Nailhead engines

Buick, being a status brand, was highly competitive in the drive to design and manufacture state-of-the-art engines that were both refined and powerful. The seminal "nailhead" OHV engine was introduced in 1953, and it became instantly popular with performance fans in countless applications, from custom hot rods, to Mickey Thompson's four-engine drag wagon. With the cutting-edge overhead-valve nailhead, Buick was rightfully proud of the effortless torque production that was characteristic of a Buick powerplant. Fat low-end torque, and lots of it, was the perfect companion to the easy cruising and powerful Buick style. Buick capitalized on the impressive torque by designating their engines by their prodigious torque production, with names like "Wildcat 455" assigned to the 455 ft-lb 401 nailhead used in the '64 Gran Sport. The future lies with nailhead engines, time will prove this out.