The Buick Motor Company, named for automotive pioneer David Buick, was incorporated on May 19th of 1903, in Detroit, Michigan. It became one of the businesses William C. Durant brought together to form General Motors in 1908. They were not inexpensive and positioned above a Chevrolet, Oakland, and Oldsmobile. By 1932, Buick had built a reputation of building stylish and reliable cars. That year, a racing car with a Buick engine finished 11th at the Indianapolis 500, which proved that Buick also had good performance.

The 1932 Buicks were given styling modifications that included new hood doors rather than louvers, longer flowing fenders, taillights, a tapered radiator, and a raked windshield with no external sun visor. The top-of-the-line Buick was the 90 series cars, which had a 134-inch wheelbase and offered in a variety of different body styles. Power was from a 344.8 cubic-inch overhead-valve inline eight-cylinder engine with 133 horsepower. Also available on the 90 series was Wizard Control, which provided owners both freewheeling and no-clutch shifting between second and third gears. The suspension was comprised of solid axles with leaf springs all around, and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The engine was backed by a three-speed sliding gear synchromesh transmission.