What a rear! It’s no secret that I love big American cars, but I’ll show my incompetence in the GM department by saying I did not previously know about Centurions! They were the Wildcat’s direct replacement, and at first glance that is exactly what I would’ve assumed it was. I love Wildcats, and subsequently this lovely Centurion is no exception. A friend of mine has a 1973 Riviera with the Buick 455, painted the same Bamboo Cream as this 1973 Centurion. That Riviera is one nice-driving car, and I assume this Centurion would offer a very similar ride. Having been parked since 1999, this convertible is a one-owner car in need of some love; find it here on craigslist in West Virginia with an asking price of $4,000.
Another similarity between this Centurion and my friend’s Riviera is the off-white vinyl interior. Truthfully, I am amazed at how similar the two cars are! Buick seats of this vintage are very comfortable, and I can vouch that the fold armrest is an excellent amenity. Though it may not look like it, there is a ton of leg-room in this car and the seller is not kidding when he/she says “It seats 6!” I can imagine that with the 455, this convertible cruiser would be one heck of a weekend car. There’s nothing quite like cruising by the beach with the top down in a GM convertible!
From the pictures, it looks like the body on this car is in pretty decent condition. Though the pictures aren’t exactly detailed, the quarter panel on this side looks to be somewhat solid minus some bubbling around the wheel arch. Unfortunately, another photo in the ad shows that the quarter has some rust between the door and the wheel-well, and if there’s that much rust then there is probably more. The seller states that this car was “loaded with all of the options of the day, including a high performance 455 cubic inch engine, power windows and door locks, chrome wheels and wide rocker panel molding.” The original wheels are definitely present, though I would be curious to see the rocker panel moldings.
From the way the ad is put together, I suspect the seller is the original owner of this car. They have what looks to be 85% of the original window sticker, and seem to know where the car has been all of its life. Parked in this garage since 1999 for reasons unexplained, this car has not been started and will need to be gone through before it can hit the road again. The seller states that he or she is willing to answer any questions about the car. If I was in the market for a Buick of this vintage, I would be seriously considering this car. I don’t know how long Wildcats and Centurions are going to stay affordable, but I have a feeling their time will come!
A neighbor up the street from my childhood home had one of these, bright red with black convertible top. Despite being driveway parked it was *always* clean. I remember thinking it had to be one of the largest convertibles ever. On a side note one of these destined for a junk yard gave up its 455 to power my friend’s ’49 Cadillac. Let me know when you go for that cruise by the beach, Andrew!
Will do Todd! These are neat cars, and look fantastic when they are in good shape.
Reminds me of the movie USED CARS. a red Buick Centurion convertible was in the first part of the movie.
I can’t believe I missed the opportunity for a Used Cars reference! I don’t know what I was thinking, because I love that movie. I just watched it last week! Not sure how the presence of a Centurion in that movie slipped my mind.
A mile of cars
When I took drivers ed. Back in ’73, we used the four door hard top version of this car. There was no 55 mph limit yet and we took full advantage of it. These are great driveing cars. I have had several.
I had a ’73 which I found in florida, one family owned; 28k miles on it, immaculate with a 455 ci engine; should have never sold it!!
My 73 Centurian was brown with white top, and the same off white interior, that thing had everything GM offered at the time. That 455 would fly, even pulling such a heavy car. When they said seats 6, they mention it. Took friends to the drive in theatre once packed with 8. Short 2 seatbelts though. That was of course before seat belt laws. Loved it, and wish I still had it!
My thoughts too. First thought Kurt Russell in Used Cars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQiTRQTiMGY
I had the ’73 Delta 88 version of this convertible. If there’s no body rot, there’s nothing on this car that should be too difficult or expensive to fix. The folding scissor-top mechanism is a poor design and can give you trouble, but this car looks pretty sweet. Going back to that 1979 Caprice from last week…why would anyone buy that 305-powered pig for $16k when you can get this for $4k or less?
A great period road test. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVo9U89liic
Hey there Maxwell, what’s with that beautiful 81 Datsun photo you posted? Black and silver 81 Turbos were not sold in the US in 81. I believe only 2 in this color combo are now in the US and one came from Canada. Is that car from Canada or somewhere overseas? As for this 73 Centurion, it reminds me of a driver’s ed film from 1973 called Crossroads 73. Look it up on Youtube. This guy is driving a new 73 convertible in the same color. He tries to be so careful driving when a kid in a new red 73 Chevelle runs a stop sign and…. Well, watch the film.
I too have a ’73 88 convertible. My second. My first was bought in August of 1973. I did though at that time have the opportunity to buy a ’73 Centurion. An acquaintance had bought it earlier in the year & was “done with it.” It was white over white with a saddle interior which I liked. The 88 I was eyeing was going to be the same price as the Buick, though the Olds would be “brand new.” The Olds would also have less options, the Buick was a pricier car. I was well aware that the Buick had a larger engine, but that would translate into $$$ at the gas pump. (I’d just sold a ’69 Caprice with a 396 that guzzled high-test). I went for the 88, am happy I did & today have another one that I adore.
Really like these cars. Dad was Buick shopping in the summer of ’72 and I was pushing him hard towards the Centurion convertible. Didn’t work… he ended up with a ’73 Electra 225 coupe with the 400 (I think) motor. Nice car, but not a drop top.
Several years later there was a girl in town (at another high school) who drove this Centurion’s twin. To this teenage boy, she was hard to miss. Honestly though, I think I was more attracted to her car.
I would LOVE to Own this Car!!!! West Virginia is Quite a hike from N.Y.A neighbor when I was growing up had a Beautiful Dk. Green hdtp
A buddy of mine had one of these. Been sitting in the back yard of a client, for years, and took it in trade. Callie plates (blue plates). Loaded, 350 4bbl, dark brown with tan top. Factory air leveling system. Very cool. After smoothing a small cooling system snafu, we went for the shake down cruise. He let me drive it: the ONLY convertible I’ve ever driven. What better ? So, we get it back to his house, get out the buffer and Mothers, and really do a fine shine. NO rust. Had the top down, and the boot snapped into place. I opened the door to shine up the boot, stepped into the driver’s side of back seat floor, and guess what ? Yup, crunch city. Oh man, was he bummed, and damn, did I feel bad. Sold it within a week. Too much work. Caveat emptor with a rag top.
I have this exact model — different color though. This car looks to have the glass back window as did mine until the top’s scissor mechanism went awry and broke it as the top was folding into its cavity. Haven’t got around to fixing that because I only take it out on sunny days. Yeah. I know. I really need to get off my toucus and repair it.
Two items of possible interest for the next owner:
1. You’ll find much easier starting, smoother idle, and better gas mileage — a relative term with the 455! — if you fit the 1974-75 HEI distributor in place of the points-type one this vehicle came standard with. It’s an inexpensive “drop-in” mod. I got mine from Summit Racing.
2. Make sure the convertible top cables that run along the sides of the top (front-to-rear) are in good shape and are tensioned properly. These can cause the top to fold incorrectly on the way down and bend the aforementioned scissors mechanism.
You’ll have lots of fun with this car if you can keep the gas supply up to its needs!
Cheers.
RB