Here’s more rare General Motors footage. Watch here as the final touches are applied to the fabulous 1951 LeSabre show car.
This magic moment comes to us courtesy of the General Motors Heritage Center. Barely a minute long, this little clip shows the final detailing being performed on Harley Earl’s masterpiece, the GM (don’t call it a Buick!) LeSabre concept of 1951.
Couple of fun items here. First, we see a number of interesting details of the LeSabre’s construction. Next, we get a priceless glimpse of some circa-1951 shop tools. For example, check out the handy electric buffer in use at around 28 seconds. Yes, we are spoiled today. Enjoy the video.
Thank you for writing “don’t call it a Buick” as GM never did in the first several decades of this car’s existence. It was Harley Earl’s baby and GMs showcase of technology and the car name was not associated to any individual brand. In ’59 a model of Buick did borrow the name due to the concept car’s popularity around the world. And in just recent years, later GM personnel have forgotten their history, read too many incorrect statements and have themselves begun to say “Buick LeSabre concept” in occasional corporate speak.
I’ve made the mistake on this website simply by reflex.
I sometimes forget that the weird GM approach to folding tops goes all the way back to this…some Corvettes, Allante, (eventually) Reatta, Solstice/Sky and others all have that flip-back hard tonneau with the back portion of the roof that folds forward first…it has never worked as well as simpler designs, or as well as some more-complicated designs, but they keep going back to it. Not every piece of the Harley Earl legacy is worth revisiting…
Interesting observations, thanks.
I use an electric buff like that regularly! As do most restorers, detailers and panel shops.