As with any era of GM cars, there are the ones people remember, and the ones that they don’t, and the ’73-’77 Colonnade-era A-bodies are no exception. Chevelle, Laguna, Cutlass/442 and El Camino are all gaining value, but one that is still lingering in the back of the pack is the Buick Century. Replacing the Skylark name for 1973, the Century still had the Gran Sport model attached, which kept a 455ci big-block in the lineup through 1974, but in 1975, the big block was killed off and the Gran Sport did not return for 1976. What did make an appearance was a 231ci V6, and that’s what is powering this 1977 Century.
It’s not everyday you can find a clean colonnade Buick, and this one fits the bill nicely. It even has the original 1973 quarter-window treatment and doesn’t have a vinyl roof, all plusses. The aftermarket wheels aren’t everyone’s favorite, but there are stock Buick five-spoke wheels in the trunk that go with the car. The green is a nice emerald instead of the retch-worthy pea greens of the era, and the interior is a break from black and gray tones. There is a little bit of plastic discoloration that the 1970s GM cars are famous for, but nothing too out of place.
Underhood, the 110-hp V6 isn’t going to impress anybody, but with a body and interior this clean, the car can be forgiven for one shortfall, especially when it provides the new owner with plenty of options: there’s the obvious big-block route, a hot small block would wake it up nicely, or do you go full Grand National and do a ballistic turbocharged V6? You’d have plenty of room for hairdryers under the hood and still be able to wedge in a large-by-huge intercooler!
My father had one of these in the ’80s. It was light metallic blue with a white vinyl top and white interior. He yanked the 231 V6 for an Olds 455/TH400 combo out of a ’69 Delta 88. It had the factory 2.41 gears so it flew on the top end and it got 20mpg. He regrets getting rid of that car but the 455/TH400 is still kicking around our shed.
This car is a perfect candidate for a 4.8 LS engine with a single turbo running mild boost with a good overdrive tranny (4L60/4L80) and a posi rear with 3.55 gears. Great performance and good mileage. Oh, loose those wheels too.
Buick 455/4l80, mid 3.xx gear.
I must have missed the memo… these cars are good for something other than parts? I really wish we’d get the news sooner on here…
Nice car. Too bad it would have to be smogged every two years in Kalifornia. You can thank Arnold for that.
You’re crazy. California’s emissions check has always been more stringent than the rest of the country. Arnold had nothing to do with it.