Buick has long lived in the space between luxury and performance, offering cars that were refined, powerful, and often far more advanced than people realized. While names like Riviera and Grand National have their share of fame, many of Buick’s most interesting creations slipped quietly into history. From limited production performance models to forgotten showpieces, these are eleven ultra rare Buicks you’ll probably never see outside a museum or private collection.
1954 Buick Wildcat II
The Wildcat II was a concept car that looked more like a Corvette’s rebellious cousin than a Buick. With its open front wheel design, sleek body, and aggressive stance, it showed the world that Buick could dream big. The Wildcat II never reached production, but its influence lived on in later styling cues. Only a single example was built, making it one of the rarest and most beautiful Buicks ever created.
1987 Buick GNX
The GNX is perhaps the ultimate expression of Buick performance. Built in collaboration with McLaren Performance Technologies, just 547 were made. Beneath its stealthy black body was a turbocharged V6 that delivered 276 horsepower and could embarrass Corvettes and Ferraris of the era. The GNX marked the end of Buick’s muscle car lineage and remains one of the most collectible American cars of the 1980s. Spotting one on the road today is nearly impossible.
1940 Buick Century Sport Phaeton
A prewar masterpiece, the 1940 Century Sport Phaeton was a one-off show car built for the General Motors Parade of Progress. Its long, flowing lines, teardrop headlights, and custom two-door convertible body showcased Buick’s craftsmanship before World War II halted production. Only a handful of these hand-built concept Buicks still exist, making them museum pieces rather than street cruisers.
1973 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1
By the early 1970s, emissions laws were choking the life out of performance cars, but the Gran Sport Stage 1 fought back. Its 455 cubic inch V8 delivered brutal torque and surprisingly quick acceleration despite the changing times. Buick built only a few hundred of these high performance versions in 1973, and survivors are incredibly rare. Finding one in original condition is almost unheard of today.
1956 Buick Centurion Concept
The Centurion was pure 1950s optimism on wheels. Its red and white body, bubble-top canopy, and aircraft-inspired dashboard looked straight out of a sci-fi movie. It also featured a rearview camera system decades ahead of its time. The car was never meant for production, and only one was ever built. It remains one of Buick’s most visionary concept cars, preserved today in the Sloan Museum in Michigan.
1963 Buick Riviera Silver Arrow I
The Riviera itself was an icon, but the Silver Arrow I was something special. Built as a personal project by Buick’s design chief Bill Mitchell, it featured a lowered roofline, custom bodywork, and unique silver paint. The Silver Arrow emphasized elegance and proportion over flash, proving that performance could be subtle. Only one original Silver Arrow was built, and it remains a symbol of mid century automotive design at its best.
1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
The 1970 GSX Stage 1 is a true muscle car legend that’s as rare as it is ferocious. Buick produced only 678 GSXs that year, with about half equipped with the mighty Stage 1 engine. Its 455 cubic inch V8 generated a staggering 510 pound feet of torque, making it one of the quickest muscle cars of its time. Most were painted Saturn Yellow or Apollo White, and nearly all were driven hard, which makes pristine survivors extremely scarce.
1938 Buick Y-Job
Often called the world’s first concept car, the 1938 Buick Y-Job set the template for modern automotive design. Created by GM styling legend Harley Earl, it introduced innovations like hidden headlights, flush door handles, and a power convertible top. The Y-Job was fully functional and served as Earl’s personal car for years. It still exists today as part of GM’s Heritage Collection, but you’ll never see it outside an exhibition hall.
1982 Buick Skyhawk Roadhawk
Most people have never heard of the Roadhawk, a sporty limited edition based on Buick’s compact Skyhawk. Only a few hundred were built, featuring bold stripes, fender flares, and a unique interior package. It was an attempt to attract younger buyers during a time when performance was fading from Buick’s image. The Roadhawk disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived, and today only a handful are known to exist.
1951 Buick LeSabre Concept
The 1951 LeSabre was an automotive spaceship long before anyone coined the term “concept car culture.” Designed by Harley Earl, it featured aircraft styling, tailfins, a wraparound windshield, and aluminum body panels. It was powered by a 215 cubic inch supercharged V8 running on gasoline or methanol. Earl drove the car personally for years, and its radical design influenced nearly every GM model that followed. Only one LeSabre was ever made.
1985 Buick Somerset Regal T-Type
In the 1980s, Buick experimented with blending its luxury reputation with turbocharged performance, and the Somerset Regal T-Type was a rare result. Sold for only a short time, it combined sporty handling with a high tech turbo four cylinder engine. While overshadowed by the Grand National, it hinted at Buick’s desire to modernize its image. Surviving examples are scarce and almost unknown outside dedicated Buick circles.
The Buick Legacy That Few Remember
Buick’s history is filled with groundbreaking cars that balanced power, style, and innovation. Many of these rare models never reached mass production, but each one represented a bold moment in Buick’s evolution. From futuristic concepts to hidden performance icons, these forgotten Buicks remind us that the brand once stood at the cutting edge of American design and engineering. They are more than collector’s items they are snapshots of a time when Buick dared to dream big.
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