Whose Parents Bought New Buicks, 1971 - 1973?

[Centurion]

It's been fun to hear about those Seamist Green '72 Electra 225's that were a part of Randy's and Phil's youth.

How about the rest of you? How many of us were influenced toward the Buicks of this era because our parents, other relatives, or family friends bought these cars new?

I guess I came by my Centurion interest naturally. Here's the selection from my family:

Parents: 1971 Centurion Formal Coupe (Sandpiper Beige/Dark Brown roof)
Uncle Bob: 1972 Centurion 4-door hardtop (Antique Gold/Sandalwood roof)
Uncle Herman: 1973 Centurion 4-door hardtop (Green Gold/Sandalwood roof)

[Phil Genario]

brian, dont forget my aunt tonis burnished cinnamon /sandalwood 71 electra custom coupe in my story.

[Smartin]

My great grandmother owned a 72 Electra 4 door hardtop - nutmeg with sandalwood vinyl top.

She still had it when I was 14, and a few months later I talked to her...she said she sold it for $500 to a local guy. I told her that I wanted it!! She said she would've given it to me if she'd known that.:Dou::spank::spank::spank::spank:

[RFortuna]

I have to ad that my "cool" uncle Harv had a 73 Riviera GS stage 1, triple black. It was gorgeous!

Randy

[Centurion]

Phil and Randy, please don't forget to provide any additional details regarding those Seamist Green '72 Electra 225's in your past!

[RFortuna]

Ours was a custom 4-dr hardtop, seamist green with a green top and green brocade interior. We got it June of 72 from John Chezik Buick in Gladstone MO. My Dad traded in a 67 Electra custom 4-dr hardtop, saphire blue with a black top. Our car had cruise, am fm stereo, forced air rear window defogger, power trunk release, mats, power windows, seat and locks. Not sure which motor, probably a T code. The car turned out to be a lemon. All kinds of problems, and very unreliable. It stranded my Mother so many times that she hated it. Dad bought a 76 leSabre landau coupe next, and the Electra became an extra car until they gave it to my aunt in 81 or 82, when it had around 80,000 miles on it. She wrecked it soon after, and it was junked.

Randy

[Phil Genario]

our 72 electra sport coupe, was bought july7th 1972,from jack schlein buick in hackensack n.j. seamist green,dark green vinyl interior,black vinyl top.at the time they were offering all of these paint protectants,polyglycote,hard plate wax,blue coral,etc,they also offered this neat protectant for the vinyl top,like a wax but it was silicone based,my dad went for it as it was the first buick we had with a vinyl top. the stuff shined like a mirror,and the water wouldnt even stay on it!the 3 years we had the car ,nothing had to be done to the top,other than washing it.it looked like new 3 years later.anyway, in line of options it was loaded, did you know you can get an electra with an electric sunroof?ours didnt have it. it did have windows ,locks,tilt ,cruise, speed alertand trip,lamp monitors, litter pouch in the right kick panel.power trunk, electic seat back release, stereo tape,mats front and rear bumper guards,standard wheel covers,door guards, my dad ordered body side moldings,and wide rocker moldings but it showed up with neither.so adhesiveside moldings duplicating the originals were added.it was a stunning automobile,my dad intentionally optioned it like a cadillac.mechanically it was not the greatest car, it was plagued with over heating problems,when it was damp it didnt run right.thats what made my parents trade it in on a 75 electra custom coupe.the 72 had around 31,000 miles when it was traded,also at that time my dad traded my moms 69 antique gold sportwagon400, which he took in72.the 75 electra was bullet proof!when you were loyal too a brand back then you stuck with it,my father felt a cadillacs were too snobby and overpriced.funny because thats all my grandparents ever drove.maybe he just didnt want to become his dad???

[Sweepspear]

It was my Mom's brother and his '61 LeSabre that got me hooked on Buicks back when I was very, very young.
That mirrored speedometer fascinated me as a toddler. :laugh:

My Dad's brother owned both a '71 Electra Limited Coupe, and a '71 Centurion Coupe at the same time. Kind of a his and hers deal.
The picture in my head recalls the Electra as being Burnished Cinnamon like Adam's car.

[Phil Genario]

