Centurion

Price reduced to $30, including shipping in the U.S. Anyone interested?

You're right about the number of these cars (and the similar LeSabres) still on the road. The one issue I've heard of is that the FWD transaxles were a weak point on the earlier cars ('85 and '86), but these were beefed up and made more reliable over time. I personally know individuals with very high mileage '88 and '89 Park Avenues who marvel at their trouble-free performance and long-term reliability. Personally, I would look for the fairly rare '90 Park Avenue Ultra or one of the Electra T-Types.

The Pontiac used a completely different "body shell" from the Buicks in 1955. The basic body shells were as follows:<P>Chevrolet and Pontiac<P>Oldsmobile and Buick Special/Century<P>Buick Super/Roadmaster and Cadillac<P>I am doubtful that you could readily swap front end sheetmetal without some significant modifications.

'70 Electra,<P>I will send you an e-mail with my information.<P>I realized after sending my original post above that authenticity was the goal in reproducing the tires, and I appreciate that. I look forward to learning of your progress on this project.

Thank you for your effort on this. I own a 1971 Centurion that was originally equipped with the dual stripe whitewalls, and I would love to install a set of these unique tires on my car.<P>I'm disappointed, however, that the tires will have the fiberglass-belted construction. My Dad bought the Centurion new (I was a high school senior), and, after about 5,000-miles, he dumped the original tires for a set of new Michelin steel radials. Especially in cold weather, those fiberglass tires provided a miserably bumpy ride until they warmed up and rounded out. My hope would be that someone will offer a tire with this original appearance in a steel radial design.

As with any organization one might name, the benefit you receive from the BCA is directly proportional to the effort you invest. The content of the Buick Bugle magazine reflects the material submitted by the membership. If owners of older Buicks are concerned that the content is not adequately oriented toward the early cars, the only way that will change is for the owners of those cars to contribute regularly and encourage others with similar cars to do the same.<P>Likewise, I can understand the concern about small numbers of early Buicks showing up at the meets. Again, the only way to change that is to be there with your old Buick and work hard to contact other owners of these cars, encouraging them to be there as well.<P>I am confident that, even if you have the only early Buick at a local or regional meet, those of us with newer cars will be appreciative that you brought it out. These cars are a great reminder of Buick's wonderful history, and I would be very sad to see these cars disappear from our events.<P>The point should again be made that the NATIONAL meets tend to attract a significant showing of the early cars, even if the local or regional shows do not.<P>I believe that the BCA needs to be the club where owners of the early Buicks feel welcomed and understand that their participation is valuable. Speaking for myself, I will make a point of seeking out the owners of any early Buicks that join us for shows or tours during the upcoming season; I want to let them know that I'm glad they came.

An important benefit of BCA membership is that you will receive the roster of all members, including a listing of all members who own the models of Buick you are interested in. This gives you the information you need to begin networking with others who have a strong interest in these cars.<P>A BCA national meet is also an excellent place to connect with other fans of the early Buicks.

455 was standard in '71 and '72 Centurions, but became an option in '73. The 350-4 barrel was standard on the '73 Centurion.<P>The "modified high performance 455" option was available all three years.

This is a tough assignment, because Buick built so many stand-out cars over the years. My personal favorite would be the 1965 Wildcat 2-door hardtop, which is one of GM's best-ever designs.<P>Other contenders for my warehouse, assuming infinite financial resources:<P>1937-38 Roadmaster 4-door convertible<BR>1937-42 Series 90 Limited, especially one of the ultra-rare '41 Brunn Customs<BR>1940 Series 80 Limited 4-door convertible<BR>1942-50 Roadmaster Sedanette<BR>1954 Skylark (more unique than the '53)<BR>1942-53 Estate Wagon<BR>1957-58 Century Caballero<BR>1959 Electra 225 4-door hardtop<BR>1961 Electra 225 convertible<BR>1963-64 Riviera<BR>1966-67 Riviera<P>The truth is, I love them all through the 1972 model year. <BR>

