Gem of the junkyard: the 1972 Buick Centurion four-door hardtop

In the mid-late 1960s. General Motors Company made bright, semi-sporty versions of each of them full-size B-body cars. Oldsbyle had Delta 88 Royalefor example, for now Pontiac offered Grand Prix. The gap is big Buick of that period was wild cat, built before the 1970 model year. Just as Wildcat pushed aside Invicta, the Centurion appeared in 1971 to replace the Wildcat. Named in honor the famous 1956 concept carproduction centurion continued only in 1973. Just over 100,000 were built and here is one of those rarities Colorado self service boneyard.

The Centurion was available as a hardtop coupe, convertible, and four-door hardtop sedan. It was in the shower Lesabr with different grilles and other cosmetic marks.

Instead of the usual three-shield Buick emblems, the Centurion got Roman soldier badges.

Perhaps the world’s most famous Centurion is the ’72 convertible driven by Kurt Russell’s car salesman hero. 1980 movie Used cars.

Curt ended up selling his Centurion to a customer he “poached” from a competing lot across the street.

In 1974, the Centurion was replaced by the LeSabre Luxustrim level designation that Buick removed from Opel.

The only engine available in the 1971 and 1972 Centurions was Buick’s 455 cubic inch (7.5 liter) V8, which was famous for its low-rpm torque. Power figures in 1972 were down significantly from 1971, mainly due to transition from gross to net measurements that year; the base ’72 Centurion 455 was rated at 225 horsepower and 360 lb-ft, while the optional higher-compression, dual-exhaust version made 270 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. All Centurions rolled off the assembly line with a three-speed automatic transmission.

In 1973, the Buick 350 (5.7-liter) V8 became standard on the Centurion, with the 455 an optional extra. The original buyer of this Centurion probably regretted the single digit amount fuel economy with 455 when OPEC shut off the oil taps in October 1973.

The Front Range Colorado isn’t particularly rusty, but this car looks like it spent some time in a salty place like Wisconsin or Iowa.

Not much remains of the soft vinyl roof, standard equipment on all Centurion sedans and coupes.

It would be prohibitively expensive to make this car beautiful again, so here it is.

This radio played AM and 8-track tapes and cost $363 extra for a $4,508 car (that’s $2,615 and $32,485 in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars).

You you can still buy reproductions of these Buick Rallye wheels today.

You didn’t want to miss Buick Bargain Days in 1972.