Regardless of size, class, or cost, one aspect I wish hadn’t been nearly phased out of most automobiles is the availability of a two-door option in the model’s lineup. Not too many decades ago, most manufacturers seemed to place almost as much importance on the coupe version as the sedan, and more in some cases, with the seventies Colonnade-era Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coming to mind as an example. Luxurious offerings with only a pair of doors were often exceptionally stylish, with this 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue here on Unique Classic Cars looking about as chic and fresh as the day it was born, with the seller claiming it’s traveled less than 1,000 miles. This beauty is in Mankato, Minnesota, and is premium-priced at $39,900.
We’d like to thank Barn Finds reader Jack M. for the great tip here! Besides the fact that the almost forty grand cost might alienate some potential buyers, there’s certainly not much to find fault with here, as this Buick ticks most of the right boxes for the period. The Park Avenue was the top trim level for the Electra in ’83, and this one comes from a time when plush seats were all the rage in high-end interiors. It’s also from an era when the speedometer stopped at 85 MPH, but the important number on that gauge here comes from the odometer, as it shows just 00904 miles. Only the radio is listed as inoperative, and the A/C is said to still be blowing cold.
It’s always preferable to hear the backstory on why a vehicle more than four decades old hasn’t yet reached the thousand-mile milestone, but we don’t get one here, although the seller notes the Carfax report indicates there have been no accidents reported and no odometer discrepancies. Most mid-eighties GM paint isn’t known for its long-term durability against the elements, but the finish here has held up well, and the vinyl top is also reported to show few imperfections. The factory power sunroof is a desirable option, and the only obvious add-on outside is some custom pin striping above the grille and on the trunk lid.
Three engines were available for the Park Avenue in ’83, including a gasoline V6 and V8, plus the short-lived dreaded diesel option. This one is equipped with the most ideal of the trio, a traditional 307 V8, though it’s not exactly spirited, with a HP rating of 140. However, with such limited use, there’s probably some good life remaining for the next owner to enjoy. I wouldn’t mind seeing this one spending most of its time sitting in my garage if there was room, and while the condition seems top-tier, nearly $40k is a bit out of my reach for a mid-eighties General Motors luxury car. What are your thoughts on this 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue?
Where was this hiding? I had an ’82 Electra 2 door but the Limited ( a notch down fro. The Park Ave) tripple burgundy crushed velour seats and the Buick factory Mags which, to me, really made the car. I agree with Mike, I used to see this color on so many GM cars back then, and it did not hold up well outside, not as bad as the silver or light blue, but it did fade. The shine on this one, if it is original, which I think it is is astounding. The gas cap is hidden in the trap door between the tailights which I always thought was a neat trick. This litterally is a brand new Buick. The Olds 307, along with the 200 R4 THM overdrive and also a very tall rear in these would not win you any stop lighty Drag Races, but once you get these rolling on the highway, its as good as any DeVille. I’d hate to drive this thing and ruin it. But what is it REALLY worth??? I’m thinking the price tag is a reach. But, this may be one of the nicest low mileage examples left.
DIS is right. This is the Light Briar Brown color subject to clear coat etching and cracking. My Dad bought a new ’84 Skylark, first car in his life with a/c, same color. 10k miles the paint was already going. Dealer just shrugged me off.
Dad didn’t enjoy it long when illness took him later in the year.
This dealer is about 60 miles sw of the Twin Cities and they command a premium price for everything.
Weird the radio quit and for that kind of money I’d sell them one of mine to get that right.
$15k tops.
GM didn’t use clear coat until 1988. This would be single stage acrylic lacquer. I worked on a lot of these at a Buick dealership body shop. They were great cruisers. This is probably the nicest one you could find but for 40 k it will be around for quite a while.
Great car! 👍🏻 Pleasure to drive.
One of the nicest cars you could get during this period. It’s like driving your recliner down the road.
Back when luxury meant comfortable. I wish I could buy it.
Even if those are the true miles, that’s a huge premium for a low mileage run of the mill vehicle. I’m guessing that’s way above book, and once someone puts some miles on it, it will be valued at 4 figures. And how does a radio stop working at 904 miles?
MICE
Nice find Jack M.. I would certainly hope that no one jumps in to assert that the mileage isn’t true, citing some trivial thing they think they see.
Getting a practically new car ( if the mileage is believable, and what’s with the inop radio?). Still way too high. I’d offer $12…. maybe $15K tops. They’re asking convertible Cadillac prices. Optimistic to say the least.
🙏 🤲
Are they on drugs??? 40k?. Nope not even close. Maybe half of that.
Nice ride for sure, but the price is beyond ambitious, even for a dealer. This will sit for a while.
You people( me included), listen to you. 40 years ago, we wouldn’t have even looked at this car, now listen. I’ll admit, it is a nice car for the turbulent 80s. Front drive econoboxes were everywhere, this car had what we still held dear, engine,( a V8 no less, albeit a weak example of one) transmission, driveshaft, rear drive axle, like God intended. How can a radio not work with 900 miles? And ultra low mileage cars, ones that clearly sat, have issues of their own. Brakes, fuel system, electrics, apparently, all typical of a car that sat. Obviously, some older person bought the car with hopes of driving it, and for whatever reason, health most likely, never did. I don’t mean to bring up death on all these, but the fact is, people are living longer, and dying in their 80s, even 90s, and these are the cars they bought 40 years ago. It’s a great find. Stan is speechless, :)
🗣 Wish it had a 350 Howard 😉
Nice Buick! But 904 miles??? Maybe true mileage, but before driving any length of miles, the fluids, belts, tires, etc. would have to be changed as the car is over 40 years old! $39K+ is steep….will pass! GLWTA….
