular service schedule, and it is easy to keep track of where everything is at by keeping a log. For many drivers, keeping a small notebook in the glove box helps them keep track of past services, and plan for services that need to be done.

We hope that the following info-graphic is helpful in getting you on the path to a healthy maintenance schedule. Whenever you need some work done, feel free to stop by, and we will be happy to help.

Make sure to visit our website to search for current service specials, and take advantage of the savings: Reynolds Buick GMC

Mod Monday! 5 Vehicles That Will Make Your Head Spin!

To get the week started off on the right foot, we thought we would inject some custom car/truck magic into the mix. Check out these 5 modded Buick and GMC models and let us know which one is your favorite.

Finding the right vehicle for your needs is easier than ever on our website: Reynolds Buick GMC

5 Great Additions for Your Vehicle

It is important to feel good about the car you drive. There are expensive and inexpensive way to achieve this, and which method, depends on what you are looking to get out of your vehicle. Whether it be for flair, functionality, or fun, accessories can spruce up an old ride.

We thought it would be helpful to provide our list of top 5 accessories to get the ball rolling on your vehicle modification.

1. Hitch-Mounted or Roof Bicycle Rack: These are great for fitness enthusiasts and mountain bikers who want to reach trails on mountains further away. They are relatively inexpensive, and easy to install. Definitely worth the money if cycling is your sport of choice.
2. Upgraded Wheels: New wheels are an easy and effective way to improve the overall look of your vehicle. Although, not the cheapest option, the money will be well spent and will make the difference in your car's appearance.
3. Remote Start: This is a fun way to upgrade the tech in your vehicle, and is a classy option for those looking to add that extra something to their vehicle. Pricing varies per unit, but many manufacturers offer a remote start option and the parts/service department can certainly point you in the right direction if this is your cup of tea.
4. New Grille: It's not for the family BBQ this weekend, but a new grille for your vehicle is another easy upgrade that has a definite impact on the overall look of your ride. There are many designs and colors to choose from, so go crazy and find the right combo to fit your personality on the road.
5. Custom Exhaust Tips: This is one of the most popular upgrades, enhancing performance and style in one easily installed part. With different sizes and shapes you can create the performance look you are going for with your vehicle.

To search for the perfect accessory to fit your ride, visit our parts website to browse vehicle specific parts: GM Accessories

Flashback Friday: 1988 GMC Sierra Commercial

Happy Friday to everyone out there on the Net! Enjoy this classic GMC truck commercial, and stay safe this weekend!


If you need a service for your GMC truck, visit our website for service specials and to schedule an appointment: Reynolds Buick GMC

Buckle Up for Flashback Friday

The "Click it or Ticket" seat belt initiatives across the nation seem to be a new phenomena with how frequently the slogan is on television or on road signs along the highways. This however is not new, and we found a 1979 PSA ad for seat belt safety that we thought you would enjoy for Flashback Friday.

What other vehicle safety slogans can you remember off the top of your head?

Stop by the dealership and visit our website to find out how Buick and GMC vehicles keep drivers safe on the roads. Safety is of the utmost importance when driving and we wish you safe travels each and every time you start the car!

Link to our website: http://www.reynolds1915.com/

Trivia Thursday!

For this week's blog post we thought we would have some fun and pose some trivia questions to our followers. You can post your answers either in the comments of this page or on our Facebook (mention the blog) in order to see how you fared. Questions will consist of multiple choice and single answer.

1. How many vehicles has Buick produced able to carry 8 passengers safely?

a) 3  b) 2  c) 6  d) 8

2. What was the name of the first Buick vehicle to reach the 100mph mark?


3. What is the top speed (mph) ever achieved by a mass-produced Buick vehicle?

a) 157  b) 180  c) 137  d) 162

4. In what year did the 1 millionth Buick vehicle roll off the line?

a) 1923  b) 1925  c) 1937  d) 1931

5. How many Indy 500 pace cars have been Buick?

a) 3  b) 9  c) 1  d) 6


Good luck and have a happy Thursday!

Lifted Cars and Trucks: What are your thoughts?

The exact moment in time that lifting cars and trucks became popular is going to be hard to narrow down. Nonetheless, we know that it is popular. It is almost guaranteed that you will encounter at least one every time you leave the driveway.

Now, in our own experience lifts can be done tastefully, and then again, they can go beyond anything that was to be expected.

