Even though Cadillac wins the grand prize for the most pronounced tail fins in ’59, Buick certainly gets an honorable mention for the shape and protrusion from the doors back on their Electra, with this also happening to be the first year of production for what would become the brand’s flagship sedan. For buyers who were into 360 degrees of uninterrupted glass and luxurious amenities galore, this is one of those automobiles the design team got exactly right, and the seller says this one here on Facebook Marketplace remains all original. This one resides in Vassar, Michigan, and the seller seeks to pocket $26,500 from the sale. Thanks for the great tip here. T.J.!
While more specific details and additional information about the car’s history would be welcomed here, the seller reports this Buick is in very good condition and has always been stored indoors, most recently on a showroom floor somewhere until the last year or so. If the phrase “all original” is to be taken literally, that includes the paint, which appears to be in exceptional condition if it dates all the way back to the late fifties. The same goes for the trim, and there appear to be no obvious areas of corrosion or damage anywhere on the exterior either. Those slightly wider-than-normal whitewall tires look great here, and I’m betting this large sedan gets plenty of attention everywhere it goes.
Things inside are almost as well-preserved as out, with no visible tears on the front or rear seat and the door panels not showing much wear. There’s a slight blemish under the trip odometer near the center of the instrument cluster, and some areas of the seats are slightly sagging, but anything that could use attention in here seems minor. The number of miles showing is 59,194, and from the all-around condition of this Buick, there’s a strong likelihood that this is actual.
The first-year Electra used a 401 cubic-inch V8, which is known as the “Nailhead” because of its unusual vertical layout of thin valves, which resemble- you guessed it- nails! This one is said to start, run, and drive, but it could use a new muffler and a fresh set of tires. Most of the needs here appear minimal, and this 1959 Buick Electra appears to remain a strong and solid example just about everywhere you look. Is this vintage luxury cruiser one you’d enjoy having in your collection?
by golly, if Buick had a south of the border model would they have designated it the Chromebrero?
No
It would be the
Muyperfectomundo model
59K was a lot of miles for a car back then.
Right on. 60k equals a valve job. But this car is high style beautiful. The fins, the trims, and the ‘flat top ‘ seals it. If I only had room for one more 😕
59,000 miles was a lot of mileage for Japanese cars made in the 70s and 80s. It was nothing for a big Buick or big Cadillac. My grandfather‘s 1960 Cadillac had 150,000 miles when he bought it and by the time we rebuilt it, there was 335,000 miles on it.
Never had any major trouble with it. It just started to burn a little bit of oil.
I really like this, but looking at that frowning “angry birds” grill reminds me of what to expect from my wife should I park this in our garage without asking.
Hey, forgiveness is easier than permission! Jus sayin…..
Very nice shape for it’s age. I wonder what the original seats look like under those vinyl covers? Hopefully they are in good shape.
Always felt the 1959 Buick would have been a much better Christine..If ever a car looked like it wanted to kill you..this is it..That being said..it’s also my favourite Buick :D
Well, don’t forget… Stephen King also wrote an earlier, ‘Buick Eight’ novel–!
I think the 1950 models, with their buck-toothed grille, even more menacing.
I’m an old guy, a lover of Buicks, literally, since childhood. Yet until recently I disliked the styling of two model years,1950 and 1958. I’ve come to somewhat appreciate the overwrought grille and bulky lines (relative to the ’49s) of the ’50s. But I’ll never embrace the garish excess of the ’58s.
This is the first time I have heard the moniker “nailhead” explained — thanks, Mike! What a gorgeous car
Unlike most years, the exterior of the ’59 Buicks looked the same from the LeSabre to the Electra. No venta-ports.
As much as I don’t like fins on any car (other than the 59 Catalina convert), I have always loved the look of the 59 Buicks (especially in the convertible form) with its knife-edge lines (softened to its detriment in 1960, IMO). The chrome edging highlights it and the floating grill with the slanted headlights reminds me of Elvira for some reason.
