This! When I refer to an outsized car as a “Whammer-jammer”, an Electra 225, such as this 1968 example, is what I have in mind! At 224.9″ in length and tipping the scales at 4,400 lbs., this Buick is the BIG deal – and the top goes up and down too! Located in Dallas, Texas, this beautiful Olive Gold Iridiscent cruiser is available here on craigslist for $19,600. Thanks are due to Barney for this tip!
The Electra 225 was Buick’s top-of-the-heap model in ’68, with trims available in Custom and Standard. This convertible, one of about 8K assembled in Flint, MI, was part of the Custom line that also included four-door hardtops and sedans, as well as a two-door hardtop. There was also a special upscale “Limited” trim, but it was only available as an option on four-door hardtops. Buick had a good year in ’68, posting a fifth-place finish in the great domestic automobile production race with an output of 628K units. This car’s listing is limited in detail, but I imagine that it has undergone at least a respray, if not more – it’s just too clean and bright to still be wearing 1968. The endless quarter panels are razor straight, and that alone gives you an idea of this Buick’s likely crash and rust-free existence. It’s nice to find the original high-quality Electra wheel covers on this rig – a component that often goes missing. I would like to see an image of this cruiser in top-up form; unfortunately, none were included in the listing, though the seller, via his video, states that it’s in good condition. Speaking of that video, you can find it here.
A big car means big power, and in this case, it’s a 360 gross HP 430 CI V8 engine tethered to a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission. With 91K miles on its life clock, the seller claims, “Runs and handles Excellent!”
The black vinyl upholstery has certainly survived the test of time – no mean feat in a convertible (though black is not the shade I would have selected considering its thigh-searing ability on a hot day). Looking around the interior, I don’t see a thing out of place, including the door panels and dash pad, and as near as I can tell, the carpet. The top boot is a nice inclusion; they’re often lost to the ages, though they’re available today for most classic-era convertibles from a variety of suppliers. Convertibles from the sixties were often built without optional A/C, and that’s the case here, though my initial thought was that this car, being an exalted Buick model, would come so equipped.
This 1968 Buick Electra 225 Custom convertible is proof that there are still great examples of this lost design, i.e, big V8, rear-wheel drive, two-door, and a retractable top models out there. But if you’re interested in one, time is running out; we’ll never see cars like this offered again from any manufacturer. And I think that’s most unfortunate; how about you?
A thousand times yes!!