Some examples:

We would like to hear your thoughts on lifting vehicles. Let us know where you draw the line. As the saying goes, and quite literally, the sky is the limit.

Reynolds Buick GMC Tips: How to Clean Your Engine

Regular engine cleaning will increase the longevity of your motor by preventing corrosion and interference around exposed components. However, there's no reason to be intimidated about the idea of cleaning your vehicle's engine yourself. 

Consider these 8 basic techniques featured in the video below: 

WATCH

Should you need more in depth servicing of your vehicle's engine, feel free to reach out to Reynolds Buick GMC's knowledgeable Service Department! 

Why the 2014 Buick Enclave Deserves a Second Look

Sometimes it can be tough to put your trust in a newer vehicle on the market. However, the Buick Enclave is one car you can feel safe taking a chance on. With the industry’s first front center air bag, voice-activated Buick IntelliLink infotainment and premium, soft-touch materials, the 2014 Buick Enclave gives you all this and so much more.

Safety: 
Buick Enclave’s newest addition to its already extensive list of available safety advancements includes available Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning. Its industry-first front center air bag, available Side Blind Zone Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and standard StabiliTrak with Traction Control keep you and your passengers both safe and comfortable.

Technology: 
The Buick Enclave is so much more than just beautiful. Intelligent, Buick-exclusive technology allows you to place and answer calls hands-free with Buick IntelliLink voice-controlled connectivity and Bluetooth and a built-in Color Touch Radio proves that luxury isn’t complete without the latest innovations.

Performance: 
Enclave delivers effortless performance with its standard 6-speed transmission, 288-hp 3.6L V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing. Dual Flow Dampers in the suspension system minimize impact and help reduce noise and vibrations from every road surface. The result? An unparalleled drive that’s controlled, quiet and efficient.

Looks: 
One look at the 2014 Enclave, and you’ll realize it’s a sight to behold. Sculpted lines, a signature Buick black chrome waterfall grille and LED-accented head and tail lamps showcase its modern design. Soft-touch premium materials, heated and cooled leather seating, warm wood tones, brushed chrome accents, and ambient lighting create a contemporary interior.

Fuel Efficiency: 
A bigger crossover doesn’t have to mean a bigger fuel budget. The 2014 Enclave is proof. Using an innovative powertrain system to achieve impressive fuel efficiency, the Enclave gets an EPA-estimated 24 MPG HWY.

If this has peaked your interest, consider stopping by Reynolds Buick GMC for a test drive! http://bit.ly/14diGMc 

Reynolds Buick GMC Customer Reviews

At Reynolds Buick - GMC, we strive for every sales and service customer to receive a VIP experience. Customer satisfaction is our number one goal. Read these Buick, GMC reviews to see what our customers are saying about us.

READ

Are you in the market for a Buick or GMC vehicle and looking for that true "VIP experience" as a customer? Look no further than Reynolds Buick GMC! Book an appointment today with one of our knowledgeable sales staff member to get you in the car of your dreams! 

ENTER TO WIN: $100 Gas Giftcard

Reynolds Buick GMC always looks for new and exciting ways to reward our loyal fans and followers. This time, we have a fantastic ENTER TO WIN contest on our Facebook page! Simply click the link below, complete the form to secure your eligibility and submit by August 31st, when the contest ends!

The winner will be announced on our Facebook page following the contest end date and will win a $100 giftcard, good to use when filling up at the pump! 

Click here to complete the form for Reynolds Buick GMC Facebook Page Contest! 

Test Your Knowledge - It's Harder Than It Sounds

Games are a great way to pass the time on a long road trip and keep the driver occupied and wide awake.  Here’s an idea that will test your history knowledge.  Get a passenger to be the scribe and number a paper 1-44.  Now, see if all of the passengers in the car can name all 44 US Presidents!  It might sound easy, but just wait until you have one left.  Happy travels!

Visit www.reynolds1915.com for all of your automotive needs.  

WIN $100 GAS Giftcard...Enter for a Chance!

Welcome to the weekend! Start yours off right and enter for a chance to WIN a $100 GAS Giftcard with our newest Facebook contest! 

ENTER HERE: http://a.pgtb.me/PRp7pk

Check out this 1954 Buick...classic at every angle. ‪#‎ThrowbackThursday‬

The Sleeker, Super-Safe Buick

After teetering on the brink of extinction only a few years ago, Buick seems to be back in the black and on a roll these days. The automaker has done a rather impressive job shedding its unfortunate but well-deserved "built for seniors" image by replacing the lumbering, stodgy cars of its past, with sleeker, sexier looking new machines equipped with the latest performance, safety and entertainment technologies.

