Centurion ´73 - total restoration

[The German]

Yesterday I found this site :
http://www.1restoration.com/ where you can find the link to photos of an interesting restoration project :
http://www.1restoration.com/Projects/COMPLETED/Slideshows/1973BuickCenturion/index.htm

You also could find this link this way:
Go to the button >>Completed Projects<<, then use the link >>1970-1979<< and then >>1973 Buick Centurion Convertible<<. - The other projects shown by these specialists are interesting too; but guess this one is the most interesting for us - isn´t it ?! :) -
I like to see how a rusted old giant comes back to real glory again !

http://www.1restoration.com/Projects/COMPLETED/Slideshows/UPHOLSTERY/1973BuickCenturion/index.htm?detectflash=false&

BTW: They painted the chrome at the headlights black but in this case I like it because the car has this dark green color.

Enjoy the pictures ! :coffee:

[Richard Dunn]

Hi Rolf,
I've had this company book marked for a long time.
I would love to have enough money to restore my car, or any car for that matter, like this.
Although they painted the headlight bezels black the finished product is beautiful.

[The German]

Richard, your car doesn´t need such a restoration - it´s really nice as it is !!:xyxthumbs:
There are a lot of people who would love to have one like yours - believe me !

[Richard Dunn]

Thank you but the dark color hides a lot of issues.
ALthough she looks almost minty mint in the pictures....ahh you can't see the various pings and scratches in the paint. There is also some rust issues in the front fenders which may be hiding something.
SOOOO long story short, I would love to get her a cosmetic restoration.

[The German]

When I´m in thoughts about a new paint job for my car I ever end when the thoughts turn to the time after the process. - I would hate to have to acept new scratches which will come like rain after sunshine of course. So I wait with it as long as possible. ;)

But rust is an important point. - I protected these parts with special corrosion protecting oil and grease. So the rust is stoped until the day it will be killed.
___________________
BTW: Nice photo of your car again, Richard !

[73 Centurion]

I love websites that document car restorations or build ups. Project33.com was a real favorite until the car was completed.

Now for the nit picking:

Why is the Centurion logo above the body molding? They need to find one of the super rare trunk lock covers and they need to find the chrome that goes under the rear quarter extensions.

The new upholstery pattern matches the seats nicely but I like the original design with the Centurion nameplate in them.

The black paint on the headlight bezels is well done, I like the ring of chrome they left around the outside.

All that aside it's a beautiful color and the rust repair work looks solidly done.

John

[Phil Genario]

Thank you but the dark color hides a lot of issues.
ALthough she looks almost minty mint in the pictures....ahh you can't see the various pings and scratches in the paint. There is also some rust issues in the front fenders which may be hiding something.
SOOOO long story short, I would love to get her a cosmetic restoration.dont touch it,its original and very nice,you will waste your money! i could see if the paint was dead,but original cars are finally getting the respect theyve deserved for decades!phil

[The German]

Yes, the car is not perfect, John, but it´s very nice though.
They brought a rust bucket back to the road in good condition for several years to come. Perhaps owners in later years will add what is missing - if possible.
This car now has the chance to survive longer than some others and can do it in a nice outfit; that´s important.

Next is that people who will see the pictures of the process could get an impression of what potential thier rusted car still has. Perhaps the one or another car will be saved from the graveyard ... .

[73 Centurion]

I agree, it is wonderful to see a car brought back properly. I was particularly impressed with the way they made up floor boards even rolling some beads to resemble the original.

It's very good work.

John

[Centurion717273]

While the car is saved, I would hardly say it was brought back properly. Every time something is changed on a car to something that is non-authentic or incorrect, it makes it harder for the next person to make it right. The interior for example will/would be difficult for someone to make right someday as the original interior is long gone so a correct pattern/color would have to be obtained if the next person even would know enough that that interior is incorrect. The black painted headlight bezels, possibly shows the trouble they went to do other things correctly. Not much. The fit of the trunk lid is extremely poor, and it appears like there may be different shades of the color on the car from different batches. Missing trim on the trunk as noted earlier. Yes the car is "saved" but usually once they get saved like this they go down a path of no return. Probably it's next step will be Donked. This car had the potential to be really nice with the work that was being done, but the ball was dropped. Not impressed.

[The German]

The chance seems to be great to me that your scenario will not come true during the next 5-10 years, Kurtis, because noone will treat this car in a bad way after such an upgrade. After these years car prices should be higher than today because more and more of the unrestored rust buckets will die away so that people have to concentrate to the remaining rest. Also the Centurion is relatively unknown - a hidden potential as we all know so that it probably will be discovered in future days. All this will raise interest for such cars and their pices will follow.
An owner of this discussed green car would have strong arguments to take care with it. The interest to invest some money to correct some parts will raise too with that background.
All in all I see a greater chance for it to survive longer than you would expect with your arguments, Kurtis.
But for us it´s only speculation of course; we have no influence on what other people do with their cars - only we can talk about and perhaps turn some readers in our direction. So was good that you told here what next steps a non-original-restoration could cause in a negative way. This also strengthen the chance on the positive side !

[Smartin]

It looks very well done, but I have to agree with those who are scratching their heads about the autnenticity/originality of the details. If you're going through the expense of a frame-off restoration, why wander so far from the "correct" look of the car?

I know I could be cutting corners on my 58 by using incorrect materials and patterns on the interior, etc etc etc....but it would absolutely KILL the resale value of the car. Even if you think you're never going to sell it, there must be some control on how you spend the money on a restoration.

[The German]

I´m with you, Adam, can´t understand it also and wouldn´t do so. But I can accept if others do so and don´t cross the border which makes a car ugly. In this discussed case color and interior is not correct but nice and the other details could be changed relatively easy with the correct parts. So I can´t see big problems for this cars future.