The Buick Y-Job, announced as the "Car of the Future" in the early 1940s, has just become the 14th member of the U.S. National Historic Vehicle Register in partnership with the Department of the Interior, Historic American Engineering Record, and archives of the Library of Congress.
It joins the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2287 concept, 1918 Cadillac Type 57, GM Futurliner, and 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, just to name a few.
The Buick Y-Job was a 2-passenger convertible coupe riding on 13” wheels. It featured power windows (quite a feat at that time) and was the first automobile equipped with mechanically retractable headlights.
It was designed by Harley Earl, who served as GM vice president from 1937-1959. He’s also responsible for chrome paint, clay models, and cars like the Cadillac LaSalle.