73 Buick from the Chicago area

by 1973 Buick Century on Thu May 12, 2011 1:19 pm

Hello everyone.

My name is Jon, from the north west burbs of Chicago and a few weeks ago bought my first A body. She is a 164k 1973 Buick Century wagon. I have been after this specific wagon for about 10 years. A buddy of mine bought the happy sow in 2000-01ish and when I first saw it, I knew I wanted it. In the '80s my mother had a '77 black with red vinyl Monte Carlo. When I climbed in the back seat of this wagon, it was 10 at night, and all the dash lamps lit up, sparking the memories of that '77 Monte Carlo. She originally came from Calif in 1998, then going to Wisconsin for a few years, and then to my buddy. He is a '60s and '70s Buick/Pontiac collector. Hes got a '73 Gran Sport that he is restoring and bought this one to either make into a mock GS or cut this one up for parts. He didn't have the heart to chop her up, shes too clean and straight. She dose need paint and some mild body work but she is all there.

I am a fan of long roofs, the '73 makes my 8th wagon since I was 17. The other wagon I have in my fleet is a '78 FoMoCo LTD Country Squire that had replaced a '77 Country Squire that was totaled the same day I grad in college in 2008. Love the big '70s coupes, sedans, and wagons. They truly are a lost decade of cars. No matter what the writers say or haters claim, ALL of my '70s cars have been friendly and loyal with me. I could not ask anything better out of a car.

Going back to her '73 roots:

Polished out the parking lamps with a model car kit polishing kit. No more hazy and dull looking lamps. Also added the proper silver accents on the grill.

Her stable mate, Clark Griswald:

And Aunt Edna, may she rest in peace.

by Limey SE on Thu May 12, 2011 1:36 pm

HeY Johnathan I am glad we finally got your stuff figured out and look fwd to meeting you my friend and Very glad to se your stable finally LOL I love that Buick wagon and your right them whitewalls do look better on the wagon

by 1973 Buick Century on Thu May 12, 2011 1:50 pm

Glad to be here Anthony. Thank you for working with me on getting me in. IDK what the heck happened, never had any issue before with joining a site.

Raised white letters a great tires, esp the BFGs. They look just at home with a car that mags, something big and scary under the hood, and with the proper paint/color combination. A stock station wagon out of the '60s and '70s with out white walls, it's like the Pope without the hat. Just looks strange. Rolling Eyes

by Limey SE on Thu May 12, 2011 1:53 pm

Yea I know what you mean buddy I like the whitewalls better on there they fit more............and I think it was because you were not separating the 3 words in the user name for as I fixed that you got in strange I know but glad we finally got it straight for you !!!1

by Mcarlo77 on Thu May 12, 2011 2:11 pm

Welcome to the site, Jonathan! Love seeing the old wagons! Also, love the sport strg wheel on the Buick. I have a red one on the end of a floor shift, tilt strg column and I think these are among the coolest available from GM during this period. These cars are gaining more and more attention at the car shows, too.

by 1973 Buick Century on Thu May 12, 2011 2:21 pm

Mcarlo77 wrote:Welcome to the site, Jonathan! Love seeing the old wagons! Also, love the sport strg wheel on the Buick. I have a red one on the end of a floor shift, tilt strg column and I think these are among the coolest available from GM during this period. These cars are gaining more and more attention at the car shows, too.

Thank you MC77. I really like the steering wheel as well. I would like to find a factory correct wheel for it. The sport wheel seems to "sweat" and get this gunky, sticky, type residue on it after awhile. I have cleaned it to my hearts content but she still starts to sweat again. You or anyone else have that issue?

