My Buicks

[RFortuna]

Hi All,

I've been reading this forum from the beginning, but until recently haven't posted much. Now that I'm getting better on the computer, I thought I'd participate a little more. Here's my Centurion story.

I was born in to a Buick Family. My Dad always drove Buicks. My Grandfather and Uncles too. I learned how to drive in a 72 Electra, and car shopping with my Dad was my favorite thing on earth. This is usually how it went. We'd go to John Chezik Buick, in Gladstone MO. My Dad only dealt with one Salesman, ever! He'd show us new Electra 4 door hardtops, and I'd beg my Dad to look at the convertible, or at least a coupe. He'd look to shut me up, and then buy the 4 door. Usually in green or blue.

When the 71's came out (I was 9) I remember Dad test driving a white Electra custom 4 door, with a blue cloth interior. I still remember him trying to use the cruise by pushing the indicator on the dash, and never figuring out how to do it. I picked up a Buick folder (I still have it), and fell in love with the Centurions! I told my Dad that day that I would have a Centurion convertible someday. We kept our 67 Electra, and went home. Anyway, after years of wanting one, I bought a red 72 convertible in 96, fulfilling a 26 year dream. Since then I've owned a brown 73 coupe, a green 72 4 door, a white 72 LeSabre convertible and a Cream 73 convertible. My taste in cars is varied, but dominated by Buicks. Here is my to date list of Buicks I've owned over the years.

69 Electra convertible
59 Electra sedan
72 Centurion convertible
82 Riviera convertible
73 Centurion coupe
75 LeSabre convertible
63 Electra convertible
72 Riviera
73 Riviera
69 Electra convertible #2
64 Electra coupe
72 Centurion 4 door
72 LeSabre convertible
73 Centurion convertible

Pics of the Buicks I still own attached. Sorry for rambling, I have lots of Buick memories!

[Robroy]

Great stuff!
Love your beautiful green 4 door :xyxthumbs: , but the convertibles look great too.
Two of my friends had 4 door 68 Electra’s during the 80’s and I have a lot of memories from those cars.



and I'd beg my Dad to look at the convertible, or at least a coupe. He'd look to shut me up, and then buy the 4 door.
My dad did the exact same thing when I tried to promote cooler models in the early 70’s :laugh: :laugh: :D

[Centurion]

Randy, your Buick collection is spectacular! Thanks for sharing your memories and the excellent photos.

Growing up in a "Buick family" was a great experience during the 1960's and 1970's. I'm glad that you've preserved the memories with your beautiful cars.

[The German]

I´m with Per and Brian : an exellent collection of Buicks ! Congratulations ! You have the right nose for searching automobile emeralds ! :xyxthumbs:
Thanks for story and pictures !
BTW: Would like to see 1 picture more : the bamboo-cream car with closed top - if possible.

Good luck on all roads whenever driving your beauties !
_______________
Rolf

[MichelHaak]

That's a beauty of a list of cars you had and still have. I'm still dreaming of something like that. I guess some of your dreams have come true. :xyxthumbs:

[RFortuna]

Thanks Guys! I appreciate the kind words!

[EEE]

:eek: how about them apples.... :Brow:

[dewbers]

Hey Randy - Thanks for sharing... Great looking cars! I must have missed something from when you started posting though... I thought you were a rookie to all this. It's now obvious you could school us!
Thanks for sharing!
Steve

[RFortuna]

Saturday was beautiful here in Kansas City! Drove the new Centurion all day. Took a few new pics, after cleaning it up a little. Thought I'd post them. Also messed around with the LeSabre a little. I added black pin stripes (tape) to the drivers side to see what it would look like. Triple white is so plain, I thought it may add something. I also tried a set of 73 wire wheel covers that I had in the garage. Let me know what you think. I also bought a set of nice road wheels that may find their way on to the LeSabre or the Centurion eventually.

Randy

[dewbers]

You just bought this Randy?? What a find! That is a great looking drop top! Man oh man that is sharp. Where did you find her? Details my man, details! Love the LeSabre too. I do like the stripe, I think it adds that little extra something!

[Centurion]

Hi Randy, both cars are beautiful, and these are excellent photos.

The black striping looks really nice on the LeSabre. It might be nice to find a set of the correct '72 wire wheel covers, but the '73's look extremely nice.

