The Buick Electra 225 (aka Deuce and a Quarter) got part of its name from its total length: 225 inches (just under 19 feet). These big luxury sedans (sometimes also referred to as land yachts) were from the heyday era for Buick. They were built to compete with Chrysler and Mercury and were just about as luxurious as the Cadillac. This 1969 Electra 225 has a truly remarkable story, buried away in a muddy barn for 40 years. And even more remarkable is how well it survived that ordeal. It’s located in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and is listed here on eBay with no reserve!
I love a car with a story and this one practically oozes one. Until the seller acquired it, this Electra was a one-family car. A set of grandparents bought the car new and passed it along to their grandson along with a bunch of acreage and a barn when they died. He had driven it to his high school graduation and his tassel hung from the rear-view mirror! Somewhere around 1980, when the odometer got to 21,000 or so miles, he apparently lost interest in the car and parked it in the old barn after pouring transmission fluid down the carburetor. He closed the door and never touched it again.
Years later, as the grandson himself was aging, he decided to sell the property, the barn, and its occupant. But the barn and car could not be reached after years and years of tree and bush growth had literally buried them. The seller then brought in some dozers, loaders and skid steer and built a road 200 yards down to the barn so he could access the car he had purchased sight-unseen. There it was, dirt and all, and given the amount of muck and mud uncovered to build the road, its likely the barn had some of it in there too, along with an automobile with four flat tires.
After the car was dragged up the hill, it got a good cleaning, inside and out. Surprisingly, the body is rust-free, according to the seller. The paint isn’t perfect but presents very well. That presentation also includes the interior, which must have been mostly airtight during the 40-year slumber. No flaws to speak of and no damage from any varmints that may have shared the barn with the car.
Once it was given a tune-up and a fluid change, we’re told the 430 cubic inch V-8 started up and ran like new. As good as any car with 21,000 miles on it. The only other mechanical things the seller had to do was install a new exhaust and brake lines and flush out the gas tank. The tires in the picture look original because of the double-whitewalls, but the seller says new tires are provided.
The Electra enjoyed a 32-year run at the top of the Buick totem pole. Six generations of production covered 1959-90. It was named after heiress and sculptor Electra Waggoner Biggs by Harlow Curtis, her brother-in-law and one-time Buick president. It was replaced by the Park Avenue for 1991. The third-generation of the car was around from 1965-70 and (to me) the 1969 edition was the most attractive. The public was a big fan of these cars, buying more than 150,000 copies that year. The seller’s 225 appears to be a model 48239 four-door hardtop, which saw 16,000 units assembled.
The next owner of this beautiful car will have all the documents, books, and papers, build sheet, warranty card and Protecto-Plate that came with the vehicle when new. Hagerty says that top dollar for one of these cars is high teens/low twenties. This Electra is a little unusual in that it doesn’t appear to have any passenger cabin power accessories or factory air conditioning, so that could detract some from the price. Check out the videos that the seller has included in his auction to see for yourself the remarkable story of this car and its return to glory!
Holy Rat Turds, Batman! That car is unbelievable. GLWTA
This is the first Buick Electra 225 that I’ve ever seen in my life without A.C. !!!!
I had no idea that it could be had without it !!
I don’t know about Electras, but I had a ’69 Buick Special wagon with either a 300 or 340 (never knew which) and what I was told was a dealer-installed under-dash AC. That AC was so cold it would spit ice flecks.
In 1969, non-A/C Electras were available with a 3.91 rear axle. I wonder if this car has that option. Those could run the quarter-mile in the high 14s reportedly.
Wow it cleaned up pretty good. A Deuce and a Quarter without A/C seems pretty unusual but hey what do I know
I have one. With all the dirt this would have been a $500 car. With the clean look seller should get what the car is worth.
Great story, wonderful car. No a/c? In Oklahoma? No wonder it only has 21,000 miles.
Awesome car too bad it doesn’t have A/C.
What a beauty. 225 is really a Cadillac and this looks like a nice one.
As much as I love the car, after sitting in a barn for 40 years and to come out looking that good, I wanna know who built the barn?
I had one. You could have used it as a snowplow.
It’s October, 1969, and Grandma and Grandpa are at the Buick dealer, placing an order for a new Electra….
Salesman: Power windows?
Grandma: Yes!
Grandpa: Just another thing to break. No!
Salesman: Air Conditioning?
Grandpa: Yes!
Gandma: Oh, no you don’t. I’m not freezing in the car like I do in the house. No!
LOL I bet you’re right. My dad always refused to buy a car with power windows until it really wasn’t possible in the 90’s. We always had A/C, but never power anything else. His reasoning was we might drive off a bridge into a river and the windows would prevent us from escaping.
My first project car when I was 19 was a ’63 Fleetwood with 8 power windows. They all worked until I sold the car and fortunately, I never drove off any bridges to find out if my dad was correct or not.
