Here’s another crazy find – this is an all-original, rust-free 1975 Buick Century with 26,938 miles on it! This preserved fastback is listed on eBay with bids of just $1,100 as I write this but the reserve isn’t met. It’s located in Mount Brydges, Ontario, Canada so plan your strategy carefully if you’re in the US or another country. The seller says “I can arrange car to be shipped to Bisbee Importing in Davison Michigan if required.”
I have said it before but it’s worth repeating, especially since this is a mid-late-1970s car which isn’t in everyone’s favorite era. I think that any vehicle that has been preserved is great to see whether it’s from a tainted era or not. That’s why I like cars like this ’75 Century so much, they bring me back to this era, good or bad. For me, it was a good era, for some of you it was a bad era which obviously plays into your possible disdain for anything from the 1970s. The old car hobby is 99% about memories for me and this car brings back memories of 1975 like crazy.
That being said, this really does look like a fantastic example. The seller says that it’s “All original Rust free body, all original paint, and original interior shows and presents very well. Low 26 K mile car.” Please check out the photos in the listing and let us know if you believe the 26,000-mile claim. It looks pretty legit to me. Actually, the speedometer shows 26,938.
The photos have a haze to them so it’s hard to see much detail, but it looks pretty tidy and I don’t see any rips or cracks inside, do you? The seats look nice and not being solid, sweat-worthy vinyl is a bonus, but this is a Buick after all. Although, on the other hand, this is a bare-bones car for a Buick or even for a Kia today. The only “luxuries” are power steering and power brakes. There don’t appear to be any other power accessories at all and this car doesn’t even have AC. Try explaining that to your kids and/or grandkids and see how far you get before their blank stare gets to be too much for you.
Here is where things get cray-cray, as your kids and/or grandkids used to say and you’d give them a blank stare. This car has the optional 350 cubic-inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor! Ok, I built that up too much because this car only would have had 165 hp. This one “Runs and drives well, basically a new old car. The car has been fully serviced with coolant flush, engine oil and filter (Brad Penn high zinc oil), Transmission fluid and filter, rear axle gear lube changed and greased front end.” Have any of you owned a colonnade Buick Century? Any thoughts on this one?
These may not have be powerful engines but in our day and age there are things that could be done to spice them up. Mostly what was done to these engines is compression ratios were dropped to cool combustion temperatures this allowed for the removal of lead from the fuel. Lead acted as an additional lubarcatant. Gas formulations have changed and aftermarket lubrcation are available. This is why some new cars require fuel additives. I’d say sodium cooled valves, stelite seats and shave the heads. Then put in stronger advance springs to keep it from pinging from over advancement. Today’s engine are getting their power from twin turbos and super chargers, and I suppose that is a way to go too. These were over all well built cars for the most part I used to really like being a mechanic when these were still plentiful. I’d say buy it keep it preserved as best you can and put some more miles on it.
With those swept fender lines, it sure looks a lot like it’s Monte Carlo cousin.
Oh my, did driver ed in this exact car. Was practicing in my dads 67 Ford Fairlane with a stick. Mom had a 73 Ford wagon. This car made me buy 60’s cars until mid 80’s. What a piece of crap.
Also, everything plastic in that drivers ed car was broken. Just from kids getting in/out. Remember seatbelt holder on drivers seat broken. Soooo, you HAD to wear it to keep it off your neck. Hey.. Might just be early safety equipment.
You had to wear them because the Driver’s Ed teacher would have flunked you for not using them.
I did Drivers Ed in a 4 door ’75 Century, fully optioned. These and their GM brethren were everywhere back in the day. My father had a 1976 Malibu Classic as a company car. These cars sold well, rode well, and were everywhere back in the day. This one is too far away and NO A/C. Too bad. Have I mentioned you saw these everywhere back in the day?
kjijiji ad here, same car
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/city-of-toronto/1975-buick-century-gs-gran-sport-survivor-car-all-original/1345601066?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
in case you want a real price on it… though CDN dollars so 30% less in US
but then shipping (VERY easy to import into the US since over 25 yrs old)
A great car and still from the free thinking G.M. design days. High Five for having the 350/4bbl.
