The Buick Model 35 was introduced for 1912 as a five-passenger touring car aimed at motorists looking for a practical, moderately priced automobile. With 6,050 produced, it became Buick's most popular model that year and represents an important stage in the development of the American touring car.

Priced at US$1,000 when new, the Model 35 combined Buick's established overhead-valve engine design with comfortable accommodation and straightforward mechanical construction. At a time when owning a motor car was still beyond the reach of many families, it offered buyers a capable touring car from one of America's rapidly growing manufacturers.

Buick's Overhead-Valve Engine

Power came from a 165 cubic inch, approximately 2.7-litre, four-cylinder engine. Buick was an early and enthusiastic user of overhead valves, an arrangement in which the valves are positioned in the cylinder head rather than alongside the cylinders.

The Model 35's engine was rated at 22.5 horsepower and drove through a three-speed sliding-gear transmission. This represented a change from the planetary transmission fitted to its predecessor and brought the car closer to the conventional transmission arrangement that would become standard across the industry.

Built for Touring

Touring cars were among the most popular body styles of the early motoring era. The Model 35 provided seating for five occupants in an open body, making it suitable for family outings and longer journeys as well as everyday transportation.

Its approximately 102-inch wheelbase provided useful passenger space, while the relatively large four-cylinder engine gave it the flexibility required to cope with the roads and gradients motorists encountered at the time.

Driving in 1912 was very different from driving today. Many roads were unsealed and journeys could involve mud, dust, punctures and mechanical adjustments along the way. Cars needed to be relatively simple and robust, and motorists were often expected to understand the basic workings of their machines.

An Unusual Three-Door Design

One of the Model 35's more interesting features can be spotted by looking closely at its bodywork. Although it appears to have four doors, the driver's door is actually fixed in place.

The car is right-hand drive, as was common among American automobiles of this period. The driver's entrance was omitted to provide space for the externally mounted gear-change and brake levers, leaving three functioning doors for occupants to enter and leave the car.

Details such as these provide an interesting glimpse into an era before the basic layout and controls of the automobile had become standardised.

Buick's Most Popular Model of 1912

Production of 6,050 examples made the Model 35 Buick's best-selling car for 1912. While modest compared with the enormous production figures that American manufacturers would soon achieve, it demonstrated the rapidly increasing demand for automobiles.

The Model 35 appeared at a particularly important moment in American motoring. Manufacturers were improving reliability, simplifying controls and increasing production, while the motor car was gradually changing from an expensive novelty into a practical form of personal transportation.

A Southward Rally Winner

This particular Model 35 has an important connection with the history of Southward Car Museum. The car was restored by Sir Len Southward, whose passion for collecting and preserving historic vehicles ultimately led to the creation of the museum.

It was not simply restored for static display. In 1965, the Buick competed in the New Zealand International Rally and was the overall winner. It later returned to competition and won the Veteran class in 1972.

These achievements form an important part of the car's history. They also reflect Sir Len Southward's enthusiasm for keeping historic vehicles operational and demonstrating them in the conditions for which they were originally built.

This Car

Built in 1912, this Buick Model 35 combines several characteristics of early American motoring, including an overhead-valve four-cylinder engine, right-hand drive, open touring bodywork and externally mounted controls.

Its significance to Southward Car Museum extends well beyond its age. Restored and rallied by Sir Len Southward himself, it is both an example of one of Buick's most successful early models and a tangible part of the history behind the museum and its collection.