MY WIFE’S FATHER WHO WE ALL AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS “POPPIE” HAD A GORGEOUS LIGHT CREAM YELLOW 1974 BUICK CENTURION CONVERTIBLE. THE WHITE TOP AND THE WHITE 60/40 SPLIT SEATS MADE FOR AN IMPRESSIVE CAR.
IT HAD FACTORY AIR AND THOSE VERY IMPRESSIVE BUICK RIVERIA CHROME WHEELS. IT WAS EXTREMELY WELL OPTIONED. POWER SEATS, WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, TILT AND FRONT FENDER LAMP MONITORS. POPPIE WAS THE SENIOR TECHNICAL AND ELECTRICAL SUPERVISOR FOR FRITO LAY IN IRVING TEXAS. HE WAS A GENIUS WITH ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.
THIS BEAUTIFUL LASABRE WORKED FLAWLESSLY. HE WAS NOT IMMUNE TO MY ENTHUSIASM TO OWN THAT CAR SOMEDAY. THAT DAY ARRIVED WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO PURCHASE A NEW MERCURY GRAND MARQUEE. HE KNEW IF I OWNED IT, IT WOULD REMAIN IN THE SAME GREAT CONDITION. I PURCHASED IT AND ENJOYED THE TOP DOWN THAT SUMMER AS WE WERE SEEN IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES. BEING AN ORIGINAL TEXAS CAR IT HAD ZERO RUST AND THE INTERIOR HAD BEEN PROTECTED FROM THE SUN.
NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE TO LOCAL FOLKS WHO ARE ACCUSTOMED TO VEHICLES OF THIS QUALITY. NEWLY ARRIVING HORDES OF FOLKS FROM THE NORTH FILLING A HUGE VARIETY OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN DALLAS/FORT WORTH WERE IN SHOCK SEEING A CONVERTIBLE OF THIS CALIBER. CONFRONTED BY A NUMBER OF BUYERS REPRESENTING A SUBSTANTIAL PROFIT, I BEGRUDGINGLY SOLD THE CAR.