Centurion Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) Who could have guessed, way back in mid-December, 1970, that the new Buick my Dad just brought home would remain so significant to me in mid-December, 2010?And, yet, I still drive the car somewhat regularly, and even my wife comments on the impressive power of the 455-4. This is one of those Buicks that we always regarded as a fine car. Forty years and 156,000 glorious miles down the highway, the Centurion cruises on. The engine has received new valve cover gaskets and spark plugs along the way, but, apart from oil changes, that's all. The transmission has been serviced, but no rebuilds ever required.I was thrilled to hear the weather forecast on Friday, December 17, since that is the actual 40th birthday date of Centurion ownership. It looks like we'll have dry weather -- perfect for driving the old Buick to the office. Friday evening, we're already slated for a special dinner out. I'll designate the dinner as the Centurion's birthday party!Larger image:http://photos.aaca.org/files/3/0/6/2/9/centurioniii_original.jpg Edited December 16, 2010 by Centurion (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Right on. Congratulations to the Centurion and the stewards it has had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhclark Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Congrats Brian! Glad the weather is cooperating for the Anniversary dinner!Have a BLAST! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Brian, not many would save a car as you have. But would guess MANY are envious. Thanks for being such a good steward! BEAUTIFUL car. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TG57Roadmaster Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) Happy Birthday to your ward Brian, any many more. My great-uncle had a '71 LeSabre coupe from new, in Nocturne Blue with black top and blue interior, that eventually succumbed to Northern Michigan Winter road salt. He and my grandparents came to visit us in about '73 or so, and one of my happy chores (I volunteered) was to wash the car before their return. I have to say I fell in love with the handsome brute (even if it was just a LeSabre) that very day, a lasting affair.The Centurion group that posts here has whetted my appetite for these cars and helps keep the flame alive, and one day I'll find a Formal Coupe or 'vert. In the meantime, those who admire and desire these cars get to live vicariously through your car(s), and random meetings such as this Nocturne Blue convert spied on a trip. (A car owned since new by the stranger's great-uncle, he's now part of the Centurion Registry).Enjoy your special dinner Friday, and let us how many valets fight over who gets to park your "keeper!"TG Edited December 17, 2010 by TG57Roadmaster (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redrob Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Congratulations on the Centurion's milestone birthday, Brian. Enjoy many, many more together! Here in Minnesota my Centurion is sleeping for the winter, and I envy you your beautiful, smooth and luxurious drive tomorrow! I'll just cruise with you in spirit tomorrow, if it's okay with you.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 I'll just cruise with you in spirit tomorrow, if it's okay with you..........Absolutely, Redrob! I have a hunch that several of my Buick friends around the country will be "riding" along with me in the backseat. I have received a flurry of e-mails today from long-time Buick friends in Alaska (AKBuickman) and Ohio. And thanks for sharing the great photos of your spectacular Centurion! Someday, I hope we'll see all of these cars together at a great Centurion get-together. Let's start thinking about putting together another Centurion photo calendar for 2012.I appreciate the fine sentiments from all of you who have responded.I've pondered today whether my Centurion might possibly be the earliest production, surviving example of the series. My car was Centurion Formal Coupe body number 125 out of the Southgate, California plant, and the 774th 1971 LeSabre and Centurion turned out by the assembly plant. The cars were also being built at Fairfax and Wilmington. Among the many Centurions that have been submitted to Smartin's Centurion Registry, mine appears to be the earliest-built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) Happy Birthday to the Formal Coupe from Flame Orange!!! Enjoy your ride as the Centurion protects your family on the highway as it cruises forward to 50. Edited December 17, 2010 by my3buicks (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 Thanks, Keith! Let's keep those great Centurion photos coming. It would be fun to dedicate this thread to all of the Centurion owners on our BCA forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Happy Birthday from another Formal Coupe brother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) Thanks, Adam, and I appreciate the photo of your Burnished Cinnamon beauty. I regard your car as perhaps the most beautiful '71 Centurion on the planet! Edited December 17, 2010 by Centurion (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 I will post one for Bob Alberini!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share Posted December 17, 2010 Great photo, Keith, of what is surely one of the finest, untouched original Centurions in existence. Bob's Charcoal Mist '72 is the picture of Buick-style class! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 We will call these Centurions in formation as they proudly carrry the Buick name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 How about I throw the red one in also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share Posted December 17, 2010 Keith, you've posted a treasure-trove of Centurions!If anyone doubts whether there's any collector interest in the early-1970's large cars, this topic should persuade him otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICK YOUNG Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Happy B-day and congrats Brian.The 75 is down for a nap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 http://www.buickcenturion.com/forums/index.phphttp://www.buickcenturion.com/Since your car is an earlish car Brain we will use it's birthday to also promote the Centurion site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tri-shield Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Hi Brian! Here's to another happy 40 years - your Centurion looks so young! