Us "old school" called them Duces & a quarter. "225" Those were some mighty fine handsome luxurious cars! The Buick's of today look like kids roller skates. They had a lovely line up with Park Ave., Regal & Rivera. I know a company has to innovate, but NEVER alienate your customer base. It's truly hard to win them back.
I drove one of these for a few days when my 1988 Tempo was in the shop, an 84 Electra Park Avenue. I don't recall the steering being unable to handle curves, it was actually rather tight, and the steering was feather light with zero road feel. The suspension didn't wallow either. That steering wheel rim was pencil thin. I wished they would've kept the Tempo and let me keep the loaner car 🤣
To not wallow is good but to handle is a different thing, yes you can argue European cars had less engine weight less power and smaller overall dimensions that's why they handled better.... But still....
My Grandma had one of these cars. It was a 1977. I remember it being a 4 door, Brown exterior with Brown Interior and my favorite thing about it was its Analog Clock that was to the right of the climate controls and above the glove box. We took vacations in that car and it road so smooth! I miss her and every time I see one of these cars I think of her and those vacations we had.
I had a 1974 “225 duce and a quarter” Electra. 2 door triple blue 455. What a smooth ride all around. About 2 inches left in the garage. Heck I was able to fit both a front fender and door for an 86 Accord 2 door in the trunk!
I am a BIG fan of the old school GM RWD "C" body cars. (1959-1984) I have had all versions: Oldsmobile 98, Buick Electra and Cadillac DeVille models of different years. Here's the thing about the Buick Electra (and often Olds 98), In certain years they were NICER than the Cadillac equivalents! You COULD go "stealth wealth" and sacrifice NOTHING inside (and let's face it, these cars were ALL about the interior appointments). I had a 1977 Electra Limited AND A 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille at the same time, And the Buick had the more luxurious interior by a MILE! One would need to go to a FLEETWOOD to come close. And that wasn't even the Park Avenue package! (Also, the 77-84 Buick Electras & LeSabres had the prettiest dash of all GMs 77-84 B/C body cars) As to the 1992-96 Roadmaster, I liked the styling versus the other GM "whale" bodies. At least it looked like a Buick (The Caddy version was a joke on the name Cadillac, IMHO) it fell down on the interior. It wasn't BAD, but it was more at the LeSabre level than Electra level. Even though it was Buick's largest car, It was still positioned LOWER than the FWD Park Avenues. It might have sold better with a REAL luxury interior. It didn't matter though: The plant where they were made was converted to SUV production (And GM knew that's where the REAL profits would be - They were right, sadly)
Agreed, like I commented below, I had an '82 Bonneville Brougham, and it was so plush and so well optioned for the time, that it was a Caddy in everything but name
The Electra PArk Ave and 98 Regency and Regency Brougham had nice interior than the Cadillac SDV/CDVs, you had to order the de'Elegance package to equal them.
I had a 1979 Electra Limited, absolute beauty to drive. It was my daily driver for years. It had the 403 in it, I had it up to 120mph which took a few miles haha. Put air shocks on the rear axle and a sway bar. Thing cornered like a beast without losing any smoothness to the ride. When I sold it off in 2009 and started driving a 2001 Silverado, my first thought was, "what the heck happened to the roads?" Miss that car.
Your discussion makes a lot of sense. GM could have continued with the rear drive Buicks. Why they chose instead to have badge-engineered lookalikes is beyond me.
Because of the CAFE standards imposed on the auto makers by the government. GM could not keep building large heavy cars and pass the increasing fuel economy standards. Trucks did not have to meet as stringent fuel economy standards. That is why they started pushing trucks and SUVs to folks who wanted a vehicle with interior roominess.
i had a 83 buick park ave with the 307 was one of my all tike favorite car also had a 82 buick electra with the 403 was gold with tan interior and was my favorite car. also had 3 olds delta 88 royale all 1983 models with the 307. nowhere as fancy as the buicks they were a plain version of the buick. i loved them all. some of the greatest cars ever made
A buddy of mine had an early 80s Park Avenue in high school. Bought it off an old lady for cheap. Was low mileage and pretty pristine. I have to say, it was pretty awesome. Beyond comfortable.
