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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.

The collaboration between Earl and Chayne on the Buick Y-Job soon produced other imaginative Buick concept cars. In 1951, the pair created two new dream cars, LeSabre and XP-300. These vehicles were the result of a long-term cooperative venture between GM Styling and Buick Engineering. LeSabre was Earl's project while Chayne, then the head of GM Engineering, took the lead on XP-300.

The two cars had many mechanical components in common, including supercharged 335-hp V-8 engines that burned methanol/gasoline fuel, push-button seats and windows (including convertible rear windows) and power jacks that were operated from the driver's seat.

While the two cars shared similar underpinnings, the styling of their aluminum bodies clearly distinguished LeSabre and XP-300. XP-300 has the clean design of a sports car, and the dramatically sculptured LeSabre has the look of a jet plane. LeSabre's styling cues clearly suggest its namesake, the F86 Sabre jet fighter.

The white XP-300 is owned by Sloan Museum and the pale green LeSabre is owned by General Motors.