A mere five years after tumbling to ninth place in industry-wide sales, Buick rebounded to fifth for 1965 on the strength of an attractive lineup that included three flagship nameplates: the Riviera, Wildcat, and Electra 225. For those who preferred a traditional large luxury car, the Electra was available as a “base” model and the more luxurious “Custom.” Although it isn’t specified in the craigslist ad, this Electra appears to be the fancier Custom with an even more luxurious interior; our friend T.J. found it near Worcester, Massachusetts, for a very reasonable $14,995. That’s not bad for a solid Buick with a claimed 90,000 miles on the odometer.
Here’s the plush vinyl interior with a split bench seat and folding armrests for both front seat passengers. The green trim harmonizes well with the Seafoam Green exterior, and the “wood” accents on the dashboard give the Electra a properly Buick feel of conservative luxury. I give this Sport Coupe bonus points for the Tri-Shield front floor mat, which is almost a requirement when you own a big Buick from the ’60s.
We can’t look at a full-size 1965 Buick without mentioning the weird one-year-only gauge layout. Forcing the driver to look down past the steering wheel spokes to see how fast they were going may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but Buick reverted to a more traditional layout for 1966.
The Electra’s standard engine was Buick’s 401 cubic-inch V8, better known today as the Nailhead. With 325 horsepower and 445 lb.-ft. of torque (hence the “Wildcat 445” sticker on the air cleaner), the Electra’s acceleration was effortless. The 1965 model had Buick’s Super Turbine 400 transmission, one of the best in the industry. Sharp eyes will notice that this car doesn’t have air conditioning, which may sound strange for an expensive car like the Electra, but considering its location in New England, it shouldn’t be surprising. There were still plenty of people in 1965 who were willing to roll the windows down on hot days to save a few hundred dollars, even at the Electra’s price point.
Perhaps the best part of this Buick is its solidity; the seller put the car on a lift and took several pictures of the undercarriage. If you’re buying a car with a limited financial upside, it makes sense to find a solid one, and this Electra looks like exactly the car you’re looking for if you’re looking for a 1965 Electra.
The selling dealer says that this car was owned by an elderly gentleman who is no longer able to drive or maintain it, but it has obviously been cared for its entire life, and if the mileage is correct, there’s no reason you couldn’t get another 60 years out of it. It’s a beauty.
Aaron,
This is an excellent writeup on a beautiful car. I especially liked “If you’re buying a car with limited financial upside….”. It shows that you’re sympathetic to the cars themselves, and not just the ultimate value or resale value.
As I’ve mentioned, I have two very nice mid-60s Chryslers that are very well built and smooth and powerful…perfect cruisers. But the resale value of these beauties is limited. And that’s OK, I enjoy them. And I’d love to own this 225, another perfect cruiser.
I completely agree with you Rex. I like to see cars saved, or preserved. Especially the 4 doors. They need live too, and quite frankly the view out the hood is exactly the same from a 2 door or a 4 door. Although, this 2 door Deuce and a Quarter is just amazing. I know Ive already told you I really like your Chryslers…..
But what the heck I’ll say it again….
I really like your Chryslers Rex!!!
Thank you, Rex. Maybe I’ve mentioned it, but I once was down to a coin flip on a ’65 New Yorker two-door hardtop (not nearly as nice as yours, a 10-footer, as usual). My garage is two wide and two deep and it just wouldn’t fit with the other cars in there; it’s like a game of Tetris.
Thanks Driveinstile,
I appreciate the positive feedback. As I’ve mentioned before, I can drive my boats around town, and people really enjoy seeing them on the road. But if I pull into a cruise-in, nobody is interested in a 4-door New Yorker, no matter how nice or how original.
If this very nice 225 pulled into a cruise-in, I know I’d love to see it, but otherwise everyone else would be glued to some Tri-5 restomod. But what makes sense anymore?
Rex. This may come as a surprise to you, but I would gravitate to your car at a car show way before looking at any restomod. I would also probably annoy you by talking to you for and hour and 18 minutes about it too. I respect them ( restomods) , dont get me wrong, but they’re not my cup of tea. Cars like these Buicks and Oldsmobiles and Chryslers etc just speak to me.
