Buick Oil Company Stock Certificate — David Dunbar Buick Signature (1911)

A rare Buick Oil Company stock certificate from 1911, hand-signed by company president David Dunbar Buick. This collectible captures the early era of American industry tied to the automotive pioneer who helped shape one of the nation’s iconic brands.

About the issuer and founder: David Dunbar Buick (1854-1929) was a Detroit-based inventor and founder of Buick Motor Company. He led Buick and its predecessors from 1899 to 1906, laying the groundwork for a cornerstone of the U.S. automotive industry. Buick Motor Company would eventually become a central pillar of the General Motors empire. In 1906, Buick accepted a severance package and left the company he founded, retaining only one share, which William C. Durant, then Buick’s president, bought for $100,000 (equivalent to over $3 million today). Buick later pursued other ventures, including leadership roles at Lorraine Motors in 1921 and the Dunbar prototype in 1923. He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1974.

Key Highlights

• Historical Significance: Signed by David Dunbar Buick (1911)
• Issuer: Buick Oil Company
• Signer: D. Dunbar Buick (President)

Historical Context & Provenance

David Dunbar Buick, a pivotal figure in American automotive history, founded Buick Motor Company and influenced the early landscape of motor vehicles. He led Buick and its predecessors from 1899–1906, helping establish Buick as a leading name in American manufacturing. The Buick Motor Company would become a cornerstone of General Motors. Buick’s career included a dramatic 1906 departure from Buick, a share sale to William C. Durant, attempts at California oil and Florida land ventures, a return to automotive leadership at Lorraine Motors in 1921, and the Dunbar prototype in 1923. In later years, Buick faced financial hardship before his death in 1929.

Display & Collectibility

• Rare artifact linking automotive innovation to early corporate finance
• Ideal for display in offices, automotive history libraries, museums, or collector shelves
• Engaging centerpiece for collectors of automobile history and legacy brands

Specifications