Envisioned by Charles Chayne, head of GM Engineering at the time, the Buick XP 300 was conceived as an experiment in styling and engineering. The lightweight aluminum body and skirted rear wheel openings make the XP 300 appear as if it is floating. Coupled with a high horsepower engine, Charles Chayne himself tested the XP 300’s performance by reaching more than 140 miles per hour during an engineering test run.
GM Press Release
The overall futuristic design of Buick’s XP-300 is emphasized in this view of the new experimental car. The hood and front fenders are a single welded unit, while the hood opens in reverse alligator fashion by hydraulic control. The headlights and parking lights are mounted in open grille work which permits cooling. The louvres along the side serve both the engine and the passenger compartment, and can be opened and closed by the instrument panel controls. When the doors close, hydraulically operated steel bars slide into place to make the doors a solid, structural part of the body and chassis.
Source: www.cartype.com