Two excellent-condition issues of Buick Magazine from late 1959, covering the 1960 model Buicks.<P>One issue is a "Special Report Issue", introducing the 1960 Buicks and including commentary from editors and writers of several well-known magazines. Many photos of the new Buicks, including test track photos of a LeSabre or Invicta with the 6-window 4-door hardtop body style that was actually offered only in the Electra 225 series.<P>The second issue is the November and December, 1959 issue, which includes additional advertising and coverage of the 1960 Buick. There is somewhat less "auto" coverage in this one, but one interesting page shows the Buick engineer-approved accessories for the 1960 Buick. The suggestion is made that these would be perfect Christmas gifts for Buick owners. If that was true then, it's certainly true now.<P>I'm asking $40 for the pair of these, which includes the cost of postage within the U.S. If you are interested, please e-mail me at:<P>laurance@integrity.com<P>Thanks for your interest.<P>--Brian Laurance, BCA #5168

I have a strong interest in small-scale autos, especially Buicks. I have a variety of items in my collection, as follows:<P>Franklin Mint, 1/24-scale:<BR>1949 Buick Roadmaster Riviera<BR>1955 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Catalina<P>1/18-scale:<BR>1955 Buick Century 2-door Riviera (Mira)<BR>1971 Buick GSX (ERTL)<P>1/43-scale, various manufacturers:<BR>1949 Buick Super convertible<BR>1950 Buick Super 2-door Riviera (Solido)<BR>1953 Buick Skylark (Franklin Mint)<BR>1953 Buick Skylark (Matchbox)<BR>1955 Buick Century convertible<BR>1958 Buick Century convertible<BR>1959 Buick Electra 225 convertible (Western)<P>1/25-scale promos:<BR>1956 Pontiac Star Chief 4-door hardtop<BR>1959 Buick Invicta 2-door hardtop (2)<BR>1959 Buick Invicta convertible<BR>1959 Pontiac Bonneville convertible<BR>1959 Oldsmobile 98 4-door hardtop<BR>1960 Mercury Park Lane Cruiser 2-door hardtop<BR>1961 Buick Special Wagon<BR>1961 Buick Invicta 2-door hardtop<BR>1962 Buick Electra 225 2-door hardtop<BR>1964 Pontiac Grand Prix 2-door hardtop<BR>1965 Buick Wildcat 2-door hardtop<BR>1966 Buick Riviera<P>1/64-scale diecast:<BR>1957 Buick Roadmaster 2-door hardtop<BR>1970 Buick GSX<P>plus an assortment of Japanese tin and various scale plastic and diecast miniatures of '59 Buicks.<P>Garaging these small-scale cars is much easier than garaging the real thing!

Unfortunately, there were no 1/25-scale promotional models of the 1967 Electra 225. There were promos offered of the Electra 225 series cars only in 1962 and 1963, and they command very high prices. (I recently saw a '62 Electra 225 convertible promo bid well in excess of $1,000 on Ebay!)<P>The only 1967 Buick rendered in promo form was the Riviera. During many years in the early 1960's, promos were offered for more than one series. Apart from the years indicated above, the standard, full-size Buicks were represented in promo form by the Invicta and Wildcat series cars.

Wow! That '49 Roadmaster Riviera sounds great. Hope we get to see and hear more about that one.

The '73 Riviera also lost the exclusive twin coved dashboard design of the '71 and '72. In '73, the Riviera received the same dashboard as the full-size B and C Body Buicks.

Oops! Just re-read my post. I meant to say that the sunroof did not appear until 1972. (It was not offered in 1971.)