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TG57Roadmaster Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Great pics guys! Thanks Keith for all those lovely ones, especially the elegant 4drht. Brian, it looks like you got more than you wished for, which works for me (and all of us)! Keith's rigid top boot makes his car so very smooth, and you gotta love that era Big-Buick's driver-centric dash, too.TG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjp69 Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Happy Birthday to a cool car, with an even cooler owner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Hey Brian, if we ever get out your way again, we'll need to spend time with the car...it shares its birthday with Luke (albeit 27 years younger).Some great photos of fabulous cars in this thread now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BCAOffice Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Happy birthday to your beautiful Centurion, Brian! May you and your car celebrate many more birthdays together!Mike & Nancy BookBCA # 9202 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Hat's off to the keepers of the Buick Centurions. Happy 40'th, and here's to many, many more. Up here in the North East cars like that rarely survived. Saltitis you know... Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 ...another one for fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) Thanks to all for your great comments and photos on the occasion of the Centurion's 40th birthday.Forty years ago tonight, my Dad arrived home from Portland (about 300 miles away) in the new Centurion, squeezing the "rimblower" horn as he pulled into the garage. I'll never forget my first glimpse under the single, bare lightbulb in the garage ceiling. Not only was it a new Buick, but the car had the fantastic Buick chrome plated road wheels that I always admired.The Centurion brought me the eighteen miles to work today.It’s a spectacular day here in Tacoma, and the Olympic Mountains are shining white with snow against the incredible blue sky. When I dressed this morning, I chose dark brown slacks with a “Sandpiper Beige” sweater and black horizontal stripe. One of the women in the office already pointed out to me that I match my car today! That was, of course, my intention all along. Edited December 17, 2010 by Centurion (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Other than maybe taking your wife out to dinner in it tonight, life doesn't get much better than that!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted December 17, 2010 Share Posted December 17, 2010 Who could have guessed, way back in mid-December, 1970, that the new Buick my Dad just brought home would remain so significant to me in mid-December, 2010? Brian,This is such a great story. Congrats to you, your family, and of course your car.Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Maine Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 (edited) Mine's not a Centurion, but my '71 LeSabre will be 40 the third week of August, 2011 - according to the data plate. It was purchased by some friends of my uncles at Lindeman Buick in Westfield, NJ in October 1971. I have the window sticker and original NJ title. My uncle bought it from them in 1980 with 40K on it for $600.00. He gave it to me in July 2000. It's got some bondo in the fenders and a lot of the interior plastic has deteriorated, but the dash looks terrific. It needs some work but still runs and drives good except for a driveline vibration that starts just over 50 mph. My wife hates it. She thinks it's big and ugly but I still love her - and the car! Hope to make it to the BCA National in Danvers in July.It's always fun to read storys about cars still with their original owner/family. Edited December 18, 2010 by John_Maine (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 (edited) Thank you, Mike and John, for your comments. John, we'd love to see photos of that fine '71 LeSabre.I decided to snap a few quick photos yesterday during lunchtime. The rare December sun is harsh, creating lots of shadows and a challenge for shooting photos, but you might enjoy some of these.I opted to do a "Tour de Tacoma", with a few shots taken in some of my favorite local places.For starters, I opted to shoot a few photos at the 1948-vintage Mueller-Harkins Buick building. These initial shots were taken on the ramps leading to rooftop parking and various service levels. Edited December 19, 2010 by Centurion (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 VERY NICE pictures Brain, I like them, a little out of the ordinary. As ALWAYS your Centurion photographed beautifully and looks like a million bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 (edited) Keith, thanks!Next stop was the conservatory in Wright Park: Edited December 19, 2010 by Centurion (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 There's a local auto repair business in a cool vintage shop or dealership structure. Because of other vehicles, it was difficult to get the shots I really wanted. I'll try again another day, but you might enjoy this image with the neon sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 (edited) The folks at the old Baptist seminary in north Tacoma were thrilled to see the Buick and have me shoot a few photos. Edited December 19, 2010 by Centurion (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Great stuff Brian. The December sun may be rare for you, but rare for us would to take outside shots at this time of the year unless we want a photo in the snow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 Thanks, Derek. I love snow pictures!One thing really stands out about the day yesterday. Wherever I went, people were drawn to the Buick and asked all about it. Although these cars don't look "old" to me, their vast size, chrome, and even the colors stand out among today's look-a-like sedans in black or shades of gray. I gave them all an ear-full about the Centurion's 40th birthday, and they loved the concept -- enjoying the fact that someone is actually nuts enough to plan a birthday event just for his car!A final, parting shot shows the Centurion in front of my favorite coffee shop. As I sat inside having a roll and a soda, I couldn't help but watch the passersby as they stopped to enjoy a really special car. I'm always proud that it says "BUICK" in nice block lettering across the decklid; I like to see people appreciate my favorite brand of automobile.This historic building is right on the southern edge of Tacoma's historic auto row. If you all pay me a visit, I'll give you the tour! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhclark Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Beautiful Pics Brian!Congratulations on a wonderful day and I assume a wonderful evening! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Great shots, Brian, of a great car!! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redrob Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Brian, you have anough great pictures of your Centurion for a calendar by yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Maine Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Unfortunately, I'm in Maine so my LeSabre is tucked away until spring. At least it's home with me in it's new garage, not stored 7 miles away as in the past. It's in the garage with my '72 LTD and my '09 Mustang convertible while I spend the winter driving the '89 Cutlass I inherited from my uncle. Come spring, I'll have to get my son to show me how to post pictures. I'm pretty computer illiterate when it comes to more than posting messages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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