I'd be more inclined to add the road wheels to the '72 LeSabre than to the '73 Centurion. It's nice to see a '73 with the correct, original wire wheel covers; 90% of the '73 convertibles we see have the road wheels, so your car stands out as unique.

Thank you, by the way, for keeping the standard wheelcovers on the '69 Electra 225. I think these cars look best with the original wheelcovers, and dislike that so many people have added the road wheels to the late 1960's 225 convertibles. The '71 and up road wheel style looks especially wrong on the '67 - '70 Electra 225's.

[RFortuna]

Thanks Guys!

I like the wires on the 73 too. I bought an extra set of tires for the road wheels, so I can move them around whenever I want. They were originally for the white LeSabre. Now that I found the Centurion, I may sell the LeSabre. I haven't decided yet. I really like the original look of the LeSabre with the standard hubcaps, but the car looked really plain to me, especially in all white.

Dewbers - I bought the Centurion two weeks ago on ebay. It was traded in on a Hummer, by the original owner. It still had two of the original bias ply tires on it when I picked it up!

Randy

[dewbers]

How is it optioned ? Miles ? Give us the goods Randy. What a beauty!
Since it was a one owner, did you get a build sheet or anything like that?
I bet Bob Alberini would love to give you a run down on her...

[RFortuna]

I haven't looked for the build sheet yet, but I'm sure it's still in the car somewhere. Most of the new car stuff is still with the car, but no window sticker. I plan to get a copy of the invoice from Buick. I drove it home two weeks ago, 450 miles! I'm really happy with it. A few
undisclosed issues, but nothing big. It's obviously an original untouched
car, which is what was most important to me. Here is some data for you.

VIN - 4P67T3X178795

Data Tag

ST 73 - 4BP67 X190403

TR 444 AM6 81-A PNT

05B

The car was delivered on 5-26-73 from Jones Buick Pontiac Opel, in Pontiac
IL.

No window sticker, but equipment that i can see is:

455 T code single exhaust
Positraction
Manual A/C
AM FM stereo - 4 speaker
tilt
cruise
Power windows and locks
Power Drivers seat
Max-Trac
Tinted glass
Wide rocker moulding
Body side moulding
Deluxe trunk trim
Accessory group
Bumper guards
remote control mirror
wire wheel covers
hard boot

The paint is really starting to age check on the hood. It has an exhaust leak, and the master PW switch won't lower the passenger window (passenger switch works fine). Other than that, there's not much to do to it. I've left a message for the original owner, to try to get some history. So far he hasn't called back.

Randy

[The German]

Really fine cars, Randy ! :xyxthumbs: I´m a fan of those pinstripes and that´s why I added them to my Centurion too. My car also has white color but to me the contrast of a black stripe looks too strong, therefore I took a small grey one (double line).

Regarding the PW switch : I had the same problem some months ago and I used a special contact spray. But the normal WD-40-spray should be good enough. I put it into the gaps above the switches and up to now never had a problem with them again !
http://www.buickcenturion.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2350#post2350
_____________________
Rolf

[RFortuna]

Thanks Rolf! I'll try that with the switches tonight.

Randy

[The German]

Randy, again I looked to your nice rides posted here and suddenly I got excited: in Germany I had to take out the bulbs of the side marker lights because they are forbidden, but I could use them in turnig light function if they would be orange - and on one picture of your ´73 Centurion the rear lamp seems to be orange ! Is that correct or is it only an optical effect and it´s really red ? If it would be orange I would like to search for a pair of them to put them into my ´71 Centurion and giving them the function of the turning signal.
I wonder what´s the answer!
______________________
Rolf

[RFortuna]

Sorry Rolf, It's red. The flash must have made it look orange.

Randy

[RFortuna]

Nice day in KC on Sunday. Drove the Centurion all day. Thought I'd post a few pics with the top up. Someone had mentioned all my pics were top down.

Randy

[MichelHaak]

Looks good!
Almost the same wire wheelhubs as the 72 model, although a bit different I believe.

[The German]

Thanks, Randy, for the answer regarding the rear side marker lights and thanks for posting these pictures of your `73-Centurion with the top up. It looks really as nice as the one of whom we could view the 58 pics !! Only add the pinstripes and it will be like just driven out of the assembly line!:xyxthumbs:

BTW : Whenever you would want to sell it once in a coming year, please ask me first!;)
____________________
Rolf

[RFortuna]

I sold my 73 Caprice this week, to make room, and because I just never do anything with it anymore. It will be sad to see it go after 13 years. I'm making room for the Buicks. I also have a 72 Corvette, and a 72 Mach1. Considering selling them too, not sure yet. The Mach 1 is a twin to my first car, not sure if I can part with it. I'm told I can't have everything!

