Very clean and original 1971 Buick Centurion. Straight bodywork, original paint, no issues. Nice vinyl top and original interior. Loaded with options including cold A/C. Nicely documented. A full-sized luxury cruiser with the heart of a muscle car!
We sell a lot of ‘70s Lincoln Town Cars, they're always popular, but if you want a luxury car with a bit more muscle, then take a close look at this handsome 1971 Buick Centurion. The Centurion was new in 1971 and only available in hardtop form, both 2- and 4-doors. This handsome 4-door is one of those beautifully preserved original cars that lived with its first owner for decades and was always treated like something special. It hails from down south, so rust is a non-issue and it doesn't appear that it has ever seen harsh winter weather. The bodywork is finished in factory-applied Arctic White enamel, and original paint means no nasty surprises hiding underneath. The sheetmetal is remarkably straight and all four doors close with a solid-sounding THUNK rather than a loose rattle, which is typical of GM of the era. The green vinyl top is likewise in fantastic shape and we see no bubbling or lumps underneath that would suggest trouble brewing. It also has plenty of nice brightwork and stainless trim, all of which shows quite well, and even the headlights are the original T3 units. Nice! If long, low, and sleek is your style, this might be your car.
The attractive green vinyl interior was a step up from the base LeSabre and offers plenty of luxury touches that make the Buick easy to live with. The wide bench seats are spacious enough for six, and with front and rear armrests, four passengers are treated to first-class accommodations. Like the exterior, the interior is shockingly well preserved with no rips or tears in the upholstery, nice carpets, and a headliner that's still taut. There's also a nice list of options, including cold factory A/C, power windows, a power front seat, and a tilt steering column, so this Buick never feels like anything but a luxury car. Everything works, including the clock (shocking!) and the factory AM/FM radio sounds decent. Buick logo floor mats have probably been in there for decades and are holding up surprisingly well, as are the seat belts which are still supple and easy to use. There is, of course, a massive trunk which includes the spare tire and jack assembly up on the front shelf.
There's plenty of horsepower on tap thanks to the Centurion's standard 455 cubic inch V8. With 360 horsepower and a towering 510 lb-ft. of torque, it matches the mighty Buick GS in terms of output. It's just effortless in everything it does and gives the big Centurion the moves of a much smaller car. You can see at a glance just how well-maintained this car really is and there's a lot of originality under the hood, including the tower hose clamps, factory Dante Red engine enamel, and original decals throughout. It starts easily, idles nicely, and pulls with the kind of torque that only a big block can deliver. Power steering and power front disc brakes are standard equipment, as was the TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, so this big cruiser is easy for anyone to handle. Underneath you'll find more originality, including what we believe are the factory-installed shocks and perhaps even the original exhaust system (which probably could be replaced at this point). The floors and rockers are solid, and aside from some light surface scale on the heavy metal parts, there are no issues. 2.73 gears in the rear end make this a fantastic high-speed cruiser and it does have that incomparable Buick ride quality. The lone modification is the installation of a trailer hitch years ago, which is bolted into place using the bumper brackets, so it may take a little effort if you want to remove it—we opted to leave it in place. 15-inch Buick road wheels look sporting and carry recent 225/75/15 Goodyear whitewall radials.
Documentation is extensive, including the original books and manuals, Protect-O-Plate, window sticker, build sheets, and service receipts.
I know you probably haven't considered a 4-door from the ‘70s to be a collector car or something that you should add to your personal collection, but take a closer look at this lovely Centurion. The preservation and documentation are really impressive and it has fantastic road manners. It's eligible for all kinds of great events with the Buick Club of America and it's probably a slam-dunk in preservation class judging. Add in the muscular motor and fully operational accessories, and you get a hobby car that's really easy to live with and great for the enthusiast with a family. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