Take the recently redesigned Enclave, for instance. It brings a comfortable, upscale feel to the midsize crossover segment with lots of amenities, a well-designed interior, and a smooth ride. Similarly, both the Regal and Verano sedans offer composed handling, high-quality interiors, and a standard features galore.

Now, it's time for the LaCrosse, the automaker's flagship and the vehicle that started the company's whole revival movement, to get a refresh. And while the updates for model year 2014 might seem insignificant on the surface, they are well executed as a whole and will help the car compete better against its pricier and more overtly luxurious European rivals – the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Volvo S80 –  which until recently held a distinct advantage in nearly every respect. Other competitors include other "affordable" luxury cars such as the Acura TL, Lincoln MKZ, Lexus ES, Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon, and Nissan Maxima (the LaCrosse falls somewhere in between the aforementioned two groups).

On the outside, the LaCrosse's sheet-metal gets a little s more dramatic, front and rear. Upfront, you'll find a somewhat-larger waterfall grille, similar in design to the ones featured by its smaller siblings the Regal and Verano, and new headlamps with LED technology. The pair gives the car a slightly more aggressive demeanor. Ditto out back, where the taillights now are LEDs and tied together with a slim chrome strip across the trunk-lid.

Overall, the car looks clean and appealing. That said, it still seems somewhat chunky. No matter how sporty and aggressive Buick tries to make this car look, there's no disguising that this is a big, hefty car.

There have been more significant improvements inside the car. The cabin is more refined than ever before and ergonomically designed. Material quality was good in the 2013, but is even better in the 2014. And there is plenty of room to seat five comfortably.

The most notable improvements, however, are on the tech side. First, we give kudos to the updated IntelliLink infotainment system, which now features swipe-and-drag controls like a tablet, similar to Cadillac's CUE system but more streamlined. It's intuitive and easy to use, cutting the center-stack-button count from 17 to seven.

Also, Buick is offering a pair of cutting-edge safety packages designed to keep the driver alert to his surroundings. Driver Confidence I ($2,125) includes forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, lane-change alert, side blind-zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, HID articulating headlamps, fog lamps and a head-up display. For another $1,745 you can add Driver Confidence II and get a haptic driver's seat (it vibrates to alert the driver rather than beeping), adaptive cruise control, and collision preparation, which includes "mitigation" braking if the driver doesn't hit the pedal soon enough.

On the road, we were pleasantly surprised by how adeptly or nimbly this car handled the various road conditions we threw at it. Note: The LaCrosse is not a sport sedan. It is designed for soaking up miles in comfort rather than blasting down back roads at breakneck speeds. Even so, we found it to be responsive, well behaved, and handle every twist and turn, tight or sweeping, with relative aplomb (better than its predecessors) thanks to the optional magnetic adjustable suspension, which includes real-time adjustable damping.

Steering was also precise with excellent feedback. Road imperfections were well-damped; you can hear them, but you don't much feel them through the steering wheel.

Unfortunately, this was only true with the front-wheel drive models. Adaptive damping is not available in all-wheel drive cars, which we found to lack the smooth ride and light steering of the front-wheel drive models. They simply felt simply felt heavy.

As far as the safety features are concerned, the ones that could be tested without bending metal operated just as advertised. In fact, the adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning were some of the best of breed we have ever tested.

Under the hood, the base model comes is equipped with a four-cylinder 182-hp engine with GM's eAssist mild-hybrid technology or a 304-hp V6. Both mate to six-speed automatic transmission. Both were quiet and returned respectable, refined performance. Acceleration was smooth, but not overly quick. A little more oomph would have been appreciated. But you certainly won't be wanting when it comes time to pass another vehicle or enter a crowded roadway. The eAssist earns an impressive EPA highway fuel rating of 36 mpg, while the V6 deliver 28 mpg.

Look for the new 2014 LaCrosse to hit the streets in September with a price tag between $34,060 to $46,875.

Courtesy of Men's Journal

It's ‎#MotivationalMonday...

 We wanted to share some encouraging words to get your week off to the right start.

Happy Friday! Any plans to hit the road this weekend?

Happy 4th of July!

The 4th of July is tomorrow...any fun plans? Share with us in the comments below! 

