Buick Wildcat III Concept Drawing 1954/55
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Description
Art, Design, and Automotive Legacies are all represented within this original, historically significant, one-of-a-kind artifact of Harley Earl’s General Motors Styling department. This is the full-size air brush rendering of Buick’s 1955 GM Motorama Concept Car, Wildcat III. Measuring over 16 feet in length, this artwork represents the brilliance, creativity and style of the Harley Earl-led design team as well as a primary source historical record of the creative design process. Full size “Package Drawings” of…
Art, Design, and Automotive Legacies are all represented within this original, historically significant, one-of-a-kind artifact of Harley Earl’s General Motors Styling department. This is the full-size air brush rendering of Buick’s 1955 GM Motorama Concept Car, Wildcat III. Measuring over 16 feet in length, this artwork represents the brilliance, creativity and style of the Harley Earl-led design team as well as a primary source historical record of the creative design process. Full size “Package Drawings” of concept cars are virtually nonexistent, most being destroyed by the companies themselves. A true “garage find,” this one-of-a-kind, significant example of Automotive Heritage has never been offered for public sale before and is being offered for sale with No Reserve.
For over the past 50 years, this relic has been a prized position of the same family. Most concepts cars and their materials have a short life. It was general practice of manufacturers to dispose of the drawings, renderings, and even the cars themselves. The current caretaker explains that his grandfather and father worked for Buick and Delco respectively in the early 1960’s. Believed to be found during a cleaning out process of unwanted items, this drawing was brought home and hung in the garage of the Flint, Michigan house where it remained for decades. Remaining in relative obscurity to the Automotive world until now, the time has come to reintroduce this important artifact.
The Wildcat concept series by Buick were important projects for General Motors and Harley Earl in the 1950’s. Buick Wildcat III was unveiled for the 1955 GM Motorama that toured the United States to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston. It is believed that this drawing was created in 1954 as part of the design process and used promotional display. General Motors photographs show this drawing next to clay models of Wildcat III. The General Motors book “Styling: The Look Of Things” produced Motors for the 1955 Motorama, prominently features Buick Wildcat III and this drawing numerous times. Wildcat III, and specifically this drawing, are representative of General Motors best styling and creative efforts of the mid 1950’s. It is estimated that over 2,000,000 people viewed Wildcat III during these Motorama tours. Currently, representatives of General Motors Archives are aware of this artwork and have confirmed its authenticity.
While somewhat faded on the edges, the brilliant colors of the air brushed details are as vibrant as ever. Intended to be a “package drawing,” this rendering shows various automotive components of the vehicle in a cutaway form within the outline of the general design. Wildcat III was a long, sleek two-seat convertible with an extremely low-slung appearance, painted a vibrant red with red leather interior.
Fogg & Dalton Art Restorations recently custom built a mylar wrapped, wood framed cradle with foam board backing to properly mat and protect this artwork and help prepare it for however its next caretaker would choose to display it.
Simply stated, this is one of the most significant artifacts of the golden era of automotive concept car design to be found. It brings to life the brilliance of Harley Earl’s General Motors design team and invokes the excitement and emotion felt by visitors at the General Motors Motorama, simply by standing in its presence.
Explore Styling: The Look Of Things at the archives of The Henry Ford
See the recent Hemmings Blog
Currently on display at the Owls Head Transportation Museum
To Be Sold Saturday August 24th
Buick Wildcat III Concept Drawing 1954/55
Lot #:
092
No Reserve:
NO RESERVE
Auction Estimate:
$10,000 -$90,000
Sold For:
$22,000
Make:
Buick
Model:
Wildcat III
Consignor Ratings*
*The following ratings were provided by the consignor, based on a scale of ‘Poor’, ‘Fair’, ‘Good’, ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’. (Excellent = 100% restored)
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