Beautiful Electra! In the first episode of Adam 12 officers Malloy and Reed chased a nice 59 and the driver wrecked it. I cringe every time I see that. Love the delta wing Buicks
I cringed at that! Saw a 65 Nova sacrificed as well :(
Stunning.
Someone 30 years old in 1959 sure had it made. Can you imagine bringing this craziness home? GM design at its wowza wowza best!! 🤣
My 59 Catalina is this color although not called wedgewood blue on Pontiacs.
Castle blue which Gibson used on some guitars as well.
I don’t think the price is insane for this. I also have a Vista 59 Bonneville that is comparable but there seem to be far fewer Buicks. Price reflects that.
I think 20K in this hard market would be good for all
I’m assuming that the firewall appears to be white because of the excess lighting.
Doesn’t anybody knock?
this is 1 wicked duce 1/4. looks great. the front seat cushion looks a bit funny. i think the seats were redone. that style does not fit this car. i think 20k would be the rite buy number if i were shopping. these are an acquired taste car.
The Buick V8 first appeared in the 1953’s. The engine bay, originally designed to accommodate the Buick straight 8, was too narrow for the V8. The engineers changed to the vertical valve arrangement which made the engine much narrower to fit into the available space. The result was a wonderful engine with a vast amount of low-end torque, which was perfect for the non-shifting Dynaflow transmission. Dynaflow evolved into Turbine Drive — smoothest transmission ever!
The Buick V8 first appeared in the 1953’s. The engine bay, originally designed to accommodate the Buick straight 8, was too narrow for the V8. The engineers changed to the vertical valve arrangement which made the engine much narrower to fit into the available space. The result was a wonderful engine with a vast amount of low-end torque, which was perfect for the non-shifting Dynaflow transmission. Dynaflow evolved into Turbine Drive — smoothest transmission ever!
Just my opinion but I always thought these were butt ugly. I am sure lots of people love them and I am probably in the minority.
John
This restarts my brainworm, the audio jingle in the 1959 ads: “A new generation of Buicks is here, LeSabre, Invicta Electra-a-…”
Wrong year but reminds me a lot of Judge Reinhold’s “cruising vessel” in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”.
I think I’ve grown to like these because they seem like one of the most Mopar-esque GMs of the era!
Imo the price is reasonable considering the rare storage conditions this thing has obviously received for all of 67 years, hard to find that! Nothing better than original cars but how many of these are, one? Restoration always means sacrificing something of their original configuration, if only down deep below somewhere. Think rust-prone foreign-made Trim Clips etc.
I thought top-of-the-line Electras all had P/W, guess not…
My parents owned one of these from new in 1959. They drove it to Europe during a summer holiday to France in 1960, where it sparked both praise for its beauty as well as a lot of jealousy from some locals. Shortly after they returned it was stolen–despite having a custom complex alarm system. When eventually found by the police abandoned in a forest, only the sheet-metal was left. It had been picked clean for parts.
I’ve always loved the 59 Buicks. If I had the money, I’d be on my way to Michigan now. These big Buicks were old geezer cars, but I’m now an old geezer.
The styling of the 1959 Buick looks as if a Chrysler designer snuck in during the chaos of the transition from Harley Earl to Bill Mitchell.
This particular Buick looks really nice and I applaude whoever specified the slightly wide, era-correct white-wall tires. So many add those ghastly wide-wide white-walls on these late Fifties-early Sixties cars.
Of all the cars with the canted headlights,the ‘59 Buick wore them the best(IMO). This was built when Buicks were Buicks.
My Uncle owned a 1959 Buick just like this one only darker blue. I think the price here is too high though.
Hey, this is my car. Not sure how it got on here but I appreciate the share!
The vehicle is all original and has been appraised and condition verified. As mentioned in the ad, it’s been stored indoors for the entirety of the time I’ve owned it (and previously when the vehicle belonged to my great uncle), the majority of that time it was on the showroom floor of the Chevy and Buick dealership in Vassar.
Would be happy to answer anyone questions if anyone’s interested in it, please contact me via the Facebook marketplace posting.