Buick introduced the Electra in 1959 as its top-of-the-line model. The 225 designation was added as a nod to the length of the vehicle – at least 225 inches. This 1973 edition has been in the barn for more than 40 years and was recently brought back to life. Everything is said to function as it should except for the factory air conditioning. From somewhere north of Hanover, New Hampshire this bigger-than-life Buick is available here on craigslist for $6,000. Another fine tip brought to us by Mitchell G,
All of GM’s full-size cars received a redesign in 1971 and would be the largest yet – until 1977. That’s when the machines were downsized for better fuel economy without sacrificing passenger comfort. This ’73 version gained bigger bumpers thanks to the DOT tightening up on crash protection. Buick’s 455 cubic inch V8 was still the only powerplant available in the Electra but was detuned from prior years for fewer emissions. More than 124,000 Electra 225 4-door hardtops were built in 1973, with most of them being the higher-end Custom models.
As the story goes, the seller has owned the car for 16 years, yet it was parked in the barn long before that. Efforts were started to get the beast up and running again at 123,000 miles (the odometer reads 23,000). We’re not sure what work was done as we’re only told he/she went through the car “top to bottom” to make it roadworthy. The automatic transmission was rebuilt – but that was in 1982.
Although the photos don’t necessarily show it, the seller says it’s close to showroom condition. The interior is especially nice and – given the vinyl upholstery – this might be the lower production “regular” 225. The title is MIA, so the car will change hands only with a big sale. If you like big boats like this and don’t mind “very little rust,” would this Buick be the one for you?
Many of us follow BF to see what is out there in the car market. But, judging by nearly every comments section, those very cars elicit nostalgia, opinions, and emotions.
Imagine a 17-yr old cruising a small town out West in a jalopy with his car buddies…way back in summer of ’73. At the stop light on Main and Jackson, there under the lights in the Buick dealer showroom …a massive white Electra 225 with red vinyl top and factory stylized chrome wheels. Through the windows you could see the very RED what we called “French [Cat]house” crushed velour interior. What a sight she was, and that 17-yr old and gang had fun derisively calling it “The P!mpmobile”, a moniker made popular by a few movies of the time. Fast forward a couple months, the 225 had languished in the showroom (the OPEC embargo had sent gas prices sky high) and we fellas considered it a local monument…until one night…it was gone!
“Wow…dudes, they got somebody to buy the P!mpmobile!”
Well, I went home that evening, and there…lo-and-behold, no way, I couldn’t fathom it…there she was, taking up a quarter acre in Dad’s driveway. Long story short: what a magnificent, floating, gliding, land yacht it turned out to be, and I busted my butt begging to park my Chevelle and cruise in the 225 whenever I could (which was extremely rare.) It fit my burly dad pretty well, he drove it with gusto.
One comment from a buddy:
“Saw your Dad the other day…yep, sure did…pulled RIGHT OUT in front of me.”
That car was incredibly reliable and durable, handed down through the family and shirtail relatives for about 15-yrs, with last I heard, about 300k miles. Couldn’t kill that P!mpmobile.
Yes. The nostalgia. My buddy’s mom had a ’73 deuce and a quarter.
That machine was great for our rolling parties. It could fit eight of us comfortably.
He got a kick out of holding it in low and revving the motor until it shifted itself into second with a bark from the rear tires.
Sweet! Great word pictures, I was right there with you guys!!
Thanks!
I believe what Spearfish^ may be referring to, and skirting the filter to boot,,, good job, is these cars were called “the deuce and a quarter”, and were very popular with the inner city crowd. Naturally, Hollywood had a field day with that, not sure how accurate, but it shows, these cars were universally accepted as the best you could get, without going Caddy, which usually was next.
If you saw the ’84 Buick post, those 2 posts show people that weren’t there, in a mere 10 years, look what a stark difference. Imports showed many of a changing world to come, and in classic American denial, we continued with these into the 80s, perhaps holding out, gradually downsizing, to the FWD, in an attempt to lure US buyers back and never happened. I highly doubt many import buyers went back to Buicks, and ironically today, in 2022, China bought more than 6 times the Buicks that Americans did.
These and their contemporary Ninety-eights were my favorites. Not even a teenager yet but influenced by my dad’s friends and their cars. Later I would have a ’72 that looked good on top but all rust underneath. These are sweet rides.
I bought my 2013 Buick Verano new, and I still have it eleven years later. Great car for what’s technically a compact. Comfortable, stylish, adequate pickup from a non turbo four, and good gas mileage. If Americans had built small cars like this in the eighties we never would have lost ground to imports, but being greedy the automakers built shoddy, not so fuel efficient compacts as loss leaders while continuing to build bloated full size gas guzzlers. Nothing against the feature car, it’s great. Not everyone back then could afford to fill one up though.
This is a nice car and the asking price is fair. I’d pay $6k for it. There is a lot worse for way more out there.
looks good.4wd truck tires? that’s the best you could do? shame no title. Could be original miles you don’t know unless you go look. good luck to the seller. its priced right just got to deal with the issues it has.
The “ALL TERRAIN” tires seriously do take away from the overall appearance of it! These Big Ass Deucies need Whitewall tires and the caps on the factory Rally Wheels to set it off! Even though they were Huge that High Torque 455 would pull this car as well as the mid size muscle cars built in 73 making them even more fun for the teenagers that got the keys to Dads land Yacht! As soon as they’d get around the corner they’d open the hood and flip the air cleaner lid over so they could impress everyone within earshot with the loud growl now coming from under the hood of that Tank!
If you can find one, grab it! There will never be cars like this again, unfortunately.
I grew up with two of these in the family. A ’70, and a ’76. Except for the stupid fender skirts (I would buy a Wildcat now) I loved both of those cars. The ’70 had a ton of power, and the ’76 was incredibly nice to ride in. Both were done in by accidents by my parents. I still miss both.
The great 455 looked rather rusty for how good the rest is & would scare me off even though I long for such a fine automobile Buick produced back then. I get on a soap box & preach about Buicks 455 was the last GM or other make redesigned big block save for the Chevy 8100 20 yrs or more later . Long live Buick another American icon now on a slippery slope losing market share & shrinking line up this hurts my heart.
Agree engine and under hood looks rusty. That photo of car in wood shed maybe tells the story. I wonder if it was stored on a dirt floor or unsealed concrete, allowing moisture to come up from the ground and corrode the underhood and underside of the car. A shame the seller doesn’t post photos of undercarriage.
when I was young
I remember working in a body shop and one of these was assigned to me to repair the quarter panel, wow it is long. The owner called it a “number nine” 2+2+5.
…my very first demo-derby car, ‘73 225.
Ver neat car. I recently purchased a 2005 Park Ave. It is going to be a project/ daily driver. I do really miss cars like the 73.. We had a couple of customers with them. When I put out that I recently got a 2005 Park Avenue everyone is telling me it is a good car worth investing in. I see loads of LeSabres of similar vintage but few Park Avenues.