Introduced at the New York Automobile Show in November 1907, Buick’s Model 10, the Gentleman’s Light Four-Cylinder Roadster, quickly became the company’s best-seller. Motor World called it the “sensation” of the show. The lowest-priced Buick, it sold for $900, including acetylene headlamps, oil lamps for side and tail illumination, and a bulb horn. Selling at about the same price as Henry Ford’s new Model T, it represented very good value. More than 4,000 were built in the first year and 8,100 the next. In 1910, its last year, production approached 11,000, by far the greatest of any Buick model until 1914.

Almost from the beginning, Buick had proved a potent competitor on the racetracks. The Model 10 fit nicely into the pattern, in 1909 rolling up a class win at Daytona and a hill-climb victory at Atlanta. Light and nimble, the 10 was a favorite in the light-car classes.

This Buick Model 10 was previously owned by Charles Wood of Glens Falls, New York. Acquired by the Merrick Auto Museum in 1998, it has been the recipient of a nearly 1,200-hour restoration by Wilkinson & Sharp of Feasterville, Pennsylvania. Painted correct Buick Gray, an off-white shade, it is a three-passenger car with open rumble or “mother-in-law” seat. Upholstery is trimmed in black leather, and the car has a black canvas cape top. Lighting comprises Solar acetylene headlamps with carbide generator and Neverout oil side and taillamps. The car received an AACA National First award in 1969. More recently, the iconic Buick valve-in-head engine has been carefully detailed, and new 30 × 3–inch tires have been fitted.

An excellent example of one of the most popular early Buicks, this car will be an asset to any collection.