Image credit: RM Auction.

1954 Buick Series 60 Century background image

1954 Buick Series 60 Century Convertible Coupe

  • Chassis Number: 6A1097835
1954 Buick Series 60 Century Navigation
Everyone needs a goal; a target to reach. Sometimes these goals are made known to others. Other times they are private motivators. In Buick's case, it had a very simple goal and made it plain for all the world. It was readily apparent in the name the company gave its new model made available in 1936—Century, or 100 mph.

Buick renamed its entire line-up of cars for 1936. The Model-60 became the Century. The mindset and approach to building the Century was rather straight-forward: take Buick's Special shorter-wheelbase bodies and mate it with the company's most powerful V-8 engine it had. Therefore, the Buick Centuries made between 1936 to 1942 were powered by Buick's 320 cu in inline-8, which was capable of 165 hp. This mixture enabled the Century, or what would become known as 'the banker's hot rod', to be capable of sustained speeds of 95 mph. This made the Century Buick's fastest automobile during that era. The convertible version of the Century came with standard leather upholstery, convertible top and windows, a hydraulically controlled front seat and an outside rear-view mirror.

Production of the first run of Centuries ended in 1942 due to poor sales. Twelve years after it ceased producing the Century, Buick reintroduced the name using the same formula it had tried with the first run. Buick mated its lightest and smallest chassis to its large 322 cubic inch V-8 engine. The intention was very simple: Buick wanted to offer a performance vehicle to its line-up once again. And, once again, the Century filled that roll until production ceased in 1958.

The model offered this year was a 1954 model, which was the Century's first year back in production. In 2010, the car went through a body-off restoration. It sports a vertical slit grille and the droopy-eyed headlight design. A chrome bumper, accented with twin torpedo-like designs, provides the nose with an appealing look. Chrome trim runs along the side of the car and the leading edge of the rear wheel-well. The rear end of the car espouses less dramatic fins and vertically mounted dual torpedo-style taillights. As with the front, the rear also exhibits a chrome bumper with vertical tail-like protrusions.

Underneath the large, rounded-off, box hood rests a 200 bhp, 322 cubic inch V-8 engine, with a four-barrel carburetor. Its transmission utilizes a twin-turbine Dynaflow automatic transmission that had been rebuilt during restoration. The car utilizes four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and an independent front suspension made up of A-arms and coil springs. It also has a semi-floating rear axle that uses coil springs and a Panhard bar.

The interior of this '54 Century came with red leather seats, a red-trimmed steering wheel and black-trimmed dashboard and doors. The car has power steering and a modern radio in the instrument panel.
The '54 Convertible Coupe is set-off by a tan convertible top and wide white-walled tires. Finished in a maroon paint job, this '54 Century beautifully displays the lines of Buick's performer.

Believed to be one of just eleven left in existence, this '54 Convertible example reminds the automotive world of what has almost been forgotten. It brings back to mind Buick's elegant designs and performance. It brings back to mind how Buick reached its target with style and elegance.

Sources:
'Buy: View Lots (Lot 310: Buick Century Convertible Coupe)', (http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ11&CarID=r112&fc=0). RM Auction Arizona. http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ11&CarID=r112&fc=0. Retrieved 12 January 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Buick Century', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 December 2010, 03:45 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buick_Century&oldid=400254915 accessed 12 January 2011

By Jeremy McMullen

2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas

Sale Price :
USD $71,500

2011 Automobiles of Arizona by RM Auctions

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $45,000-USD $55,000 
Sale Price :
USD $60,500

1954 Buick Series 60 Century Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Buick Series 60 Century

(Data based on Model Year 1954 sales)
1954 Buick Century Hardtop
Chassis#: 6a4051570
Sold for USD$22,550
  2024 Mecum : Dallas
 
1954 Buick Century
Chassis#: 6A5017768
Sold for USD$27,000
  2023 Spring Carlisle
1954 Buick Series 60 Century image  1954 Buick Series 60 Century image  
1954 Buick Century Wagon
Sold for USD$33,550
  2021 Mecum : Dallas
 
1954 Buick Century
Sold for USD$7,700
  2019 Mecum Portland
 
1954 BUICK CENTURY CONVERTIBLE
Chassis#: 6A1097835
Sold for USD$71,500
  2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas
1954 Buick Series 60 Century image  
1954 BUICK CENTURY RIVIERA COUPE
Sold for USD$20,000
  2015 Mecum - Dallas
 
1954 Buick Century
Sold for USD$55,000
  2015 Mecum : Indianapolis
 
1954 Buick Century Hardtop
Sold for USD$14,025
  2014 Collector Car - Toronto Fall Classic
 
1954 Buick Century Hardtop
Sold for USD$18,500
  2013 Mecum Auctions - Dallas 2013
 
1954 Buick Century Convertible
Sold for USD$47,850
  2013 Auctions America - Auburn Spring
 
1954 Buick Century
Sold for USD$13,750
  2013 Auctions America - Spring Carlisle
 
1954 Buick Century
Sold for USD$650
  2012 Silver Auction - Quartzsite Collection
 
1954 Buick Century
Chassis#: 6A6030374
Sold for USD$15,000
  2012 Silver Auction - Jackson Hole
 
1954 Buick Century Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 6A1097835
Sold for USD$60,500
  2011 Automobiles of Arizona by RM Auctions
1954 Buick Series 60 Century image  
1954 BUICK CENTURY
Sold for USD$21,500
  2009 Silver Auction - Hot August Nights
 
1954 Buick Century Station Wagon
Sold for USD$13,900
  2009 Leake Auctions - Tulsa - 37th Annual Leake Auto Auction - QuikTrip Center
 
1954 Buick Century
Sold for USD$40,700
  2007 Russo and Steele - Scottsdale 2007
 
1954 BUICK CENTURY 2 DOOR HARDTOP
Sold for USD$9,350
  2007 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2007
 

Buick Series 60 Centurys That Failed To Sell At Auction

1954 Buick Series 60 Century's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1954 Buick Century Riviera Two Door Hardtop 2015 Leake Auctions Dallas, Tx$16,750  
1954 Buick Century Riviera Two Door Hardtop 2015 Leake Auctions Dallas, Tx$19,000  
1954 Buick Century CoupeA40507932013 Mecum Auction Anaheim 2013$20,000  
1954 Buick Century 2013 Auctions America Auburn Spring$14,000  
1954 Buick Century 2-door Hardtop 2009 Mecum Minnesota Auction Results$33,000  
1954 Buick Century Station Wagon 2009 Mecum Kissimmee, FL Auction$24,000  
1954 Buick Century 2-Door Hardtop 2008 Mecum High Performance Auction at Kissimmee, FL$22,500  

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1954 Buick Series 60 Century vehicle thumbnail image  1954 Buick Series 60 Century vehicle thumbnail image  
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1954 Buick Series 60 Century

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