This Alleged Buick Prototype Escaped The Crusher, Maybe It Shouldn’t Have

If you thought the facelifted Buick GL8 was ghastly, wait until you get a look at this alleged 2002 Buick prototype.

Looking like a Soviet take on the Audi A2, this mysterious model is being billed as a “one of one working prototype” that escaped the crusher.

Details are limited, but the Mecum listing says a total of three vehicles were believed to have been built. While the Buick survived, the “2 others with Chevrolet badging are thought to have been destroyed.”

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It’s unclear why this prototype was made, but the model is a sad looking five-door hatchback with a beige exterior and a generic-looking grille. The model also sports black cladding, an exposed gas cap, and a rear end that feels like it’s from another decade.

Moving into the cabin, we can see a relatively basic and plasticky interior with a three-spoke steering wheel, cloth seats, and minimalist controls. The model also has a Magneti Marelli badge on the instrument cluster and this seems to suggests the Fiat connection might go a bit deeper than the Panda-like styling. That remains unclear, but Fiat and GM were pretty chummy in the early 2000’s, before their multi-billion dollar divorce.

Under the hood, we can see Buick badging as well as what is said to be a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. There’s no word on specifications, but it’s paired to a five-speed manual.

While the prototype raises more questions than answers, it was reportedly only driven 149 miles (239 km) before being stored for 18 years. The listing also notes the vehicle was never titled and is not street-legal.

Picture credits: Mecum