Buick Century

Buick Century is the model name that was used by Buick for a line of upscale full-size cars from 1936 to 1942 and 1954 to 1958, as well as from 1973 to 2005 for mid-size cars.

Buick Century
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors
Model years
  • 1936–1942
  • 1954–1958
  • 1973–2005
Body and chassis
Class
  • Full-size car (1936–1948)
  • Full-size car (1954–1958)
  • Midsize car (1973–2005)
Body style
Layout
Chronology
Predecessor
Successor

The first Buick Century debuted in 1936 as a shorter and lighter model featuring the same engine as the bigger Roadmaster and Limited series giving it more performance.[1] The Century name was then used on six generations of cars of varying sizes as well as performance and trim levels.

In 1969, Buick developed a concept car known as the Century Cruiser.

Series 60 (1930–1935)
1931 Series 60 Sport Coupe

Originally, the Series 60 had the 331.4 cu in (5,431 cc) Buick Straight-6 engine, developing 99 bhp (74 kW) at 2,800 rpm. It had, at the beginning of the generation, a full-length running board denoting the top model for Buick at the time. In 1930, GM built 38,180 cars. The bodystyles available were torpedo, sedan, coupe, and roadster convertible, using GM's "B-body" platform.

In 1931, the running board was reduced and the 272.6 cu in (4,467 cc) Buick Straight-8 engine was introduced that developed 90 bhp (67 kW). Aesthetically, the Series 60 remained almost unchanged, and the same fact occurred also in the following year. In 1931 and 1932, a total of 55,135 were produced.

In 1933, the length of the body increased. The engine power increased to 97 hp (72 kW). In 1934, the appearance was changed to a more rounded appearance, with a new 278.1 cu in (4,557 cc) eight-cylinder engine and 100 hp. In 1935, the model remained almost unchanged. Total production from 1933 to 1935 was 31,385. In 1936, the model changed its name to "Century".

First generation (1936–1942)
First generation
1937 Century
Overview
Model years1936–1942
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size car
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFR layout
PlatformB-body
Related
Powertrain
Engine320 cu in (5.2 L) Fireball I8

Buick renamed its entire model lineup for the 1936 model year to celebrate the engineering improvements and design advancements over their 1935 models, introducing a "streamlined" appearance. Buick's Series 40 model range became the Special, the Series 80 became the Roadmaster, and the Series 90, Buick's largest and most luxurious vehicles, became the Limited. The Century took the place of the Series 60.

The basic formula for the 1936 to 1942 Century was established by mating the shorter behind-the-engine cowl Special bodies to the Roadmaster's larger straight-eight engine (and consequently longer engine compartment). (In contrast, the 1940 Series 50 Super combined the larger Roadmaster body with the smaller Special engine.) While the Special was powered by Buick's 233 cu in inline-8, rated 93 hp (69 kW) at 3200 rpm, Centurys produced between 1936 and 1942 were powered by the 320-cubic-inch producing 141 hp (105 kW),[2] making them the fastest Buicks of the era and capable of sustained speeds of 100 mph (161 km/h), hence the name Century (100), earning the Century the nickname "the banker's hot rod."

The Century was discontinued at the end of the abbreviated 1942 model year, during which total model production only accounted for about 10% of Buick's total output.

  • 1938 Buick Century
  • 1938 Buick Century coupe
  • 1939 Buick Century
  • 1940 Buick Century coupe
  • 1941 Buick Century

Second generation (1954–1958)
Second generation
1955 Century Riviera
Overview
Model years1954–1958
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size car
Body style4-door sedan
2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door hardtop station wagon
LayoutFR layout
PlatformB-body
Powertrain
Engine322 cu in (5.3 L) Nailhead V8[3]
364 cu in (6.0 L) Nailhead V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase122 in (3,099 mm)[3]
Length206.3 in (5,240 mm) (1954)
206.7 in (5,250 mm) (1955)
205.1 in (5,210 mm) (1956)
208.4 in (5,293 mm)(1957)[3]
211.8 in (5,380 mm) (1958)
Width76 in (1,930 mm) (1954–55)
Height60.5 in (1,537 mm) (1954)
59.8 in (1,519 mm) (1956)[3]
Chronology
SuccessorBuick Invicta

Buick reintroduced the Century using the same formula of mating the smaller, lighter Buick Special body to its largest and most powerful 322 cu in (5.3 L) "Nailhead" V8 engine, with the intent of giving Buick a performance vehicle. Included in the model lineup during this period was a station wagon model, a body style that had been unavailable during the Century's first production period of 1936 to 1942.

