I might be able to add some info..all 71 B&C bodies had louvers in the decklid as part of a flow through ventilation package (even clamback wagons) The reason they're rare is that there was a strike that significantly cut down 71 model year production. When they started to produce 72's, they found a different way to exhaust the interior air, and stopped producing the louvers. I think they had warranty issues with debris entering the panels..
thanks Rhett so to be clear, only early 71s had the hood louvers right? and not a range of years. Only 71s?
Only early 71's had hood louvers. Early 71's also had 7 rows of trunk louvers. Later 71's had 4...and NO hood louvers.
Around 1980 I owned a 71 Buick Estate Wagon with the clamshell rear. I distinctly remember it had louvers in the rear clamshell door. I am a little less sure about the hood, but if I had to say, I would say it has these in the hood also.
In some cases RARE means Value-able, not in this case because of so many reasons, such as desire-ability and condition. But its still cool.
(sigh)...I see this a lot in my "second job" as a personal property appraiser. Everyone has something that is "rare", which they automatically think is valuable. In almost all cases it isn't. Think of it this way; Trabants are "rare" now. They're actually getting rarer by the minute as more and more of them sink into landfills. But that doesn't mean the car is valuable or desirable in the least. It was crap when it was built and it's still crap; - just older crap. Age and rarity have to be accompanied by desirability, otherwise it's just interesting old garbage. I don't know how many times I've heard "But it's rare" or "find one of these now", and you want to retort back "there's a good reason why you can't find one now, no one wants it". Now just so no one gets any ideas that I'm dissing them or their cars, I happen to like Malaise-era big Buicks, so I'm one of the few that gets excited about rare LeSabres or Centurions and would love to have one. But that doesn't mean I'd pay a red cent over book value for one.
Yes it was only the 71's, but I was unaware of any running production changes to the configuration. Seems funny, but they probably didnt think they'd shut down production either. As I recall, the strike was really in the fall of 70 and lasted a couple months, so maybe it's pre and post strike production changes. What is the build date of your car?
Nice to see that you're back Gary, hope all is well with you and your Buicks. Reading this thread again I might just have to go out and find me another 71 again, I kinda miss the one I had.
yes Im back. lol... 9 months later... I have so little time for Buicks right now. .. but I checked on my past posts just to amuse myself from time to time. .. laughing at my own posts.. sad isnt it. hahaha. So the 71 still here , I drive it occasionally. Some loser carved a big scratch down the side with some kind of tool. They are making bad luck for themselves is all I can say. I still need sheet metal for it. Trunk pan pieces, trunk rail pieces, front LH fender, and top rear quarter pieces by the back glass. and NOS radiator would be nice or even good used. Now is the time of year to do body and paint so I h ope I get the chance this year.
Amazing how life gets in the way, eh? Don't worry, it happens to all of us at some point, and like the old saying goes, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions", if each of us was able to fulfill our dreams and desires with these cars, we'd all have collections to rival Leno's. Instead, we plod along, build one or two, dump or leave a lot more in a wrecker, hopefully learning something and having some fun along the way. I'm about to start the process again with a 53 Olds Super 88 sedan; ostensibly this is to be my kid's car if he helps, but I have a feeling it's going to end up being my beater. I'm OK with that too, they're fun cars to drive. The scary part is at my age and with my physical condition deteriorating rapidly I'm not sure I can do what I used to anymore, and that really scares me. Part of this process is to try and get me into some shape again; we'll see how that works out.