Yes, seals, gaskets, tires, and the battery can’t be trusted. When my uncle gave me his ’66 Chrysler that had been sitting for years. The very first revolution of the engine tore out the waterpump seal. Not to mention the fuel dried up and blocked the fuel line. I suspect this one is running at this point. But beware of items that normally receive lubrication from things turning. Now if it had 12,000 miles a few miles at a time all those years. Then expect few if any problems. Think about the rear diff fluid drying out, the front wheel bearing grease drying out. Not to mention as others have commented, rubber parts. When things are new, there is a breaking in process. Microscopic bits of metal normally get “used up and mixed in with the fluids and then filtered or worn in. But this car evidently sat for a long time when the breaking in process was in full song. Now all that stuff has settled in the bottom of the differential and pans. If the dealer installed a new set of tires AND included a nationwide “good” aftermarket warranty. Then maybe a $25,000 price might be reasonable. JMHO (correct or not)
About a year ago I passed on the same thing in Olds 98… about 12k miles… good colors… Phoned the owner who lived in Lansing, Mi and retired from Olds…. he walked the line as his buddies built it. . asked 15k.. he offered it for 13.5k…. I just didn’t want to fight all the electronic stuff…. like the climate control… Electronic stuff just quits…. no warning.. Slide levers were standard then… most people ended up with the electronic. …Servos opening and closing valves.. give me a lever and a cable…. at least in an older car… as Howard mentioned above.
My plan was to drive it on a big trip all over the US…. big comfy car.. huge trunk… Perfect. Fuel mileage… oh well…. but you wont arrive worn out !
Anyway a few months later it showed up on a classic car dealer website in Detroit… 25k…..
I probably should have bought it for the 13.5… …. and taken the trip…. These were EXTREMELY comfortable cars… no comparison to today’s rock hard seats and stiff ride…..
This Buick probably has a similar story to the Olds… … hence the price…
You are so right about the electronics in these cars. Today I doubt you can find a tech who has any idea how to check out the automatic air in this car instead they would step back and toss the parts dept at it if GM even has the parts any longer.
These were super rides in the day and I actually got 28mpg in the same thing only it was a 84 and I broke all speed limits running down I95 while doing it.
That Olds motor was/is awesome,
wow, if miles are true i would be afraid of the head gaskets failing along with all the other rubber parts that may need to be replaced but $40k for a driver that’s pushing it but i would toss it out and see if it sticks my opinion its worth only $8-$10k
That’s a $20,000 car. Their asking price is not reasonable. The car is very nice though. Too bad CCP GM can’t build a car like this today.
GM now builds pretty pickup trucks that are actually able to haul the replacement engine that is always needed before it gets very many miles on it.
Today, and for several years now, GM’s pickups are hideous looking.
Their overwrought designs look like Asian SUV’s.
GM has totally lost the American-design vernacular.
very nice indeed and why not it has 1k miles on it. basically, it’s an olds 88 with a tri shield on it. that price is B/J MECUM prices.25k tops. once the miles go on its downhill money wise from there. hope the dealer likes looking at it because it will be there for a while.
No, it’s not an 88 with a tri-shield on it. The Electra/Park Avenue was built on the C-body platform along with the full-sized Cadillacs and the Ninety Eight. The LeSabre was Buick’s B-body model, with the Delta 88, Bonneville, and Caprice.
Parisienne
It’s in beautiful condition for sure but for $40K everything should be working. Even with that low a mileage I think he’s dreaming on the price.
Other than the OUTRAGEOUS PRICE, the absolute deal-killer for me would be those nasty two doors! These luxury sedans of 40 years ago look right only with four doors (which is why the two-door versions sold so poorly that they were discontinued). And who wants to climb in and out of a back seat??? Luxurious COMFORT means FOUR DOORS. And you don’t need a 350 to drive this car! It is meant for relaxed motoring and cruising, not for burning rubber. As to the radio: one can fail simply from sitting. Even a simple transistor radio from 1960, new in its box and never used, is likely to prove DEAD when you install a fresh battery and try it out. But that same radio, heavily worn from continual use, will still play. Let THAT be a warning: there IS such a thing as TOO new with a car this old: STAY AWAY FROM IT AT THIS PRICE!!! Because, as soon as you put it on the road, you will need one thing after another — and before you know it, you’ll be into it for $55,000 — on a car worth maybe $12,000 on a good day. I LOVE that interior, by the way!!!
Pipe dream. This dealer asks insane money for its cars. And buyer beware. Hardly any shop will touch a car this old with a carburetor. Most guys who worked om these new are retired.
Is it possible to convert to a later model fuel injection?
I’d say good luck getting that price for this. It’s nice yes, but that paint is a giant PIA. It weathers horribly, so unless you want to keep it in a climate controlled garage, it’s going to fade, craze and not be beautiful once the elements hit it. I had a ’83 Toronado that color and it was nice when new but it just didn’t hold up.
Man this Buick is nice, 39k yikes. Hey I just saw an 88 Chrysler with close to a 100k miles for 9k so go figure.