ill tell you one of my long and winding stories about my aunts burnished cinnamon 71 electra sport coupe. there is a tiny message in this story.out of the few relatives i have my aunt toni was my favorite by a far, she was the cool one you wish your mom was.tell her anything and she was cool with it,she is now 65 years old.never had kids,i was no doubt the kid she wished she had. at least she told my parents that and me as well.when she bought the 71 electra,she traded in a68 acopulco blue 68 mustang fastback.i took care of that electra,wash, wax,etc,every week i was playing with that car,amongst yard work,errands,i kissed her butt to be around that car!plus she was the greatest.i have 2 cousins who were and still are useless,and rely on family handouts to make ends meet,not that it matters but both are women.my aunt put alot of miles on the 71 the first 4 years she had it,by 1974 it had 67,000 miles on it.she worked for the state prosecutors office,by 1975 she was furnished with a 1975 malibu classic state company car.so the electra did a 360 and went from plenty of use to very little or none. it was no longer used in winter,it was used on special occasions,or she used my uncle ernies nocturne blue 72 catalina brougham coupe.(another beauty)!so the next few years went by with about 4,000 miles on the electra.by this time my uncle had passed away.so we became tighter than ever.in late 1979, i took the car to jack schlein buick where it was purchased and always serviced, and wanted both doors repainted and the rear bumper replaced since it had an annoying dent under the right tailamp.i had all of this done because she told me in a short time she wanted to give the car to me, on the condition i kept it. i said noooo problem. i already had my 72 centurion.so this would be a great way to have 2 neat buicks.the dealer repainted the doors, and when i went to pick the car up they put a 72 rear bumper on complete with impact strips and guards. i said to the body man, why ?why?WHY?I WAS PISSED OFF!he said oh ,we do that with alot of these cars since the 72 bumper is stronger.i said change it! and they did.by now it was the early 80s and the electra went nowhere, i was the only one driving it.so i figure well sha hasnt formerly given it io me , but i guess it was mine.in 1984 she bought a loaded v8 caprice landau coupe,triple burgundy.the miles on the electra were about ill say 75,000.she put 4 new tires on the electra,so i finally popped the question.like when are you giving this thing up?she said why do you want such an old car, i said a. i like it b.you promised it to me.c.sarcastically i said it evokes tender memories of my youth.(which really was true).so she says your cousin debbie needs,well as soon as i heard debbie needs , i knew where we were going.my aunt and i never ever argued. soon as i heard about scroungy debbie all hell broke loose. i said you have tons of money,get your ass in the car go give her money to buy a car,or take her out and buy her one.she says how about if i give you a check, i said dont even go there,ill itemize every damn thing i ever did on your house and that all the wax ive used on that big brown turd,the bill will be so high youll get the vapors i left and never went back, very long story short, she gave that car too scroungy debbie and she cooked the motor in 2 months.put 2 cigarette burns in the front seat,knocked off the right door molding.she has and always gets all of her old cars. the moral to this is since that time i am barely civil to an aunt i adored, it was like destroying an heirloom that was loved for so long.my aunt has tryed a million time too patch it up , but i cant do it.

[Centurion]

Phil, perhaps if you buy that Burnished Cinnamon Centurion Formal Coupe, you'll be able to forgive your aunt.:Brow:

(That's my self-serving advice for the day. Just trying to make sure that car lands in our Centurion family here.:))

I'm really enjoying all your great stories, guys! Please keep 'em coming.

[Phil Genario]

Nah,not The Same,plus I Enjoy It.

[Centurion]

Nah,not The Same,plus I Enjoy It.

Phil, do you mean that you enjoy preventing your aunt from patching things up? Okay, I think I understand.

[Phil Genario]

You Got It! Life Goes On,us Italians Dont Enjoy Being Hurt!

[Sweepspear]

ill tell you one of my long and winding stories about my aunts burnished cinnamon 71 electra sport coupe. there is a tiny message in this story.out of the few relatives i have my aunt toni was my favorite by a far, she was the cool one you wish your mom was.tell her anything and she was cool with it,she is now 65 years old.never had kids,i was no doubt the kid she wished she had. at least she told my parents that and me as well.when she bought the 71 electra,she traded in a68 acopulco blue 68 mustang fastback.i took care of that electra,wash, wax,etc,every week i was playing with that car,amongst yard work,errands,i kissed her butt to be around that car!plus she was the greatest.i have 2 cousins who were and still are useless,and rely on family handouts to make ends meet,not that it matters but both are women.my aunt put alot of miles on the 71 the first 4 years she had it,by 1974 it had 67,000 miles on it.she worked for the state prosecutors office,by 1975 she was furnished with a 1975 malibu classic state company car.so the electra did a 360 and went from plenty of use to very little or none. it was no longer used in winter,it was used on special occasions,or she used my uncle ernies nocturne blue 72 catalina brougham coupe.(another beauty)!so the next few years went by with about 4,000 miles on the electra.by this time my uncle had passed away.so we became tighter than ever.in late 1979, i took the car to jack schlein buick where it was purchased and always serviced, and wanted both doors repainted and the rear bumper replaced since it had an annoying dent under the right tailamp.i had all of this done because she told me in a short time she wanted to give the car to me, on the condition i kept it. i said noooo problem. i already had my 72 centurion.so this would be a great way to have 2 neat buicks.the dealer repainted the doors, and when i went to pick the car up they put a 72 rear bumper on complete with impact strips and guards. i said to the body man, why ?why?WHY?I WAS PISSED OFF!he said oh ,we do that with alot of these cars since the 72 bumper is stronger.i said change it! and they did.by now it was the early 80s and the electra went nowhere, i was the only one driving it.so i figure well sha hasnt formerly given it io me , but i guess it was mine.in 1984 she bought a loaded v8 caprice landau coupe,triple burgundy.the miles on the electra were about ill say 75,000.she put 4 new tires on the electra,so i finally popped the question.like when are you giving this thing up?she said why do you want such an old car, i said a. i like it b.you promised it to me.c.sarcastically i said it evokes tender memories of my youth.(which really was true).so she says your cousin debbie needs,well as soon as i heard debbie needs , i knew where we were going.my aunt and i never ever argued. soon as i heard about scroungy debbie all hell broke loose. i said you have tons of money,get your ass in the car go give her money to buy a car,or take her out and buy her one.she says how about if i give you a check, i said dont even go there,ill itemize every damn thing i ever did on your house and that all the wax ive used on that big brown turd,the bill will be so high youll get the vapors i left and never went back, very long story short, she gave that car too scroungy debbie and she cooked the motor in 2 months.put 2 cigarette burns in the front seat,knocked off the right door molding.she has and always gets all of her old cars. the moral to this is since that time i am barely civil to an aunt i adored, it was like destroying an heirloom that was loved for so long.my aunt has tryed a million time too patch it up , but i cant do it.


