Full Build: 1973 Buick Century Restomod

With a restoration budget of $10K, MuscleCar has practical performance plans for its 1973 Buick Century, Project "Blue Collar Buick". The guys go on an engine-hunt, bring back a Buick 455, and tear it down before sending it to the machine shop. Rick and Tommy show how to replace the entire roof and it loses some serious weight from the front and rear bumpers. Rick shows how to graft in different door handles and replaces the tail panel. Plus, he designs some one-off budget tail lights using some unusual materials. Then, the '73 Buick Century turns over a new leaf with a screaming orange and sinister charcoal paint scheme. It gets a refreshed interior on a budget before hitting the road for the first time. A new cam, heads, intake and carb are just the beginning! The Buick gets a new rear end that will stand up to increased horsepower. Then Blue Collar makes a dyno run to see if the performance upgrades brought us up to our goal. Tommy installs a hood tach, then takes the Buick on a road trip to the GS Nationals and hits the drag strip.

[@ekscalybur]

I'm guessing nobody checked the video before/after upload? The sound cuts out ALL over the place. Real professional, awesome job. It's not like this is high class production from people who do this for a living or anything. Bravo.

[@andrewzimba7432]

/these guys are definitely better at chopping and welding body panels than AV snippets :D

[@Fony_turgeson]

they arent professional video people but it was because of copyright issues from nazee youtube

[@rzk2f875]

@@Fony_turgeson yep, they cut sound out because it had music that kepy getting the whole audio flagged.

[@Clearanceman2]

It unusual for their videos and a year after your comment it's still like that. Oh well.

[@jotighe2]

@@Clearanceman2 I just watched it and rebooted my computer thinking it was me.

[@brjones27]

Even though the sound was messed up, so many things on this build turned out better that I thought they would. I love it.

[@itsannrg]

Probably a lot of licensed music issues

[@powernation2]

Unfortunately, since some of our videos are older KZbin mutes the sound due to copyright issues. Sorry about that!

[@brjones27]

@@powernation2 No worries, I'm just happy to have them on here. :)

[@williamdon3442]

What do you think. Bigger jets and some more timing???

[@enermaxstephens1051]

@@powernation2 Aw man... Any way to get around that? Some video editing maybe?

[@jstdrv]

Rick and Tommy are a great team, I bet they would be awesome in a less scripted show too. Not a huge fan of the big wheels, but the rest of the build is really cool!

[@seaglider844]

Yes I thought it was a beautiful build....those wheels and tires hurt my soul though!

[@s.m.aggies7220]

Thanks again Tommy, overall nice project, yep darn sound problems. But left me with a happy face.... :)

[@KLartrandM]

I miss this show. Classic stuff.

[@lazerwolfdiecast]

Thanks for the close ups on the welding process! I was tired of having vision anyway

[@csj9619]

Paintjob came out lookin' tasty! Big props for turning a rather boring smog era hoopty into something you'd actually wanna drive. (and do big burnouts!)

[@Clearanceman2]

And saving a salvage car too.

[@andrewgalloway7344]

my god guys ... these new components are nothing short of beautiful ... stunning engineering..... almost jewelry !

[@Clearanceman2]

Such skill. Took a salvage car and made it look like a show car. And even though 10,000 in 2010 is more like 14000 now, they did a heck of a job.

[@chrissartain4430]

Tommy is the best at handling any truck car or a Drag racing hurst !! Add Rick to the Show and end result will be phe·nom·e·nal

[@grandchamp7783]

Man!! I can watch these master of metal work all day!!! They have great chemistry and work ethic!! Make everything look so easy!! AMAZING JOB FELLAS!!!

[@user-ob2me8us5v]

I’ll love do this kind of stuff like this someday and me and my dad will be doing do this 😊❤

[@bennie3ny]

You guys gotta fix that sound issue. Overall GREAT JOB! love this build! 😎

[@DanJanTube]

seems like a youtube copyright issue, they've "fixed" it best they can

[@DroneStrike1776]

It's probably copyright. The songs are probably not license for profitable use. So they can only play less than 10secs of it on KZbin. Maybe the music they used was only licensed for TV when they made this episode a while back and not streaming use. Licensing is stupidly strict on the internet. You can not use any videos of the Olympics or F1 unless authorized, they come after you in a heartbeat. Even Disney don't want people to post Disney pictures on their social media. Ferrari, the worst of the bunch.

