15k Miles? 1971 Buick Electra 225
Long before the word downsizing entered the vocabularies of Buick’s design team, in 1971 the Electra 225 got a total revamp and actually picked up a couple of inches over the previous model plus gained over 300 pounds, and weighing in at well over 2 tons it was a bonafide full-size offering in the true sense of the meaning. This was also back in the good old days when automakers attached equal importance to adding a stylish 2-Door model in the mix, so if you’ve been in the market for a land-yacht-style early-seventies GM coupe this one may be worth considering. The car is in Cleveland, Ohio, and can be found here on Craigslist, with the asking price set at $8,750.
Pat L., thanks for sending us the tip here! The first thing I have to address is the mileage, which the seller states is 15,000. Although the body does present quite nicely overall, the seller mentions that the Buick has received some touch-ups, and I’m assuming that means in the paint department but the locations aren’t specified. Looking down the sides, there appears to be some rust under the driver’s side door and also on the passenger side front fender, along with areas of corrosion in the door jambs, Under many circumstances, it would seem like 15k miles of travel wouldn’t be enough to cause any of this, but Cleveland is at the northern end of The Buckeye State near Lake Erie, and if the mileage is correct the car certainly wouldn’t have consistently been driven long distances away from there. As hard as those winters can be on sheet metal, it really wouldn’t take more than a couple of snow seasons on the road in a climate like this to whet the tin worm’s appetite, so perhaps the low mileage statement could be correct.
Another point to ponder is the 455 engine, which the seller lists as a 10-cylinder. Some good news is the motor has been given a new carburetor, alternator, and fuel pump, plus new plugs and wires, but I don’t think two additional cylinders have been added. The car is said to run and drive like a dream, and it apparently sounds good too, as the owner mentions that the new dual exhaust system puts out a rumble that’s pleasing to the ears.
The interior is stated as original, but I’m a little confused by the seller’s enthusiasm about the car’s lack of options, as he states its beauty is being a base model with no air conditioning. I’m an A/C kind of guy most of the time, but to each his own I guess. Things inside do appear to be in decent shape, although it doesn’t look like a lot of effort was made to clean it up or remove papers from the rear seat before the photo shoot. Price-wise, the car seems reasonable, as Hagerty lists the good condition average value at $8,100, so if a full-size 1971 Buick is in your future m maybe this one’s a pretty good choice. What do you think?
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Comments
I like this big Buick and think the ask is reasonable. $9K doesn’t buy you much these days and it’s a model you rarely see now. Seems like all it needs is a vinyl top and maybe check out the brake system to make sure it’s safe for the road. Clean it up, polish it and you’re go to go. I don’t know if the mileage claim is true, but the car looks good enough to have decently low mileage.
Even if 115k miles, it is barely broken in! These cars are
the road trip Kings! Alas, no room at the Inn. Hope it goes
to a good home.
Some Buick road wheels and a new black vinyl top would dress this car up immediately. Skeptical of the miles with that clean engine and aftermarket air filter, but maybe after the carb work they felt ambitious. Be pretty easy to tell with closer examination.
I think a lead foot is in this cars history
Rallye wheels would not be correct for this car. The first year for factory Rallye Wheels on the Electra was 1973.
My brothers first car was essentially same car, same color, 4 door hardtop. Like riding around in the worlds fastest overstuffed sofa. Very comfortable. Loved gas and the rear tires always wore out much faster than the fronts. We would try to make them last longer by rotating them ourselves in the driveway. We could do it pretty quickly after a while. We thought we were outsmarting dad until he asked us one time at dinner if we were training to be a nascar pit crew.
Like riding around in the worlds fastest overstuffed sofa. Very comfortable.
haaaaaa, Bless the 70’s…………….
Lovely looking car. 1971 is my favourite year for the Buick full-sized car. My grandparents had a 1971 LeSabre back in the day. I was too young to drive a car at the time, but I remember the car being massive! I suppose when you’re 10 yrs. old, everything looks huge, eh? (laughs) Today I would give anything to drive a car like this. This time I’d go for the 1971 Electra or the Estate Wagon.
Although I don’t believe the miles, being from Cleveland (originally), I can attest to the fact that cars there in the ’70s rusted out without even being driven. I have to wonder just how much more of this beast is rusted.
THIS is Your Father’s BUICK ! ! !
That it is. 🙂
Had a ’72 four door like this in ’87. Cloth interior and inop air otherwise pretty much like the one here. New radial tires straightened out the way it drove. Compared to the neighbors Town Car this drove like a sports car.
I agree that the asking price is reasonable, but I find it very hard to trust a seller that outright lies about true mileage. Just be upfront bacause now you have to wonder what else is not true.
There is rust present at the bottom of both front fenders.
I think he’s just unsure. If you really love this beautiful car, buy it and enjoy it for what it is.
Mileage doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is OHIO. It may not show it yet but this car will have plenty of hidden rust. Look for it. It’s there.
That’s a hard pass with no A/C and options on an Electra. This is no gem
Nice car but all that black vinyl will feel like a blast furnace in the summer
Never seen a high end GM car without power windows except a Caddy that my dad was gonna buy. REALLY? Talked him outa that and went with the 225, AGAIN. I cant believe the “Baseness” of this one with AC delete. Not even 2K would wet my whistle.
Awesome find. It’s great to see a car, that based on appearances is well worthwhile restoring and fixing up without needing a mortgage! My father had a 71 olds 98 with the olds 455, these cars in my opinion were the best of an era. As stated in another post, some Buick roadwheels, a new black vinyl top, some other work and emjoy!
I had a ‘71 Electra 225 2 door hardtop. I bought her in 1976 with 52,000 miles from a Buick dealer in Schenectady, NY. What a great car that was! Copper color with a black vinyl roof and beige cloth interior. I had dual exhaust installed which helped her move better. The 8.5 to 1 motor only propelled the car to 85 MPH floored. I actually changed the water pump with a new one. I’m no mechanic but it tickled me that it installed rather easily! I gave it to my mother who needed a car and I was married in ‘82 and had a 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham already. I miss them both. The Buick was a game changer for my dad as he traded his life long Fords for a new 1978 LeSabre. Better Buy Buick!
Price is lowered to $7,500
That’s rather low mileage for a car 50 yrs. old. Unless the odometer has turned over in the past 50 years, I would think the mileage would be around 115k miles.