My dad had a beautiful '55 Century coupe, white over baby blue. My uncle had a spectacular navy blue '57, one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen. Wonderful episode!
Being the son of a long-time Buick owner (and having owned several myself), I purchased my first new Buick in December 1999. It was a Bordeaux Red Century Custom, purchased at what was then Vista Ridge Buick GMC in Lewisville (Dallas) Texas. I fell in love with the Century, gleaming in the spotlight directly in front of the showroom, on sight. I had preferred an Oldsmobile Intrigue (I was insantely INTRIGUED after renting about five of them) that year, but VR was advertising a "special" on the Century (or so I thought) so I purchased it. The experience was a nightmare from the beginning, as I had the car in for warranty repairs five times within the first year of ownership. It was an awful experience, and to boot, the dealership utilized deceitful tactics in getting my loan approved (I know, right?). The whole thing ended up in court, and today VR is no longer in existence. GM redeemed itself with me with my 2019 Cadillac XTS; yet that model is no longer made, and today I'm driving a Lexus GX 460 because I truly wanted a V8. But my heart has always been with the Riviera (my first love), my '71 Skylark, my '84 Regal Limited, and my '95 LeSabre Custom.
Dealers can make a big difference. That is part of why Saturn did so well at the beginning. The local dealer to where I am now had a bad rep and was just taken over by a conglomerate or chain or whatever. It really doesn't pay for small town dealers to be shady, news travels fast. The nearest "home town" dealer when I was growing up had a bad rep, and closed after someone shot and killed the owner.
Excellent. You did a great job. I liked the transitions between model changes. I liked how you discussed the exports and what took place. I enjoyed hearing about the Regal and how that was integrated. I also enjoyed how Buick in China was covered as well. Good footage and excellent information. The last Century offered Oldsmobile Intrigue wheels after the Intrigue was dropped. The last Century offered a bucket seat option too. Thank you again.
@@thehopelesscarguy You are most welcome. Thank you as well. Here is the Century with the Intrigue wheels: ruclips.net/video/5wYy0r1wPj4/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/t7i7_PPBIP0/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/1bYwNf8eGCM/видео.html
Great review 😊 ! I remember these back in the 70s and 80s , these were very comfortable and reliable cars . The A bodies were a major improvement over the X cars . Please do a segment on the Chevrolet Caprice/Impala .
Had an ‘85 Century sedan as a company car which was a huge improvement over the ‘83 Skylark X-car it replaced. But GM was still lagging far behind the popular Japanese imports and Ford’s new Taurus/Sable in build quality and interior ergonomics. Another great video, HCG. 👍👍👍
@ You’re correct, it wasn’t like driving a cheap, bare bones vehicle… it had all the power features and a decent factory stereo. But my next new company car was a fully loaded Mercury Sable with the 3.0 V-6… it was a night and day difference. 👍
Fascinating the course of automotive styling... a decade+ gap creates a discontinuity in evolution to the look. The jump from '58 to '71 subtracted a few iterations from body transitions between the height of the tail fins period to pre-emissions muscle era.
at one point when I was a toddler my dad drove a used 1976 Century Coupe that had been my mom's uncle Rico's when it was new red with black interior 455 CID V8 3 speed automatic transmission oh and my maternal grandmother drove a used 1984 Skylark limited 4 door sedan in a similar time frame
Unfortunately, the Federal Exhaust Gas Emissions Ban Ordinance BABVVO and the Federal Transport Tourism Emission Restriction Ordinance TEBBVO will soon ban exhaust emissions and transport tourism emissions nationwide!! In Switzerland they have a Heschlabuvv law that banns all gas cars from public mountain passes.
87 century, what a dissapointment over any previous century. bad suspension, cheap throughout. buick was slowly being erased with no identity of its own.
TOTALLY AWESOME REVIEW OF BUICKS CENTURY HISTORY ,INCREDIBLY INFORMATIVE 7 ENTERTAINING
Thanks.
My dad had a beautiful '55 Century coupe, white over baby blue. My uncle had a spectacular navy blue '57, one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen. Wonderful episode!
Those 50s Buicks sure were lookers.
