Optional Paint Stripes (71 thru 73)

[Bob Alberini]

OK, Brian, you requested this information so here we go:

In 1971, four colors were offered. Arctic White got RED; Regal Black and Verdemist Green got GOLD; Nocturne Blue and Fire Red got WHITE; and all other standard available Centurion colors got BLACK. The stripes for non-standard colors were not specified.

In 1972, four colors were again offered. Arctic White got RED; Regal Black, Hunter Green, Sandalwood, Champagne Gold and Antique Gold all got GOLD; Royal Blue and Fire Red got WHITE; and all other colors, standard or SCO, got BLACK.

For 1973, only two colors were offered. Arctic White, Midnight Blue, Green Gold Metallic, Midnight Green, Taupe Metallic, Brown Metallic and Burgundy all got GOLD;Medium Blue Metallic, Mediterranean Blue, Jade Green, Willow Green, Colonial Yellow, Harvest Gold and Silver Cloud all got BLACK. There were no specified stripe colors for: Regal Black, Autumn Gold, Burnt Coral or Midnight Gray.

There were NO ALTERNATIVE COLORS. These were the colors that were specified by the factory and anything else would have been incorrect.

I hope this information will be of interest and helpful as well.

[Centurion]

Bob, thank you so much for posting the information.

For Randy's benefit, I don't see any mention of Bamboo Cream for '73, so still not clear on whether the stripe should be gold or black.

Thanks for your help!

[Bob Alberini]

Whoops--I managed to miss Bamboo Cream. It too specifies BLACK. Sorry about that Brian and Randy.

[RFortuna]

Thanks for the info!!

Randy

[64tbird]

Although my car is far from being anywhere near ready for painting, where would the paint stripe correctly begin and end, on a '72 Centurion 4-door?

Mine was not equipped with a stripe, but being a white car with a black roof and interior, I think the red pinstripe would give it a little bit of needed extra "punch".

[Centurion]

64tbird, the red paint stripe would be a beautiful addition to your '72.

The '72 stripes are the same as the '71's, so these photos showing the black stripe on Smartin's '71 coupe illustrate the correct look of the paint stripes:

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/windcastle006a.jpg

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/windcastle003.jpg

[64tbird]

Thanks very much! That is a very sharp looking car. The pinstripe really emphasizes the body sculpture.

[MichelHaak]

Just found this thread, but my pinstripe is different. At the end, it sweeps right down. How is that possible?

[64tbird]

You mean down and around that curve?

[Centurion]

Michel, every '71 and '72 Centurion that I have ever seen with the factory paint stripe terminated in the same manner as shown on Smartin's car above. Here's a low-resolution photo of my '71; the car was repainted in 1985, but we carefully photographed, measured, and documented the position of the original stripe in order to duplicate it exactly.

http://photos.aaca.org/data/506/medium/203Centurion_Rear_I.jpg

One thing to keep in mind is that it was not uncommon for original owners to add striping to cars after delivery. So, over the years, I've seen many Centurions with striping that differed in some details from the factory stripes. (I'm sure that Bob Alberini, who has been documenting these cars since new, can confirm.) But those that had different striping patterns than Smartin's car or my car all wore non-factory striping.

[64tbird]

One thing that I noticed on this very website is in the list of equipment and options for exterior trim of the full-size Buicks, there is a drawing of a Centurion or LeSabre 4-door that shows a paint stripe curving around and terminating lower than those in these photographs. That drawing also shows the vehicle with rear fender skirts, which the table clearly states are standard equipment and available only on Electras.

When my Centurion 4-door is eventually painted, I intend to have a pinstripe painted on, but because my car never had one when new, I doubt I can accurately document the specific beginning and termination points, or how far above the body sculpture line the stripe should be located. I will just have to rely on eyeballing from these photos as best I can.

[Centurion]

64tbird, we can help you with information that will help you locate the stripes precisely.

If this is the drawing you are referring to, I can assure you that the depiction of the striping is not correct:

http://buickcenturion.com/info/moulding_options.jpg

[64tbird]

Brian, yes that is the drawing I was referring to. I will definitely contact you when it is time to deal with the pinstripes. Thanks again.

[Centurion]

64tbird, it is unfortunate that more of the original factory literature did not include photographs of the Centurions with the factory paint stripes. I need to re-check my '72 Buick prestige sales brochure, since I believe that the Fire Red Centurion convertible is displayed with the striping.

I also have a factory publicity photo of the '72 Centurion coupe, showing the paint stripe in the same location as seen on Smartin's car and my car above. I had hoped that I had a scan of this photo, but find that I do not.

[Richard Dunn]

My bamboo cream '73 had factory stripes in black.
They were done exactly like those shown on Brian and Martin's cars.
I don't think I have any close up pictures but if I can find one I'll scan it and post it.
Now my teal mist gray '71 had red stripes that were done with tape, not paint. About six or seven weeks after I got the car, on a very hot summer day, the stripes were laying in the street. They had come off.
The red looked super sharp with the blue-gray paint and black roof.

[64tbird]

The tape stripes were probably aftermarket, not factory original

[Centurion]

The tape stripes were probably aftermarket, not factory original

Exactly. The '71/'72 stripes were painted from the factory; the '73 stripes were, I believe, taped from the factory.

[MichelHaak]

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/Michelhaak/DSC_0723.jpg