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As to the fins, Harley Earl wrote, “People ask, ‘isn’t your exaggerated design just for effect?’ The answer is definitely no. Typically, the twin fins on Le Sabre serve the functional purpose of carrying aircraft-type 20-gallon rubberized fuel cells.”
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of the 1950s, it introduced aircraft-inspired design elements such as the wrap-around windshield and tail fins, which became common on automotive designs during the second half of the decade.
98:. Like all his projects, it was built to be roadworthy, and became Earl's personal automobile for two years after finishing its tour of the auto show circuit.
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Earl, Harley J. “Auto designer sees car of future more efficient and easier to drive” (NEA wire-service article). Shawnee (OK) News-Star, 14 December 1951, 15.
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model. Glencoe Models made a simple 1:72 scale plastic kit, which had the wrong shape at the rear. Berkley Models made a 1:24 scale kit with a body of curved
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aircraft in the late 1940s, they symbolized the very latest in design and engineering, and Earl had hoped to carry this concept into automobile design.
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dimensions. Although they shared a common displacement of 215 cu in (3.5 L), this concept engine is not the same as the production
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153:(all American cars of 1951 were 6-volt), heated seats, electric headlights concealed behind the center oval "jet intake", front bumper
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83:. The design was Earl's attempt to incorporate the look of modern jet fighter aircraft into automotive design. As
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In addition to its jet-inspired design, the 1951 Le Sabre featured numerous other advanced features, including a
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The Le Sabre is owned by the GM Heritage Center, and still occasionally appears at car shows.
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This was GM's first use of the Le Sabre name, which would be later adopted by Buick for a
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This article is about the
Concept car. For the General Motors car manufactured by the
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compact cars in 1961. They have virtually no interchangeability in parts or design.
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This early-development aluminum V8 was unique to the Le Sabre and the
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design, similar to early
Chrysler V8s of the 1950s era. It was a
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to aid tire changes. (This idea would be copied decades later by
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on the 1951 Le Sabre. It became one of their best-selling
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305:. A smaller scale Le Sabre also exists as a
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191:concept cars. The concept 215ci V8 used a
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281:Learn how and when to remove this message
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263:adding citations to reliable sources
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336:Historic Vehicle Association (HVA)
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193:hemispherical combustion chamber
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330:Williams, Nick (2019-04-30).
1063:General Motors concept cars
199:engine, with matching 3.3"
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151:12-volt electrical system
140:rear-mounted transmission
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365:Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr.
297:introduced a 1:24 scale
367:American Cars 1946-1959
176:was originally a Buick
39:General Motors Le Sabre
32:General Motors Le Sabre
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174:automatic transmission
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303:automobile miniatures
299:die-cast reproduction
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259:improve this article
106:With a body made of
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102:Design and features
952:Wildcat EV Concept
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536:Former models
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295:Franklin Mint
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248:This section
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231:Reproductions
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22:Buick LeSabre
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874:Concept cars
602:Standard Six
543:introduction
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339:. Retrieved
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293:In 1999 the
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257:Please help
252:verification
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209:"Oversquare"
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130:(petrol) or
120:supercharged
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38:
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976:Performance
789:Excelle HRV
768:Park Avenue
523:GL8/Century
189:Buick XP300
167:Formula One
96:Buick Y-Job
89:prop-driven
81:Harley Earl
43:concept car
20:brand, see
1068:1950s cars
1057:Categories
1014:Buick City
804:Rendezvous
628:Roadmaster
597:Master Six
541:by year of
487:Electra E5
482:Electra E4
431:since 1908
341:2020-04-22
317:References
307:Hot Wheels
182:Hydramatic
116:fiberglass
41:is a 1951
897:Blackhawk
828:2010s–20s
711:Centurion
497:Encore GX
271:June 2024
217:GM Y-body
213:Buick 215
211:aluminum
122:aluminum
112:magnesium
108:aluminium
87:replaced
59:in 1959.
1032:Category
1004:Building
907:Centieme
860:Velite 7
855:Velite 5
752:Somerset
502:Envision
461:Velite 6
451:LaCrosse
419:vehicles
197:"Square"
178:Dynaflow
132:methanol
128:gasoline
47:show car
1042:Commons
922:LeSabre
835:Cascada
819:Terraza
799:Rainier
794:Lucerne
784:Excelle
726:Skyhawk
690:Wildcat
685:Riviera
669:Skylark
664:LeSabre
659:Invicta
654:Electra
633:Special
623:Limited
618:Century
560:Model B
507:Envista
492:Enclave
437:Current
163:chassis
155:Dagmars
63:History
988:T-Type
962:XP-300
957:XP2000
947:Velite
902:Bolero
892:Bengal
887:Avista
882:Avenir
840:Encore
809:Royaum
747:Reatta
716:Estate
706:Apollo
466:Verano
313:wood.
205:stroke
134:(like
114:, and
967:Y-Job
777:2000s
761:1990s
740:1980s
699:1970s
678:1960s
647:1950s
638:Super
611:1930s
590:1920s
574:1910s
553:1900s
456:Regal
416:Buick
311:balsa
159:jacks
18:Buick
814:Sail
731:Opel
565:Four
516:Vans
444:Cars
226:Rear
203:and
201:bore
85:jets
37:The
850:GL6
721:GSX
581:Six
261:by
184:.
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350:^
334:.
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124:V8
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394:v
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269:(
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