WF59B is correct; the compression drop occurred with the 1971 models (as compared to 1970). Performance and driveability is still excellent for both years. I have the '71 Buick 455 (Centurion) that my parents bought new, and, 150,000-miles down the road, the engine burns no oil, has never required repairs (maintenance only), and runs like the day it was delivered. This 455 engine/THM400 combination is fantastic.<P>Given two otherwise equal boattail Rivieras, I would choose the GS. But I would always value an original, unmolested non-GS over a less than pristine GS. The fact is that you can't always choose options exactly the way you want it when you're buying a thirty-year old car. I would focus on finding the best available example, regardless of whether it is a GS or not.<P>It is correct that the sunroof did not appear in 1972, and I would say that it is fairly rare. There are other unique options, however, that can make these cars fun. One item to watch for is "Max Trac", which was a Buick exclusive and one of the first uses of an onboard computer. The computer would monitor rear wheel spin, then cut ignition to improve traction. It's funny how Mercedes-Benz made a big deal of this same concept when it introduced the feature more than twenty years later!<P>While condition (and price) should guide your decision, I would personally choose the '71 over the '72 model. This is strictly a matter of preference, but I think that the cleaner grille and taillamp design, as well as the bumpers without the black rub strips, fit better with the car's overall styling theme. I also like the louvres on the '71 decklid. In addition, there was not a factory protective bodyside molding offered on the '71 models, and these cars look much nicer to me without the molding. The beauty of these Rivieras is their shape, and additional gingerbread distracts from the integrity of the design.<P>Riviera interiors were offered in standard and Custom versions. While both are beautiful, I tend to think that the standard interiors appear more sporty and in keeping with the rest of the design.<P>My opinion for many years has been that these boattail Rivieras were among the last genuinely distinctive, large American cars. There is no mistaking these cars for anything else on the highway. I have long thought that I should buy one while they're still available and affordable. (I probably never will, but I sure wish I could!)

By the way, all 455 High Performance Centurions will have dual exhausts, although the dual exhausts were available separately as an option.<P>Since the 455 was an option on '73 Centurions, the 455-equipped cars have "455" emblems on the front fender side, below the "Centurion" nameplate.

You can tell which engine your '73 Centurion was originally equipped with from the vehicle's VIN number.<P>The first four characters of the VIN will be as follows, depending upon the car's body style:<P>4P39 4-door hardtop<BR>4P57 2-door hardtop<BR>4P67 Convertible<P>The fifth character will identify the engine type:<P>J 350-4 V8<BR>T 455-4 V8<BR>W 455-4 High Performance V8<P>Hope this helps!

The 1971 Electra 225 is certainly a large car, riding on a wheelbase of 127 inches and having an overall length of 226.2 inches. According to my data, however, the length of the Electra 225 had grown to 233.4 inches by 1975. The 1975 and 1976 Electra 225's, while still essentially the same car as the 1971 Electra, wore the Federally-mandated 5-mph bumpers, accounting for most of the additional length.<P>Other Buicks rivaled these '70's Electras for size. The 1958 Limited, for example, rode a slightly longer 127.5-inch wheelbase, but measured only 227.1 inches from stem to stern. The '58 Limited convertibles would certainly be a contender for the longest open Buick, but all of the Electra 225 convertibles from '59 through '70 would have been only slightly shorter.<P>With respect to wheelbase, the majestic pre-war Series 90 Limiteds would be the champions among regular production Buicks. The 1940 Series 90, for example, rode on a gargantuan 140-inch wheelbase. The 1941 and 1942 Series 90 cars, while riding a slightly shorter 139-inch wheelbase, were very large cars at 228-5/8 inches long. <P>

I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this issue on the newsstand. I previously subscribed, but dropped it to save money. Now I spend more buying at the newsstand!! But the Buick coverage is consistently good, and this issue will make a Buick lover proud.<P>I especially enjoy the description of the cover photo that appears on the Contents page: "Ken Diabo pours on the Stage 1 power to make enough smoke to fill up the hole in the ozone. When you go to the Pure Stock Drags, sooner or later you're gonna have to deal with the Buicks. This year, they were the force to be reckoned with . . ."<P>It was great to see page after page of Buicks beating Hemi 'Cudas, Six Pack Super Bees, Corvettes, GTO's, etc. You gotta love those Buicks!

