Vehicle Description
Very clean and original 1971 Buick Centurion. Straight bodywork,
original paint, no issues. Nice vinyl top and original interior.
Loaded with options including cold A/C. Nicely documented. A
full-sized luxury cruiser with the heart of a muscle car!We sell a
lot of '70s Lincoln Town Cars, they're always popular, but if you
want a luxury car with a bit more muscle, then take a close look at
this handsome 1971 Buick Centurion. The Centurion was new in 1971
and only available in hardtop form, both 2- and 4-doors. This
handsome 4-door is one of those beautifully preserved original cars
that lived with its first owner for decades and was always treated
like something special. It hails from down south, so rust is a
non-issue and it doesn't appear that it has ever seen harsh winter
weather. The bodywork is finished in factory-applied Arctic White
enamel, and original paint means no nasty surprises hiding
underneath. The sheetmetal is remarkably straight and all four
doors close with a solid-sounding THUNK rather than a loose rattle,
which is typical of GM of the era. The green vinyl top is likewise
in fantastic shape and we see no bubbling or lumps underneath that
would suggest trouble brewing. It also has plenty of nice
brightwork and stainless trim, all of which shows quite well, and
even the headlights are the original T3 units. Nice! If long, low,
and sleek is your style, this might be your car.The attractive
green vinyl interior was a step up from the base LeSabre and offers
plenty of luxury touches that make the Buick easy to live with. The
wide bench seats are spacious enough for six, and with front and
rear armrests, four passengers are treated to first-class
accommodations. Like the exterior, the interior is shockingly well
preserved with no rips or tears in the upholstery, nice carpets,
and a headliner that's still taut. There's also a nice list of
options, including cold factory A/C, power windows, a power front
seat, and a tilt steering column, so this Buick never feels like
anything but a luxury car. Everything works, including the clock
(shocking!) and the factory AM/FM radio sounds decent. Buick logo
floor mats have probably been in there for decades and are holding
up surprisingly well, as are the seat belts which are still supple
and easy to use. There is, of course, a massive trunk which
includes the spare tire and jack assembly up on the front
shelf.There's plenty of horsepower on tap thanks to the Centurion's
standard 455 cubic inch V8. With 360 horsepower and a towering 510
lb-ft. of torque, it matches the mighty Buick GS in terms of
output. It's just effortless in everything it does and gives the
big Centurion the moves of a much smaller car. You can see at a
glance just how well-maintained this car really is and there's a
lot of originality under the hood, including the tower hose clamps,
factory Dante Red engine enamel, and original decals throughout. It
starts easily, idles nicely, and pulls with the kind of torque that
only a big block can deliver. Power steering and power front disc
brakes are standard equipment, as was the TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission, so this big cruiser is easy for anyone to handle.
Underneath you'll find more originality, including what we believe
are the factory-installed shocks and perhaps even the original
exhaust system (which probably could be replaced at this point).
The floors and rockers are solid, and aside from some light surface
scale on the heavy metal parts, there are no issues. 2.73 gears in
the rear end make this a fantastic high-speed cruiser and it does
have that incomparable Buick ride quality. The lone modification is
the installation of a trailer hitch years ago, which is bolted into
place using the bumper brackets, so it may take a little effort if
you want to remove it-we opted to leave it in place. 15-inch Buick
road wheels look sporting and carry recent 225/75/15 Goodyear
whitewall radials. Documentation is extensive, including the
original books and manuals, Protect-O-Plate, window sticker, build
sheets, and service receipts. I know you probably haven't
considered a 4-door from the '70s to be a collector car or
something that you should add to your personal collection, but take
a closer look at this lovely Centurion. The preservation and
documentation are really impressive and it has fantastic road
manners. It's eligible for all kinds of great events with the Buick
Club of America and it's probably a slam-dunk in preservation class
judging. Add in the muscular motor and fully operational
accessories, and you get a hobby car that's really easy to live
with and great for the enthusiast with a family. Call today!Harwood
Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional
inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
