1954 Buick Series 60 Century Convertible Coupe

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