The Century nameplate served Buick well for nearly 70 years. From 1973 to 1977, it was the mid-size offering using the new GM Colonnade A-body platform (pillarless sedans). This edition from 1973 looks to be in very good condition with a recently rebuilt engine. Plus, it’s likely rare because it has a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission which was all but gone at Buick by the 1970s. But the listing here on Facebook Marketplace is at least a year old, so did the car ever sell or did the seller forget to take down the listing? From Albuquerque, New Mexico, this Century is/was available for $12,900. Thanks for the tip, Barn Finder Ray Martinez!
Over the years, Buick would keep reinventing the Century. It was a full-size automobile from 1936 to World War II and then again from 1954 to 1958. After a 15-year absence, it returned in 1973 and stuck around through 2005. In 1973, it was Buick’s version of the Olds Cutlass, Pontiac LeMans, and Chevy Chevelle. A variety of engines were available at one time or another during the Colonnade run, from a 231 cubic inch V6 to a 455 V8. We’re told the engine in the seller’s car has seen 1,000 miles since a rebuild, but we’re not told what motor is under the hood or if it’s original to the car.
In 1973, the Century came in base and Custom (or Luxus) trim. The 2-door coupes added up to nearly 128,000 copies, depending on which one was purchased. We’re told this example has 75,000 miles and wears a new professional paint job that’s NOT represented in the photos (why would you do that?). While the new paint and rebuilt engine are both huge selling points, the fact that this Buick has a column-shifted manual transmission may make it a unicorn today.
We’re told this Buick is a daily driver kind of car, perhaps due to the interior. The photos of it are elusive and it looks original although there could be a few problems. But from all indications, you should be able to put this car into service right away and it would be a nice cruiser for Cars & Coffee – if it’s still available after a year.
And how many Buicks with a column shift also had rally wheels, tinted glass, and A/C? Though the latter two might mean it’s “Southwest stripper” spec.
And I think that’s an AM radio and a rubber mat on the floor too. I wonder if the brakes and steering are power.
Yes you can see the power brake booster. And power steering pump in the engine pics
My cousin had a 73 Century when we were in High School. It was an ugly green with tan vinyl top and interior. It had a 350 – 2 brl engine and loved gas! Had ps, pb, a/c, am radio with one speaker, and a rubber mat floor. As ugly as it was, and as hard as my cousin tried, he could not kill it. lol
In 1986 I bought one of these for a work car but it was a 4 door, had to be really careful around water with that one. That front mounted distributor made point changing easy but the low angle and the little window in the cap made it easy to get moisture inside it
The 1974 Century that I owned was definitely a keeper. But the vinyl seats would burn my b___ on hot summer days with short pants. It was a solid, dependable ride.
When this car was new, one of the most popular TV shows was a “Kojak”, starring Telly Savalas as a New York Detective. He drove a 4-door Buick Century in the same colour as this one. When responding to calls, or in pursuits, he would place a magnetized, tear-drop shaped, revolving red light on the roof. These became known as “Kojak lights”.
If I owned this car, it would have to have a Kojak light!!
Wow! I was thinking the same exact thing when I saw the opening photo, Kojak!!!. There cant be too many V8 3 speed column shift Buicks Centurys out there, ( maybe some Apollos?) and Im glad this one is preserved so well. It has the base steering wheel I noticed as well. Its very uniquely optioned, Im wondering if the Buick rims were added later and if this didnt have plain steel wheels and hubcaps to start with. I like it!!!
Loved to watch Kojak battle the miscreants and crooks! He rarely used more than one shot from his snub nosed .38 to dispatch each dirtbag! Who loves ya baby?
Our neighbor bought one of these new in 1973 or 74. It was bright blue with a white landau roof and white interior. Somehow, he kept it like new for about 10 years even though he drove it daily to work.
In the early 80s, his son and I got our driver’s licenses, and he loaded up a bunch of guys (I wasn’t included) in that car to go joyriding and they wound up on a gravel road. He was fishtailing on the gravel and having a grand time until he lost it and wound up flipping it upside down in a big, wide ditch between the road and a cornfield.
They all climbed out and walked away with bruises and scrapes but I hated that a very nice, well-kept car bit the dust that day.
I was too young to have a beef with the collonade bodied cars. The Buick and Olds were the prettiest while the Grand Am and Laguna had the cool factor. Kinda interesting that a 3-speed car survived intact. The orange metallic was popular along with the neutral interior. Would be fun to show up in something different.
My 1954Century with the hot 401 would make mince meat outta this one.
Too bad it’s on the wrong coast. All that appears to need to be done is find a compressor and hook the a/c back up. Sweet ride.
I’ve never see cracks THAT big on a steering wheel before. Though it looks good on the outside and in the engine bay, this car did pull a trailer (for how long, doesn’t say), and the vinyl seats and steering wheel need a replacement. Rare bird, yes; but $12k is just too much (IMHO).
Hi Everybody, It’s my car and an old marketplace forgotten ad. I’ll re-do it. Here’s the scoop. I’ve owned it 5 years and have known the car for 20 years.
An old cowboy by the name of Stoney from Santa Fe New Mexico ordered this car with the higher output 350 V-8 4 barrel, three on the tree, posi-trac, rally wheels, vinyl floor mats and seats.
Stoney welded a stout trailer hitch on so he could pull his horse trailer to the rodeo and movie set.
It has power front disc brakes and power steering. AM radio. No AC. Never used cigarette lighter with conveniently located and also never used front ashtray and two rear ashtrays. 6 passenger.
Runs drives great
And it is a brand new rebuilt by famed engine builder Doug Anderson. I’ve driven it 1,000 miles since. Here’s the way it looked when I first got it.
Of ALL GM’s colonade A-body’s, Buick did the best job of integrating that design.
A friend bought a new ’73 455 Stage-1 Century Gran Sport. W/270hp that GS “enlightened” many-a-punk who laughed @ “Grampa’s” Buick.
I’ve my suspicions that this is a theft-recovery. I allege this on the severe breakage of that steering wheel & lower column, plus additional indication of the broken lower dash pieces below the column. This is evidence EXACTLY as you would find on a vandalized vehicle that’s been subjected to extreme attempt(s) to bypass the ignition interlock system.
Always thought this was one good looking Buick……..
I had one more of a unicorn than this by far: 73 buck Century 4 door, 350. 2bbl, three on the tree, manual steering and brakes, drum brakes all around, radio delete, rubber floor instead of carpeting, black vinyl bench seat, no A/C, crank windows, 2 speed wipers, big rear anti sway bar and a steering stabilizer in the front that seemed huge! All factory. Once I removed the pollution control stuff, played it off at the intake, advanced the timing and silicone the inspection plate on the distributor it went very well for what it was and the mileage improved significantly! Started everyday in the winter no matter how cold it was.
Loved that car- was one I regretted selling as it drove away.