The
ultimate GM full size belongs in Buick sheet to the best-looking creations, starting
with a length of 560 cm, evolving at the end of the model run to a record 593
cm for the Electra. These GM models were the last with the regular body
styles of sedan, hardtop, convertible and wagon (revived by Buick in full size
form for 1970 after the deletion of the intermediate 3-seat SportWagon with
longer wheelbase). The Wildcat was replaced by the less sporty Centurion
without floor shift option, itself merged into the LeSabre series, a year after
the release of the Century line. The
LeSabres would no longer reach the 200,000-mark attained for 1970.
The
Centurion Formal Coupe with its small back window adopted the regular window
glass of the LeSabre in its last year 1973. Due to the required stronger front and rear
bumpers for 1974, the LeSabre would reach the length of 225 inches, which 15
years earlier was a reason for the ‘225’ tag added to the Electra. In the
same year, the LeSabre’s character crease was upped at the rear quarter panel,
while the roof of the LeSabre coupe became more formal with a large opera
window. By 1975, the Electra 2-door
would lose its traditional hardtop roof, it was the last year for the full size
(LeSabre) convertible, and the 4-door hardtops received a window in the C-pillar.
The LeSabre sedan was given a revised roof and larger rear side windows. Radial tires became standard equipment.
A hood ornament became standard equipment, and was optional in the base
LeSabre. The Electra received
rectangular headlights, followed by the LeSabre and Estate Wagon a year later.
All
Buicks now rode on regular fuel. The 3-speed manual transmission was only
available in the first year. Power front disc brakes and variable-ratio
power steering were standard from the start. In December 1973, an airbag
became optional on the Electra, but not for too long. Catalytic
converters came by 1975. By 1976 a 6-cylinder engine returned, which was
abandoned 45 years earlier in the regular sized Buicks, but a manual
transmission would not return for the full-sized cars. Claiming 21 mpg on
the highway (equal to two Honda Civics) vs now 18 mpg for the 350 V8 could
attract only about 10,000 buyers (4% of the senior car range). This would
have been the only full-size car in the industry with a V6 engine, before
downsizing (Chevrolet had abandoned their 6-cylinder-in-line engines for their
full size models by 1974). In 1975 only,
the Canadians could opt for a 400 cid Pontiac engine, in between the 350 and
455.
https://mjs.home.xs4all.nl/Buick%20full%20size.htm
https://mjs.home.xs4all.nl/Buick%20full%20size%20engines.htm