This Potomac Blue 1976 Buick Electra Limited Coupe has under 20,000 miles on it, according to the seller. I apologize for the pixelated images, the ones in the listing were tiny. The seller has this one posted here on craigslist in DL, as those around the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota area refer to that beautiful city. They’re asking $18,995, here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for yet another good tip!
That’s one of those milestone mileage numbers that keep me awake at night, not wanting to cross over those thresholds. It’s an irrational way to think, there’s no question about it, cars are made for driving, not for sitting to keep the miles low. My grandpa had a very similar Electra Limited Coupe but it was a ’75 in Indigo Blue with a white top and man was that a nice car. Oddly enough, he lived in Fergus Falls, MN, not far from Detroit Lakes. I don’t believe these spoked wheels would have been OEM, does anyone know? I don’t see them in any photos or in 1976 Buick brochures as options.
Buick offered three levels of luxury, and the Electra was no slouch in the luxury department no matter whether a buyer chose the base-level 225, the mid-level Limited as with this car, or the top-of-the-line Park Avenue. With these tiny, originally vertical (sigh), photos enlarged to fit this format, it’s hard to tell if the rear bumper filler material is gone or if that’s just the normal gap there.
The 60/40 seats are crazy, in a good way! That big diamond pattern brocade Geneva cloth is the standard interior, leather in this pattern would have been an option in the Limited. This is basically it for interior photos, other than a couple of closeups of the dash, sadly. We don’t see the back seat at all.
The engine is a 455-cu.in. OHV V8, which had 205 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque when new. The seller says that the AC system has been refurbished with a new condenser and compressor, and this looks like a nice example. Would any of you pay $19k for this big blue Buick?
As I continue to scream, buying any classic car via craiglist is not advisable for so many reasons impossible to mention them all. Odometers in this era turned over at 100k miles. Engine compartment looks like way more than 18k. Overpriced and unless documented milage, run away.
jv – smash palace
You may very well be right. As always, use your own judgment when looking at these pics. But I just love those bordello interiors especially in red since it looks very similar to the ones in the house of the rising sun (if you get my drift).
I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but the ad does claim documentation for mileage and while it’s only 19,000 miles that engine compartment is nearly 50 years old, I had a 71 Buick with over 100,000 on it in that engine compartment did not look anywhere near as clean as this one.
As soon as I saw that engine compartment, I thought the same thing. I’d say it’s turned over.
Those wheels are aftermarket too.
I’m in Mn. myself, so a real good look underneath and the door bottoms would be wise to do for any interested party, as this state’s roads are on a salt diet in the winter. Good cars are stored from October to May.
Any of these cars for sale would require a personal inspection or at least one by a qualified independent inspector. To buy something solely on the say-so of a seller is foolish at best. And, a fool, and his money, are soon parted.
Me thinks there’s something missing on that backside.
This is a great looking Buick. The mileage maybe true since the the dash is very clear and the interior looks great. As for the engine . If you didn’t clean it since new it would look like this. My 2016 Jeep GC has 80,000 miles and the engine compartment looks brand new. It how you maintain a vehicle like this. $14,500 is fair price. Another GM I would not mine having. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Well, the seller says that the mileage is documented. If so, and if a personal inspection checks out OK, I’d pay $15K and be driving in style!
Easily the buyer will be spending $20,000 USD to get that car operating properly. Hoses, wiring, brake system, ignition system, transmission, sterilization or replacement of the interior fabric surfaces, gaskets, clamps, solenoids, etcetera.
The car itself is in surprisingly good shape, regardless of the look of the engine, which can be rebuilt if necessary. It’s likely the gap in the back had a long-gone filler strip; in the ’70s they used a flexible plastic to fill gaps, and that plastic was notorious for decaying and crumbling with mere age. But a savvy body expert can reproduce those fillers with better material, I think. One feature I always loved about this era of Electras was the filtered reverse lights; when the headlight switch was on, the reverse lights would glow red, going white when the car was put in reverse.
As for exchanges, I’m no drug-dealer, so I don’t abide “k” listings (19k of what? Dollar values differ with the type of kilos you have in mind). Now, $19g’s, I think may be a tad much but not by very much for a car of this type, if its actual condition matches the pictures (yes, I know the horror stories about Craigslist). The wheels are certainly non-stock, but they don’t look ridiculous, as modern aftermarket wagon-wheels do. If I had the real estate to collect cars, I’d consider it if the seller were not holding out for a “k” exchange.
$20K ? Can I work on your cars?
It would be a pass for me. 1976, 19g miles,
& 20g+ price tag would have to be a real enthusiast to want this Buick Electra badly. Good luck to the seller.
Another Beautiful Buick.
Wheels are not OEM.
Factory sunroof is rare, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on one of these.
The last year of the 455.big boats need big engines,that odometer could be 119k,without real documentation you’re taking someones word for it.car isn’t worth more than 8 or 9k.its had a nice detail done to it.very clean.
Tired of all these cars with no clean engine compartment, and over priced, good luck to anyone who buys into this Wago 63
The spokes are Basket spokes, Superior, Fenton, Appliance all produced them in droves mid 70s to late 80s, that drivers seat is not of a 19,000 mile car, neither is that engine bay, 119,000 yes, still a very nice car, but the guy who’s flipping it is playing naive,
I used to work with a guy that had one like this but was three way black and chrome road wheels. It didn’t have a mark on it. I still don’t know he was able to keep it that clean.
I had a 76 and I don’t recall filler panels under the lights. I can’t recall there being one under the license plate, either. (My 76 Caprice did.) I looked at the only pics I have of mine just now and I cannot make out filler panels. I remember being careful not to slap the plate down into the chrome when I filled up. Mine had about 65k on it and looked a little “better” than this in the engine bay and driver seat. But mine was 12 years old at the time! As mentioned, I loved the look of the red lighted reverse lights. Looked like magic when shifting. All and all it’s a nice car but that $ is a bit steep. I deeply regret ever selling mine – I knew I should have kept it when I let it go to a local guy with a 75. He wanted mine for parts then quickly realized HIS would be the parts car! LOL!
There were a lot of little quirks my Electra had. Cruise started a game of “go 10 MPH faster than the speed you want.” These clocks are notorious for giving up. Automatic climate control wound up defaulting to defrost D/T a fault in the controller. When it was cold out, I’d shut the door and the horns would blare!! LOL! If I slapped the fender it would stop. Auto level quit way before I got it. That little emissions plastic vacuum tee on the top of the engine was pretty fragile and gone before my tenure. Gas float got stuck and got me stranded thinking I had 1/4 tank. The automatic choke never worked below 35 degrees and the car would not stay running in gear – had to warm up alllll the way.
All cars have issues and this was a nice trip down memory lane with my favorite car I ever owned. It was a pretty special beast. Mine was a triple black 4 door and trimmed like this one. A real head turner!
Nice ride..shocking how close it looks like a coupe deville..my papa had a 68 buick wildcat with a 455 and th 400 Trans with the teal cloth interior and ac…it is one of the best driving and riding cars I’ve been in.love with these big boats….too much money though..
GM Class of 76′ (Last of the “Long-Ones”) 1st year of the dual halogen headlamps ..Loved the style.. a lil too pricey considering all the new owners gonna do is drive it like it’s ment to be… today’s Buick Engineers wish they could be like they were back in those days SMDH