The Buick Limited was Buick's flagship model line between 1936 and 1942, and, in celebration of GM's Fiftieth Anniversary, a single-year halo car for the Division in model year 1958. Since the 1960s Buick has intermittently used the term "Limited" as a designation denoting its highest level of trim and standard features in its various model ranges.

The original line given the Limited nameplate, topped by an extended-wheelbase limousine, was in direct competition with Cadillac senior sedans for clientele, which wanted a GM luxury car but regarded Cadillac as "ostentatious" or "flamboyant" in contrast to Buick's reputation for durable, reliable, and staid premium vehicles.

Buick Series 90 (1931-1935)

The origins of the Limited name date to 1936 when Buick added names to its entire model lineup to celebrate the engineering improvements and design advancements over their 1935 models. It shared its chassis with the top-level Cadillac Series 70 vehicles. Buick had released a new line of cars that were technically superior to their predecessors by offering such features as all-steel passenger compartment tops (GM's Turret Top design), improved front suspension, improved hydraulic safety braking system, alloy engine pistons and an improved engine cooling system.

In 1938, the wheelbase was stretched 2 inches from 138 to , and the Limited, along with Roadmaster, lost its wooden structural members for steel, making them the last Buick passenger cars to rely upon wood components.

In 1939, Buick products underwent a substantial redesign; however, the Limited's "limited" production merited it to continue using its 1938 body. The 1939 Limited offered a sectioned rear compartment separating the driver from the rear passengers, and a glass partition could be raised to provide privacy. which cost almost four times as much as the Buick, in its appointments. Buick executives asserted that Limited production averaged only 1,561 vehicles per year for model years 1938 through 1940, an insignificant amount compared to Cadillac's production of its senior cars.

For 1940 Buick renamed some of its Series designations and gave names instead. Buick's Series 40 was named the Special, the Series 50 became the Super, the Series 60 was named the Century, the Series 70 was named the Roadmaster, and the Limited was given both the Series 80 and Series 90, with the Series 90 given to a limousine with a wheelbase and 8-passenger capacity. The engine was a Buick Straight-8 engine, improving to by 1939.

Limiteds were the most expensive Buicks in production, riding on the company's longest wheelbase of , and the best appointed cars that Buick built. All Limiteds were built at the Buick factory in Flint, Michigan, while all Cadillacs were built in Detroit at the Clark Street Facility while coachwork was provided by Fisher Body.

Production of the Limited, and all Buick continued until the eve of World War II when the last Buick was built February 2, 1942.

Available only as a 4-door hardtop, 2-door hardtop coupe or convertible, the Limited rode Buick's wheelbase, and overall length . Interiors were of high quality fabrics in sedans and coupes, full leather in convertibles.

Buick sold only 7,438 Limiteds, due in part to their price. The Limited's four-door hardtop sedan started at a base price of $5,112, ($ in dollars ) which was $221 ($ in dollars ) higher than Cadillac's entry-level Series 62 four-door hardtop sedan at $4,891 ($ in dollars ) of which Cadillac sold 13,335 units.

For the 1959 model year, Buick renamed its entire lineup, with the Super becoming the Invicta, the Roadmaster becoming the Electra 225.

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File:Buick Convertible 1958 3.jpg|1958 Buick Limited Riviera convertible

File:Buick Riviera Limited Coupe (Cruisin' At The Boardwalk '10).jpg|1958 Buick Limited Riviera coupe

File:1958 Buick Limited.jpg|1958 Buick Limited Riviera sedan rear

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Limited trim package

The Limited name was used again in 1967 as a trim option on the Electra 225 Custom model and other models.

Between 1971 and 1979, Buick added the "Limited" name to its top trim Electra 225, which was previously known as the Electra 225 Custom. The cars were not badged as Electra 225s, but instead wore "Limited" scripts. However, these cars were Electra 225s, and in a break from tradition, the "Limited" trim level could be optioned with either the Park Avenue or Park Avenue DeLuxe options package, each even more well-equipped than the Limited model alone.

Buick continued to use the designation of "Limited" through 2005 on its various models to typically denote the highest trim level in a model range.

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File:Buick Electra 225, 1965 (41616043425).jpg|1965 Buick Electra 225 Limited

File:1973 Buick Electra 225 Limited (29069885071).jpg|1973 Buick Electra 225 Limited

File:Buick Electra Limited 1975.jpg|1975 Buick Electra 225 Limited

File:1979 Buick Electra Limited Landau Coupe, front left (Hershey 2019).jpg|1979 Buick Electra Limited Landau Coupe

File:Buick Century Limited -- 03-24-2011 1.jpg|1985 Buick Century Limited

File:Buick Skylark Limited (10022672263).jpg|1985 Buick Skylark Limited

File:'86-'87 Buick Somerset Limited.jpg|1986 Buick Somerset Limited

File:1987 Buick Regal Limited (1).jpg|1987 Buick Regal Limited

File:1991 Buick Regal Limited Coupe (29497345741).jpg|1991 Buick Regal Limited

File:Buick LeSabre Limited (6292736020).jpg|1992 Buick LeSabre Limited

File:Buick Roadmaster Limited Estate Wagon 1996 (11499033763).jpg|1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited

File:1997 Buick Skylark Limited (29781481810).jpg|1997 Buick Skylark Limited

File:1998 Buick LeSabre Limited, Emerald Green, front right.jpg|1998 Buick LeSabre Limited

File:1999 Buick Century Limited, Front Left, 05-16-2020.jpg|1999 Buick Century Limited

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References

  • King of the Road