At any cruise-in or show I always head for the cars I don’t see at every damn show. I’d definitely spend some time checking out your New Yorker.
Thanks Duke,
I’m here in Tampa, where we just had Winter last week, and man let me tell you 50 degrees can really chill an old guy’s bones don’t ‘cha know.
I’ll be back on the car show circuit this weekend, as we rebound back to 70, and I can get the shorts and Barnfinds tee shirt back on!
A one and a two, hit it boyz,,,”Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick, a Buick, a ’65 Buick”,,,this is the car Linda November sang about, the ’65 Buick. She seemed to take the place of Dinah Shore and her Chevy pitch, also very successful. Just about everybody in “Panelboard Estates” knew someone with a Buick. Dynah Shores Chevy was getting on in years, and that new promotion dictated a car like this, later coined the “Duece and a quarter”. People didn’t buy the 225 for city jaunts, they had road car on their minds, and was one of the best. Ms. Novembers catchy tune worked, to the “tune” of over 600,000 Buicks sold in 1965 alone, 10% or 60,000 were Electra 225s. The mid 60s were just the epitome of great, simple cars meant to roll. And not as thirsty as one might expect, besides, look what you’d have for that 17mpg. High class!
Wow Howard, that was a great reference!!! I looked up Linda November and didn’t realize all the different jingles she sang. Howard gets the award for the new thing I’ve learned on Barnfinds today!!! I liked the Lawrence Welk reference there too in the beginning. I agree these were built for the Turnpikes and Parkways for sure.
Clean it up a bit and cruise
Great comments All, good write up Toth.
Torquey 401, 400 trans, and Buick elegance. 👍
I have to agree with all the comments. My first old car was a 4 door 1959 Biscayne, a mom & pop mobile. Ever since I have had a thing for the 4 doors especially the hardtops. I think the proportions are better.
Great write-up Rex! I certainly can’t fault this `65 Deuce, as it presents very well, and the originality is very self-evident. Had a question though, and no reference material at hand to look up, but wouldn’t this be more of the ‘standard’ Electra 225, and not a ‘Custom’? Vinyl interior and no power windows/seats? The lack of AC is curious too, but being a N.E. car I understand that omission.
This is definitely the optional custom interior. My Dad bought a new ‘65 Electra 4-dr HT and it had the standard interior.
In 1965 we didn’t have AC in our homes, schools, churches or cars. If we needed to cool off we headed to the frozen food area in the grocery store. Open all the car windows and CV vents and hope for the best and we didn’t have bottled water either.
Instruments are supposed to be at eye level, not knee level.
CCFischer, that was a major complaint of many of the owners of the 65 Buicks.. I drove one back in 1965-66, and that 225 4 door hardtop had tons of guts. I kinda liked the dash, but it was changed in 1966.
Beautiful, just beautiful.
What a body style that just steals your attention!
That interior I could sleep in.
Wow.
Got excited when I saw the post but then disappointed when I saw it doesn’t have A/C. I would want to drive it down here in Texas more than just in the Spring and Fall. It’s too hot here without A/C, mostly from the middle of May to the middle of October. And I wouldn’t drive it in the rain and ice we have from December to March.
225 inches long, hence the name Electra 225.
My first loves dad had a mint 1965 225 convertible, beautiful car! He kept it in a garage with a dirt floor I found out years later he junked it because the frame rotted out
I had a ’65 Coupe. I loved the Dash! It was one of the many things that I loved about the car. It was very unique! Another being the driveshaft tunnel – hardly there because the driveshaft had 3 U joints. My ’65 didn’t have the vinyl roof that camouflages the line in the sheet metal that continues from the line in the rear glass window. When you opened the doors, the interior gleamed with all of the chrome accents. I bought the car from the original owner who liked to smoke cigars. I bought it in ’85 and it had 42K miles. I found a cigar under the front seat and left it there. I had a car fire and had to get rid of it. The ’65 Buick Electra was my favorite car of all time…
This is a very nice car and I am sure that the next owner will enjoy it. I am always a little saddened when a person who has gotten too old to drive their car has to sell it. Hopefully the next owner will take care of it to the same degree that the present owner obviously did. Rex, add me to the list of people who would definitely check out your rides.
