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.