[@jmanthatsall441]

Best automotive content I've seen in a good while . Not promoting anything the hobby. Rick , tell your cousin Kevin Lawson said "hey". You and Tom are purest and corporate puppet/actors. Rock on !

[@1vincentpena]

that bench front seat was the best thing that car had. i miss them

[@Jamez84]

I always liked bench seats with a column shifter in a car. All the other seats and floor shifters get in the way when my girl rest her head in my lap....😂😂😂

[@davelowets]

I never got into those 73-77 huge B-body cars. I had a few of them back in the day, and they were HEAVY, long, tanks that didn't handle real well. The doors on the two door versions of these were ridiculously heavy, and the hinge pins were always shot after no time, and the strap to close the doors would always tear off from trying to close such a heavy door. Especially ones with power locks and windows. The 74 442 I had, had swivel bucket seats to get in and out with, because the thing was so huge. I DID enjoy the big blocks these things came with however, and swiped plenty of them to put in smaller, lighter cars. Hit a junk yard, rip a healthy big-block out of one of these things for $200, cam it up a little, put an intake and carb on it, a set of headers, find a nice G-body for $800 to toss it into, and you instantly had a 12 second street car for less than $2500. Give me a 67-72 A-body, or a 78-87 G-body, any day and I'm set. 👌

[@txtamaman]

They straight up turned a turd into a super clean ride!.. great job guys

[@paulevans2153]

Omg the sound!!!

[@danielsherman8565]

Stop messing with the sound.!

[@mac_ogtrapp3895]

It's the editor

[@powernation2]

Unfortunately, since some of our videos are older KZbin mutes the sound due to copyright issues. Sorry about that!

[@VisionCompanytv]

I thought they was the Russians....

[@devinmichaels6822]

I agree

[@harlequin5817]

Thought it was just me. Frustrating!

[@sibhuskyguy]

My dad had a 73 4 door.... thing was HUGE. Like remove the hood and use it as a thanksgiving banquet table big..... My dad totalled it in the very early 80's because he jumped a stoplight.....

[@alexsenin3632]

That Buick really got transformed. Looks 🔥

[@dorshunhooks3768]

Y'all catz are cold you guys really have gift

[@extinctlegends]

I really enjoyed watching this build. I appreciate what you did with this Buick that is not the first thing people think of when you say muscle car. Well Done!

[@raymondhaley6185]

Half century ago when I was 13 years old,we didn't waste time worrying about 5mpg bumpers or less horsepower, you either drove what you got,or for real car lovers, you never settle no matter what, which is easy to do when you're born and raised in Detroit.

[@TheRealCCSmith]

Nothing but 👍 here.... sometimes $hit happens. 😂 love that big land yacht.

[@Darknamja]

I would have loved to roll into that event with my father's '69 Buick Special fully restored. 😉

[@kevinvilmont6061]

Affordable builds are a great idea:

[@SGTJDerek]

Loved this thing. My Aunt had. The same model in Brown.

[@richardrupe]

That car is awesome

[@darthbuster]

The work on the air cleaner was really trick. Love the work these guys put into this car.

[@htrestore]

I like the finish build on this car, thank you

[@puremayhemFTW]

9:43 he goes to grab the hot bolt with his bare hands 😂

[@JaseCrownover]

Great video

[@tommyjefferson9525]

You guys have hit this one out of the park you guys are genius everything you done to this car makes it a one of a kind the best one yet keep on keeping on

[@user-fy6ks8ju1s]

Beautiful 🌹 😊

[@jeffreymccommon8759]

This is my favorite. car...Had it for9 yrs.Hunter green in n out.

[@boblambert9976]

definitely a car for the hood... lot of work.

[@Fultonfalcons86]

Let them hate I love those old buicks and tell the editor to fix your sound please...