My 1st car, 1981 Buick Electra Limited. White with blue vinyl top, blue cloth interior, air ride rear suspension that you could raise or lower the back. Man... if I could have this car back in my life again. I've promised myself that if I ever hit the lottery, I'm going to restore one from top to bottom just like my 1st one. Great video!
This brings back memories. My mother had a 1978 Buick Park Avenue, powder blue with matching vinyl top and sliding moonroof. Blue velour interior. When I took my girlfriend to prom in 1984 many friends rented limos, but I just borrowed the Buick and it was elegant enough. I’m a Ford man, but have always had a soft spot for Buicks.
In the late 80s I owned a 1978 and then an 1981 Electra. Both sedans. The 78 had a full power bench front seat. Never saw anything like that before. Both cars handled well and were built for cruising comfort not speed. These cars had distinct style. You knew instantly, even at a distance that a Buick was heading your way. Just as comfortable and plush as my friends 84 Cadillac Fleetwood but the Electra had a better engine and better brightwork.
I had a 77 225 coupe with the 403 in undergrad. I paid $650 for it in 2 installments. 😩it was clean & special. I had many great times with it and traded it in for a 94 Caprice. I wish I would have stashed it away. She deserved better. I never had any issues with it. She got me through a transitional time in my life.
I prefer the 1977-79 styling over the 1980-84 styling because I felt they had much superior powertrains, as a child growing up in the 1990's I saw more 1977-79 Electra's than the 1980-84's.
These things with the 403 were very nice fishtail fun-o-matics and tire smokers. If you got them on a nice gravel parking lot they can literally spin in a 360 degree circle on the spot. Talk about a blast.
Wow. My first car was a handed down ‘77 Electra 225. Early 90s, so everything about it was old school to everyone. It is by far the best car I’ve ever owned. Gas hog, but fuel economy didn’t matter back then. I get teary-eyed whenever I see one on the internet. Best times of my life.
I recall a few of those cars and they were nice. And with the bigger V8's, they could get out of their own way - gas V8's. Buick did pretty well with the front drive LeSabre and Park Avenues. In fact, I am currently looking for one and there are enough around that finding a decent one with less than 100K miles is possible.
These years looked good...but remember, this was the middle of the "Malaise Era" for American cars...performance paled in comparison to the previous generation of Buick...My 72 Electra was lavish, and had a slightly detuned version of the 455 V8---it still had 310hp, and the sheer power moved that nearly 5,000lb car down the road very swiftly!...I did not care that it was getting around 11mpg!...Conversely, I now drive a pristine 1993 Park Avenue, with the venerable 3800V6...only 170hp, but it seems to move quite well down the road, and I love the FWD...No problems with traction when I get caught in a snowstorm (which is seldom, in Seattle!)...Buicks have been consistently the most reliable, and comfortable land yachts over the decades...of course, these beautiful older cars are simply not made anymore--a further sign that our once great society is going down the drain!
One of my favorite cars, I owned 2 Electras ,a 75 and an 88. Yes by 1988 Buick did lose their identity and yes the 1985 which my 1988 was based on was no Buick, the 1988 was ok but it was definitely different than the 1975 that I had
Ah, those Elektra's from back in the day we're the wheels to have. I miss them. I'd rather have that than a 1981 Century that my dad eventually gave me!
Those were some super smooth, comphy cars. A friend found me a solid '77 LeSabre with a smashed windshield for $50 bucks in the early '90s. Replaced the windshield, and that car stayed in the family for 5-6yrs. A little thirsty, but reliable, and smooth. Nice driver.
Thank you for the video. I enjoyed the information and footage. I really did. It was well put together. I agree on the downsizing era at GM. I would love to see a video on Oldsmobile 98, Oldsmobile 88, and Tornado. I think on Pontiac Bonneville and Parisienne and Grand Prix would be great too. There are some Lincoln that would be nice to see as well. Thank you for the effort in this video.
I own a 1977 Electra 225 with the base 350. I have owned this beauty for 30 years. It is unrestored, but is in good condition and received a Gold Senior award at the Buick Nationals last year. It also got a best in class award at a local show this year with a total of 955 cars present. Not bad for a car I bought for my go to work beater for $2,000 in 1993!