Introduced in the middle of the 1955 model year, the four-door Buick Century Riviera along with the four-door Special Riviera, the four-door Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, and four-door 88 Holiday, were the first four-door hardtops ever produced. For the first time, the Century featured four "VentiPorts" on the front fenders like the larger Buick Roadmaster and Super; making more apparent its status above that of the Special.

In 1955, the California Highway Patrol placed a large fleet order for Century two-door sedans, a body style unavailable to the general public. It combined the Special two-door sedan body shell with Century powertrain and trim. Broderick Crawford was shown driving a two-door Century sedan during the first season of his popular syndicated TV series Highway Patrol. (In later seasons, he drove a four-door Century, like his real-life counterparts in the California Highway Patrol.) Power brakes were optional.[4] Tubeless tires were new.[5]

The Century remained Buick's performance line, with engine power rising from 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS) (SAE gross) in 1954, to 236 in 1955, to 255 in 1956, and topping out at 300 from a bored-out 364 cu in (6.0 L) engine in 1957–58, the last model years for the full-sized Century line.

In 1956, the Century's base price was $2,963. Power windows were standard in the convertible. A padded safety dash became optional.[6]

Because the Century was considered the senior "small Buick", the model received a version of GM's only hardtop station wagon, the Century Caballero, from 1957 through 1958. The Caballero proved expensive to manufacture and unpopular with customers (only 14,642 produced for both model years), so GM did not bring it back for 1959.

For 1959, Buick renamed the Century the Invicta.

  • 1954 Buick Century Convertible
  • 1955 Buick Century Riviera 4-Door
  • 1956 Century Riviera coupe
  • 1958 Century Riviera
  • 1958 Century Convertible
  • 1958 Century Caballero Estate

Third generation (1973–1977)
Third generation
1973 Century Gran Sport
Overview
Model years1973–1977
AssemblyFlint, Michigan, United States
Framingham, Massachusetts, United States
Lakewood Heights, Georgia, United States
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size car
Body style2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
PlatformA-body
RelatedBuick Regal
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Pontiac Grand Am
Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac LeMans
Chevrolet El Camino
Chevrolet Chevelle
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
GMC Sprint
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission3-speed manual
4-speed manual
3-speed automatic

The Buick Century nameplate was revived for the 1973 model year on the rear-wheel drive intermediate A-body platform, which was redesigned for this year. The name replaced Skylark for Buick's mid-sized cars. The Century Regal coupe was added at the top of the model range and later became a separate series, dropping the Century name. It was available with two- and four-barrel versions of the Buick 350, putting out 150 and 175 hp (112 and 130 kW), respectively. The 225 hp (168 kW) 455 was also an option. The base Century and Century 350 coupes had a fastback roof with large rear quarter glass, while the Century Luxus featured a more formal notchback roofline with narrow opera windows.

