The Century was designed based on the Buick Special body, but it had a very important change. The Special was powered by Buick’s 233 cubic inch inline-8 which was rated at 93 horsepower. The Century, however, was fitting with the much larger 320 cubic inch inline-8 which produced an impressive 130 horsepower. This allowed the Century to drive at a sustained 100 mph, making it the fasted Buick of the era. Its impressive performance, extreme luxury, and high-class appearance earned the Century the nickname “the banker’s hot rod.” The Century was, without a doubt, partially responsible for Buick’s survival as the early ’30s spelled disaster for the American marque. In 1936, the new Century outsold both the previous Series 50 and 60 combined. But Buick was not content for resting on their sales success for 1937. Instead they sported completely redesigned bodies for 1937 with lower, wider, and roomier all-steel Fisher-designed bodies.
This gorgeous 1937 Buick Century Touring Sedan comes from the collection of a long-time owner. It has been the recipient of an older, but extremely high-quality restoration that still appears fresh. The deep black paint remains in phenomenal condition and covers a remarkably straight all-steel body, a new construction method for 1937 that replaced the old steel and wood composite body. The interior of the car finished in tweed upholstery, is pristine. No signs of wear are visible on either of the bench seats, matching a flawless set of brightwork and switchgear. The famous 320 cubic inch motor is fed by a pair of original Stromberg AA2 downdraft carburetors and still feels like a truly capable 100-mile-per-hour engine. Few cars from this era feel as comfortable and capable on modern roads, but this Century packs the performance and comfort necessary for any journey.
