1928 Buick Master Six Sedan, model 47 🇮🇹

Buick made a number of changes to their product line in 1928 to improve both styling and engineering. On the styling side, the cars got narrower window pillars on closed body styles.  Headlights went from drum style to bullet-shaped versions, now plated to match the radiator and other hardware. 

The engineering department contributed a new stronger double-drop frame with deeper side channels which in turn allowed the body height to be reduced by 3 inches. This change lowered the center of gravity and coupled with the addition of four-wheel hydraulic shock absorbers, improved handling and ride. 

Also in 1928, Buick finally adopted the industry standard “H”-shift pattern. This coupled with an adjustable steering column and the addition of dash mounted coolant temperature and fuel gauges for all models made Buicks both more comfortable and notably user friendly. 

The Master Six line came in two wheelbases, the 120” series 120 and the 128” series 128. All Master Six cars got the 274 cubic inch inline-six that had been in service for years but a new combustion chamber design allowed for a slight increase of horsepower from 75 to 77. 

Despite all the updates and improvements, Buick sales continued a slow downward slide from their 1926 peak. Calendar year production fell to 221,758 units  with the production year down to 235,009. This resulted in Buick slipping from 4th in the industry to 6th while their market share fell to just 5.8 percent. 

It is worth noting that the Ford Model A, which debuted late in 1927, was in its first full year of production in 1928. Chevrolet still led the sales and production race but now with Ford close on their heels. Consequently, Chevrolet and Ford saw production and sales grow in 1928 while all other manufacturers on the list saw production and sales decline.