Take it to the drive-in on beautiful summer nights and enjoy!
Frickin’ love it ! Looks to be in nice shape too…I was 5 years old when this was a new model. Granted this has the bench seat, but I remember being fascinated my grandfathers bucket seats that swiveled 90 degrees . Anyone else remember ? think it was option on Regal, Cutlass, Malibu…All GM bodies
Also have to add, can’t stand when others question whether something came from a “barn” on here. It’s about interesting vehicles, I enjoy all the submissions. Nice way to wind down after a long day.
Kudo’s to staff, members and contributors !!!
A 1975 Buick Century was my first new car. Burgundy exterior with white vinyl top. White interior with bucket seats and automatic on the floor. V 6 engine. $5000.
So 6900 on kijiji, for a base car that is in the salt belt with no bottom shots. So plain. Not vanilla but caramel. 4000 seems like all the money. With 1k in tires and rims and 1k on headers/exhaust and intake/carb after you bring it home
Back in the day my friends mom had one of these with a 455 and an open differential. We use to smoke the crap out of that one tire. His mom could never figure out why that one tire had to be replaced all of the time…..LOL!
I had a tan one with dark brown vinyl interior back around 1990. It too had the 350, but had the big mouth 2 barrel carb (2+2). It was a great car. It eventually started having a “balance” issue. The harmonic balancer came apart. Replaced it the it started shredding flywheels. I put a heavier, thicker Oldsmobile flywheel on it. It too shredded, but also went through the tranny bell housing and floorboard. Luckily it missed my legs.
When it comes to Colonnade era GM cars, it’s always hit or miss. Some cars I like more than others, while others I find hideous. It usually depends on the trim touches that were applied at the time. The 75 Buick Century is certainly a handsome looking car, from every angle.
How did they get a pic of a car going 26,938 mph? That’s a HIGH speed camera. No a/c or I’d be all over it!!
Colonnade, not fastback. Never heard these called fastbacks. I think Kojak drove this car in the TV series, albeit in sedan form.
Colonnade, yes, not fast back. Kojak definitely drove a Buick Century sedan, “who loves ya baby”. In 1975 Buick had an official Century Pace Car.
http://www.deansgarage.com/2009/1975-and-1976-buick-indy-pace-cars/
I remember these colonnade cars being out on tour at state fairs and demo derbys with stunt car drivers putting them through all sorts of wild tricks! Wild jumps and explosions, riding on 2 tires, nuts!
I believe the mileage (odometer) claim is real, because not long ago I was able to purchase a 1968 Buick Special with only 26k miles from the son of the original old lady owner. About the same level of options/trim too! Love the color.
Not sure about this 20,000 odd miles thing. Did anyone notice the rust bubbles above the right rear window ? In the c pillar.
And the water damage to the package shelf under the rear glass ?
Awful dirty driver’s seat for that amount of mileage as well.
I did some body work on one of these years ago for an older Gentleman who really loved his car. Yeah, the right rear sheet metal around the back window was eaten away with rust and the vinyl material on the roof was in bad shape, but he was happy with the repairs. So be aware of this weak spot on this model. They are a beautiful vehicle though.
I guess Canadian cars were using mileage odometers then instead of kilometers? And it appears to be MPH on the speedometer. Does anyone know what year it changed?
I didn’t have one, but knew several people that did, some of them with the 6 cylinder. As far as the 350 4 bbl goes, my dad had a 1973 Lesabre Custom with the 350 4 bbl. Talk about slow, and a much heavier car than this. At the time, I had a 1971 LTD with a 390 2 bbl and my mom had a 1972 Caprice with a 400 2 bbl; both of those had some get up and go compared to the Lesabre.
His Centrury in the show was a 1974 I believe, with the 455 engine. Somewhere I can hear Telly Savalas, complete with a lollipop in his mouth saying “Who loves ya baby?”
Kojak’s was a 1973. I had a Canadian 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass that had Kilometers. Not sure when they changed, though lots of cars crossed borders when exchange rates fluctuated one way or the other.