Buick Centurion

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The Buick Centurion was sold by the Buick division of General Motors from 1971 through 1973, replacing the Buick Wildcat as the sporty rendition of Buick's full-size car. The name Centurion was a play on another Buick name, the 1937-1958 Buick Century.

[edit] 1956 GM Motorama showcar

The Centurion name was first used on a Buick concept car in the 1956 Motorama. It featured a red and white fiberglass body, airplane like interior design and a full clear "bubble top" roof.

[edit] 1971-1973

Visually the Centurion was nearly identical to the concurrent Buick LeSabre, featuring different badging & grillework, minimal chrome trim, and marked by an absence of the portholes usually found on big Buicks. Body styles included two-door and four-door hardtops, and a convertible. There were no pillared sedans.

The Centurion was offered initially with only the 455 in³ big-block V8 in two power output ranges determined by the presence of either a single or dual exhaust. In 1973 a 350 in³ small-block V8 was the base powerplant with the 455 as the optional powerplant in either of two power ratings. The '71 Centurion produced 315 hp (235 kW) @4400 rpm and 450 ft·lbf (610 N·m) of torque @2800 rpm with the base 455. In 1972 the industry switched to SAE power measurement, meaning that instead of horsepower being measured on the engine alone, it was now rated with all accessories and a full exhaust system installed. For 1972 and 1973 the rating for the 455 was 225 hp (168 kW) @4000 rpm and 360 ft·lbf (490 N·m) of torque @2600 rpm, while the 350 offered 195 hp (145 kW) @4000 rpm and 290 ft·lbf (390 N·m) of torque @2800 rpm.

Total Centurion production was 110,539 units, including 10,296 convertibles. With only three years of production, the Centurion had one of the shortest model runs in modern Buick history. After 1973, it was replaced by the LeSabre Luxus, as the market turned away from sporty full-size cars.

[edit] External links

• Buick Centurion Registry

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Type	1940s				1950s										1960s										1970s										1980s
	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Subcompact																														Skyhawk
Compact																																					Skyhawk
																												Apollo												Somerset
																														Skylark					Skylark						Skylark
Mid-size																Special			Special				Special					Century					Century				Century
																Skylark			Skylark				Skylark					Regal					Regal										Regal
Full-size	Special			Special					Special					LeSabre						LeSabre						LeSabre						LeSabre									LeSabre
									Century					Invicta
	Super			Super					Super									Wildcat								Centurion														Electra
	Roadmaster			Roadmaster					Roadmaster					Electra						Electra						Electra						Electra								Estate Wagon
Personal luxury								Skylark					Limited					Riviera			Riviera					Riviera						Riviera		Riviera							Riviera