I must admit that this 1961 Buick Electra 225 convertible is not what my mind conjures when I think of an Electra 225. Long, low, wide, and opulent are some of the adjectives that immediately come to mind, but those traits don’t initially seem inherent in this Stuart, Iowa, example. Still, this is a noteworthy subject from what was, at one time, one of America’s more impressive automobile manufacturers. Let’s see what’s really here with this topless convertible; you can find it on Facebook Marketplace, where it’s available for $9,500, OBO. Thanks are due to T.J. for this tip!

Interestingly, there were two variations of Buick’s Electra in ’61, the standard Electra in two-door hardtop and four-door sedan body styles, and the Electra 225, available as a convertible and four-door hardtop. While the “225” designation was a nod to the car’s original 1959 overall length, the ’61 edition came up short, stretching out to just 219.2″ in overall length – still, hardly a compact. As for volumes, the ’61 Electra 225 convertible was not a common model, realizing a total production of just 7,100 units.

Well, the elephant in the room is the missing fabric top, but the seller states that he has a new one, still in the box, and it’s included in the sale. Beyond that, we’re told, “This Buick has soft floors & quarters, so rust repair will definitely be needed. Trunk floor is gone. Frame is solid,” – I can’t say that I find any of that to be a surprise. Additional rust has manifested itself in the lower portion of the doors, the trunk lid, and I imagine in other undisclosed places too, so assume major metal work will be needed beyond what’s been identified.

The seller’s major selling point is his claim of, “This car has the rare & expensive factory GM hardback bucket seats.” Well, yes, it is so equipped; as to how rare they are, I can’t determine. What I can determine is that they are in deplorable condition. Of course, the frame and hardbacks are the important parts; one has to assume that a convertible of this age will need reupholstering at some point anyway. Beyond that, the remainder of the interior isn’t in much better condition – it’s torn, worn, and moldy.

This Duece and a Quarter is a runner! It’s powered by a 325 gross HP 401, CI V8 engine joined to a “Turbine Drive” automatic transmission. All that’s stated regarding this Electra’s running and driving characteristics is, “The car does run!!! 401 nailhead/auto trans. Carb needs rebuilt.”

You gotta love Facebook Marketplace’s predefined condition categories. In this case, it states, “This vehicle has no significant damage or problems,” – I’d beg to differ! It has plenty, so many in fact that it aligns with the 1968 Ford XL post that was published yesterday. Can this Buick be salvaged, or is it to be consigned to the parts bin? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great find and the kind of car we all want to see saved, but there are limits. Oh, and the $9,500 ask? I’m not feelin’ that; how about you?