Buick built a convertible in the LeSabre series through 1975. <P>In 1971 and 1972, there were convertibles in both the LeSabre and Centurion series. For 1973, the LeSabre convertible was dropped and the Centurion was Buick's only convertible. The Centurion disappeared at the end of the '73 model year, so the LeSabre regained the convertible for '74 and '75.<P>To add to my original post about the collectibility of these cars, there certainly is some collector interest. It's my opinion that it is worth spending money to maintain and restore these cars, but the goal should be only the owner's enjoyment and not to earn a profit. It would be difficult to recover the cost of a restoration if you chose to sell the car.

The Centurion series was produced only during the 1971 - 73 model years, and was really the successor model to the Wildcat series. Only slightly more than 100,000 were built during the three years of production. Buick never seemed to really advertise the series; in fact, the only magazine print ad ever published for the series appeared early during the '71 model year.<P>The Centurion was really much the same formula as the Wildcat that preceded it: Buick's largest engine (as in the Electra 225 and Riviera series) in the lightest full-size body (like the LeSabre). Interiors were more luxurious than the LeSabre in '71 and '72, although the LeSabre offered comparable trim levels in '73. <P>The 455 was standard equipment in '71 and '72, but the series seemed to be downgraded in '73 and the 455 became an option (350-4 engine became standard). Since the 455 was available in the LeSabre series beginning in 1970, there was no longer any point in producing a middle series between the LeSabre and Electra 225. The series was discontinued at the end of the '73 model year.<P>An optional "modified high performance 455" was offered in all three years and shared with the Riviera GS. A significant number of cars were equipped with this option.<P>The convertibles of all three years are quite desirable, but the full-size Buicks of this era are not highly collectible and do not command high prices. The 2-door hardtops of '71 and '72 are called "Formal Coupes" and had a standard vinyl roof covering and unique rear window treatment; by '73, the unique roofline was gone.<P>Collectible or not, these Centurions are excellent cars, great long distance cruisers, and nicely styled. The '73's suffered somewhat in the styling department with the new 5-mph bumpers, but they are still a fine looking car. Properly maintained, the 455's seem to run forever.<P>If you want more information, please feel free to e-mail me at: laurance@integrity.com<P>Brian Laurance, BCA #5168<P>'59 Electra, '71 Centurion

Am needing to sell my '65 Buick Color & Trim Book. This is a spectacular piece of literature for the '65 Buick owner. Front cover features a color photograph of a stunning Flame Red Wildcat 2-door hardtop. Book has samples of all upholstery fabrics and vinyls for every series, as well as charts showing exterior color and interior trim compatibility. Even the discontinued trims (like the white Wildcat Custom vinyl interior) are represented. There is a large, full-page color photo of each Buick series, and illustrations show every exterior molding option that was offered. There are large color chips laid out in a ring binder format, alongside the available convertible top and vinyl top fabric samples.<P>This is a fantastic piece for the '65 Buick fan. The book is totally complete and in very good condition, although there is some minor page wrinkling and indications of mildew on the inside of the cover. A few of the large color chips (Shell Beige, Bamboo Cream, and Silver Cloud)had stuck together at one point, and were damaged when pulled apart. Still, there is a large, undamaged portion of the chip for each of these colors.<P>I'm not set up to sell on Ebay, and would rather some of you Buick Club guys obtain this item. I will sell it for $130, which includes postage within the United States. If you wish to buy this, please e-mail me at:<P>laurance@integrity.com<P>Brian Laurance, BCA #5168

Oops! Sorry for the multiple posts. Guess that so many people were posting on this topic at one time, that it didn't appear that my replies were appearing. Just hit "refresh" and I'm now there more than once.

Wife: 1999 GMC Safari SLT<P>Me: 1989 Buick LeSabre Limited 2-door