Description

Buick Lesabre, Wildcat, Electra, Centurion Parts Catalog

You ever spend three hours searching a junkyard for a 1969 Electra fender only to find it’s from a Riviera? Buick Lesabre, Wildcat, Electra, Centurion Parts Catalog is what I keep on the shelf for that exact reason. 115 pages of parts listings, not repair procedures. This is the catalog CARS Inc. has been publishing since 1974, and it’s the one you need when a dealer says “obsolete.” It covers 1961 through 1980, and it’s organized by GM group numbers. You get the application codes, condition codes, and part numbers. No guesswork.

What This 115-Page Parts Catalog Covers

The first part of the catalog indexes and illustrates hundreds of items that apply across all Lesabre, Wildcat, Invicta, Electra, Centurion, Century, and Apollo models. It’s not a repair manual. It’s a parts identification manual. You get exploded views, group numbers, and part numbers. The back section is a computerized listing of new and used parts specific to your year, sorted by group and part number sequence that General Motors developed. If you’re restoring a 1964 Wildcat convertible and need the trim tag numbers, this catalog shows you where to find the Series (like 4800 for Electra) and model (4739 for Electra 4-door hardtop) on the cowl identification plate.

Understand the Application Codes

Every part in the computerized section has a condition code: N for new, U for used, R for rechromed or rebuilt, A for aftermarket or NORS. This catalog uses the exact numbering system GM used, so you can cross-reference with the factory parts manual. But it’s not a factory manual. It’s a compilation of NOS and current stock from CARS Inc., who stock over one million Buick parts. If you see a part listed for “Electra” or “Wildcat,” it’s written out. For space reasons, sometimes it shows Series numbers like 4800. You need to know your car’s Series code. That’s on the cowl tag.

Group and Part Number System

General Motors grouped parts by function. This catalog follows that logic. You’ll see group numbers like 6.100 (body sheet metal), 6.200 (doors), 9.800 (rear axle). The table of contents in the PDF bookmarks lists sections 61000 through 61017, plus a back section with order forms and license info. Page 2 of the catalog explains how to read application codes. If you need a front bumper for a 1970 Centurion, you find the group, then the part number, then the condition. The catalog also includes a subscription notice: the database changes daily, so call for current availability.

NOS, Reproduction, Used: What the Codes Tell You

Don’t assume “new” means OEM. The catalog clearly marks parts as NOS (original stock from GM or its suppliers) or reproduction (aftermarket). “R” means rechromed, rebuilt, or remanufactured. The introduction says, “Any items produced by vendors that supplied GM are considered NOS.” That matters when you’re matching a 1965 Lesabre grille that’s been off the market for decades. If you’re ordering a part, look under the “Cond” column. And if you’re tired of buying wrong parts from online listings that don’t specify, this catalog gives you the exact group and part number to confirm fitment.

Why You Need This Specific Catalog

Because you’re tired of ordering a fuel line for a 1979 Electra only to get one meant for a 1979 LeSabre with a different wheelbase. This catalog lists parts by year, model, and body style. It’s published by CARS Inc., the oldest and largest full-time Buick parts supplier worldwide. They’ve been doing this since 1974. The 115 pages pack information that would take you days to compile from random forum posts. No hyperlinks to dead eBay listings. Real part numbers. Real stock. I’ve used it on a 1968 Wildcat convertible and found the exact trunk weatherstrip in ten minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a factory GM manual?

No. It’s a specialized parts catalog published by CARS Inc., using GM part numbering and application data. They stock over one million Buick parts.

Does it cover all 1961-1980 Buick models?

Yes, the front section covers items common to Lesabre, Wildcat, Invicta, Electra, Centurion, Century, and Apollo. The computerized section is model-specific and updated daily. You call for current stock.

How do I read the application codes?

Page 2 of the catalog explains it: Series numbers like 4800 for Electra, model numbers like 4739. Find your car’s cowl identification plate for trim, body style, and Series. Then match to the catalog’s “APPLICATION” section. Condition codes are N (new), U (used), R (rebuilt), A (aftermarket).

Can I return a part if I order wrong from this catalog?

The catalog itself is a reference. For returns, contact CARS Inc. This manual includes order forms (back of the PDF) with their return policy. I always recommend calling them before ordering high-cost items to confirm fitment – the catalog tells you that in the introduction.

If you’re restoring a 1963 Lesabre or a 1977 Electra and need to track down that elusive fender molding, access the factory manual. It’s the same reference I use when I’ve got a customer’s Buick on the lift and they need a part that’s not in the dealer system. This catalog gives you the part number, the condition, and the application. Nothing else.

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