BTW, like your avatar. The Monte Carlo is one of my favorite colonnade body styles.

by 1973 Buick Century on Thu May 12, 2011 2:21 pm

Limey wrote:Yea I know what you mean buddy I like the whitewalls better on there they fit more............and I think it was because you were not separating the 3 words in the user name for as I fixed that you got in strange I know but glad we finally got it straight for you !!!1

Amen to that!

by Mcarlo77 on Thu May 12, 2011 2:41 pm

Not only is that my avatar, it's my 50K original '77 Monte. Actually, the Buick strg wheel I have is on a spare column sitting in my basement. But, I do know what you mean with the sticky gunk build-up, though. On some I've found in the yards and cleaned up, I've used Spray-N-Wash, a stiff brush and even had to apply an SOS soap pad to get it off. Of course, that's a lot easier when you are doing the work with the wheel off the car. Give it a try before you chuck it. Besides, I've removed this style wheel off a '76 Century (buckets) and a '77 Regal (bench) within the past 6 mos, so it very well could have been original to the car.

by 1973 Buick Century on Thu May 12, 2011 3:23 pm

Mcarlo77 wrote:Not only is that my avatar, it's my 50K original '77 Monte. Actually, the Buick strg wheel I have is on a spare column sitting in my basement. But, I do know what you mean with the sticky gunk build-up, though. On some I've found in the yards and cleaned up, I've used Spray-N-Wash, a stiff brush and even had to apply an SOS soap pad to get it off. Of course, that's a lot easier when you are doing the work with the wheel off the car. Give it a try before you chuck it. Besides, I've removed this style wheel off a '76 Century (buckets) and a '77 Regal (bench) within the past 6 mos, so it very well could have been original to the car.

She sure is a good looking packaged automobile, I really like that flavor red on her.

Oh, I don't ever for see letting go my steering wheel that came with the '73. Anything I alter or remove is saved and put in a plastic box in the basement. I have a set of split bench seats for the '78 LTD to replace the full non arm rest bench in there now. The bench already has a spot in the basement ready. In the Buick I already pulled out that '80s tape deck for a period correct AM/FM/CB 8 track (Non AC Delco, can not find one as of yet). Some jerk cut the door panels for some now blown '80s style 5 inch style speakers. I would like to have four speakers in there. I found what look to be molding spots for rear speakers on the inner plastic panels. Just like anything else, everything will come together in time.

by Mcarlo77 on Thu May 12, 2011 6:24 pm

Thanks...it's a lot of red coming at you, but with the white interior, it's the perfect summer cruiser.

I've only come across two original AC Delco AM/FM/CB/8-tracks in all my time searching the yards for parts. I sold the first one and still have the digital one I removed from a '79 Cadillac. Also have an AM/FM/CB without the 8-track. Factory CB's are tough to find. The tri-band power antennas for them are just as hard.

by 1973 Buick Century on Thu May 12, 2011 7:02 pm

Mcarlo77 wrote:Thanks...it's a lot of red coming at you, but with the white interior, it's the perfect summer cruiser.

I've only come across two original AC Delco AM/FM/CB/8-tracks in all my time searching the yards for parts. I sold the first one and still have the digital one I removed from a '79 Cadillac. Also have an AM/FM/CB without the 8-track. Factory CB's are tough to find. The tri-band power antennas for them are just as hard.

Big coupes like the Monte Carlo loooooove summer cruising and highway driving. That's basically what they live for! HA HA HA!

I would be content on a standard AM/FM 8 track. I have a FoMoCo factory correct quad tape player for the '78. I can do mild restoration and cleaning of these tape decks.

by Mcarlo77 on Thu May 12, 2011 7:49 pm

I've got several AM/FM/8-track radios and I'd probably part with one if interested. I keep dragging them home whenever I find them and just throw them on a shelf.

by 74MonteCarlo on Fri May 13, 2011 10:41 am

That is one bitchin wagon you got there.

That's winning in my book!

by 74MonteCarlo on Fri May 13, 2011 11:03 am

1973 Buick Century wrote:The Monte Carlo is one of my favorite colonnade body styles.

Then perhaps you'll like mine. 1974 Landau, un restored, 69,000 miles, original paint.

Hijacking over, back to Buicks!

by 1973 Buick Century on Fri May 13, 2011 11:09 am

74MonteCarlo wrote:
1973 Buick Century wrote:The Monte Carlo is one of my favorite colonnade body styles.

Then perhaps you'll like mine. 1974 Landau, un restored, 69,000 miles, original paint.

Hijacking over, back to Buicks!

Now that is a true automobile! Sweeping fenders, long hood, short deck lid, one of the last true luxury/sport type cars with pure class.

73 Buick from the Chicago area

73 Buick from the Chicago area

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