

The Centurion was also offered in the 455 Stage 1 and manual transmission configuration as well during the early portion of the 1971 model year, shared with the Buick GSX.

The Centurion was offered initially with only the 455-cubic-inch (7.5 L) big-block V8 in two power output ranges determined by the presence of either a single or dual exhaust. Replacing the Wildcat as the mid-line full-sized Buick positioned between the lower-priced LeSabre and the larger and more luxurious C-body Electra 225, the Centurion was promoted more as a mid-level luxury car than the Wildcat, which was marketed as a sporty/luxury performance car. The two-door hardtop shared the handsome semi-fastback roofline with the LeSabre and other GM B-body cars (such as the Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe and the Olds Delta 88) along with a standard vinyl roof.ġ971 1971 Buick Centurion Convertible Body styles included two-door and four-door hardtops and a convertible. This car currently resides in the Sloan Museum at the Flint Cultural Center in Flint, Michigan.įirst seen on a concept car, the Centurion was nearly identical to the contemporaneous Buick LeSabre, differing in badging and grillework, minimal chrome trim, and an absence of the VentiPorts found on other full-size Buicks. It featured a red and white fiberglass body, airplane-like interior design, a fully clear "bubble top" roof and the first backup camera in place of a rear-view mirror, although it was never shown to be functional.

The Centurion name was first used on a Buick concept car in the 1956 Motorama. The Centurion shared a trim package implementation shared with the Chevrolet Caprice, Pontiac Grand Ville and the Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale as a hardtop coupe, sedan and convertible.ġ956 GM Motorama showcar 1956 concept car The car's emblem was not the traditional Buick tri-shield, but a side profile of a centurion. The Centurion name was inspired by a Buick concept car, the name coming from that of an officer in the Roman Army. Replacing the Wildcat as the sporty iteration of Buick's three full-size car lines, it was positioned between the LeSabre and Electra in the lineup. The Buick Centurion is a full-size car built from the 1971 through 1973 model years. Wilmington, Delaware, USA ( Wilmington Assembly) South Gate, California, USA ( South Gate Assembly) Kansas City, Kansas, USA ( Fairfax Assembly)
