1972 Buick Centurion

The Buick Centurion was produced from 1971 through 1973, serving as a replacement for the Wildcat as the company's sporty full-size vehicle, positioned between the LeSabre and Electra.

The 1972 Buick Centurion was offered as a two-door sport coupe with a factory price of $4,580, a hardtop sedan listed at $4,500, and a $4,620 convertible coupe. The hardtop sedan was the most popular with 19,582 examples produced, followed by 14,187 of the sport coupe, and 2,396 of the convertible. Power was from an overhead valve V8 with hydraulic valve lifters, five main bearings, a four-barrel Rochester carburetor, a 455 cubic-inch displacement, and delivered 225 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The engine was backed by a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission and standard equipment included front disc brakes, variable-ratio power steering, and the necessary equipment to comply with federal safety guidelines.

Appearance changes were minor in 1972, with a revised vertical bar grille and taillight lenses being the most visible updates. There were no ventiports, Centurion lettering was located on the front fenders, and a Centurion medallion was on the decks and hoods - also on the body roof sail panels of the closed body cars.

During the Centurion's three years of production, 110,539 examples were built, including 10,296 convertibles.

by Dan Vaughan

In 1956 Buick introduced the Centurion Motorama show car. It was clothed in a fiberglass body and painted in red and white. It had a bubble top roof that was modeled after the aero-industry.

In the early 1970s, Buick introduced the Centurion production car and it would remain in production for only a short time, ending in 1973. It was similar in design to the Buick LeSabre but had different badging and different front-end. There was less chrome trim, and no portholes commonly found on the larger series Buicks. The Centurion was offered as a convertible and a four-door hardtop.

Mounted under the bonnet was a big-block 455 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 315 horsepower and 450 ft-lbs. The following year, the industry switched to SAE power measurement, which measured horsepower on the engine alone, which meant it was rated with all accessories and a full exhaust system installed.

For 1972 and 1973, the 455 cubic-inch engine produced 255 hp and 360 ft-lbs of torque. The 350 cubic-inch version produced 195 horsepower and 290 ft-lb of torque.

Production of the Centurion was produced from 1971 through 1973 with 110,539 examples produced. Convertibles accounted for 10,296 examples. It was replaced by the LeSabre Luxus.

by Dan Vaughan