My years of car fanaticism have equipped me with a well-stocked library with which to research any number of classic cars. But sometimes it’s easier to just do a quick web search; after all, it takes a few minutes to dig through my boxes of brochures, only a few seconds to type a few words into a search engine. In doing so, I found a 1964 Buick full-line brochure from Auto Catalog Archive that was clearly used for making an informed decision on an Electra 225 4-door, 6-window pillarless sedan (phew!) such as this one, which Barn Finds reader Scott found on craigslist in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Some Buick shopper of the distant past wrote “This is it!” with a large X next to the big Electra. Priced at $14,750 (Canadian?), maybe this ’64 Buick is it for you.
I’m a Buick fan for…well, I’m not sure exactly why. Buick’s longtime home base of Flint is within my local news viewing area, but more importantly, Buick always seemed to do their own thing: carburetor microswitches for starting, torque tubes, Nailheads, V6s, aluminum V8s, Dynaflows…they were always a half-step off the beat and I like that kind of thinking. By 1964, they had started to fall into line a bit (although this Electra still has the Nailhead and a two-piece driveshaft for a lower driveline tunnel), but it still has the basic Buick quality that is another reason why I love them. Chances are excellent that you’ll be able to enjoy this Electra for years with only basic maintenance.
The engine is the 325-horsepower 401 with 445 lb.-ft. of torque (that’s why it’s a “Wildcat 445”). For 1964, the Dynaflow (cough, Turbine Drive) was dropped and replaced by the Super Turbine 400, which is fundamentally the Turbo 400. With a 3.07 rear axle ratio, this is an excellent drivetrain, front to rear.
Buick interiors are always nice, too, especially in the high-line models such as the Electra. It’s tough to tell in this parking garage lighting whether the interior is tan or light green, but it’s very nice nonetheless. The front seat has been reupholstered (I assume the work was done using SMS fabric; it’s pretty much the only place to get original material anymore), and there are all kinds of factory amenities: power windows (and power vent windows), power seat, power antenna, cruise control, tilt steering. Power steering and brakes were standard, so the only big-ticket item the Electra seems to be missing is air conditioning (it is Canada, after all).
One potential shortcoming of big Buicks from this era is (surprisingly) front leg room. I discovered this when I bought my ’63 Riviera; at six-feet tall, I was awfully close to the wheel and pedals, and have since made a small modification that has helped. The factory specifications prove it: at 40.9 inches, the Electra has over an inch less front legroom than the intermediate Special (42 inches). It’s strange to say that you might want to “try it on” before you buy when your car will barely fit in your garage, but that’s the way it is.
Is the spare in there somewhere? This trunk lining is very nice and it might help to answer our question about the interior color.
This Buick has been for sale on craigslist for almost two weeks, so I’d guess the price is a little high for such a specialized item, which is a shame. Think about it, for perhaps ten-thousand American dollars, you could have an extremely well maintained Buick that seems to need nothing. It has a new radiator and water pump, new battery, new tires, rebuilt carburetor, new brakes and dual circuit master cylinder, rebuilt front end, and electronic ignition conversion. When I spend that much, it seems that I spend three months just getting the car reliable, maybe more. What are you waiting for, big car fans?
Love the Electra model. Great write up Toth. 👍
I”ll take one in black or dark blue please, with a cream or tan
leather and brocade interior. And no, I wouldn’t kick this one off my driveway either. The only thing I’d do would be to add
Vintage Air and heat as I live in Florida and A/C in a car is a must. 115 degrees and a 90 percent humidity in summer demands it. Other than that, this car is smooth and classy as they come. I could just see Angel in a really classy outfit (nice blazer,silk blouse , and one of those pencil skirts ) driving this car. And her hair would be up in true mid 60’s fashion. And me, I’d be along enjoying the ride.
That nicely finished trunk is not stock. Not even contemporary Cadillacs had fully trimmed trunks like this one.
Notice how it’s parked at an angle in the first picture to fit in the space of the parking garage, I’d have the same trouble in mine. Beautiful car though and I’ll bet the ride is smoooth.
Nice cr but no AC. No thanks. It’s hot down here.
Great write up, cool car. We had a ‘64 LeSabre 4dr HT… great to cruise around in on a summer night. It had a “355 Wildcat” per the air cleaner cover; was that just a 301 cubic inch?
Thank you! The “Wildcat 355” was a 300-cubic-inch small block with a four barrel (rated at 250 horsepower). It had nothing in common with the Nailhead; it was based on the 215 aluminum V8 (but the 300 only had aluminum heads in 1964, they switched to all cast-iron for ’65).
Craigslist reply only. Have not heard back. I’ll bring that to California!!
Lovely looking car. If only more pictures were posted.
Pure opulence! And adding AC would merit two more ” !! ”
How can anyone plop down 15K and ride as smoothly immediately?
Along with that – white paint that is still pristine!
To me, a centerpiece at any C & C
Excellent write-up, Aaron!
Thanks!
That’s funny that the leg room in the front is tight. I mean, 225 stood for the length of the car. In fact, the trunk looks longer than the hood. It’s a beautiful car but style won out over practicality. Today’s cars may lack the panache of a classic Buick but you get plenty of room with cab forward design and front wheel drive. Make my old Buick a Wildcat, preferably a convertible .
in the old days the 225 was called a deuce and a quarter.I remember them drag racing on union avenue near the rail yard in east bridgeport conn on Sundays in the seventies.
All of those power options including rare power vents and the unmentioned cornering lights, but no a/c. Kind of a head scratcher. It gets hot in Canada, too.
Nice write up Aaron. What are you posing in? 1958-1960 Thunderbird?
Not one of my cars this time! It’s a ’54 Oldsmobile at the R.E. Olds Museum in Lansing, Michigan.
I tried out one back in the early 70,s. It belong to a lady my mom worked for. She had traded it in. My brother and I tried it out. MAN IT WAS LONG. ,BUT IT RODE LIKE YOU WAS ON A BIG BOAT—SMOOTH. It also liked gas. I remember punching the gas to see what kind of pick up it had. Which was good for a car that size and then I saw the gas gauge going down. I didn,t buy it because of that. Nice looking car. Be great on trips. Hope it finds a good home.