By replacing the Skylark, the Century inherited the Gran Sport performance option. The package was available with any engine and included upgraded suspension, additional instrumentation, and unique appearance treatment. Dual exhaust increased output of the four-barrel 350 to 190 hp (140 kW). While the Stage I 455 was somewhat diminished from its performance heyday due to emission controls, output was competitive for the era at 270 hp (201 kW) and 390 lb⋅ft (529 N⋅m). A Saginaw three-speed manual was standard with either 350 engine. A Muncie M-21 four-speed was available with either 350 or with the regular 455, while the Stage I required a Turbo-Hydramatic 400.[7]

1973 Buick Century Gran Sport

For 1975, the Luxus was renamed Century Custom. The new 110 hp (82 kW) 231 V6 was installed as standard equipment along with a three-speed manual transmission on coupes and sedans, and the big-block 455 was no longer available. The four-barrel 350 V8 became standard on station wagons. A new landau top became available for fastback coupes that partially covered the rear quarter glass, giving an appearance similar to the formal-roof Century Custom. A Century Special coupe was added to the lineup, using the fastback roofline. The Special was marketed as an economy variant of the Century and was only available with the V6 engine.

In 1976, the US government legalized rectangular headlights (long commonplace in Europe), and Buick promptly added them to the Century, positioned side-by-side on coupes, and stacked vertically on sedans. Sedans received a taller, more-formal grille, while coupes got an angled, body-colored front end along with new bodyside sheet metal that lacked the traditional "sweepspear". The Gran Sport option was discontinued.

In 1977, the V6 engine was revised to be even-firing, and a 403 cu in (6.6 L) Oldsmobile V8 was added as an option for station wagons.

1975 Buick Century "Free Spirit" Indy 500 pace car replica

Buick Centuries were used in the 1975 and 1976 Indianapolis Motor Speedway as pace cars. Buick introduced a 1975 Buick Century "Free Spirit" edition replica based on the Indy Pace Car for the public with patriotic graphic decals and the Buick Hawk on the hood. This 1975 vehicle had a transmission shifter on the floor with bucket seats and "Hurst Hatch" T-tops installed. The white exterior and blue/white interior were based on the 1975 two-door sheet metal. The engine was a 350 V8, as opposed to the 455 V8 used on the actual Indy 500 Pace Car. Alternatively, in 1976, Buick introduced the "Free Spirit" edition of the Indy Pace Car; it was downsized to the 1976 Special facelift sheet metal with a 231 V6. The original Indy Pace Car had the turbocharged 231 V6. The replica featured a silver, black, and red paint with a black interior. The vehicle included a positive-traction differential.

Fourth generation (1978–1981)
Fourth generation
Overview
Model years1978–1981
AssemblyFramingham, Massachusetts, United States
Lakewood Heights, Georgia, United States
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size car
Body style2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
PlatformA-body
Related
Powertrain
Engine196 cu in (3.2 L) Buick V6
231 cu in (3.8 L) Buick V6
265 cu in (4.3 L) Pontiac V8
301 cu in (4.9 L) Pontiac V8
350 cu in (5.7 L) Oldsmobile diesel V8
Transmission3-speed THM200, 250, 350 automatic
3-speed manual
4-speed Saginaw manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase108.1 in (2,746 mm)
Length196 in (4,978 mm)
Curb weight3130-3425 lb

GM downsized its intermediate line, reducing wheelbase by 4″ and curb weight by nearly half a ton. The Century name was now applied to the entire range except for the coupe, which retained the Regal name. The Century was initially offered as an "aeroback" fastback two-door coupe and a fastback four-door sedan along with a station wagon model (sharing bodies with the Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon). The car was over a foot shorter, several inches narrower, and several hundred pounds lighter than its predecessor. V6 engines were still standard due to fuel economy regulations. Big-block engines were gone and the new base powerplant was Buick's new 196 cu in (3.2 L) V6, introduced specifically for the Century and Regal. The 231 cu in (3.8 L) V6, and the Chevrolet 305 V8 were options. The Pontiac 265 cu in (4.3 L) and 301 cu in (4.9 L) replaced the Chevrolet engine for 1979.

1980 Buick Century four-door sedan, rear view
1980 Buick Century Estate Wagon

One of the more rare models of this time was the 1979 to 1980 Century Turbo Coupe, powered by a turbocharged version of the 3.8 L V6, which offered V8-like performance with more reasonable fuel consumption and reduced emissions. The Turbo Coupe was not nearly as popular as the similar Regal Turbo Sport Coupe of the time, and total production is estimated to be less than 2,500.

