The Buick Centurion in convertible form wasn’t a big seller in 1972 with fewer than 2,400 produced. But given that this one comes with special order paint, the seller indicates only 33 were built that way. Plus, it has an assortment of options and equipment that could even drive that down further. Unfortunately, it looks to have been left to the whims of Mother Nature and has loads of rust. The building where it resides now is in Fall River, Massachusetts, and the auto is being offered here on craigslist for $3,500 because the space is no longer going to be available. Thanks for the tip, Mitchell G.!
Buick’s full-size cars were all-new again in 1971 and they dropped the Wildcat nameplate in favor of Centurion for the series between the LeSabre and Electra. In three years, barely 10,000 Centurion drop-tops left the factory, so finding one of these in any condition today probably takes some effort. The seller bought the car from its second owner who actually owned it twice (so does that make it the third owner?). The car has to leave its current spot and the seller can’t take it with him or her, so Plan B is part it out if all else fails.
With the car’s build sheet in hand (and perhaps some other data), this seller has identified production numbers that make this a rare vehicle. Besides the special paint (Sunburst Yellow, a Skylark color), only 232 of the ragtops came with a “W” code GS 455 cubic inch V8 engine that year. And just 48 had the 3:42 posi-traction rear differential. The seller also has production figures for a variety of the car’s options, including but not limited to power door locks, windows, and seats; floor mats, door edge guards, cruise control, and the list goes on and on.
The Buick was last registered more than 30 years ago, and we wish that it had been stored indoors a lot sooner. The Centurion runs, but only off an external gas can as the fuel tank is out of the car and is so rare that finding a replacement may be difficult. To help fix all the rust issues, the seller has a spare NOS quarter panel, but it does not automatically come with the deal (extra charge). The interior may be okay from what we can see of it. But at least everything is said to be numbers matching. This would be a great car to save, but you’ll need deep pockets to do so.
Looks like only 32 remain in existence….
Looks like you’re going to need to special order that paint again, because it’s toast!
part it out….
Special-order paint is a good talking point, but I don’t think it adds much value, if any, especially when it’s on a car that doesn’t generate much collector interest.
Is that special order rust on the special order paint?
This one has been for sale at least three years.
And the price continues to go down. I seem to recall it started in the teens?
As the rust falls off.
I wonder which owner decided to destroy the car?
Looks like tarp damage at least in part. If you’re going to store a car outside for any length of time (not a great idea), use a proper breathable outdoor car cover! If instead many people just throw a plastic tarp over it from Home Depot or something.
Was one one flea bay that was in excellent shape ready to drive with a ton of new parts CA car and sold for 10k .This is a parts car .500.00 to a 1000 tops.imo.
Oh no!!! I see Buick must have a marti report?
I just love all the nasty comments on my car from people that have never looked at it in person. Russ, I extended a personal invitation to you when you wrote about this car a while back to come see for yourself but you never took the time to reply. I even added more pics of all the panels to stop the “guessing”.The frame on this car is rock solid. The car needs rear floor pan for the rear footwell area, trunkpan, trunklid, hood and drivers side fender and rear quarter. Both doors are solid, pass side front fender is solid, complete windshield frame is solid, rear quarter little crusty on top of wheel arch but does not need replacing which is why the nos pass quarter is not included in the lowered price. Engine runs perfectly and goes right to idle even if the bottle.
It sucks for someone to try and sell a car with all these “so-called” experts that have never even looked at it in person passing judgements. Come and look at it before making ridiculous statements.
Looks like Stanley Kowalski drove her a lot. Used Cars from 1978 Comedy with Kurt Russel was hilarious!!!
Has it got chewing gum holding the bumper on?
Well Paul, I TY for posting the info.. It’s a rare ride and it’s definitely gonna take some $$$to get it to a decent NOT fully restored state.. 3500 not sure bout that.. it’ll probably cost me that to hit it to drive me back to Ohio lol
I find it difficult to believe that a fuel tank from some other car couldn’t be installed fairly easily.
I agree with the seller re:”nasty comments…”
Thanks for the backup Ken.
Back when I had time to mess with it I didn’t want the regular centurion gas tank, I wanted the exact replacement but found out they didn’t make extras of that tank because the engine option is so rare. I was foolish, I could have just modified the only tank available to make it work but I was stubborn and planned to find the exact replacement and never could. The tank that is available is the same in every way except for the location of the fuel line connections. So you are correct Ken, the regular tank will work with minor mods.
Was 72 the last year that the 455 was standard in the Centurion? I’ve noticed that old brochures, mostly Canadian, show Stage 1 455s offered in B, C, D and E bodies thru 74. Makes me wonder what might be out there. (Of course the 73 Pontiac brochure lists the 455-SD in A and G cars, which didn’t happen outside of the corporation).
I believe the 350 first became available in 73 for the centurion as that was the last year for them. Not sure if the 455 was still optional.
Where is the pic of the build sheet the seller mentions more than once???
I have the buildsheet. I could only load 25 pics on the ad so I used them for the cars condition. The list that is in the ad is the buildsheet option list broken down into how many cars had each option.
Well, from the VIN we know that this has a 275 hp. 455. That’s SAE net horsepower.
The paint code 56 – Sunburst Yellow was an available option the Electra, Riviera, LeSabre, Estate Wagon and Centurion.
Not according to my buildsheet and the centurion historian that helped decode the buildsheet. It has paint override code typed right on the buildsheet and sunburst yellow written in marker by hand on it.
I’m sorry, but you’re wrong according to GM.
Check out: https://barnfinds.com/1972-buick-centurion-convertible-455/
from Oct. 27, 2020. The same car. Same condition. Same complaint that everyone is being unfair.
Come and look at it yourself and get an informed opinion and maybe you’ll see what I mean. I invite anyone to look it over and then tell me it’s not worthy.
ACZ, reading from a sales brochure doesn’t make you right.
So i guess that the buildsheet is wrong as well? My buildsheet has code WD5 as “Special Paint Centurion”.
I didn’t pull this out of thin air.
The 33 total cars number came from a guy who had been documenting them for the last 40 years.
Special Paint is an optional color that has an up charge. That’s all.
Which is all I stated in the ad. Special Paint 1 of 33 sunburst yellow cars. In my option the engine is where the specialty really is since the engine has its own letter “W” in the vin to signify Hi-Performance L76 455.
Forget it. I’m tired of wasting my breath.
The buildsheet is the controlling document.
That’s all I need to say.
I agree not everybody has the same taste in cars. To me criticizing ones car is kind of personal. That said, I had a Centurion 4 door with the 455 engine in it. It’s a heavy car and didn’t come off the line fast, But try to keep up. Was 1 of the smoothest driving cars I had. Not everyone loves the big cars , But there is a market for them Think about it the 59 cat With the big fins and Tail lights. I can see that big boy now Cruising in a parade with pretty girls setting on top of the back seats.
Ah, the old classic “ buy my car or I will show you and part it out.” That’ll show ya!