lighthalo

buicks come with them stock, as do a few other cars.. i've seen them come in a few different flavors though, such as oval and rectangle and sometimes the ones that look like the "]" key

mmarshall

Buick, under GM styling chief Harley Earl, started the whole porthole idea back in the late 1940's (partly to help alleviate engine heat). As cooling systems improved, true portholes were no longer necessary, and they became fake metal ones on the Buick line that were strictly trim, not functional. The Buick Lucerne still carries that tradition forward today.....albeit with fake plastic ones, not metal.

Lil4X

Wasn't there some sort of significance to the number of portholes in a '50's - '60's era Buick? The high end models got four, the lesser had three? I seem to remember a time when the LeSabre was a three-holer while the deuce-and-a-quarter sported four.

And here you thought a four-holer was just a community outhouse!

mmarshall

Yes. From 1948 to 1958, four holes meant the top-line Buick Roadmaster (which was dropped that year). After 1958, the name Electra was used for top-line Buick sedans (I once owned an Electra, and LOVED it), then replaced by Park Avenue, then Roadmaster again in the early 90's, then Park Avenue again when the Roadmaster was again dropped in 1996, and finally to Lucerne.

Milla...

I saw one idiot have them on his 'C' pillar, ewww..

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

I recall that as well... something like 3 holes was a 6 cyl and 4 was an 8 cyl model

LexBob2

Correct, on the Lucerne, 3 holes indicate the V6 engine, and 4 holes are reserved for the V8. Might be the same for Lacrosse, but not sure.

JonSC4

iTrader: (2)

Around here you can't go out in public without seeing at least a few cars with those. It's always funny when really ****ty cars have them.

Lil4X

They're everywhere. Saw a set of the cheapest Pep Boys portholes on a brand new Caddy yesterday - and they were stuck on crooked.

My favorite application was a set of shiny new 'holes on the BED of a rusted pickup. I guess that big hole on top wasn't providing enough ventilation . . .

Coconut

Theres a black IS250 here in the Bay Area thats sporting Buick style portholes. Thats not the worst thing though, he put on fake IS350 badges.

IS-SV

Those are the ugliest ones for sure.

SC400Dude

I do the same thing...LoL

Don't forget the "DUB" decal/plate cover or "2x" emblem on each side or the chromed out exterior B-Pillar panels

rominl

iTrader: (4)

hehe well, to be fair, i think the side "vents" on my m3 are fake as well. someone said there isn't really any "holes" inside. ummm i should laugh at myself too

LexFather

Funny I saw this car parked and thought of this thread and took a pic...How about 2 sets of vents

pagemaster

Yes...fake is lame! unless there fake t!ts