The two fastback models (along with the Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon) proved unpopular. For 1980, the fastback four-door sedan was dropped in favor of a conventional notchback four-door sedan. After 1980, the Century fastback coupe was discontinued. With the introduction of the new front-wheel drive Century in 1982, the existing notchback sedan and wagon models were transferred to the Regal line.

Fifth generation (1982–1996)
Fifth generation
1990 Century sedan
Overview
Also calledChevrolet Century (Venezuela)
Model years
  • 1982–1996
  • 1984–1996 (Mexico)
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size car
Body style
LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
PlatformA-body
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 104.8 in (2,662 mm) (1982–1990)
  • 104.9 in (2,664 mm) (1991–96)
Length
  • 189.1 in (4,803 mm) (sedan & coupe)
  • 190.9 in (4,849 mm)
(wagon)
Width69.4 in (1,763 mm)
Height
  • 53.7 in (1,364 mm) (sedan & coupe)
  • 54.1 in (1,374 mm) (wagon)
1986–1988 Buick Century Estate Wagon

In January 1982, another downsized Century arrived, this time on the front-wheel drive A platform, in coupe and sedan forms.[9] In October 1983, a station wagon was added to the lineup to replace the discontinued Regal wagon.[10][11] The 1984 model year also had an Olympic version of the Buick Century, commemorating the 1984 games in Los Angeles, California. In 1985, all 1986 versions were "freshened" with a new, more angular front fascia. Wheelbase was 104.9 in (2,664 mm), with 189 in (4,801 mm) overall length. Both four-cylinder gasoline units and diesel V6 engines were offered in this generation, although neither became popular. Performance versions of several Buick models, including the Century coupe, were marketed in the mid-1980s under the T-Type name. With Buick's 181 cu in (3.0 L) V6 producing 110 hp (82 kW), the Century T-Type's performance was modest, but the 3.8 SFI engine, producing 140–150 hp (104–112 kW), offered performance in this comparatively lightweight vehicle.

For 1985 and 1986, Hess & Eisenhardt/Car Craft of Lima, Ohio converted 124 finished Buick Century coupes into coachbuilt convertibles. Although these convertibles were sold as new cars through Buick dealerships, these conversions were not factory authorized. In 1986, the engine distributor was replaced by a coil-pack ignition system that proved to be far more reliable than the system that it replaced. The Venezuelan-built models were sold as the "Chevrolet Century" in South America and the Caribbean. In Mexico, it was sold as the Century Limited (with no brand, although it wears the Buick logos). Introduced for 1984, it was the top model for General Motors Mexico, and it survived the import car wave from 1991 (previously new car importations were forbidden in Mexico) and continued in production until the 1996 model year.

The Century received a facelift in late 1988 for the 1989 model year,[12] gaining a new more-rounded roofline, but continuing on the A-body platform. Black plastic inserts with the Buick tri-shield emblem replaced the rear quarter windows. The front end received flush headlamps and a rounded grille, and the stand-up hood ornament was now standard. All sedan models were easily distinguished by their full-width taillights that followed a Buick tradition of big taillights. The 3300 was introduced in 1989 as a lower-powered alternative to the 3800 cc engine. The smaller engine featured multiport fuel injection, waste spark distributor-less ignition controlled by the ECM after startup, but had no balance shaft. An interior refresh came in 1989 for 1990 models.[13]

The 1989 model had seatbelts mounted on the b-pillar, for 1990-1996 the seatbelts were mounted on the door. From 1989-1992, the Century had a black bumper and side trim, and from 1993-1996 the Century had a bodycolored trim.

1991 facelift

For the 1991 model year,[14] the Century received another slight facelift featuring a bigger radiator grille and different headlamps. The interior featured new door panels with the window switches and door lock switches relocated to a more convenient configuration found on more modern cars, where the switch location corresponds with the window location in the car body. This feature never appeared on its sibling the Oldsmobile Ciera, which retained the inline switch bank mounted flush with the door panel, the rear switch being the driver's door window. The Century windows switches were not backlit, but illuminated by a small bulb in the door panel trim above the switch bank. Other interior changes included new seat covers, and relocating the front outboard seat belts from the A-pillar into the door, functioning as "automatic" seat belts so that the belts could be buckled and the door opened and closed while still buckled. The driver and front passenger could enter and exit the vehicle while the seat belt was still fastened.

