In our previous entry, we focused our attention on the first generation Buick Century. Developed in 1936, the Century showed Buick’s advancement in terms of engine improvements and design. However, the first generation didn’t last long, with its last model being the produced in 1942. It took more than a decade after that for this vehicle line to again resurface. And when it did, it presented a sleeker body and more powerful engine. So ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the second generation Buick Century.

Upon its release, the second generation Buick Century was given, at that time, the largest and most powerful engine the company ever built: a 322 cubic inch V-8 engine. Buick decided to do this since the company was aiming to make its Century a performance vehicle. Combining it with the smaller and lighter Buick Special body, Buick allowed the car to achieve unbelievable engine power, especially when it started upgrading its engine on a yearly basis. 1954 saw it raise its engine to 200 (SAE horsepower), 236 in 1955, 255 in 1956, and 300 from 1957 to 1958. Aside from enjoying an array of powerful engines, the Buick Century also got to sport 4 types of body styles. These included the 4-door sedan, the 2-door coupe, the 2-door convertible, and the 4-door hardtop station wagon.

Thanks to these features, the Buick Century enjoyed tremendous success during its run in the 1950’s. The vehicle became so popular during this time that even the California Highway Patrol jumped into the Century bandwagon. Impressed with its performance, they actually placed a large order in 1955 for 2-doors Century sedans that were only made available to them. That’s exclusivity for you right there.

Even though the second generation Buick Century marked the end of it being a full-sized performance vehicle, people will most likely never forget about how this version of the Century made an impact during its release. Proof is how its still exist, albeit in a different vehicle class. Nonetheless, this still proves that the Century can still give competitors a good run for their money.

Source: Wikipedia