My dad had a ‘70 2 door with the 370 horse 455. These, to me, are the pinnacle of GM quality and engineering. The car was SOLID, quick, and comfortable. I prefer the Wildcat without those stupid fender skirts, but I will always have a soft spot for the Electra. I will be a bit jealous of whomever ends up with this, it will be a car they can drive for the rest of their life.
Now this is a real BARN FIND! And what a find. A great car, great write-up, great videos, great day in the morning to a Buick of any kind pre 1971, lover. Thank you Russ. If I lived in America and had an endless amount of money, I would be this Buick’s next owner whatever the price. The recovery story alone is worth big bucks. Best wishes to the next owner, and enjoy this magnificent piece of motoring history.
Well done Russ! It is quite THE story.
Inconceivable that in a luxury Buick …there was no air conditioning, power windows, power seats …etc. It’s not worth $10.
$10.00 ? Step away from the airplane glue….
Wow, I for one don’t like power windows, and the lack of a/c doesn’t bother me one bit. Roll those windows down and drive it.
A high line car like this without some options we take for granted must have been a special ordered car, not an off the lot sell. Since the original owners were elderly in 1969 , They likely had years of cars without them and maybe didn’t trust “new fangled” things like AC and power accessories . Who knows., maybe they traded in a 1940 Buick when they got this one ? “didnt need ’em with the ’40, don’t need ’em now”
What a beautiful ride, this brings back so many memories. My father and grandfather were both die-hard Buick owners, all purchased from Cuene Buick in Green Bay, WI. I would love to own this beauty!!
A true barn find that should bring a good price. Put vintage air in it and enjoy.
Wait,,,,,,,, THIS IS THAT SAME CARE THAT WAS PULLED ,,,,,,,,,,,, OUT OF THAT BARN????? CLEANED UP LIKE THAT ????? WOW. BEAUTIFUL ,BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL .
Yeah, I just cannot comprehend it either… I saw this pic on BF yesterday and didn’t even care going to the write-up thinking it was just another uninteresting basket case. Definately anti-clickbait to present it with that first picture!!
Shockingly great find with such a good story – its story and documentation alone are worth the $ 👍
For everyone that complains about the “non barn finds”, garage queens, and Toyota’s, I do hope you took the time the watch the generously provided and throughly satisfying videos of the Buick’s return to the world. Nice find!
Yeah, a really nice find, and then another commenter above figures it’s only worth $10.
Like the big Buiks of the sixties & seventies! Parents had Park Avenues, great cars!
Anyone think the guy sounded like Larry the cable guy in the videos lol, really great story and car, it’s amazing how well that car was preserved in that barn.
I just turned 21 and am in school studying business. I decided to spend my savings on this incredible Buick. I purchased the car today on ebay for $8,250. I cant wait to go pick it up and see what this beast looks like in person. Also, I will be making a story movie for the car. Does anyone know how I can contact the person who runs this page or find anymore info out about the car to make a pretty incredible movie for it?
Thank you,
Colton B
620-255-7030
Colton, you are one very lucky young man to be the new owner of this incredible Barn Find. I was your age 60 years ago but wish I could be in your shoes right now. I’m sure you will enjoy it for many years. Please let BF readers know when, and how, to view your movie when it is completed as there has been great interest in this car and I for one would love to know how it turns out from here. All the best. K.T.
Good luck, Colton! Great buy for you! Let us know if you add vintage AC ( the original Frigidaire/Delco unit would have been big, inefficient system, with components expecting refrigerants that are banned in the US now). Also, what condition the chassis and frame is in after sitting in the mud that long. Cheers.
Oh, and let me add, Colton, please don’t attempt to drive on those tires that were on the car in the barn. Pull ’em and save ’em to show with the car, but you may want to invest in a set of Michelins to really get this car to a cruising standard.
The current owner had to special order the new white wall tires so it is very driveable now! I was also worried about the underbody and chassis but I had him send pictures and all it’s got is light surface rust no more than the bottom of my moms 2015 Acadia. I was stunned.
Great buy Colton! I am very happy for you, along with very jealous of you lol.
yes, dirt is soft, short trip too.
Good luck Colton.
Shamed to admit but girl friend’s bro had one of these in ’72 or 3. Asked to dump it for him (gas crisis in, gas hog out) for the insurance.
He drove it to me 1.5 hr away I drove it for a wk, called him, he reported it stolen, I gave it to a friend (fool kept drivin it, wised up and “over a cliff into the river”). He told me he could see the lghts still on, engine running at bottom of the cliff (river still 20 ft away). Reached in his pocket…no wallet! Hada go down. He said he got the wallet but said “the seats were up against the roof”. Yours did not do such a trip…BUT…it will still B a big pig on the gasoline ! Just give me a call when in trouble.
8^0