0 A Royal Ride

Just prior to World War II, as the Depression of the 1930s rolled on, Buick continued to have success sitting at or near the top of the luxury, prestige car market. So popular were these cars among the movers and shakers of the world that the British Royal Family, particularly Edward VIII, owned and drove one.

Though there were lots of appointments of luxury and beautiful styling which drew the wealthy and justified the high cost, it was the legendary Buick 8 motor that was the hidden beauty of this machine. The Buick 8 was first rolled out in 1931, a straight eight cylinder engine that had a displacement of 220 cubic inches.

Over the years the size increased to as much as 320 cubic inches and eventually, in 1953, Buick adopted the V8 design. But until then this famous Straight 8, often called the Fireball 8, powered most of the Buick line.

Pictured here is a late 1930s Buick Super 8 GS that was powered by that famous engine. It was a model such as this that Edward VIII owned and drove. A very royal ride indeed.