Wearing new tires and Wisconsin license plates, this 1981 Buick Electra Park Avenue is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it shows some signs of sun damage, or maybe it’s just age. The bumper filler material, both front and rear, has seen better days, but a lot of us have seen better days. This 65k-mile luxury coupe is posted here on craigslist, and they’re asking $8,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
We don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing this car belongs, or belonged, to a snowbird, someone from a state that gets cold and snow for half the year, so they travel to the south to avoid that mess. Cars from Wisconsin can still have trouble with cracked and eroding bumper filler material, of course, but heat tends to play a factor in that soft, pliable material losing its former glory. Think of it like human skin, which also degrades from too much sun (I’m looking at you, Arizona).
I’m not sure why there’s no rear license plate shown here, but they show a front license plate. Arizona doesn’t require a front license plate, but all states require one on the rear. Also, the new-looking blue-whitewall tires aren’t mentioned in the listing, but I’m guessing those are new. It’s hard to argue with this era of the Buick Electra Park Avenue, though; they’re typically very nice cars, and a two-door is an eye-catcher. This car is almost 19 feet long, so check your garage space first.
Light Sandstone paint with a Light Sandstone vinyl top is a classic combo for a Park Avenue, especially one in the desert. Maybe it should have been white if it’s a Wisconsin car to mimic the snow instead of the desert sand. The interior doesn’t appear to show any cracks or sun damage, so that’s great news. At least from what we can see in the photos. The seats are likely as comfortable as riding on a cloud, and the back seat looks equally nice.
The Park Avenue in this era was a top trim level for Buick’s Electra, and this example, as is almost always the case, could have used an hour or two of engine detailing to really show off the 4.1-liter OHV V6, which was rated at 125 horsepower and 205 lb-ft of torque when new. Passing through a three-speed automatic and sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says it runs and drives great, and everything works, including the AC. Any thoughts on this big Buick?
Euh actually the overdrive 200r-4 was mandatory with the 4.1 as GM wanted to showcase that a V-6 could be a viable option with decent fuel millage. Would love one even today
Robert, this site shows both versions being available with the 4.1 V6.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1981/1481795/buick_electra_park_avenue_coupe_4_1l_v-6_automatic.html
But, Wiki says you’re correct!
“The 4.1 L V6 and 307 V8 engines were paired with the new 4-speed THM200-4R automatic transmission, which used a lockup torque converter and a 0.67:1 overdrive ratio. With this new transmission, the Electra could be equipped with a numerically higher rear axle ratio for better performance, while offering improved fuel economy with the overdrive range.”
Thanks for the info, sir.
You can see on the dash there’s a gear indicator that shows 1 2 3 D — definitely an overdrive trans.
Oh man, I really missed that one. My apologies, 356ASuper and Robert.
Look at that interior, this cars is from when luxury car meant comfortable, rather than sporty. I wish I could buy it, even with the smaller engine.
My thoughts??? Scotty, I’m thinking you’re reading my mind. I actually owned an ’82 Electra Limited ( not the nicer Park Ave ) in tripple burgundy. In 1990 the one I bought had as many miles as this one does now. This is not an actual photo ( I have to dig for one) but this is what it looked like. The Buick road wheels REALLY makes a difference in the appearance of the car over the wire wheel covers or wheel discs. I had the 307 and the 2004R trans. And yes, it was geared painfully high. Not super quick off the line or very responsive, but the highway mpg was over 20 for me. My Dad had a friend with an ’81 Electra with the 4.1 V6. It was even slower than mine. But he got well over 200000 miles out of that car. And with very little trouble from what I remember. The bigest issue with mine was the Trans started to go at about 90000 miles. My then girlfriend, and who now, 33 years later is my wife did not like it. I had named my Buick “Bufford”. Which, seemed to fit it just fine. You definitely jogged some good memories of us Dating Scotty ( umm, let me rephrase that, not Scotty and I dating….. I meant my wife and I….) Despite the bumper filler issues the rest of it looks great for the age. Thanks Scotty!!! And great find Tony P., thanks!!!
Glad you got the dating issue straightened out in “less than two & two” if you get my drift! Lol!
Wasn’t the cubic inches on this motor 252?
Looks like a decent car if you want to spend 2 grand or more on bumper fillers and and an afternoon cleaning the engine compartment.
I’d like to see more of the dash & of course the underside.
Ha, Jon “Love Connection” Rukavina! I still say “in two and two,” and nobody has a clue what I’m talking about. Now I know at least one person does!
Ha… er.. cough.. what the. Classic! I knew what you meant, Dave.
Highway 🛣 specializing.
nice clean low mile Buick but that pig 6cly is a deal killer at 9k. no wonder it has low miles.
Terrible rod knocking, main bearing burning, Buick V-6.
In 1985, when cars were ordered with Option Packages instead of à la cart option selection, if you ordered a LeSabre Liminted with the nice wheels instead of wire wheel covers, the order didn’t qualify for a $750 Option Package discount. But those wheels looked great!
I ordered my father a LeSabre Limited Collector Edition in silver with gray leather and gray vinyl roof cover with those wheels. The Park Avenue had gone to front-drive and he was old school. Four dealers who saw it on the car carrier called to try to buy it; it was a handsome piece! Last year for no CHMSL too.
Cars like this ride a lot better than the stuff they build today comfortable for those long road trips and enough room in the trunk for everything leaving the back seat open for the dogs another one to just fly back and drive it home
Ok, first off, the 4.1 is a pile of crap in contrast to the 3.8 V6, which was not available in this model.
However, this Buick is far superior to anything GM builds today with the 4 cyl. turbo exploding engines and equally horrible transmission. Did I add the new GM cars all look the same, cost tens of thousands, and get traded in after just a year or so. I work at a new car dealership, all we get are GM junk trade ins that go to the auction.
They equipped these with the Oldsmobile 403 until 1979 and then the 307 which was still a pretty good motor. I had one in an 83 Olds 88 Royale Brougham.
I had an 81 LeSabre with this 4.1 engine and a quad jet. Four barrel ran good run. Good done road run 85 mile an hour all day and not push it. It would be. It was a two door sedan just like this only a Le saber am it was this color, but it had a dark blue bottom a very pretty car great ride
These were fantastic Highway cruisers and good family cars. The 4.1 was lethargic compared to the 307/400 engines. These were the last of the full size luxury cars from GM, unless you wanted the Guppy styling of Buick Roadmaster $ & Impala SS.
These were fantastic Highway cruisers and good family cars. The 4.1 was lethargic compared to the 307/403 engines. These were the last of the full size luxury cars from GM, unless you wanted the Guppy styling of Buick Roadmaster $ & Impala SS.
This is nostalgic. My mother had an ’81 Park Ave, and other than hers being 4 door, the interior is identical and my favorite interior of any car we owned. Unfortunately the dash pic doesn’t show what radio or A/C system it has, but the huge fan cowl is a dead giveaway to the V6. I was too young to drive it, but when I did, as long as it was up to speed, you only needed to tap the gas every now and again to keep that hunk of Detroit steel at speed. That car rolled along like no car I’ve driven since.