15 Grand and no A/C? Who’s kidding who?
This brings back memories. I bought a 65 225 4 door hardtop from a Professor at the University of Illinois. Other than the extra doors it was almost like this one with ONE BIG exception. It had the 425 ci engine with 2 four barrel carbs and finned aluminum Buick valve covers. A fantastic car that I wish I had back today (don’t we all wish we would have kept many of our “old cars”). A very unusual option for this car (?) I never had the guts to open it up out on the highway. I’m sure it would fly!
Oddly there’s no picture from the back. Great car but i liked the Wildcat better.
Very nice “normal” looking car. I can’t afford it, sadly. I like full-sized luxury “cruisers” indeed. However, despite my being up north in the Adirondacks; at my age, air-conditioning is a MUST. Buick and Chrysler had beautiful lines in the mid-to-late 1960s. They performed with near-“sport” ability to haste up to high speeds — but they also had an M.P.G. problem. In the days before the Arab Oil Embargo of 1974, nobody cared all that much; however, the way that gas-prices are now, a “guzzler” won’t quite work as a daily driver on a fixed retirement income. Moreover, most of the cruisers of this vintage do not mate very well with our unleaded gas. I have to consider practicalities, too, since, whatever I own in the way of an automobile must serve me also as my sole transportation. At my age, I don’t drive all that much; however, when I do, I need 20+ m.p.g., no air-bags to severely injury me if they happen to deploy, working air-conditioning, riding/driving physical comfort, and a car originally designed for unleaded fuel. That generally works out to something like a 1979-1989 Panther platform Ford/Mercury full-sized vehicle, or maybe a G.M. from 1977-1989. Any SUGGESTIONS??
In my last 40+ years of classic motoring, I have used regular unleaded fuel in the cars with no issues whatsoever. I’m talking 390 Fords, 383/413/225 Mopars, 401 Buick, and M10 BMW and B20 Volvos et al. The engines run fine and don’t ping.
My late friend, a BMW shop owner and race mechanic and car collector told me it doesn’t make a difference. Valve seats be damned. No difference in his opinion, which is rock solid.Probably a hype to sell ya lead substitute, which I don’t buy. Sometimes I use non-ethanol high octane in the old cars, and I wonder if I’m pissing away money buying that stuff. But it kinda makes me feel better in a way, I don’t know why.
My dad’s cousin had a white 1965 Buick Electra 225, it was a 4-door hard top. I can’t remember the interior color. I was 12 years old and thought it was the best looking car around. At the time my grandpa had a 1964 Impala station wagon. The family car was a1960 Rambler station wagon.
Rex Kahrs, I love your Mopars. I agree the mid 60’s Mopars had great lines. My family owned 2. A 1966 Plymouth Belvedere station wagon in a dark turquoise, it was beautiful. Also a 1967 Chrysler New Yorker 4-door hardtop. I was fortunate to drive both and loved them.
Thank you, Mike. Yes, the mid 60s were a high-water mark for Chrysler Corp. I just happened on my two Chryslers by happenstance.
My Dad was more of a Ford guy, but after he died my step-dad was a Dodge guy. So, I was exposed to both of those brands. For whatever reason my family in general never really owned GM cars until I bought a 74 Nova in college. That was a great car. I love the GMs as well.
But yes, the Chryslers or that era were very well designed, engineered, and well -built cars, as you know from your experience. Cheers brother.
I learned to drive in a ’65 LeSabre. Of course, I wished it had been a tricked-out Electra. I was disappointed to see this car doesn’t have power windows. I can’t imagine ordering one without them, but honestly, my dad would have done that very thing. He was afraid of driving off a bridge into the water and not being able to roll down the windows. I’m not kidding.
I always thought the gauges were pretty, but I agree they were too low. There was a little dial on our car you could use to set a needle at the speed you wanted to stay under. A little buzzer would sound if you went over that speed, and I remember using that often instead of looking down at the speedometer.
The rear end of these cars with the full-length taillight is stunning. I think ’65 was one of the prettiest Buicks ever.