My dad had a 79 225 model back in the early 90’s. Man that thing was awesome. Just floated down the road. Sitting in the back seat for a road trip was like being home on the coach. Driving it on the highway was like guiding a boat on the water. It passed the Big Gulp test. That’s win you put a full Big Gulp on the back floor and see if it rips over and spills when you drive. We did that many times and it NEVER tipped over. The car just cruises so well. Had the Buick 350 in ours and torque was good enough
GM's first major fail was Chevy getting a V8 and the Bel Air. No reason to buy a Pontiac or even an Olds. By the '70's it was full on badge engineering. Everyone was moving up market and the up market divisions were moving down. Really the Park Avenue was a Cadillac.
A lot of people who could afford a Cadillac bought a Buick so as not to 'show off' or appear to be more expensive small business owners than their competition. There was also the sad fact that Cadillac by the early '80's was building lower quality cars than the Buicks - and one could see and feel it.
In certain years, the Electra/Park Ave was NICER than the DeVille. (Check a 1977 Electra Limited interior VS a 1977 DeVille interior for example - Buick "out Cadillaced" the actual Cadillac!
One shyster practice I remember GM doing by then, something even my mechanic regarded with the same esteem as monkeypox, was swapping engines from one division into other divisions, so you'd run a risk of having a Chevy or Olds or Pontiac engine in your Buick...or vice-versa in any combination. Cadillac somehow was spared that treatment, at least until they tried the diesel bit (we all know what went with that). Luckily, the '79 Electra-225 Limited I had was fitted with the X engine (the Buick-built 350)...although that engine did have serious valve trouble which I was never able to repair. Knowing what I know now, I could easily fix that problem...but back then I was still learning about cars beyond sticking a gas-pump nozzle into the tank.
@@jamesslick4790 That actually says a lot, considering that the taillight treatment of the '77 Electra was the worst-looking of the period...at least, I thought so. I'm partial to the '79 taillight treatment: *THE* best-looking taillights of any car back then, bar none...to include cars from other corporations. But you're right about the interiors; they were plush, but not gaudy like Cadillac interiors, and had every practical creature-comfort one could ask for back then. Well...save for one: By then Cadillac started offering cassette players. Buicks still had 8-track players, however neatly concealed behind the radio scale, enough to fool any radio thief to pass it by. But retrofitting a cassette player into a '79 would not be a hard job at all; had I thought of doing that when I had my '79 Electra, I would have put it up against any Cadillac. But, back then, radio thefts were really big, and I didn't want to run the risk of my dash torn apart because somebody noticed the cassette deck.
Oh the video has to be one of your best, I was waiting for someone to do a video on the Electra, another story to be told should be about the Oldsmobile 88 which is another favorite of mine and I also owned 2 Olds 88s , 69 and an 80, love to see a video on this model
Little known is that in the 1980s the Electra Estate Wagon had a stable mate in the Le Sabre Estate Wagon. The ladder came with less features and some of those could be optioned whereas the Estate Wagon had them as standard equipment. As well, I believe the Le Sabre version could be optioned without the exterior wood grained panels. Currently, when ordering parts on-line, the names between the two are often interchangeable, yet oddly at other vendors the Le Sabre name is used to denote the rear-wheel-drive-wagon and the Electra Estate name is used to denote the front-wheel-drive-sedan, even though a check box in the pull-down menu had been checked off for "Wagon".
My late brother had an 84' 350 equipped Park Ave coupe which he adored. He knew that was the last year for those and kept his for a long time. You sat in those cars and you then knew why Buick was only "one step away from Cadillac." They were posh, and truly had character. Good episode, thank you. I miss my bro and his silver Park Avenue.
I had 3, 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue, 1st Charcoal Grey/Maroon red interior (Sold), still having 2 both White with Maroon Red interiors, ride level control, Electric trunk pull down option, electric fuel cap release, fitted Cadillac true spoke chrome wheels, can't stop loving owing and driving them. Those days they put so much love and compassion in those cars...
I bought a 1977 Buick Electra 225 in 1993 for my go to work beater. The car was nice so I kept it and still have it. We have been places in six states with it, and this unrestored beauty wins at the car shows too. Not bad for $2,000.
