I have a hard time thinking of a more elegant car, at least from the early 1970s, than this 1972 Buick Electra 225 hardtop sedan. The details, color, and condition all come together on this one, in my opinion. The seller has this gorgeous survivor sedan posted here on craigslist in Elyria, Ohio, and they’re asking $14,500 or trade. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Barney for the tip!
I admit to being incredibly biased on this era of the deuce-and-a-quarter; I had a Hunter Green 1971 Electra 225 in the early 1980s as a teenager. It was about as nice as this Hunter Green car, and I paid, gulp, $750 for it! Like a dope, I ended up selling it to buy some band equipment less than a year later for $750, after spending too much on gas to pay for the 11 MPG it got. Most of us dream about the prices of a few decades ago, but as you know, gas isn’t any more expensive now than it was in the early 1980s and is probably much more expensive, given inflation.
I’m not sure what kind of trade the seller would be interested in, I’d never give up my car again. That being said, they have it listed at over Hagerty’s #2 excellent condition value ($13,100), and without seeing under the hood, the underside, and a ton more photos, it’s hard to tell its real condition. Buick offered the fourth-generation Electra 225 between 1971 and 1976, and they came in two-door and four-door body styles. I did a super quick Photoshop convertible just for kicks.
The interior looks perfect in the few photos they provided, with “Elk-grain expanded vinyl notchback seats” in green (the same as in my ’71 Electra 225), and I can still feel how soft that vinyl was, even though it’s been 40+ years now. As with the 65,000-mile exterior, the interior looks about as perfect as it gets after 53 years.
I’ve been on the road for a couple of weeks, and I see that craigslist ads haven’t changed much; a lot of sellers still don’t provide engine photos. Sadly, that’s the case here, but the back seat sure looks nice. This car has a Buick 455-cu.in. OHV V8 with 225 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed by a THM-400 three-speed automatic and the seller doesn’t say how it runs and drives, but I have to believe it works as well as it looks. How much would you pay for this 225?
It’s very easy being green here
The Electra is one of those great all time models. Big car, big motor, big luxury.👍
This is in terrific condition!! Scotty, other than the one year difference and a different color vinyl top, you sure do almost have a twin here. The Electra and Olds 98 shared many similarities , including the basic dash shape and layout. 4 door hardtop always looked great and your drop top? Scotty, GM couldn’t have done it better. Its not a hard stretch of the imagination, they still had convertible models in ’70, I never understood why they didn’t continue it with the next generation. Love the correct white walls too ( I think they’re correct, I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, which more often than not I am lol) These are very nice cars. 455 will get you down the road with some authority for sure.
Scotty: The “convertible” would look better with the body side molding (IMO), as I was waiting to see what one would have looked like! :-)
Thanks, guys! I agree, Moparman! I didn’t even notice that they were missing, good eye. I just updated it, hopefully it looks better. Thanks!
The correct convertible was in fact the Centurion, which is very similar, but with a shorter wheelbase.
The Electra looks good, but I don’t think, you will get 14K for it as a 4- door.
I believe, 10-11K is the max for the actual market.
I had a 73 Electra Coupe some years ago- and I still regret that I sold it- what a great car !
The auction show car guys love to say “2 doors too many” and “twice the doors, half the price.” I say, especially in the case of a hardtop, 4 doors make me want it more.
One thing I always found strange on those GM C-bodies. As large as they are, GM couldn’t get the rear windows all the way down. My parents had a ’72 Sedan DeVille; so same basic body and a similar green color. They thought you’d save on the gas drain by keeping the AC off and the windows open, and my little underarm would always get a red mark from the top of the window when I rested my elbow on the windowsill. You can see that same peak of glass on this 225.
This is one Nice Buick! That’s all I have to say about it! This would be a nice weekend cruiser!
Wow! I’m getting a sweet spot for these post=baroque pre-malaise premium and luxury cars. I would prefer front buckets, but at least it doesn’t have French bordello velour.
Buick city Flint MI
Buick city Flint MI
If they would’ve answered my question on marketplace when I asked if it’s been in the family or known the car since new to verify the mileage I’d already own it, but the numbers on the odometer aren’t straight. The 6 and 5 are off level which is a good sign it’s over 100k. I had a couple 72 Electra’s that turned over 100k and when they did the first 2 numbers went off level just like this cars odometer did, but before they hit 100k they were straight as an arrow! Same thing happened on my Cadi’s too! As sweet as it looks I doubt the miles are actual, if they’ll sign an odometer statement swearing it’s actual I’d be interested again.
I wonder if that’s a feature, not a bug.
nice deuce and 1/4. needs the factory Buick sport wheels. if i had play money i would definably snap that up. that’s a good price for what it is 4dr or not
I agree I have a set of 15 inch buick sport wheels in my garage at home. I would put set on this car!!
What a beauty.
My grandfather bought a 1971 Buick Electra 225 in 1974. It was a 4 door hardtop, gold body, black vinyl top, black brocade interior with pillow backs. I was awesome cruising from Clinton, IA to Indianapolis, IN. it rode like a dream, and the 455 kept it going effortlessly. We averaged 18 mpg on those trips.
My dad had a 1972 Caprice four door hardtop in the same colors with a 400 big block and factory dual exhaust.
Kevin, I bought a ’72 Caprice Coupe in ’74 with 25k miles on it. Triple black with those aluminum wire wheel covers and the same motor as your dad’s . I replaced the single exhaust with duals from the manifold back.
It says the Craigslist post has been taken down. Makes you wonder.