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Images of the column-shift ‘75
Saturday Aug 11th 2007
I saw this car on eBay. The individual who bought this car e-mailed me and we spoke for about an hour.
The original pace car (as well as all replicas by Buick including my own) came equipped with TH350 automatic transmission, shifted by a floor-mounted gear lever. Many Buicks besides the Century had floor-mounted gear levers.
It’s also well known that none of the pace cars ever had hood ornaments.
But then there’s Scott’s car.
Check this out:
Your eyes do not deceive you. Is this a for-real ‘75 pace car? It sure is, right down to the glacier blue interior, Hurst Hatches and all.
But we see a hood ornament.
And a column-mounted shift lever.
And, guess what - the VIN checks out. Under the hood beats the heart of a 4bbl 350ci V8.
Strange? You bet. But everything checks out.
The more information I find out about the ‘75 Free Spirit Century, the stranger it gets.
Check this out:
My car has “plain” blue door interior treatment.
Scott’s car has “buttons” on the interior of his doors.
Tom’s car (another pace car owner I trade e-mails with) has - and I kid you not - silver-ish looking rectangles. Very stylish, yes, but different from mine, different from Scott’s car.
The different door interior treatment I can deal with - but the shift lever on the column? That was a new one for me, but she exists. Scott’s car is living proof. :D
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5 Responses to “Images of the column-shift ‘75”
November 11th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Hi Rich,
Just wanted to follow up with you on my car. I haven’t done much with it yet. I had the horn repaired so I could get it inspected and registered but that’s about it. Next up is a tune up and possibly a carb rebuild as well as some AC work (as in it doesn’t now). After it’s running perfect I’ll be getting it painted. The original paint is good from 10 feet away but I want the decals and I would never put them on without painting the car first. I’ll keep you updated. It’s running good. I’ve actually got a ‘76 Free Spirit with a 455 that really screams!
November 13th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Well when it comes to 32-year-old paint, a fresh coat can’t hurt. :-) Best of luck with the continue of the restoration.
November 21st, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Hello Rich, Just an update on the ‘75 Century we got on e-bay in Oct.’07.Hopefully some of this info will help other fellow Buick owners on the resto of thier pace cars. On the previous question I had about the front filler color [below the grill],that is actually a medium silver.Also the same color on the front lower corner pieces. For anyone needing replacement front and/or rear body to bumper fillers the place I found was gmobsolete.com They have the reproductions.Only in fiberglass though.On the grill,I have found that two runs of quarter inch chrome pin stripe across the center part of the grill will suffice in place of a actual chrome piece if one can not be found. Also was able to find a GM Delco am-fm-8 track on e-bay for about $30.00 that fitted right in place,along with the factory demo “Free Spirit” tapes complete with [elevator style tunes]. Got a clock that works,but no knob. Anybody wants it,let me know. Just pay shipping. Also have some important info on tire selection and exhaust upgrades if any readers would be interested. Graphics are scheduled to go on 11/27. Will send the pics soon. Good luck to all of us.
-Bill
February 20th, 2008 at 12:19 am
[...] Yeah, she needs work. But then again so do more or less all ‘75 Free Spirit Buicks (with the exception of Scott’s car which is in pristine shape). [...]
August 4th, 2008 at 1:06 am
[...] who I’ve traded e-mails and chatted on the phone with. It’s the strange-but-true column shift version of the car. And that particular ride is very close to showroom [...]
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