Thanks for the video. Buick always got Cadillac's old steering wheels and some appointments. We had a beautiful 58 BuickRoadmaster Convertible, more chrome than the 58 Cadillac. After that Dad bought Olds 98s, they were more luxurious than some of the Cadillacs, but while they were great cars, I think the real reason was our local Buick dealer also sold Cadillacs and Dad was afraid my Mom if looking at an Electra saw a Fleetwood Brougham she liked better he'd be on the hook. The Olds dealer stood alone.
My Dad had a brand new '79. He got a speeding ticket on the first day with it. It was a good car. It had a gap between the hood and the fender that you could fit your thumb in. It was all good after they cured that.
I have a 77 Electra rotting away in my backyard. It was my grandfathers and I thought I would eventually get the body work done on it but life gets in the way.
My Grandparents had a 1979 Buick LeSabre Four Door , Top-Of-The-Line with the spoft-top-hard-top. We use to go from New Orleans, Louisiana to Silver Creek, Mississippi in that vehicle to visit the Grandparents. This was in the very early 1990s.
Back in the mid 80's I bought a 1970 Electra 225 with the 455 engine for $500 from a local car lot next to the repair shop I worked at. It was fun to drive, but I forgot what I ever did with it. Also bought a 1976 Trans Am with a smashed in quarter panel from the same place, also $500.
I once had requested this channel to do a show on the 1968 to 1976 Electra. Nevertheless, thank you most heartily for a great segment on the ‘77 to ‘84 model years. Well done!
Yep, they used to say these cars were built for cruising not for speed. Which DECODED as, if you put your foot down they guzzled gas at even more alarming rates. They lacked the power to speed. Lacked the brakes to stop. Lacked the suspension to corner or handle and apart from all that, they were fine.
Great video. Even though those late 80s Electras were a big departure from the previous model, they were still great cars. I remember them still being common place on the roads in the 2000s. Heck, I still remember seeing them pop up from time to time in the early/mid 2010s.
My mother had a new 1970 Electra 225 4 door in bamboo yellow with a black vinyl top & a cream brocade interior. In 1974, my dad too went with the Electra Limited. It was a beautiful brown color with tan top and very plush brownish interior. It was much more loaded than their other one. Of the two though, I wish I could own the 1970 now.
I'm going to be honest, I love cars, having owned 39 currently have a Rubicon jeep unlimited, but.. the best one's I've ever owned were big cruisers.. I used to spend my driving days on big long stretches of highway. Doing that in a panther platform Ford or a Cadillac were the best vehicle's for the job. Now, today, I have to say that I hate SUVs, and really don't like new cars. I would love a new basic bench seat and suspension comparable to Jello.. I hate that the American car is gone.
I had a 77 Electra landau coupe, with a 350 engine, my mechanic told me it was a Olds engine but since I'm in California, it might not have been. Car ran great. My grandmother bought it new , traded in her 71 Coupe DeVille on the Buick. She stopped driving and I bought it Jan 1982 with 22k miles on it, drove it till 1996. Great running car
❤ I currently own a VERY CLEAN 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue sedan. Sky blue paint with a navy blue full top & pillow velour seats it’s rust free Georgia car 9/10 overall condition GETS ATTENTION EVERYWHERE FROM EVERYONE kids men women young old black white you name it ! Everyone tells me how their family or older relatives had one. Some people even ask to take pictures with it! I stole it for $1200 in July of 2022 it has the 252 cubic inch motor v6 with 88,000 og miles. My father had this same car 3 of them on 30s & vogues when I was a kid in the late 80s early 90s I still have pictures from back then with his cars
Is amazing all those cars when you drive is like floating in the air ..but now even luxury cars you can drive faster but you feel everything and the road noise ,low profile tires .it broke the passion the love to drive . Thanks ENGINEER DEPT FOR KILL THE LOVE FOR THE ROUTE .
My Dad had a two door Electra Limited with the landau roof from this generation. Not exactly sure of the year; I think maybe it was an early 80s model. I wasn't really a fan of such a large car having only two doors, as it makes the doors very long, but I always liked the interior of that car, particularly the dashboard with its big round gauges and simulated wood trim.
