Infotainment systems feel like standard equipment now, but that wasn’t always the case. We’ve come a long way from the days of analog cloc

This Buick Had a Touchscreen in 1986

submited by

Style Pass

2021-06-13 01:30:07

Infotainment systems feel like standard equipment now, but that wasn’t always the case. We’ve come a long way from the days of analog clocks embedded in dashboards. With the push to make cars 30 years ago, Buick installed a touchscreen that was decades ahead of its time. This moment in automotive history paved the way for the high-tech systems we now take for granted. In the 1980s, it seemed like a slice of science fiction.

The Buick brand was born of ingenuity. For more than 100 years, Buick made a name for itself and stood out in the automotive industry by revolutionizing engine performance. An employee of Buick invented the overhead-valve, changing the future of performance engines.

Future General Motors founder William C. Durant purchased Buick and its intellectual property, including the overhead valve. The overhead-valve design was immediately implemented in the Buick Model B. This car put out a full liter more displacement than any of its contemporaries and pushed 25% more horsepower.

Buick isn’t necessarily known for being at the cutting edge of automotive technology. The brand is synonymous with large, comfortable sedans. This reputation largely overlooks the companies many contributions to automotive innovation. Publications like Popular Mechanics have