Being the son of a long-time Buick owner (and having owned several myself), I purchased my first new Buick in December 1999. It was a Bordeaux Red Century Custom, purchased at what was then Vista Ridge Buick GMC in Lewisville (Dallas) Texas. I fell in love with the Century, gleaming in the spotlight directly in front of the showroom, on sight. I had preferred an Oldsmobile Intrigue (I was insantely INTRIGUED after renting about five of them) that year, but VR was advertising a "special" on the Century (or so I thought) so I purchased it. The experience was a nightmare from the beginning, as I had the car in for warranty repairs five times within the first year of ownership. It was an awful experience, and to boot, the dealership utilized deceitful tactics in getting my loan approved (I know, right?). The whole thing ended up in court, and today VR is no longer in existence. GM redeemed itself with me with my 2019 Cadillac XTS; yet that model is no longer made, and today I'm driving a Lexus GX 460 because I truly wanted a V8. But my heart has always been with the Riviera (my first love), my '71 Skylark, my '84 Regal Limited, and my '95 LeSabre Custom.
Dealers can make a big difference. That is part of why Saturn did so well at the beginning. The local dealer to where I am now had a bad rep and was just taken over by a conglomerate or chain or whatever. It really doesn't pay for small town dealers to be shady, news travels fast. The nearest "home town" dealer when I was growing up had a bad rep, and closed after someone shot and killed the owner.
Excellent. You did a great job. I liked the transitions between model changes. I liked how you discussed the exports and what took place. I enjoyed hearing about the Regal and how that was integrated. I also enjoyed how Buick in China was covered as well. Good footage and excellent information. The last Century offered Oldsmobile Intrigue wheels after the Intrigue was dropped. The last Century offered a bucket seat option too. Thank you again.
Thanks, and for the added info.
@@thehopelesscarguy You are most welcome. Thank you as well. Here is the Century with the Intrigue wheels: ruclips.net/video/5wYy0r1wPj4/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/t7i7_PPBIP0/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/1bYwNf8eGCM/видео.html
dark days in the late 70's......Sure miss my 73 Regal!!!!~
It was a look.
Great review 😊 ! I remember these back in the 70s and 80s , these were very comfortable and reliable cars . The A bodies were a major improvement over the X cars . Please do a segment on the Chevrolet Caprice/Impala .
Thanks. Did the Impala, can be found here;
ruclips.net/video/ErPNHDv2u0w/видео.html
Dad had a century special, blue and white top and white interior.white pinstripe
Found a 79 Century custom SW a couple years ago with 30k on the factory 5.0 sbc
Had an ‘85 Century sedan as a company car which was a huge improvement over the ‘83 Skylark X-car it replaced. But GM was still lagging far behind the popular Japanese imports and Ford’s new Taurus/Sable in build quality and interior ergonomics. Another great video, HCG. 👍👍👍
I didn't think they were bad cars for the time, but you could kinda feel the cheap.
@ You’re correct, it wasn’t like driving a cheap, bare bones vehicle… it had all the power features and a decent factory stereo. But my next new company car was a fully loaded Mercury Sable with the 3.0 V-6… it was a night and day difference. 👍
Which engines did your Century and Skylark have?
@ The Skylark had the Iron Duke 4-cylinder and the Century had a V-6… (I think) the 2.8L.
Fascinating the course of automotive styling... a decade+ gap creates a discontinuity in evolution to the look. The jump from '58 to '71 subtracted a few iterations from body transitions between the height of the tail fins period to pre-emissions muscle era.
An unfortunate decade to skip.
at one point when I was a toddler my dad drove a used 1976 Century Coupe that had been my mom's uncle Rico's when it was new red with black interior 455 CID V8 3 speed automatic transmission oh and my maternal grandmother drove a used 1984 Skylark limited 4 door sedan in a similar time frame
Which engine did the Skylark have?
Bit of a contrast between the two I would say.
Unfortunately, the Federal Exhaust Gas Emissions Ban Ordinance BABVVO and the Federal Transport Tourism Emission Restriction Ordinance TEBBVO will soon ban exhaust emissions and transport tourism emissions nationwide!! In Switzerland they have a Heschlabuvv law that banns all gas cars from public mountain passes.
You forgot to mention the Buick Century SS from 1985 and the Buick Century El Dorado d from 1986 are exclusive versions for the Mexican market
Was not aware of them, thanks for the info.
Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?
Wasn't the Century always the bottom dollar Buick?
Almost always middle of the line. From the mid 70s on it was above the Skylark and Skyhawk, until those went away.
Have of regals gbody
87 century, what a dissapointment over any previous century. bad suspension, cheap throughout. buick was slowly being erased with no identity of its own.
Which engine did your 87 have?