Buick Century in Context
Buick reorganised its lineup for 1936 with names in place of series numbers, and the Century sat above the Special but below the Roadmaster and Limited. Its distinction was combining the shorter Special body with the larger straight-eight engine from the senior cars, producing a car quick enough that its name was taken from the speed it was said to reach. Among the Buick Century generations, this first one is unique in being a genuine pre-war performance model, whereas later Centuries were mainly mid-size family cars.
Understanding 1 generation
Buick Century body styles were remarkably varied in this period. The catalog lists a convertible, a coupe, a five-door estate, a fastback, an open phaeton and a sedan, reflecting an era when manufacturers offered a single chassis in many configurations. Styling evolved each year, from the upright 1936 cars through the streamlined forms of the early 1940s. Buick Century dimensions grew over the run as bodies became wider and lower, so buyers researching a specific car should pay attention to model year alongside body style when interpreting any specification.