1915 Logo

Buick was the pioneer builder of the overhead valve engine. As a matter of fact, a man named Eugene Richard, who was working for David Buick in Detroit at the turn-of-the century was issued the patent for overhead valve. The first Buick applications of overhead valve were applied to stationary engines the company was then building. Buick knew they had something really really special in that design and in that patent. They immediately began to advertise power in the Buick engine as the main selling feature of the Buick. It worked, and Buick survived at a time when thousands of automobile companies were going out of business. Around 1910, Buick began to look for a phrase that would describe the engine they were offering. There were some minor variations, but by 1915 they had landed on valve-in-head. The logo was taken from a brochure that Buick printed for its dealers in 1915, trying to sell them a large outdoor sign for $3.50. The sign looked just like the logo. The logo was taken from the brochure. It is the first time I have seen the words valve-in-head used in a Buick advertisement.

(Explanations given by Terry D. Automotive Research Services)

1902 Buick 4 cycle overhead valve marine engine, one of the first ohv engines produced in the United States. Buick was the pioneer builder of overhead valve

The first Buick, an experimental vehicle, was built by Buick's first Chief Engineer Walter L. Marr between 1899-1900.