Those Works of Art were about an exquisite JOURNEY - even if just a trip to the Mall or the Beach - now, it's a cramped recycled Japanese beer can, only interested in the DESTINATION, meanwhile fidgeting in an attempt to be comfortable, sitting in traffic, staring at our phones, enduring neverending boredom ... 🤭🥴😲🤧😉😎
Here in England I still see the magnificent 1959 Electra at car shows, and you can pick up a good entry-level Le Sabre to restore for £3000 . (Matthewsons in Yorkshire sell them).
Still beautiful,an ageless beauty, once known as the executive suite on wheels in 1979, the403 olds engine was as close as you could get to having the performance similar to a 455big block Buick, enclave is nothing compared to this one.
My dad used to have the caprice classic brougham 1985 it had a lot of room and capacity with beautiful wooden interior totally one of the best car’s i’ve driven but sadly the car had water damage
The model with the green paint (late 70s here) was striking. Big American cars had that noodl-ey power steering, but they all, "floated," as you say here, like a big, old boat. They all had great suspension systems that the foreign cars could not come near, IMHO.
Cut my mechanic’s teeth working on a bunch of these. Definitely nice cars, if cared for. Made a ton of money fixing the diesel powered models. Thanks for sharing.
Us "old school" called them Duces & a quarter. "225" Those were some mighty fine handsome luxurious cars! The Buick's of today look like kids roller skates. They had a lovely line up with Park Ave., Regal & Rivera. I know a company has to innovate, but NEVER alienate your customer base. It's truly hard to win them back.
Agreed, and look at what we have now, SUVs. I'd rather have a Buick Skyhawk than any SUV.
My parents had two rivieras, an 82 and an 85 I believe. They were nice cars. Of course I realize that now that I'm older
Deuce and a Quarter... learn it, love it and live it.
I drove one of these for a few days when my 1988 Tempo was in the shop, an 84 Electra Park Avenue. I don't recall the steering being unable to handle curves, it was actually rather tight, and the steering was feather light with zero road feel. The suspension didn't wallow either. That steering wheel rim was pencil thin. I wished they would've kept the Tempo and let me keep the loaner car 🤣
To not wallow is good but to handle is a different thing, yes you can argue European cars had less engine weight less power and smaller overall dimensions that's why they handled better.... But still....
I had a Tempo too, it was the WORST car I ever had in terms of reliability and I treated it VERY well!!!!!!
The Electra Estate wagons were the best looking wagons of that era, especially with the alloy wheels.
My Grandma had one of these cars. It was a 1977. I remember it being a 4 door, Brown exterior with Brown Interior and my favorite thing about it was its Analog Clock that was to the right of the climate controls and above the glove box. We took vacations in that car and it road so smooth! I miss her and every time I see one of these cars I think of her and those vacations we had.
I had a 1974 “225 duce and a quarter” Electra. 2 door triple blue 455. What a smooth ride all around. About 2 inches left in the garage. Heck I was able to fit both a front fender and door for an 86 Accord 2 door in the trunk!
👍
When Buick shrunk the big 76 that was the end of the luxury car. It then became just a car.
I am a BIG fan of the old school GM RWD "C" body cars. (1959-1984) I have had all versions: Oldsmobile 98, Buick Electra and Cadillac DeVille models of different years. Here's the thing about the Buick Electra (and often Olds 98), In certain years they were NICER than the Cadillac equivalents! You COULD go "stealth wealth" and sacrifice NOTHING inside (and let's face it, these cars were ALL about the interior appointments). I had a 1977 Electra Limited AND A 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille at the same time, And the Buick had the more luxurious interior by a MILE! One would need to go to a FLEETWOOD to come close. And that wasn't even the Park Avenue package! (Also, the 77-84 Buick Electras & LeSabres had the prettiest dash of all GMs 77-84 B/C body cars) As to the 1992-96 Roadmaster, I liked the styling versus the other GM "whale" bodies. At least it looked like a Buick (The Caddy version was a joke on the name Cadillac, IMHO) it fell down on the interior. It wasn't BAD, but it was more at the LeSabre level than Electra level. Even though it was Buick's largest car, It was still positioned LOWER than the FWD Park Avenues. It might have sold better with a REAL luxury interior. It didn't matter though: The plant where they were made was converted to SUV production (And GM knew that's where the REAL profits would be - They were right, sadly)
Agreed, like I commented below, I had an '82 Bonneville Brougham, and it was so plush and so well optioned for the time, that it was a Caddy in everything but name
The Electra PArk Ave and 98 Regency and Regency Brougham had nice interior than the Cadillac SDV/CDVs, you had to order the de'Elegance package to equal them.
