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1973 Buick Century

1973 Buick Century in Kojak, TV Series, 1973-1978 Ep. 1.01+

Class: Cars, Sedan — Model origin:

1973 Buick Century

Vehicle used a lot by a main character or for a long time

Comments about this vehicle

Author	Message
njot33 ◊ 2008-06-15 08:32	I always thought it was weird that Kojak drove a Buick. Not normal for a cop.
stronghold ◊ 2008-09-14 00:39	I've just been doing some research on these car's, in relation to my Diecast toy car collection. Corgi released this as a Buick Regal? Upon checking my 'Monsterous American car spotters guide 1920-1980' by Tad Burness, I found that in 1973/74 there was no Buick Regal ..as such, It was called Century Regal. I've not taken a photo of my corgi jr. Kojak car ..yet, but here is the larger scale 'Metropolis' police version (Probably better detail on here anyway) Can anyone confirm this is a 1974 Century Regal?
sixcyl ◊ 2009-11-09 18:35	Ep.1.03 "One For The Morgue" 3 -- Last edit: 2009-11-09 18:59:29
proctor ◊ 2013-11-26 02:28	stronghold wrote I've just been doing some research on these car's, in relation to my Diecast toy car collection. Corgi released this as a Buick Regal? Upon checking my 'Monsterous American car spotters guide 1920-1980' by Tad Burness, I found that in 1973/74 there was no Buick Regal ..as such, It was called Century Regal. I've not taken a photo of my corgi jr. Kojak car ..yet, but here is the larger scale 'Metropolis' police version (Probably better detail on here anyway) Can anyone confirm this is a 1974 Century Regal?
proctor ◊ 2013-11-26 02:29	the original Kojak came out in 1973, thus using a 1973 buick century. You can tell a 73 and 74 a part from teh read end. look where the license plate is. if its in teh bumper its a 73 if its between the tail lights its a 74. This blue one has the grill and turn lights next to the grill like a 75. So i am going to assume it is a 1975 -- Last edit: 2013-11-26 02:50:17
proctor ◊ 2013-11-26 02:29	njot33 wrote I always thought it was weird that Kojak drove a Buick. Not normal for a cop.
proctor ◊ 2013-11-26 02:31	actually, in New york, at the time, it was a very popular police car. They were patrol cars, but mainly detectives and undercovers. In michigan in the late 70's, early 80's they also used buicks. To this day, Michigan police departments still use Buicks as under cover, detective and high ranking officials.
SixtiesSwing ◊ 2025-06-28 03:33	proctor wrote actually, in New york, at the time, it was a very popular police car. They were patrol cars, but mainly detectives and undercovers. In michigan in the late 70's, early 80's they also used buicks. To this day, Michigan police departments still use Buicks as under cover, detective and high ranking officials. Initially, I was skeptical of Buicks used by the NYPD, but according to this article that follows, yes, New York did purchase a number of Century Regal models in '74. I've never seen one in cop car fan websites. I did know that in addition to the trusty Plymouths used in the 1970s, they ordered some Pontiacs including Catalina and LeMans models in '76. I had assumed that the TV production company bought a bunch of Buick Centuries because Telly Savalas wanted something higher end, but no, seems like they are accurate. (Though I did recently watch an early episode, much of the filming was done in LA, and the "NY Police Cars" were vehicles that the department didn't use and seemed to have incorrect livery. Re: stronghold's Corgi models, the large scale Police car version is identified on the packaging as a "Buick Century" and includes a figure of a uniformed officer with a bullhorn, though I am assuming it is "Regal" on the base. The Kojak variation was always identified as a Buick Regal. Hopefully the first two pics are actually patrol cars and not lifted from a film clip..... https://www.maronline.org.uk/another-goldvarg-nypd-car/

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