Big, bold, and beautiful in blue, this 1959 Buick Electra 225 Riviera is one impressive and imposing 225-inch-long car. If that grille treatment didn’t make other cars get the heck out of the way in 1959, I don’t know what would have. This gorgeous survivor can be found here on eBay in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. There is just over a day left on the auction and the current bid is just under $8,000!
Bickety-BAM! I can see a ’58 Metropolitan hogging the left lane and up comes this ’59 deuce-and-a-quarter Riv – the headlights flash and the Met driver pulls over for a quick change of the ol’ undergarments. Is this the first “angry/aggressive/in-your-face” grille and front-end treatment on an American vehicle? I’m sure that there were others previous to this 1959 Buick that must have been scary to see coming up in your rearview mirror back in that era, other than a police car, I mean.
The rear end is just as aggressive and beautiful. There’s a lot of Chevy in the above photo and I rarely equate one vehicle to another (“that looks like a cross between a…”) Maybe it’s just because we typically see more Chevrolets from this era than we see Buicks. This is the first year for Buick’s Electra and Electra 225 models and that always makes a car more interesting, in my opinion. This is also the top of the line Riviera trim.
The interior is, again, gorgeous and is all original, according to the seller. There are no photos of the back seat specifically, but here’s one that sort of shows a little of it, but there’s a lot of glare from the sun. I’m not sure why they didn’t take a photo from the other side rather than looking into the sun, but what do I know. It’s unusual to not see power windows ($107.50 extra) or air-conditioning ($430 extra) on the absolute top of the line car for Buick in 1959. The body has had one repaint in this incredible turquoise color about a decade or more ago and there are some paint spots that need work.
The engine is Buick’s Nailhead 401 cubic-inch V8 which had 325 hp. They say that it’s a driver-quality car and it runs and drives good but will need some TLC. The price is approaching Hagerty’s #3 good condition value of $9,300, will it get there? Are there any first-generation Electra 225 fans out there?
Ahoy, there, Cap’n Scotty! Nice one! One of many late ’50s cars I’ve considered owning as a statement of pure excess. At 4900 lb it only weighs two linebackers more than, say, a 2006 BMW 750L, or 1000 lb less than a 2020 Escalade. That means you could (only if the wonderful nailhead were missing or properly preserved) LS+drivetrain this thing and get better MPG than your neighbor’s Caddy. Love it!
Of course, a 2020 Escalade would have a 10 speed transmission and cylinder deactivation, and that would probably make more of an economy difference than just swapping a LS in. But it’s definitely a cool car, and the idea of modernizing one (assuming you were starting with something considerably less original than this one) is pretty tempting!
No car it’s only draw back is the number of doors. Don’t get me wrong I’ve got nothing against four door cars, but the fact is they just don’t fetch the same money as there door counterparts. Nice car.
Which means one can get into it for less. Unless one’s thought is to flip it. Otherwise what would it matter how much it brings?
This is extraordinary, top to bottom. This one is up there in the originality world.
Hey! That was my Mom’s car when I was in high school back in the late 1960s. Hers was all black outside and inside. We called it the Batmobile. I took my drivers test up in Montana when I was 15. I passed except the parallel parking.
Today’s youths (well, those who are even interested in getting a driver’s license) will never know the agony of having to parallel park one of these land barges while subject to the severe scrutiny of the unsmiling examiner. Talk about sweaty palms!
I absolutely love these. This thing would look spectacular with all of those windows down cruising down the highway. Barnfinds Guy, you’ve put in a good day’s work today with this and the other stuff today. Cheers. Jim
The cruising vessel from Fast Times! Younger guys won’t remember that reference, it these are great. I’m my opinion this is fine as a four door. $8k isn’t a lot of money for this.
1960 Buick LeSabre featured in the film.
Its close but not 👍👀
The movie has character (Judge Reinhold) Brad the senior who works at a series of entry-level jobs in order to pay off his car and ponders ending his two-year relationship with his girlfriend..
Beautiful and looks fairly solid! It does have a power seat I noticed, which helps but no power windows; a serious draw-back price wise. Still for under ten grand, it’s a great car to enter the old-car hobby with. Chrome appears in good shape too, which helps. Had this been the sports sedan flat-roof, it might’ve already been sold! It’s still a 4dr. hardtop and not the pillared sedan.
It’s a Riviera because it is a high Satus 4 door, 6 window hardtop. As for a angriness, the 59 Dodge had the angry look, too. I prefer the 60 Buick. The 59 has the “radar” instrument panel; I prefer the 60 “flying saucer” panel with the adjustable speedo mirror.
I hear the buzzer telling me I am going too fast. Speedo similar to 61-63 Imperial. Roller turns red if memory serves.
Had a 59 Invicta 9 pass wagon.
Blew a left front tire on hwy 99 near Bakersfield in 62. Never drifted another direction.
Hey brother, go retrieve that wheel cover back there.
No air and was 95 degrees. Cool day. Last set of recaps I ever bought.
Parking a big car was no problem. Never owned a small car to compare.
You were considered cheap if you had a compact car.
Drove big rigs, so this is a small car. Lots of iron to protect us.
Love the fin era. Down to 3 from this great period of the automobile.
Probably will go to a furin country. Sad
1959 was THE best year for American cars. Any of them. Period.
Seeing this brought back the earworm jingle when the new model line was introduced: “A new generation of Buicks is here: LeSabre, Invicta, Electra…”
What kind of brakes does this have – I looked for the master cylinder but there’s a windshield wiper reservoir in that spot! Power brakes?
Sold for less than $9000. One heck of a deal.
Someone got a real deal!
I had a 1956 Buick Special station wagon.Now I wish I would of kept it.Bruce.
***Is this the first “angry/aggressive/in-your-face” grille and front-end treatment on an American vehicle?***
“Butt-ugly” works for me. The ‘59 is the second-ugliest Buick in history, topped only by the ‘58. They were the only Buicks of the Fifties without VentiPorts. In 1960, they brought back the ports, and the terrific styling for which Buick was famous.
“If that grille treatment didn’t make other cars get the heck out of the way in 1959. ” It’s funny that several automakers used the same canted headlight array in 59-60 and then abandoned pretty soon afterwards. We have Buick, but also Lincoln, Chrysler and I think Desoto.
When I was a teen back in the mid 70’s I worked for my Uncle at his garage. He had a customer with a ’59 4-door that I often filled with gas. Had it in the garage for something once and I went to start it and back it out, but nothing happened when I turned the key. I yelled out, how do you start this thing? My uncle’s main mechanic yelled back, “push the gas pedal to the floor”! Problem solved, lol.
24th of April it will be shipped to Europe… :-)
A real BEAUTY !!!!
Good Morning Do you have still your 1959 Buick Electra for sale. Thank you Andre Roy 553 ave de la garde .Quebec PQ, Can.G2A 2M1