Inventor David Dunbar Buick built his first automobile in Detroit, Michigan in 1903.

More designer than businessman, Buick's lack of talent in the latter role led to a number of changes of ownership in the firm's early years before its founder was eventually eased out in 1908, his departure from the Buick Motor Company coinciding with its establishment as the cornerstone of new owner William C Durant's General Motors.

Under Durant's stewardship production rose dramatically from 750 cars in 1905 to 8,802 in 1908 when Buick's most popular model was the four-cylinder Model 10, priced at $900 and a direct competitor for Ford's Model T.

The four-cylinder Buicks were replaced by smaller sixes for the 1916 model year but the 'four' was back for 1917 in the shape of a two-door roadster and four-door tourer, both powered by a new overhead-valve engine with detachable cylinder head.

For a period in the 1920s the range consisted entirely of sixes and then at the end of 1930 Buick dramatically...