VIDEO: 2014 GMC Sierra Truck Engine

Watch and find out why the engines in the new 2014 GMC Sierra Truck are our most highly engineered Sierra engines, ever. 

Maintenance Monday: Check Your Car Battery

Prepare your vehicle for the summer heat. To get the most life out of a battery, make sure to have your electrical system checked to ensure it is charging at the correct rate. Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt can become a conductor, which drains battery power. If corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator and inhibits the current flow. #MaintenanceMonday

Chance to Win $100 Gas Giftcard

Happy Friday, fans! Start it off right and enter for a chance to WIN a $100 GAS Giftcard with our newest Facebook contest! 

ENTER HERE: http://a.pgtb.me/PRp7pk

Throwback Thursday: Spock Drives a Buick

Check out Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek’s Mr. Spock) and his 1964 Buick Riviera back in 1966.

Sound familiar? Let us know if you can relate to this!

Buick Turns 110: Most Significant Buick of Each Decade

Remaining in business for 11 decades requires constant innovation, so choosing one model to represent a decade of significance can be a catalyst for debate. Among the hundreds of models designed and engineered for Buick, the 11 below stand out as the most significant for their respective decades since May 17, 1903. Let the debate begin.

• 1903-1912: The first Buick ever is quite significant, so Buick’s first decade honor goes to the 1904 Model B. The first one of the line was sold to doctor Herbert H. Hills of Flint, Mich., decades before the brand developed its reputation as a “doctor’s car.”
• 1913-1922: The 1916 D-45 Touring was the top-selling model in 1916, a year when Buick switched its lineup from four- to six-cylinder engines. Sales tripled that year and reached six digits for the first time. Buick became the top-selling brand in the industry a few years later, with five-passenger touring models remaining most popular.
• 1923-1932: The 1931 Series 50 was the best-selling model in the year of another upsizing of powertrains – from six- to eight-cylinder engines. The more powerful engines, paired with a major design overhaul the year before, helped boost Buick’s image during the Great Depression.
• 1933-1942: Harlow Curtice became Buick’s president in 1933, and three years later, a model range including the 1936 Century showed his revolutionary vision for the brand. Its streamlined designs were a dramatic change and Buick’s engines grew more powerful, making the Century the first Buick to reach 100 mph. Sales grew from 53,249 in 1935 to 168,596 in 1936 and continued to rise in the years to come.
• 1943-1952: Buick’s most iconic design features, including signature waterfall grilles and portholes, date to the 1949 Roadmaster. One of the most collectible Buicks of all time, the Roadmaster even became a Hollywood star in the 1988 film Rain Man.
• 1953-1962: Buick celebrated its 50^th birthday with the 1953 Skylark, an opulent, limited-production convertible with advanced design and technology. Each had Italian wire wheels and the owner’s name engraved on the steering wheel. The same year also marked the first year of Buick V-8 engines and a new twin-turbine Dynaflow automatic transmission.
• 1963-1972: Buick’s most famous production design is the 1963 Riviera, a powerful sport coupe said to be inspired by a Rolls-Royce that Buick design boss Bill Mitchell saw through a fog in London. It energized a brand emerging from a period of design criticism.
• 1973-1982: Amid an oil crisis, the 1975 Regal offered a standard V-6 engine at a time when other mid-size sedans offered only gas-thirstier V-8s. Buick still leads the way in the downsizing trend, offering four-cylinder engines on four of its five 2013 models. 
• 1983-1992: Buick’s lightweight, high-tech V-6 engines, mixed with the brand’s success in NASCAR, resulted in the brand’s most iconic performance car, the 1987 GNX. Its 276-hp turbocharged and intercooled V-6 delivered 0-60 mph acceleration in just 4.6 seconds, according to Car and Drivermagazine.
• 1993-2002: A 1999 Century was Buick’s first model built in China for the local market. Although Buick has a long reputation as a prestigious brand in China (one in six cars on Shanghai roads in 1930 were Buicks, according to the city’s government,) production there has driven the brand’s success over the past decade. China is now Buick’s largest market, with 700,007 vehicles sold in 2012.
• 2003-2012: The 2008 Enclave luxury crossover ushered in Buick’s current design language and brand focus. Along with the LaCrosse luxury sedan, which went on sale as a 2010 model, the Enclave introduced buyers to a new era of Buicks with leading design, quietness, quality and safety.

