As far back as 1936, Buick has been using Century name as an intermediate model in their product line-up. In 1997, the long-standing nameplate appeared with new sheetmetal and was the entry-level vehicle for the Buick line-up. The redesigned Buick Century mid-sized sedan shared its platform with the Regal and maintained largely identical exterior styling. The
1998 Buick Century was less expensive than the Regal featuring some attributes of traditional American vehicles. An oddity to find on a car during the late-1990s, a column-mounted shifter allowed a front bench seat that allowed the sedan to accommodate six passengers. The 1998 model year Century was powered by a 3.1-liter V-6 generating 160 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. An upgraded version of that engine was found on the
2000 Buick Century capable of delivering 175 horsepower to the front wheels. A four-speed automatic transmission was paired with the 3.1-liter V-6 engine. The powerplant granted the Century favorable fuel economy of 20 miles per gallon city and 29 miles per gallon during highway driving. Offered in a Custom and high-appointed Limited trim level, Buick introduced a Special Edition model with unique badging and coloring. In the Buick Centurys final production year in 2005, a Special Edition Package delivered dual-zone climate control, 16-inch aluminum wheels as well as four-wheel disc braking. The Century was retired to make room for the LaCrosse.