For 1993, the 2.5 L I4 was replaced with a new 115 hp 2.2 I4. For 1994, the slow-selling coupe model was dropped (603 sold for 1993, or 0.5% of overall Century sales[15]), and all models received a standard driver's-side airbag. Also in 1993, the 160 hp (119 kW) 3.3 L Buick V6 was replaced with a 3.1 L V6 with the same power rating, and power on the 2.2 L I4 was up to 120 hp (89 kW) with the introduction of MFI. Midway through the 1994 model year, a round speedometer replaced the wide rectangular one, but the car still carried on with the original dash.

Despite its dated design, the Century and its sibling the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera still sold well during the 1990s and proved both reliable and profitable to GM since their tooling costs had been monetized. In general, the A-body platform was sturdy, and quality was improved every year while more standard features were added.

  • 1982 Buick Century sedan
  • 1985 Buick Century coupe
  • 1986–1988 Buick Century sedan
  • 1989–1990 Buick Century sedan
  • 1991–1993 Buick Century sedan
  • 1994–1996 Buick Century wagon

Engines
YearsEnginePowerTorqueNotes
1982–19882.5 L (151 cu in) Tech IV TBI I490 hp (67 kW)134 lb⋅ft (182 N⋅m)Also with 92 hp[16]
1989–19922.5 L (151 cu in) Tech IV I4110 hp (82 kW)135 lb⋅ft (183 N⋅m)
19932.2 L (134 cu in) LN2 I4110 hp (82 kW)130 lb⋅ft (176 N⋅m)[17]
1994–1996120 hp (89 kW)130 lb⋅ft (176 N⋅m)[18]
1982–19853.0 L (181 cu in) Buick V6110 hp (82 kW)145 lb⋅ft (197 N⋅m)
19862.8 L (173 cu in) LE2 V6112 hp (84 kW)145 lb⋅ft (197 N⋅m)
1987–19882.8 L (173 cu in) LB6 V6125 hp (93 kW)160 lb⋅ft (217 N⋅m)
1989–19933.3 L (204 cu in) LG7 V6160 hp (119 kW)185 lb⋅ft (251 N⋅m)
1994–19963.1 L (191 cu in) L82 MFI/SFI V6160 hp (119 kW)185 lb⋅ft (251 N⋅m)
1984–19853.8 L (231 cu in) LG3 V6125 hp (93 kW)195 lb⋅ft (264 N⋅m)MFI[16]
1986–1988150 hp (112 kW)200 lb⋅ft (271 N⋅m)SFI
1982–19854.3 L (262 cu in) LT7 Diesel V685 hp (63 kW)165 lb⋅ft (224 N⋅m)

Sixth generation (1997–2005)
See also: Buick Regal (fourth generation)
Sixth generation
Overview
Also calledBuick New Century (China)
Production
  • 1996 – October 25, 2004
  • 1998 – 2008 (China)
Model years1997–2005
Assembly
DesignerWayne Cherry (chief: 1993)
Wayne Kady (1993)[19]
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size car
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
PlatformW-body 2nd Gen
Related
Powertrain
EngineChina
2.0 L L34 I4
2.5 L LB8 V6
3.0 L LW9 V6
North America
3.1 L L82 V6
3.1 L LG8 V6
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase109.0 in (2,769 mm)
Length194.6 in (4,943 mm)
Width72.7 in (1,847 mm)
Height56.6 in (1,438 mm)
2000 Buick Century Limited
Rear View of the Buick Century.

