PROJECT "LAID BACK" - 1978 CENTURY 2 DOOR AEROBACK

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JAMCAR223

Royal Smart Person
Jun 6, 2014
1,853
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Houston, TX.
Well, I needed this like I needed a hole in my head, but... It started a couple weeks back just searching for a new project to start. I found an old listing on the Turbo Buick Facebook page from February. I looked at the Poster's Facebook page,and saw a few more pics of the car. It looked pretty straight. I expanded the pics, and decided to contact the owner to see if the car was still available... It was! . He lived in Arizona, the home of low humidity, and rust-free cars. He confirmed that it was in pretty good condition, and he was driving it daily to work. Cool... that meant it was a running, driving, inspected car. It has 71,000 miles on it. The only issue is that the car had spent it's entire life ( to his knowledge ) sitting outside in the Arizona sun. Therefor, the headliner, and rear sail panels had desintegrated, and had been removed. I told him I was interested, but lived in Houston, so I would have to get back to him. I kept searching for pics of Century's, the availability of parts ( 3 year run on this car ), and found he had listed the car with a Classic Consignment auto dealer in Michigan of all places... a disclaimer said that the car was not on site, and was located at the owner's home in Arizona. This was probably just a "locator" service. The car was listed at $3495. The original Facebook ad was for $1500. Our second conversation included prices of $2250. He said the FB post from February was because it was tax return time, and he had a vehicle he wanted to combine the $1500 + tax return $$ to buy it. Well now 6 months later, I was interested in the car for the $1500. He said he needed to remove that ad. I offered him $1200, and he said he could not replace his daily driver for that, but he would honor the ad that saw for $1500. OK, so i told him I could do that, but needed more pics. He sent them. Interior, door jambs, etc. I needed this info as I would be driving 2400 miles round trip. I made the decision to go on Labor Day weekend, since I had a little extra time off. With the cost of fuel, I have $1900 in this car. Here it is.
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How ya like the trailer?? I am a Texas boy!
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Pics of the "problem areas" we are all concerned with.
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Can you spot the missing rear bumper shock bolt??
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Hmmm... why is the seat belt retractor blue, and the door spring silver?? Under further investigation, this car was originally silver. Owner had no further info.
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pagrunt

Geezer
Sep 14, 2014
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Elderton, Pa
I think he pulled a fast one one you, he didn't include the rotten rear frame rails. Don't he know that rusty frames add value to our cars. :rofl:
Awesome score. (y)
What is the possible game plane for it?
 
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JAMCAR223

Royal Smart Person
Jun 6, 2014
1,853
5,507
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Houston, TX.
So a 40 year old car WILL have some surprises, no matter what you see in pics. I was told the windshield leaked. Never good! Sure enough, I removed the seat, and carpet today, and there are 3 pinholes in the pass side front floor pan. I will replace it, because the rest of the area is softer than I'd like. No biggie. I will reseal the windshield, to stop any further leaking. I will install lock cylinders in the doors to stop any further leakage. I will reseal the side quarter windows to stop any further leakage. This will all be temporary, as it will all come back apart when the paint process starts. The original 3.8L engine starts right up, so at least I can move it around until the swap happens. I'm not sure what direction I'm going to go with it, but I'm thinking restomod, like my GN. Nicely restored, but modified to MY liking. For now, I have to seal it up, so it doesn't retain any water, as it will have to sit for a short time. It will get a good cleaning, so my neighbors don't freak out, Lol. What do you guys think?? Any opinion on modifications?? I'm a big boy..I can take it!
 
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JAMCAR223

Royal Smart Person
Jun 6, 2014
1,853
5,507
113
Houston, TX.
I think he pulled a fast one one you, he didn't include the rotten rear frame rails. Don't he know that rusty frames add value to our cars. :rofl:
Awesome score. (y)
What is the possible game plane for it?
I'm thinking Painting it silver or white, and blacking out all the chrome, and trim ( bumpers, grill, handles, lock cylinders, windshield trim, etc. ) . All Black interior, black wheels, rebuilt stock suspension, and bushings, and an LS swap, and cruise the sh@t out of it. Use all the GBody swap tricks. This could change by the time I get to it, but that's the way I'm leaning as of now. I want to know what you guys would do??
 
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Ribbedroof

Comic Book Super Hero
Supporting Member
Jan 4, 2009
4,861
6,887
113
Wellston, OK
You may or may not already know this...

It is common for G bodies to leak at the seam on top of the cowl. The OE installed sealer dries out and cracks away, so you might want to check that as well to stop water leaks.

Cool find!
 
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TURNA

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Jul 24, 2009
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Socialist NY
Sweet score MORE PICS!!!!!!
 
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Longroof79

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
G-Body of the Month
Oct 14, 2008
12,156
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Gainesville, Fl
Great score, James.
You can't find 'em anymore solid that that.
I always liked the aeroback cars.
I'm sure you'll turn it into a one sweet driver.
Keep us updated on your further progress. (y)
 
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DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
8,062
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*CENSORED*
Plan sounds solid. Carry on with my blessing.
 
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fleming442

Captain Tenneal
Dec 26, 2013
13,046
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I love it! The more aerobacks I see, the more i like them, especially a buttless Burick. Might I suggest a turbo Series II? :unsure::love::p
 
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ItsnotaGN

G-Body Guru
May 28, 2016
662
1,142
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Colorado
Why aren't them black round thingies on the frame all cracked, squished and rusty? Something just ain't right.
 
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