My first car - 1971 LeSabre Four Door Sedan

[Smartin]

Not a Centurion, but close enough.

I was milling through some digital photos, and ran across a picture of my LeSabre when it was new in 1971.

Just a "quick" story on it....:rolleyes:

I was always an Olds guy growing up, living next door to a guy who restored 71 & 72 Cutlass convertibles. He was really the one who taught me about cars. When I turned 16, I needed a car to get to school and work....sooooo I turned to my neighbor, who had like 4583 Cutlass convertibles in his driveway. I wanted his triple black convertible, but he wanted $4k for it. I'm kicking myself for not getting that car at that price...

But I found the next best thing...or so I thought at the time. I was at my friend's house one evening, and there was a a big old Buick sitting in his driveway. He told me they were getting ready to sell it...so I asked how much. $1500 was the agreed price, and I had to work some long hours at the hardware store to pay that off:laugh:

Here's a really poor photo of it before I started ripping into it. Note the obligatory fog lamps hanging off the front bumper:tonge2:

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/lesabre/buick002.jpg


Here it is mid-body work.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/lesabre/paint1.jpg


Finished and FRESHLY wet sanded and buffed..

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/lesabre/buick004.jpg


andddd here it is after a whopper of a hail storm got to it in the Spring of 2001. I found another centercap for the front hubcap, but the rest of the car I left untouched until I sold it in 2003.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/lesabre/buick009.jpg


But the reason I created this thread, was to share a photo of the car NEW in 1971. My buddy's grandmother sent a couple shots to me in the mail a few years ago. TOO COOL!!!

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/lesabre/buick001.jpg

[Centurion]

Adam, great photos. I especially enjoyed seeing the photo of the car when new.

I've said before that I think Twilight Turquoise is my favorite '71 color. I'm sure that I shared the story before, but here's my tale of one that I wish I could have bought.

I was tuned in to the '71 Centurion Formal Coupes from the very beginning, and, of course, still have the car my folks bought new. During the early '70's, I saw other '71 coupes from time-to-time. They were far from common, but I would see them on occasion in the Portland, Oregon area.

I lived in Pendleton, Oregon in 1979, and traveled to Walla Walla, Washington for an eye appointment. After leaving my appointment one day in the spring of '79, I saw a '71 Centurion Formal Coupe sitting in a driveway.

The car was for sale for about $2,000, and was a beautiful, fully loaded 45,000 mile one-owner original. The color combination was Twilight Turquoise with black vinyl roof and interior. I stopped and looked this beauty over and talked at length to the owner. I was in no position to buy the car, but I often think back to that one as my "dream Centurion".

From that time forward, I can count the number of '71 Formal Coupes I've seen firsthand on the fingers of one hand.

[EEE]

Cool stuff, I never thought you went through the whole body work process with that car...

[73 Centurion]

now tell us the stories that occured in that oh so roomy back seat:Brow: :Brow:

oh. wait. This is a family board.

never mind.

[Centurion]

Adam, I hope that another '71 will surface in Twilight Turquoise. If it's a LeSabre sedan and a really fine example, so much the better. Perhaps it will appear at just the right time for you to expand your collection.

We'll keep on the lookout!

By the way, have you heard anything regarding this LeSabre sedan since you sold it?

Sometimes, it's better not to know. I have a friend in the area who immigrated from Sweden in the 1980's. About ten years ago, he picked up what was evidently a very fine '71 Centurion coupe from the original owner. The car was impeccably maintained (Cornet Gold with black vinyl roof and interior) and highly-optioned. The original owner had even kept the original floormats covered with plastic since the day she bought the car! I remember meeting the car twice on the Interstate, but that was before I met Rolf, so never saw the car close up. He eventually sold the car to buy his next collector vehicle, and regrets still that he sold the car to a couple who trashed it in short order. Rolf was dismayed to find that the beautiful interior smelled like an ashtray. Given its downward path, we suspect that the car no longer exists.

[Robroy]

Great thread guys and thanks for sharing these stories!

[Bob Alberini]

I have to agree, Per, that there are some great stories and photos here although Brian has shared his with me over the years.

I too was unaware, Adam, that you had re-done the Twilight Turquoise sedan but that car will always be special to you and it truly is a beautiful color. I know a couple of converts have tempted you along the way but maybe another one will surface somewhere down the road.

It was very neat to get to see the photos of the car when it was new and even the dual stripe whitewalls are visible. I can imagine that you were thrilled to get those photos and thanks for sharing them with us.