[@danlop_2023]

hi from venezuela, my dad have a car like that, you make awesome job, beautiful

[@shangrila73eldorado]

beautiful work

[@rmalmeida1976]

Audio missing

[@davelowets]

Don't forget about those G.M. driveshafts that had the "plastic" that was squirted into a passage in the yoke when it was in a liquid state, and then hardened up inside the yoke, and groove in the side of the U-Joint cap, and held it in there without the use of a clip. One could beat on those u-joint caps for hours with a sledge hammer, and the caps will NOT budge. You had to heat up the yoke, and all around those caps, REAL well with a propane torch until all that "plastic" would melt and come squirting out the little holes in the yoke. THEN you could pound the caps out with a hammer. The very first time I ran across one of these drive shafts, I beat on it forever trying to get the u-joint out with zero luck. It wasn't until I heat it up with a torch thinking a little heat would help to loosen it up, and all that plastic came squirting out, did I realize what was actually holding it in there. After I realized this, they came out VERY easy. There was no internet back in the late 70's-early 80's to help a guy with these little tricks.

[@dreamcars-nl]

Just beautiful

[@Pendaws]

You fellas are very good at this, love your work :)

[@donaldfuller5041]

Was the Buick crank info top secret? Having Kirk Hammet working on the show is cool 😆 🤣 😂

[@WWproper]

These guys are my favorite duo

[@orthodox-mp6hv]

That is an excellent show. The quality of it is superb.

[@Sugarbabys]

Love your show! Sure do wish you would have been around back in my day. I had a 63 Chevy ragtop Impala 327 cu in . This car had a 2 piece drive shaft, by the way I kept busting them, so I put a many drive shaft in that car. My favorite car of all time. I am 66 yrs going on 32 LOL I’d love to see what you could do with one of those. I’ll keep my eye on your show. You guys have great personality’s. 👍

[@karumbanjenga6893]

Beautiful build.. I love it... But the sound was really messed up 🤔🤔

[@traviswilliamson1356]

Loving the full build videos, dropped a sub.

[@marv.mon.9845]

Man she's a beauty...I love it!

[@tommyjefferson9525]

I love it guys i watch the hole car build and ternd out gorgeous great job guys keep on keeping on

[@miguelburgos8408]

WOW!!!!, You guys are Good , Thank You.Love the Show.!!

[@vickypratamaputravivo4940]

1973 Buick Century

[@stevelinwood8362]

Luv this Channel, You guys know you're Craft!!!

[@willland1243]

man, I love the finish build on this car, excellent job.the way they took an old car and turn it into a pure custom ride. I would love to have the knowledge and skills and money to do this. when I was a teenager hotrods was all I wanted to build but I never had the money or help to do it. I think this car is extremely Amazing and one of a kind; I wonder what they do with all the cars after there done with the build. man when they was riding in it, I was with them. 😎 great video. Thanks 😎👍

[@chrismartin6544]

How can y’all put a video out with the sound cutting in and out so annoying

[@powernation2]

Unfortunately, since some of our videos are older KZbin mutes the sound due to copyright issues. Sorry about that!

[@flavioflavioflavio]

This is by far my favorite channel!

[@Fony_turgeson]

wow unbelievable work great teamwork and skills bravo

[@glenncarr2121]

What the heck was your sound tech smoking ? Music too loud and cut off completely what was being said half of the time ! This is not the first time this has happened on this show , I love your builds and cool tech ! Too bad I couldn't hear half of it ! Please fix this problem for future episodes !!! Thanks for all of your hard work , I really appreciate all you guys do !!!

[@alericc1889]

I wondered what was causing that.

[@scottcol23]

seeing as this was a TV show from 12 years ago I doubt they can fix it lol

[@angelochoa1023]

Its Because Of Copyright I Guess And You Know KZbin And Its Guidelines 🤣

[@dougusher3756]

Great work, great video but guys pay your editor more for better audio.

[@Jaggerbush]

I love it!

[@mykejae3493]

Bring the show back

[@there_is_nothing_here]

Man I love this car, hate the wheels but I love the car

[@brianscott9861]

My brother had a 71 Ford truck that had a Pontiac hood tach.

[@tommyjefferson9525]

You guys are awesome everything you guys do to this car makes it look even better cant wait to see the Buick done going to be the best looking century on the road love it

[@larry40]

Nice build I love seeing the Buicks get some love I have 64 electra 2 door . Dont like the wheels on this build but taste is different for everybody.

[@grantfinley2672]

oh my god this true skill best video thank you for it

[@67marlins]

Good looking car

[@rustyshackleford6811]

Man I had the same car..👍

[@robertpoudrette4483]

Great ride out of a less than exciting car. The 73-75 weren't the best looking cars around. But with the nice changes like the bumpers, door handles, new side mirrors and paint, it looks a lot better! Godd idea changing out tne front bench and column shifter too. But, even though I like the wheel style... They're 2 inches too big. 18 inches are the biggest I would have gone but gone wider like 9 to 10 inches with with 275 section tires all around. More rubber look better on these. But, that's my opinion. Great build guys, very nice! Especially for that budget!

[@primeval1892]

They are amazing

[@damonjohnson9291]

Y’all need to do something about the audio

[@asaga2035]

Amazing! I would work more on the rust tho

[@AdventuringwiththeS.G.O.C.C]

That would be a great "power tour" car.

[@Abdullah-tu9mo]

you guys are amazing great job

[@pagexi3394]

Stepped up to Makita, good call 🍺

[@freddyhollingsworth5945]

04:15 finding black oil in one is a good sign that it wasn't ran dry on oil and filled up to see if it would be ok and a good sign that one isn't leaking oil or was burning oil...

[@tommyjefferson9525]

Guys love the bumpers they look amazing this car is going to be a gorgeous car now i wont one great job guys keep on keeping on

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

1:18:04 Blinker fluid is low. I think I would have added some blacked out screens to the air intakes that were turn signals. That would help keeping out small stones/pebbles from getting ingested.

[@CJColvin]

I've already seen this episode.

[@rich84lef47]

Great show. I love the options they show you have and they show you that its very possible to do this stuff in your garage. But the sound issues are very annoying. You can't hear anything many times through the whole show. Whoever is posting these video's are you watching them before you post them. This is not the first time I have seen one of these video's with no sound.

[@malice6081]

1:32:26 oh my aunt learned why it’s so expensive when she was younger. Someone hit her Camaro in a parking lot and didn’t have insurance (or didn’t want to mess with the insurance) so she did it herself in an auto parts shopping lot. It was a lot of work and she would never do it again but she is proud of it

[@edwardhelie5229]

Wish I had pictures first race car I had 73 Buick switch the gears out put positraction in it had the transmission rebuilt extra on rolling kickdown she'd haul ass

[@flyonbyya]

Given my recollection of the commonly problematic Chrysler starting issues… Not convinced the well recognized starter sound is indeed desirable.

[@breddotexe1315]

Until i saw the comments i thought the audio problems was something with my headphones

[@cadenstinson4793]

I thought my tv speakers blew out 😂

[@wayneo7220]

My father hated automatics so he ordered his 2-door from the factory with 3 on the column.

[@katefoyder506]

I loved this rebuild, but I was very frustrated with the sound going in and out

[@florianreinhart6438]

Love all Customizing you guys did it on the Buick sumthing was goin on w the sound on the video tho

[@Sm0keyZeu5]

You really need to re-upload this VOD with the sound issues sorted out

[@chumplinz4920]

This car looks great, only thing that bothered me was the door handles. I would've gone with a style that was more era correct.

[@PAULCASERTA]

Hey Rick : Great job on the doors. What car did you get the handles from ? I'd like to use them on something I'm planing to do in the future . Both you guys keep up the good work .

[@warriormagazine6905]

Looks like Chrysler Concorde

[@phillipenriquez5318]

Park ave

[@PAULCASERTA]

TNX For the replys

[@emilsunter3596]

I have a 74 A-Body Collonade Chevelle, that getting chopped up this summer with LS Swap, Brakes, etc. However, the things my son and I HATE are the huge Fed Mandated Bumpers, and Door Handles. I’ll follow your work on the Bumpers, but WHAT later Model GM Car did the Door Handles come from that you swapped over to? They look like Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Buick, or Truck Handles? Any info would were great! Thanks. Beautiful custom car.

[@freddyhollingsworth5945]

03:57 ultra rare ACRS.... crash air bags---I believe?

[@edwardhelie5229]

Put a set of swivel Monte Carlo bucket seats in there 15 inch m50s on the back

[@stevefranklin9920]

Where in TN are you guys? I might stop in when I'm up there visiting my daughter and her family.

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

Too bad that you didn't do a manual transmission conversion.

[@residentgood8605]

"Keep it between the ditches!"

[@FrancoisMoolman]

Coming from a country where labour is cheap and the owners of the business don't usually spend so much time personally doing manual labour, I will say this: You guys sure aren't lazy!