Hemmings Find: 1938 Buick Y-Job Tribute Car

YJob_3The mantra behind a car as glorious as this one might be: “If you can’t buy it, build it.” This impressive specimen, found in the Hemmings Classifieds, holds a high price tag, and for good reason: it apes on one of the most all-American classics, the 1938 Buick Y-Job.

A shot of Harley Earl in the original Y-Job, circa 1939.

A shot of Harley Earl in the original Y-Job, circa 1939.

Designed by notorious GM Chief of Design, Harley Earl, the Y-Job is widely regarded as the first-ever concept car to have graced the planet. It held this designation by virtue of being a car built purely for show, meant to spark the imagination of its audience and gauge their reactions to far-reaching aesthetic ideas.

In its time, the Y-Job was a serious shock to the carbuying system, with its power-operated hidden headlamps, electric windows, wraparound bumpers, flush door handles, and other design cues that excited the public. Earl was so impressed with his creation that he drove the car around Detroit for years afterward, up until 1951. Currently, the car rests inside the GM Design Center in Warren, Michigan, leaving the rest of us salivating for a chance to get inside something close to it.

Enter this find from Hemmings, priced at a paltry $120,000 and sporting updates and upgrades that Earl could have only dreamed of during his lifetime. Among these are a Corvette chassis with disc brakes, a Buick 455 ci with fuel injection, automatic transmission, power steering, brakes, windows, seats, and air conditioning. A handmade dashboard demonstrates the top-notch craftsmanship that the seller prides his vehicle on, and serves along with the rest of the car to show how dedicated this build was.

All the other design cues, including the boattail rear of the body, chrome trim, and hidden headlights keep with the original, and look professional enough to be taken to a car show. Nevertheless, we can’t imagine all of this work amounts to the hefty price of $120,000; can you? Decide for yourself and let us know what you think in the comment section below.

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About the author

David Chick

David Chick comes to us ready for adventure. With passions that span clean and fast Corvettes all the way to down and dirty off-road vehicles (just ask him about his dream Jurassic Park Explorer), David's eclectic tastes lend well to his multiple automotive writing passions.
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