Randy

[dewbers]

Looking at your pics from Sunday with the top up reminded me that mine has a top! I had forgotten Randy! Looks great!

Man I love that Vette!! She's a beauty!! I know this a Buick forum, but share some details about it if you can. No clue what it's worth either, but I'd be a little interested if you decide to part with it!

Nice Mach I too, but I've always had a thing for GM's.... You're garage is amazing. If had space like that, I'd be in big trouble. (filling it with more and more toys!!!) :beers:

Took the Mayor in the local parade on Sunday guys. It was way cool!! Didn't realize how nervous I was till I turned the corner and saw thousands of people line the street!! It was great. Beautiful weather, terrific turnout and lots of compliments on the ride. (will post pics when I get them) Did not use the new boot. Need help on that, but will start a new thread under the correct heading to do so...
See ya!

[RFortuna]

Thanks Steve!

I'd love to see pics of yours with the top up too. I love the Centurions in black. There is a triple black one for sale here in KC, if anyone is interested. It's a mess, but I hate to see it go to the junk yard. One of my best buddies here in KC has dibbs on the Vette. Thanks for the compliment though. The garage isn't mine. If it was, I'd have even more cars!

Randy

[The German]

... ... I'm making room for the Buicks. ... ... Randy

Every car you have is a treasure of its own class, Randy. But most I like the ´73 Centurion - a real king of the road !!
_______________
Rolf

[RFortuna]

Took a few more pics on Sunday. Thought I'd share. (Can you tell I dig this car?) pics are probably redundant, but I thought the location was kind of cool.

Randy

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Randy its BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Can you do me a favor. Do you have any interior shots? I am looking for dash board shots, both driver and passenger side shots. Also the engine shots if it still has all the original emision stuff on it. I am in process of trying to detail my 73 to the correct original condition. I am pretty sure I am almost there.

[RFortuna]

Thanks Rick!

I'll take some this weekend and e-mail them to you.

Randy

[Centurion]

I agree, Randy. The car is beautiful!

Before I forget, though, I've been intending to say how much I like the '72 Centurion 4-door hardtop has well. The color combination and the optional cornering lamps and road wheels make the car a true standout. I was pleased to see that it's in the calendar; I know that I will have the pleasure of looking at it for a solid month next year!

Would love to hear more about the '72 4-door when you have time.

[RFortuna]

Thanks Guys!

Brian - I don't know a lot about the green car, other than it belonged to an elderly man in NJ until he died a year or so ago. It was sold to a Buick GS collector in Nashville, and I bought it from him in the spring. It's nearly all original, and has obviously always been garaged. It has 130,000 miles on it, but you'd never know it. It has A/C, cruise, power seat, power windows, am-fm stereo, and positraction. I drove it from Nashville to KC with no problems, but I haven't driven it too much since.

Randy

[RFortuna]

Just starting to toy with the idea of selling my white leSabre convertible, and or the green Centurion hardtop. I have so many cars that I'm unable to keep them all on site, and I really can't even enjoy them. Now that I have the 73 convertible, I'm starting to think about selling the other two similar cars. I'm not wild about the idea as I really like all of them. If I do go through with it, my main goal will be to find good homes for them. I would die if either car ended up as a lowrider. I'll probably wait until spring, but if anyone is particularly interested in either car, or knows someone who is, let me know.

Randy

[Smartin]

Randy, if you would've posted this about 10 minutes earlier...

:Dou:

Have you thought about an asking price on the green 4 door? Or the LeSabre convertible, for that matter?

[RFortuna]

Hi Adam,

I haven't, but my main concern will be finding a good home for them. Especially the four door. They usually sell cheap enough that anything could happen to them. I will need to be assured of their future, or I will keep them. It's not about money for me.

R

[Richard Dunn]

I feel your pain.
It's hard to part with an old friend but sometimes you must.

[MichelHaak]

IF I can sell my Centurion for a good price that Le Sabre convertible would be something for me.:Brow:

It's hard to sell it, especially if you don't really want to, hopefully It will go to a real nice owner IF you are going to sell them.