The Century was redesigned for the last time in December 1996.[20] The four-door sedan was the only body style offered (the station wagon was dropped due to decreasing sales) and was still a front-wheel drive, V6-powered configuration. Plainer "Custom" and fancier "Limited" trim levels were carried over from the previous generation. The redesign moved Centurys to the W-body platform, rejoining its former Regal sibling. In this generation, the Century and Regal were nearly the same cars, distinguished only by seating configurations, trim, and engine differences. Since the Century was lower-priced than the Regal, it was also the lower-powered and plainer of the two, offering only a 3.1 L V6. In keeping with its traditional image, the six-passenger Century came equipped with a front bench seat and column shifter, while the more performance-oriented five-passenger Regal came standard with front bucket seats and a console shifter.

After the 1998 discontinuation of the Skylark, the Century became Buick's entry-level car for the first time. For 2003, all trim levels were eliminated, leaving one standard model. Additionally, the "Century" nameplate on the front doors was dropped, and only seen on the vehicle's taillights.

Changes were relatively few over the Century's nine-year run. The all-new Buick LaCrosse replaced both the Century and Regal. A limited run of Centurys with special trim were produced for 2005 to mark the end of the name. GM rolled the last Buick Century off the Oshawa assembly line on October 25, 2004.

China
Buick "New Century" (China)

The Buick Century was produced in China as the New Century from 1998 to 2000, and ran on the 3.0 liter LW9 V6 engine which was also used in the first-generation Buick GL8. A four-cylinder model was also available paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Century was replaced by the Buick Regal due to poor sales.[21]

After the discontinuation of the model in 2000, the New Century name was used as a trim level of the Buick Regal, sold until at least 2005.[22]

Engines
  • 1997–1999 L82 3.1 L (191 cu in) V6 160 hp (119 kW), 185 lb⋅ft (251 N⋅m)
  • 2000–2005 LG8 3.1 L (191 cu in) V6 175 hp (130 kW), 195 lb⋅ft (264 N⋅m)

References
  1. Severson, Aaron (23 June 2008). "One Hundred from Zero: The 1936–1942 Buick Century". Ate Up With Motor. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. "1939 Buick brochure". oldcarbrochures.com. p. 15. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  3. Flory, Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
  4. "1955 Buick brochure". oldcarbrochures.com. p. 26. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  5. "1955 Buick brochure". oldcarbrochures.com. p. 24. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  6. "1956 Buick brochure". oldcarbrochures.com. p. 29. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  7. Fitzgerald, Craig (June 2004). "1973-1974 Buick Gran Sport". Hemmings Muscle Machines. American City Business Journals.
  8. "1984 Buick Century Custom 4 Door Station Wagon Prices, Values & Century Custom 4 Door Station Wagon Price Specs". NADAguides. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  9. Holusha, John (14 September 1981). "New Cars Coming Gradually". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  10. "1984 Buick Century Estate Wagon 2.5L offered since October 1983 for North America U.S." automobile-catalog.com. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  11. Witzenburg, Gary (October 1983). "Detroit '84 - General Motors Lays on the Luxury". Popular Mechanics. 160 (4): 111. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  12. https://newspaperarchive.com/hutchinson-news-oct-14-1988-p-61/
  13. Koblenz, Jay (November 1989). "1990 Auto Guide". Black Enterprise: 102. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  14. https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-herald-journal-sep-24-1991-p-111/
  15. Gunnell, John (2004). Standard Catalog of Buick, 1903–2004 (Third ed.). Krause Publications. p. 279. ISBN 0873497600.
  16. Lösch, Annamaria, ed. (1984). World Cars 1984. Pelham, NY: L'Editrice dell'Automobile LEA/Herald Books. p. 271. ISBN 0-910714-16-9.
  17. Gunnell 2004, p. 280.
  18. Gunnell 2004, p. 285.
  19. http://www.autonews.com/article/19960923/ANA/609230719/cherry:gm-design-plan-is-driven-by-customers
  20. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-08-11-9608110276-story.html
  21. "Spotted in China: Buick New Century".
  22. "The Buick New Century Is A Piece Of China's Automotive History".
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