OK, it’s Whammer-jammer time, and today’s outsized find is a 1960 Buick Electra. Fins were in and this Buick has ’em, and a lot more in terms of early ’60s style. There is no denying the visual statement that this big Buick makes. West Hills, California is where it calls home and it’s available, here on craigslist for $10,300 (maybe less if you pull the trigger by February 6th!).
As the seller states, “Buick released 3 models: the Lesabre, Invicta, and Electra. The Electra was the top of the line of the 3, and the 225 is a larger and more luxurious Electra model (being 225in length it became known as the deuce and a quarter)“. That’s true but this is an Electra four-door sedan, not an Electra 225 and it’s four inches shorter (Electra 221?). One of the telltales is the fender emblem which reads “Electra” and not “Electra 225”. Visually similar to the ’59 edition, the big difference is the lack of the intricate “check” grille and the ’59s slanted “angry headlights”. This Electra is actually more common than the 225 version with 35K units sold vs. 17K for the 225 edition – maybe it was hard to justify the extra cost associated with just four more inches.
This one looks good in basic black – a sorta four-door Batmobile. There’s lots of shine, and long, straight sharp edges but that pesky old car nemesis, rust, has manifested itself above the rear passenger wheel opening. Whether or not the Sable Black finish is original, is not stated. The chrome and extensive stainless trim all look pretty good – lots of luster still. Electra 225 or not, this is still a big car with its 221″ total length, 126″ wheelbase, 80″ width, and 4,800 lbs. of Buick brawn.
We got us a “445 Wildcat” powerplant stirring up stuff under the hood but the seller advises, “Car runs, but it’s been about 6 months since driven. Can probably start it up with some oil and a jump. Brakes will likely need work“. Hmm…OK, but how about trying to start it? It’ll sell faster if the seller can say with certainty that it starts and drives but may need brake work. And as for that 445 number, that’s 445 lb. feet of torque, originating from a 401 CI V8 engine and good for 325 gross HP. A Dynaflow automatic transmission, a unique one for Buick, makes the rear wheel connection.
A green interior! I wouldn’t have thought that goes with black but it works OK. It may be the lighting but the carpet looks more like grass – you know, the stuff that you have to mow. Unfortunately, the fabric and cloth combination upholstery is starting to give it up in places. The instrument panel just screams 1960 – it’s way cool! Good to see is the existence of the original Sonomatic AM radio but it’s going to need a new “U” push button.
What an example of mid-century GM design and engineering! It’s painful to see what Buick has become today. The ’60 Buick sales brochure concludes with the tagline, “When better automobiles are built, Buick will build them“. Maybe in ’60, I’m not so sure today, right?
It’s truly a “Cruising Vessel”.
Beautiful car and I hope it gets preserved. The big Three had some really great designs in the transition years coming out of the 1950’s and into the 1960’s. Without being able to see it in person and judging by the entire article and pictures I would say that it is a pretty good deal. The styling and the color black definitely screams 1960’s. Good luck.
Hmm. New tags on an old car in California.
Hasn’t been driven in six months – but, rest assured, it’s fine.
Rust of the kind that doesn’t normally appear in the southern CA area.
DYODD.
From the side view it looks like it has fins in the front and the back.?
Last year for the fins, and in ’60 if you wanted some get up and go with flair too, you wanted the Invicta 2-door hardtop with the 401 option.
401 was not an “option”. LeSabres came with a 364. All others–Invicta, Electra and E225–used the same 401, 325 hp engine. The only option in Buick engines was that you could upgrade the LeSabre 2 bbl engine to a 4 bbl version on the 364.
My grand daddy had one of these when I was little. It was a smooth running car and this is far better than that ’72 Charger that comes with no wheels or engine when you can get this styling machine around the same price. Give me this ’60 over that Charger anyday!
Two things bother me with the posting. First, the over-saturation of the photos, and second, the seller saying “can probably start it up with some oil and a jump.” Huh? Put some oil in it and jump it yourself, ya lazy bum!
I was always a Buick fan, especially while riding my grandparents 1957 Buick Special and their ’61 Invicta.
I have owned several other models in my time, 1983 LeSabre, a Rendezvous and our current 2022 Encore GX. I look forward to their upcoming EV models. Still a Buick customer.
I quite agree! The marque was typified by great styling, features, and performance. My wife sticks to her ’01 LeSabre, and I can’t blame her. The lines are still BUICK. Today’s sickening line-up does not even hint of its heritage.
Chairman Mao liked the Buick, apparently above Cadillac and when the masses could afford cars, the Buick was the one.
I read that was the reason they killed Oldsmobile,
and kept Buick – Buicks sold well in China.
Personally I like the 59 better, the nose on the 59 looks so sinister, nonetheless this looks pretty nice although I agree one would need to do their homework and see this one in person.
The closeups all make the paint job look like it was done with a rattle can.
Emblem on the rear also says “Electra” in his photos, the 1960 model year Electra 225 model had an (ofcourse) “Electra 225” emblem: https://i.ibb.co/N6sSzP6/Electra-225.jpg
If they say it “would probably start with oil and a jump” then you know it probably wouldn’t, or he tried and couldn’t. I don’t get these listings where whether it runs is a mystery.
I’m pretty I could drive it for months before the Club security device got annoying. ….
Put up a selfie and we will be the judge of your prettyness or not.
Ha! I’m pretty sure I left out sure!
Oh wow, this reactivated my memory from a long time ago. As a kid, I had one of these 1960-ish Buick Electra’s as a model car. It was like blue/green color.
Now I can’t remember if I built it or not, as I had many models I built
as a little kid.
Funny enough, later in life (like about 10 years) a HS friend of mine use to pick me up in the mornings to go to HS in his family’s giant landcruiser circa 1972-74 Buick Electra, that had the ports along the hood.
I love any Buick, from the first look of our aunt and uncle’s black ’58 Special four door sedan, back when it was new. I especially love the ’59 and ’60 models. What I love about this one is it appears to be the base model, no troublesome accessories to deal with. The carpet looks like it is on its last legs, the seat cloth might be an easy fix, if people can still just replace that, instead of both that and the vinyl trim. I agree with Terry, but he uses cleaner language than I can’t use here. I think Buick still has two models that resemble cars, but I’ve been afraid to look. I hope this goes to a good home that won’t ruin its originality, like a couple of local ’60s in this vicinity.
My uncle bought a brand new 70’ Invicta right before he killed a guy and went to prison. The car sat in grandpa’s backyard. I remember as a kid then as a teenager in 75’ the car still sat and even though the paint had no shine whatsoever the chrome and the interior and glass was like new. The paint probably would have buffed out beautifully. Couple years later uncle was released from prison and had a lot to catch up on.
***It was a 1960 not 70
I wonder if he also went to prison because of car registration fraud? There was no modeljaar 1970 Invicta.
That’s what happens when I don’t proof read before posting. It was a 1960’
You could do the same. Modeljaar lol
Great styling ,but the paint job looks awful ; I’ll bet the car was originally light green , that was a popular color 60s for these Buicks
A running car is worth a lot more than one that doesn’t so as Todd said, put some oil and a battery in it and start it if that’s all it needs. Given that it’s a four door with plenty of rust the price seems high.