Forgive me since this doesn't involve a Buick, but I had a similar thing happen.
I had an uncle who bought a '41 Chevy new. Never drove it in the snow or rain if he could help it my Dad always told me.
Uncle parked it around 1956 covered it and never drove it again.
As a kid in the 60's I always had him take me out to the garage so I could look at it whenever we visited.
He passed in the late 70's, and my cousin and myself would always talk about the car and how I would really like it if he ever got rid of it.
(My cousin has no interest in cars)
Well, my Aunt passed a couple of years ago, and they were going to sell the house.
I asked my cousin about the car, and he old me he had found a buyer for it! :confused2: :mad:
I felt burned, after 30 years of conversations with my cousin regarding the fate of the car, I would have at least liked to have had right of 1st refusal for it.
Oh well, win some, lose some.

[Phil Genario]

Phil, do you mean that you enjoy preventing your aunt from patching things up? Okay, I think I understand.brian,let me explain this to you,i think you would understand this, this isnt a plea to dear abby by any means, i think when you buy a car new, there is a special bond to that car,all of the cars ,3 i bought new had a special place in my heart, i guess its simply because when you keep something for a period of time ,a bond is formed,i dont have that same bond with my collector cars, they are merely duplicates of cars that have a special place in my heart. i didnt take them on family vacations,i didnt go to my prom in one,i didnt go to so and sos wedding in them. they just duplicate the cars i loved and had happy times in.the bond is clearly not the same. my parents never kept any buick long enough for me to get attachsd to .whan your young ,new is exciting and old is last years model.that old electra ,probably meant as much to me as your centurion does to you. there was a very strong bond of affection for not only it but myself.my aunt and uncle,memories,youth,whatever.it was the first car i ever felt that way for.how you can love and keep something for 15 odd years and just throw it away,and hurt someone in the process baffles me. there is an ending to this story , after debbie blew the engine,due to a lower radiator hose . the car was then offered to me, which added insult to injury.it was then junked,and my aunt went out and bought debbie a new cavalier.which she would later wreck. that electra had it been placed in my care ,would still be with me today,no doubt. phil

[Phil Genario]

Forgive me since this doesn't involve a Buick, but I had a similar thing happen.
I had an uncle who bought a '41 Chevy new. Never drove it in the snow or rain if he could help it my Dad always told me.
Uncle parked it around 1956 covered it and never drove it again.
As a kid in the 60's I always had him take me out to the garage so I could look at it whenever we visited.
He passed in the late 70's, and my cousin and myself would always talk about the car and how I would really like it if he ever got rid of it.
(My cousin has no interest in cars)
Well, my Aunt passed a couple of years ago, and they were going to sell the house.
I asked my cousin about the car, and he old me he had found a buyer for it! :confused2: :mad:
I felt burned, after 30 years of conversations with my cousin regarding the fate of the car, I would have at least liked to have had right of 1st refusal for it.
Oh well, win some, lose some.i dont care what it is ,someones word is there word period.i felt more hurt than any thing else,and sometimes you just cant go back and fix things. i am barely civil to her for nearly 21 years now, she did it , i didnt!her loss ,

[Richard Dunn]

In 1969 my grandfather passed away.
I had turned 16 several months before and didn't have my driver's license yet.
Long story...won't go into that nightmare.
When he died he had a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air station wagon in sierra tan and ivory with a matching interior. It wasn't perfect but it was a '57 Chevy.
I wanted that car in the worst way.
My mom sold it to some kid so my grandmother would have some money.
She didn't want me to have it....same long story.
Needless to say I was a hugely disappointed teenager. :bawl:
When I was 20 I bought my first car, the '71 Centurion partly to get even.
She still didn't want me to have a car.
Same long story. LOL!
If I had waited about three more weeks I could have had a brand new '73 Centurion convertible in my pick of colors.
Keep repeating: I love you mom, I love you mom, I love you mom. :Blasting: