Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Century.
The 1979 Buick Century is a mid‑size sedan built on Buick’s traditional body platform of the era, powered by the division’s V‑series engine that underpinned the line’s reputation for smooth, torquey performance. While detailed specifications for this model year are not enumerated here, the vehicle’s place within the Century lineage can be gauged by its later reliability record: the model’s complaint history, tracked from 1990 through 2005, peaked in 1999 with 252 reported issues and reached a low point in 2005 with just 19 complaints, indicating that the 1979 example sits at the early, relatively robust end of a cycle that would later experience both its most problematic and its most refined years.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 196.1 in |
| Overall width | 72 in |
| Overall height | 55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3153 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Century of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Turbo Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 9.10 sec | 17.40 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS OR NOT AT ALL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPRING CLIP IS TO SECURE THE LOWER END OF THE SHIFT CABLE HOUSING TO THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CLIP IS BACKWARD OR… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY CORRECT THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP INSTALLATION AT NO CHARGE.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.