Having been repainted four years ago, this Century isn’t what I’d call a 100% original survivor, but it still looks like a gem. This 1994 Buick Century can be found posted here on craigslist in Prospect, Kentucky, and the seller is basically asking nothing at all for this car: $3,500. In 2026, $3,500 for such a nice-looking car is nothing. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Jack M. for the tip!
This was the era when car companies were offering fewer white-wall tires, leaning more toward performance than luxury, or some combination of the two. In my opinion, this car looks good either way, but a nice, thin white-wall tire would look great. I mean, four white wall tires, not just one, ha. We don’t know why this car was repainted four years ago, but it was around three decades old by then, maybe the sun got to it. The seller says they had it repainted four years ago and “had the heads replaced” two years ago. I don’t have a clue what that means, since there is only one head on this four-cylinder engine. Anyone?
Buick offered the fifth-generation Century from 1982 through 1996 here, and between these cars and the Olds Cutlass sedan, the roads were thick with these things, but they have all gone away for the most part. This is the nicest one I’ve seen in a long time, and the price can’t be beat. I sure want to see that engine compartment, though, and the seller doesn’t give a glimpse under the hood, sadly. Here’s a 1994 brochure showing the Buick lineup.
The interior looks great and includes the classic 1990s velour seating surfaces. The odometer is showing 052,876 miles, so unless it’s 1,052,876 miles, those are the true miles, since it’s a six-digit odometer. They say they’re the second owner of this car, and it has “zero rust.” They do mention that the rear passenger window sticks, and the dome light doesn’t work; otherwise, it sounds like a winner to me.
Here’s the back seat! Dang. The seat looks great, but we always want to see an engine photo, sellers. This one is said to have a four-cylinder engine, likely a 2.2-liter OHV inline-four producing 120 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque. Backed by an automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels, the seller says it runs and drives “excellently.” Any thoughts on this Century at $3,500?
You nailed your description about this one Mr. Scotty (are you related to any of those guys in kilts holding bagpipes running around to all the Cup games and drinking up all the beer?)
These and the Cutlesses were absolutely ubiquitous a few moons back, and for good reason. They were well proportioned, economical, simple, and dependable. Everything Grandma wanted.
I would bet this grandma in Prospect sustained some kind of environmental damage to her ride and insisted her beloved ride be restored. Regardless, it’s listing is gone already.
And it’s gone, gone, gone,,,see, that’s the problem with featuring cars with plausible price tags, they don’t last long. A 2 million dollar Lambo, not so likely. This car was my sons 1st car, and served him well. His was a V6, I never heard of a 4 cylinder, and they were great cars. Cars turned into these amazing gadgets of wizardry, when all we really needed, is right here. They were dependable, comfy, great heat/a-c, cars could have stayed like this forever and that would have been okay with me. Great find for someone, and feel left out? Not to worry, these will be coming out of garages with every passing funeral for years to come,,, but you have to be quick.
There were a lot of these with four-poppers in our neck of the woods, at least the early years when everyone was trying to eake out every mpg they could. I think a lot of folks opted for the smooth and more “powerful” six later after experiencing those racous fours for a while.
The ‘Iron Duke” 4 cyl. was one of the more popular engines in the 80s & 90s. My parents had that in their ’84 Skylark. Not a bad motor; served my parents well.
I had one just like this and about the same 50k miles it blew the head gasket after being repaired by the dealer the car never ran quiet again this car is one of the many that started my dislike and distrust of GM products to last. in my opinion the buyer got a money pit that car is going to cost them a lot more than the purchase price
I can understand your frustration, never fun to have an expensive breakdown, and we can take it personally. But there are so many of “Those _____ are all junk” or “I’ll never buy anything from _____ again” stories that can only be considered anecdotal evidence and are often countered by many good experiences by others.
I read an article somewhere Gen Z is snapping up these and other GMs with the V6 as they rebel against the trifecta of new car prices, overly complicated and expensive repairs of new cars, and the excessive tech and screens in them. I think the 3800 is more desirable than the 3100 V6 (don’t know why yet) and I’d say the 4 is too small for these cars.
To tell you the truth I am starting to as well.
Reminds me of a rental car you’re stuck with when all the others have been spoken for.
Prospect Ky,I’m 15 miles away,I’ll stick with my 02 LeSabre. 3800 that I’m getting 27 to 30 mpg..
it’s gone. this would have a carb if it were a v6. if you could see the vin you could tell what it has.
No carburetor in a ’94. Were it an ’84 3.0 V6 it would have had a carb, but not a decade later. But this, having been a four, would have definitely been fuel injected, as the fours went to injection in 1982.
i miss read the year. thought it was an 84. better go see the eye doc!
Not a sexy car by any standard. Stylish might be a better description. I was still at GM in 1990 and the local Olds dealer was offering the equivalent Ciera for $9999 if you qualified for GM pricing. I had a V6 Celebrity Estate at the time. Ten G’s was tempting but I had a pre airbag car which better for me anyway.
Another great brochure link, thanks Scotty!
However, after looking through all of the fine Buicks, you almost feel like you are “settling” for a Century.
But, this was a great example and didn’t last long.