Courtesy of Buick News 

Tweet us @ReynoldsBuickGMC!

Happy Monday, fans! Follow us on #Twitter for on-the-go updates by searching @ReynoldsBuickGMC and join our quick conversations!

Today marks the first day of summer!

 Who will be cruising around with the windows down? 

VIDEO: 2014 Buick Regal and LaCrosse Lead Designer, Buick Color & Trim

Watch as #Buick's Color & Trim Designer describes the elegant and bold interiors of the 2014 #LaCrosse and 2014 #Regal. 

ENTER TO WIN: $100 Gas Giftcard

Don't miss out on the chance to WIN a $100 GAS Giftcard with our newest Facebook contest! 

ENTER HERE: http://a.pgtb.me/PRp7pk

Spied: 2015 GMC Heavy-Dutys

Things are heating up in Death Valley National Park on the California/Nevada border as more heavy-hauling GM pickup trucks were spotted doing hot-weather testing. Chris Doane and his team caught some of the engineers with their slips showing as they seemed to have forgotten to replace camouflage on the grilles. Here's what Doane's team sent us:

• Thanks to the extreme heat in Death Valley, engineers removed the camouflage from the front ends of these prototypes, revealing the new face of these big rigs. We've also managed to snag a few photos of the inside of the cab.
• Several different body styles were part of this test group, which included the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab, the Silverado 2500HD Extended Cab, the GMC Sierra 3500HD Dually and the Silverado 3500HD Dually.
• Power for the heavy-duty models will likely come from updated versions of the 6.0-liter and 6.2-liter gasoline engines, and the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel.
• While our sources are reporting an eight-speed transmission in the works for the Silverado 1500, the HD models will likely stick with a six-speed.
• Watch for GM's HD pickups to start production in October/November 2013 at the Flint, Mich., and Fort Wayne, Ind., assembly plants.

We fully expect the interior and exterior of the new heavy-duties to follow the all-new look of the 2014 half-tons, with a few more updates and software changes that should make them better, smoother towing and hauling vehicles. As the final spy photo shows, another team of engineers is in charge of high-altitude tow test as well. We're hoping for an early media drive before the end of winter.

Courtesy of Pickuptrucks.com

Time for #MuscleCar Monday! 1970 Buick GSX

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Friday fans! Father's Day is two days away and we want to know - did your dad teach you how to drive? Share your memories in the comments below!

VIDEO: 2014 GMC Sierra Denali Safety Features

Watch the video below and learn more about the all-new 2014 GMC Sierra Denali luxury pickup and its suite of innovative, active, and passive safety systems! http://bit.ly/16j4vrV

We're going to let the 2013 Enclave speak for itself. #WordlessWednesday

2014 Buick Lineup Offers Active Safety Suite

Every 2014 Buick model – Verano, Regal, LaCrosse, Encore and Enclave– will be offered with a suite of available active safety systems that watch the front, side and rear of the vehicle to help prevent crashes.

Buick will be the only brand in the industry to offer Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Warning, and a Rear Vision Camera on every vehicle.

Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning are a pair of technologies that use a single forward-looking camera to read traffic and lane markers on the road ahead. Visual warnings and audible tones alert the driver to unsignaled lane changes or a slowed vehicle.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Side Blind Zone Warning use radar to watch spots the driver may not see – and provide visible and audible warnings to help prevent collisions.

When the vehicle is in reverse and the Rear Vision Camera is active, Rear Cross Traffic Alert will flash a red icon and directional arrow if another vehicle is approaching from either side, which is especially useful backing out of a tight driveway or parking space in a busy lot.

Side Blind Zone Alert detects other vehicles in a Buick’s blind spot and alerts the driver with a yellow icon on the glass of either side view mirror. If a turn signal is engaged while a vehicle is detected in the next lane, the system provides an audible alert to discourage merging.

“Striking design, uncompromised comfort and purposeful safety technology – those are the core attributes of every Buick,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing. “Our 2014 lineup will tell an active safety story exclusive to the Buick brand and, more importantly, one that helps protect our drivers and passengers better than ever before.”

Passive safety is equally important to Buick. Although 2014 models have not been rated, every 2013 Buick model available today has been designated as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Current Buick models make extensive use of high strength steel and, with the Verano compact luxury sedan and Encore luxury small crossover, offer as many as 10 standard air bags.