Agreed..Very well said
I always love the buicks from the 1970s and the 1980s
I couldn't agree with you more when you ended your post with the word "sadly."
I had a 1979 Electra Limited, absolute beauty to drive. It was my daily driver for years. It had the 403 in it, I had it up to 120mph which took a few miles haha. Put air shocks on the rear axle and a sway bar. Thing cornered like a beast without losing any smoothness to the ride. When I sold it off in 2009 and started driving a 2001 Silverado, my first thought was, "what the heck happened to the roads?" Miss that car.
Mom had a 83 model. It was a very roomy, comfortable car. Had 307 olds. Very reliable had well over 200,000 miles when dad sold it.
Your discussion makes a lot of sense. GM could have continued with the rear drive Buicks. Why they chose instead to have badge-engineered lookalikes is beyond me.
Because badge engineering everything is way cheaper and simpler to make and deaign
They were already badge engineered to begin with.
Because of the CAFE standards imposed on the auto makers by the government. GM could not keep building large heavy cars and pass the increasing fuel economy standards. Trucks did not have to meet as stringent fuel economy standards. That is why they started pushing trucks and SUVs to folks who wanted a vehicle with interior roominess.
Because ford and dodge was doing it.
Even the rear wheel drive cars were badge engineered. Same as the Chevy Caprice and Olds Delta 88 and 98
i had a 83 buick park ave with the 307 was one of my all tike favorite car
also had a 82 buick electra with the 403 was gold with tan interior and was my favorite car.
also had 3 olds delta 88 royale all 1983 models with the 307.
nowhere as fancy as the buicks they were a plain version of the buick.
i loved them all.
some of the greatest cars ever made
.......And now, Today, Buicks look like big fat TURDS!!!!!.
A buddy of mine had an early 80s Park Avenue in high school. Bought it off an old lady for cheap. Was low mileage and pretty pristine.
I have to say, it was pretty awesome. Beyond comfortable.
My 1st car, 1981 Buick Electra Limited. White with blue vinyl top, blue cloth interior, air ride rear suspension that you could raise or lower the back. Man... if I could have this car back in my life again. I've promised myself that if I ever hit the lottery, I'm going to restore one from top to bottom just like my 1st one. Great video!
This brings back memories. My mother had a 1978 Buick Park Avenue, powder blue with matching vinyl top and sliding moonroof. Blue velour interior. When I took my girlfriend to prom in 1984 many friends rented limos, but I just borrowed the Buick and it was elegant enough. I’m a Ford man, but have always had a soft spot for Buicks.
In the late 80s I owned a 1978 and then an 1981 Electra. Both sedans. The 78 had a full power bench front seat. Never saw anything like that before. Both cars handled well and were built for cruising comfort not speed. These cars had distinct style. You knew instantly, even at a distance that a Buick was heading your way. Just as comfortable and plush as my friends 84 Cadillac Fleetwood but the Electra had a better engine and better brightwork.
That’s like saying that Kathy Bates is similarly as attractive as Rosie O’Donnell . 🤦♂️
Thanks for your explicit and detailed account of the GM history, I enjoyed it very much. Good day sir.
Those interiors are beautiful.
The Park Avenue had a surprisingly thumpin' Delco sound system.
Pretty sure it was a rebranded Bose
No replacement for 6x9’s
@@gm12551 I replaced mine on my old 85 Riv. Just gotta search real good.
I had a 77 225 coupe with the 403 in undergrad. I paid $650 for it in 2 installments. 😩it was clean & special. I had many great times with it and traded it in for a 94 Caprice. I wish I would have stashed it away. She deserved better. I never had any issues with it. She got me through a transitional time in my life.
