1971 Centurion convertible from France

[Bad Boattail]

Here some photos of Jean-Luc's beautiful '71 ragtop, 1 of 2161 for modelyear 1971.

Jean-Luc goes under the name JLV58 on this board and is living in Paris, France.


<img src="http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v23/Buickclubholland/Leden/JeanLuc4.jpg">

<img src="http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v23/Buickclubholland/Leden/JeanLuc2.jpg">

<img src="http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v23/Buickclubholland/Leden/JeanLuc71Centurion1.jpg">

<img src="http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v23/Buickclubholland/Leden/JeanLuc3.jpg">

[flynbuick]

Erik

Nice car. How did he get Smartin's trunk molding?

[Smartin]

I drool at the trunk every tiem I see it....


He is listed in the parts directory -

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/rides/jean_luc_vinet_centurion.htm

[jlv58]

Hi martin, while you drool, I lament over the pictures (and the car too) as long as the left corner moulding is missing. The feeling must be even worse than missing the full set !!!
But first external cosmetic priorities are still top#2bow missing and adjusting the hood.

[Bad Boattail]

[i]jlv58 said:
But first external cosmetic priorities are still top#2bow missing and adjusting the hood.

I think this is good reading when adjusting the hood:

Link:
http://www.buick-riviera.com/hood.html

[jlv58]

Erik, that's exactly the problem I face...and apparently on the picture, I forgot to push down the hood after parking...
Thanks for the tip.
:TU:

[sbrmd]

I thought Centurions had hoods without ventiports in '71? Although, I think it looks better with 'em.

Best,
Steve.

[Bad Boattail]

sbrmd said:I thought Centurions had hoods without ventiports in '71?

Best,
Steve.

You're right there Steve, but I also think it looks better this way :pp

I can't see the louvres on the booth, but maybe that's just the photo?

[jlv58]

Apparently, one of the previous owners must have changed the hood for one with port holes. I guess with the few choices we have in France, the guy was happy enough to find something that fits its car. Strange thing is that I have not seen any obvious signs that indicates that the hood had to be changed: no rust in the rest of the car, no obvious signs of a prior accident. May be the guy (as I hardly see a Girl being that mad with Buicks) just wanted the port holes.

Regarding the louvres on the boot, yes, they are, but by the way, why are these for ? to put a dog in the trunk and have him respiring ? to collect rain water ? to store old shoes and avoid the smelling ....? :eek2:

[SkylarkSteve]

I think they were put there to help ventilate the car, GM must have thought it would suck stale air out of the car through the trunk, although, I don't think they really work.

[Bad Boattail]

A few 1971 GM models had the louvres in the booth. This was a part of the car's ventilation system. This was discontinued for modelyear 1972. It's one of the best ways for people not really into Boattails to tell a 71 from a 72 :pp

[sbrmd]

Jean-Luc: You crack me up!

That's a great car.

-Steve.

[jlv58]

:pp

Thanks Steve. In fact, I never really looked for a Buick at the beginning. I was just dreaming of big US convertible cars, after having enjoyed different American stuff like a US Jeep Willys 1942, and two Harleys (I kept all of them).
Outside the US, I guess the only thing that comes to mind when talking of a big convertible from the US is "Cadillac". After having visited some of them, compared with other GM's (and even Fords, and Mercuries), and observed that a Cad is almost twice the price with not more to offer in terms of luxury, I found this Buick near Paris for 6000 usd. (Cad's in same shape are @ 15000 to 20000).
The real issue is our gasoline at 4 usc/usg, and the Parkings in Paris. Consequently, I only see my car once every 2 months in my country home, and this is very frustrating.

Now I got the virus, and even more since I visit your board, guys.
Thanks for the nice words,
:pp

[Bad Boattail]

Jean-Luc,

I've got a LPG (or GPL like the French say) set up for a 455 lying around, maybe you're interested? Even though the prices for LPG are a bit higher in la douce France, it still beats the price of petrol by far :pp

[72Rivguy]

There must have been lots of problems making those louvers work because GM changed them at least once during the 71 year. They either made them smaller or used fewer of them. A friend with an Eldorado says there are three louver configurations for his car. The last louver configuration made them lots smaller and used just a few of them.

[jlv58]

Erik, your LPG set offer sounds interesting. At the moment, I do not plan do drive a lot with this car outside week ends and holidays. Therefore, I would not invest time and money in a LPG transformation at the time being...but who knows when the Buick virus is well implemented....


:)

[sbrmd]

That's definitely true about the running changes in '71 with the louvers; I have witnessed three different LeSabre trunk lids myself. I think they started out with more louvers, then fewer, then none at all within the '71 model year.

Jean-Luc: I think you got a great deal on that car. That would even be a good price, given the condition, here in the states. Thirsty, but great fun, and much easier to maintain/less to go wrong than in a Cadillac. Enjoy!

Best,
Steve.

[Smartin]

71 was the only year with trunk louvers. VERY early productionyou would see 7 or 8 rows of louvers, and later production models have 4 rows. Also on the early production models there were grilled similar to the louvers on the hood up towards the hood.

72 did away with all the louvers. But all the 71's had them. There was no point that they pulled the louvers completely out of the model in 71.

It's always possible you will see cars with incorrect hoods and trunks on them, due to the fact that there are lots and lots of interchangeable items/body parts on these cars. LeSabres, Centurions, and Electras (with the exception of the rear end) were strinkingly similar.