The Enclave luxury crossover comes standard with the industry’s first front center air bag, which helps protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes. It deploys from the inboard side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the driver and front passenger, offering protection that no other airbag can offer.

Courtesy of Automotive World

Thank you Stephanie for this 5-star review on Yelp!

"... I would highly recommend anyone and everyone bringing their vehicle here, they are amazing and make you feel right at home!!!"

Click here to read the full review! http://bit.ly/18cnjxd

On this day in 1933...

The first drive-in movie theater opened! COMMENT BELOW and share with us your favorite memories at the drive-in!

INSIDE LOOK: 2013 Buick Enclave Interior

Check out the 2013 Buick Enclave's luxurious and expansive interior...

VIDEO: 2014 Sierra 1500

Click the video below to learn all about the great features of the all new 2014 Sierra 1500! 

MOD MONDAY: 1963 Buick Riviera

In honor of MOD MONDAY, check out this modified 1963 Buick Riviera!

Excellent Review on Google+Local!

"Best new car buying experience ever. Would not hesitate to recommend Reynolds Buick GMC to family or friends." - Jane C. 

Read the complete Positive Review on Google+Local! http://bit.ly/VbEXLE

ENTER TO WIN: $100 Gas Giftcard

Don't miss out on the chance to WIN a $250 VISA Giftcard! Tomorrow is the last day you can enter the contest...... http://fb.me/SnGOHROZ 

Buick's 110th Anniversary!

Yesterday marked the day in 1903 when the Buick Motor Company was incorporated by David Dunbar Buick in Detroit. 110 years later, they are still going strong!

Buick: Manual Transmissions in 2013

Buick currently offers a manual transmission in three 2013 vehicles...How did you first learned how to drive a manual? 

Share your story in the comments below!

ENTER-TO-WIN: $100 Gas Card

Just two weeks left to ENTER-TO-WIN a $100 Gas Giftcard with our Facebook Contest! 

Click the link to complete the form...hurry, it ends on the 31st! http://a.pgtb.me/nc8cPp

Buick Turns 110: M18 Hellcat Remembered on V-E Day

Buick production lines have been rolling for 110 consecutive years but for a short period during World War II, the vehicles produced looked decidedly different. In February of 1942, the last civilian car left a Buick facility before full attention was placed on engineering and producing aircraft engines, ammunition and the M18 tank destroyer, better known as the Hellcat.

The M18 originated in the design studio of Harley Earl, whose team also worked extensively on early camouflage paint. Even the Hellcat logo on the M18’s front corner and patches worn by its crew was designed by Earl’s staff. Flanked by the words “Seek, Strike, Destroy,” it depicts a wildcat biting down on crushed treads, signifying the Hellcat’s mission of targeting enemy tanks.

Buick engineers brought the Hellcat to life from the design team’s sketches and developed an innovative torsion bar suspension that provided a steady ride. Though it weighed about 20 tons – the same as almost nine modern day Buick Enclaves – the Hellcat was designed to be one of fastest tanks on the battlefield and was capable of traveling upwards of 60 mph. Its power came from a nine-cylinder, 450-horsepower radial-type aircraft engine paired with a three-speed Hydramatic transmission.

“The Hellcat was considered the hot rod of World War II,” said Bill Gross, a historian who restored an M18 now on display at the Sloan Museum in Flint, Mich. “To give perspective, most German tanks of the day were capable of just 20 mph and even today’s M1 Abrams tank is outpaced by the Hellcat.”

Once developed, the Hellcat was tested in the same manner as millions of Buick passenger cars before and after it, at the General Motors Milford Proving Ground. Top speed testing was done on a paved, banked oval and ride quality tests were done over specially developed stretches of bumps. Of course, the M18 also required unique tests of its ability to ford six feet of water, climb small walls, and ram through structures.

Production of the M18 Hellcat began in mid-1943 and ended in October 1944. The project was so secretive that a story about the “new” tank destroyer ran in newspapers just a month before production ended.

“The men and women who developed the Hellcat and assembled them on the Buick line in Flint contributed a great deal to the war effort and to military engineering history,” said Gross. “These people were instrumental in bringing such a great conflict to a close and their innovations are still in use today – the M18’s suspension remains a common design inspiration for modern military vehicles.”

In addition to 2,507 M18 tank destroyers, Buick factory workers produced nearly 20,000 powertrains, a half-million cartridge cases, 9.7 million 20-mm shells, and a number of other war goods during WWII

Courtesy of Buick News