225″ OF Excellence: 1973 Buick Electra 455-4
The seller claims, “Wife is making me sell due to me getting a new Mustang and not enough storage“. What??? Forget the Ford, keep this fantastic-looking Deuce and a Quarter! It qualifies as a Whammer-jammer and I’d further suggest, a survivor. Best of all, this is a no-reserve auction so someone’s going to get quite a lot of cars. It’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,000 with eleven bids tendered so far.
So, this Electra 225 is a four-door hardtop, there was also a two-door version with two trim lines, a standard Electra and a Custom – and according to the VIN, this is a Custom variant. It has only been under the current owner’s care for one year but obviously, the previous owners have done right by it. The finish is still deep, the trim gleams, the bumpers look great and there’s no sign of crash damage or some other mishap. The only two detractions, and they’re subjective, are the white letter tires, which are really out of place, and the window tint is a bit too gangsta for my preference. I gave to say that the adverse effect of the tires is somewhat dulled by the inclusion of Buick road wheels – they always do justice to any Buick model.
Power comes from a 455 CI V8 engine of either 225 or 250 net HP – it depends on whether a single or dual exhaust system was specified and this car appears to possess a single system. The seller tells us, “Oil changes about every 1,500 miles its entire life. Car runs like new“. A Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission was the only game in town for this Electra.
The interior actually looks restrained compared to what GM offered in later years in both their luxury and near-luxury steeds. No, there’s no bordello-approved tufted pillow-top velour going on here, just a conservative and inconspicuously patterned fabric. The instrument panel is a bit of a disappointment for a car of this class, it’s faced with cheap-looking plastic wood and delivers minimal informational capability – essentially a speedometer that goes up as the fuel gauge goes down. There’s nothing amiss with it, mind you, it’s all in fine nick just not what I would expect from an automobile at this echelon.
About ten days ago, I covered this 1969 Buick Electra and suggested that it would be perfect for ramming slow-poke left-lane hogs out of the way. In reality, this ’73 version, with its five MPH bumper, would be a much better choice. Of course, this car is in too stellar a condition and would never be subjected to such a destructive, and yes, ridiculous task. No, this one is a time capsule and a reminder of what we once had. Swap out for a new Mustang? Not me brother but I’m probably in the minority (as I am with most things); how about you?
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Comments
No wife who forces you to sell such a sweet cruiser is worth as much as the car.
😲😲
God made storage lockers for a reason. Mine kept a 1964 Buick Wildcat convertible. Don’t sell it because you will never replace it and you will regret it forever.
sign me as
Been there, sorry I did that.
My mom and dad bought the same car when I was younger. They drove it from Columbus, Ohio 80 miles east to my hometown. It was even a Limited like this one, except my mom wanted wire wheels. Even had the same interior. They loved that car. I did one or 20 trips to Marco Island in it, and slept in the rear floor between the transmission tunnel. Memories! Thanks for the find and good luck with the sale.
Beautiful car in fantastic condition, but not a desirable car. I wish it luck, and I hope it finds a good home.
Why would you want a pos mustang when you could have this?
You don’t need a new mustang. You need a few new girlfriends to fill this beautiful car HhhhaaAa
Life lessons… Horsepower out pulls ho-power. ALWAYS keep car\harley over wife. And if you must keep wife, add onto garage to put wife In.
HhhhaaAa
That duece and a quarter would remain in my possession. Man keep the car! I sure would! That’s a pristine Buick. Bunk a Mustang!
This is a keeper. If the wife wants a Mustang tell her to keep it and you’ll put up a carport for it but the Buick stays. Mom & Dad had a ‘72 and my brother and I sat in the back on any trip. It was so dang big we couldn’t hear what they talked about in the front seat. Dad kept it immaculate. And I don’t remember it ever breaking down. F-O-R-D. Found….
Great car if you’re dedicated to bloat !
I’ve always been a Ford fan and have had really good luck with them. Yet, that is a very nice Buick there.
The lack of instrumentation was a feature. Anyone buying an Electra wanted to be insulated as far as possible from the world they were travelling through, and expected the car to perform flawlessly in the process.
I have had a ’72 and a ’73 225, both 4-door hardtops. Buick ride, smoothest ride. Enormous and quiet. During one long road trip, my 5’3″ wife laid down in the front seat with her head in my lap and her feet did not touch the door pull.
Had I the room I’d jump on this.
My wife was 5’2″ , and would do the same thing in my ’78 Mark V … going home on the Illinois tollway from a club, she was “pleasing” me, and fell asleep with my jeans unzipped (use imagination here) … couldn’t wake her up when coming to the toll booth … toll taker looked inside and smiled knowingly … I said “whatcha gonna do” and drove home …
This is about CARS etc. I’m sure your imaginary wife / children likes those comments.
Load up this Buick with the golf ⛳️ clubs, luggage 🧳, cooler 🍻 in the cavernous trunk..
Dial in the gps, then point 👉 this dinosaur 🦕 down the hwy, and follow the sunshine 🌞 😎
I still keep the Buick 225 .Electra and by the Mustang. I would have have two rides to drive one sporty one and a Luxurious Luxury Land Liner.
Some people don’t know the value of Antiques, Classics and Vintage Rides and dreams to have and own such a collection of beautiful 🤩 😻 😍 very cool 😎 Rides.
I had a ‘71 Electra 2 door hardtop and she was a great car. Water pump was the only “issue” and I replaced it myself and I’m NO auto mechanic!
If author is in the minority, I’ll join him there. The Electra-225s are my favorite non-Lincoln cars, as I’ve said more than once. That said, I am in line to inherit a Mustang, which I do intend to care for because it is family. But buy one? Not likely; I’ll take an Electra any day that a clap-door Lincoln ‘vert is not in the cards.
JO, well written article. “Duece & a quarter.” Man, thought I’d fall outta my La-Z-Boy when I read that. Let’s not date ourselves here. Lol. One of my fellow Army medics back in 1975 had one of these in brown. He was from St. Louis & weighed about “a buck & a quarter.” Idk how he saw over the dash.
Once again.. another prime example of GM Pimpin in the 1970’s.
Charles S. Martin Asphalt, Waukesha, Wis.,,mid 70s. My 1st heavy duty trucking job was driving a dump truck for this guy, and to say I learned a lot, would be an understatement. The boss, Charlie Martin, had this exact car. It was his car to take driveway and parking lot clients to jobs we did, and sometimes, swing by the current job, to “see how it’s going”. We could spot him a mile away. His car he used for everyday use, was an Opel 1900 wagon, with a ton of stuff in it. I know what I said about the Lincoln, but splitting hairs really on what was a better road car. Simply bamboozles me, what crap we drive today, when at one time, this time, we OWNED the freakin’ road, with cars like this. Whatever happened?
You said it just right. Gotta love how people call it a “boat” “dosen’t handle” who cares,we have good roads in America. Give me this or a Coupe Deville or 98 Regency over the junk we have now.
This is more accurately described as a barge.
Absolutely, Howard. You’re on the money.
Gas was cheap and then it got expensive. That’s what happened.
Strange tires and hubcaps…certainly not factory original.