🤬
Now there’s an honest story . Thank you
Like floating over the road - quiet, whisper comfort. Beautiful Automobile.
I have always loved those Buick sport rims
I prefer the 1977-79 styling over the 1980-84 styling because I felt they had much superior powertrains, as a child growing up in the 1990's I saw more 1977-79 Electra's than the 1980-84's.
I had an '83 4dr Park Ave. That car was absolutely magnificent.
That green coloured Buick is just like eye candy. Such a gorgeous looking car.
These things with the 403 were very nice fishtail fun-o-matics and tire smokers. If you got them on a nice gravel parking lot they can literally spin in a 360 degree circle on the spot. Talk about a blast.
Ya blowing gravel from someone's parking lot all over the rear and sides of you car sounds like a classy great time. Not
@@giggiddy You must be fun at parties
Wow. My first car was a handed down ‘77 Electra 225. Early 90s, so everything about it was old school to everyone. It is by far the best car I’ve ever owned. Gas hog, but fuel economy didn’t matter back then. I get teary-eyed whenever I see one on the internet. Best times of my life.
Love these cars. Had several throughout the years. Wish I could find one again 😢😢😢
I recall a few of those cars and they were nice. And with the bigger V8's, they could get out of their own way - gas V8's. Buick did pretty well with the front drive LeSabre and Park Avenues. In fact, I am currently looking for one and there are enough around that finding a decent one with less than 100K miles is possible.
These years looked good...but remember, this was the middle of the "Malaise Era" for American cars...performance paled in comparison to the previous generation of Buick...My 72 Electra was lavish, and had a slightly detuned version of the 455 V8---it still had 310hp, and the sheer power moved that nearly 5,000lb car down the road very swiftly!...I did not care that it was getting around 11mpg!...Conversely, I now drive a pristine 1993 Park Avenue, with the venerable 3800V6...only 170hp, but it seems to move quite well down the road, and I love the FWD...No problems with traction when I get caught in a snowstorm (which is seldom, in Seattle!)...Buicks have been consistently the most reliable, and comfortable land yachts over the decades...of course, these beautiful older cars are simply not made anymore--a further sign that our once great society is going down the drain!
One of my favorite cars, I owned 2 Electras ,a 75 and an 88. Yes by 1988 Buick did lose their identity and yes the 1985 which my 1988 was based on was no Buick, the 1988 was ok but it was definitely different than the 1975 that I had
Ah, those Elektra's from back in the day we're the wheels to have. I miss them. I'd rather have that than a 1981 Century that my dad eventually gave me!
Those were some super smooth, comphy cars. A friend found me a solid '77 LeSabre with a smashed windshield for $50 bucks in the early '90s. Replaced the windshield, and that car stayed in the family for 5-6yrs. A little thirsty, but reliable, and smooth. Nice driver.
Thank you for the video. I enjoyed the information and footage. I really did. It was well put together. I agree on the downsizing era at GM. I would love to see a video on Oldsmobile 98, Oldsmobile 88, and Tornado. I think on Pontiac Bonneville and Parisienne and Grand Prix would be great too. There are some Lincoln that would be nice to see as well. Thank you for the effort in this video.
I own a 1977 Electra 225 with the base 350. I have owned this beauty for 30 years. It is unrestored, but is in good condition and received a Gold Senior award at the Buick Nationals last year. It also got a best in class award at a local show this year with a total of 955 cars present. Not bad for a car I bought for my go to work beater for $2,000 in 1993!
That 84 park with those mags just about takes the cake.
My dad had a 79 225 model back in the early 90’s. Man that thing was awesome. Just floated down the road. Sitting in the back seat for a road trip was like being home on the coach. Driving it on the highway was like guiding a boat on the water. It passed the Big Gulp test. That’s win you put a full Big Gulp on the back floor and see if it rips over and spills when you drive. We did that many times and it NEVER tipped over. The car just cruises so well. Had the Buick 350 in ours and torque was good enough
I had the 77 limited. Drove it for 10 years or more. One of the best cars I have ever owned.
GM's first major fail was Chevy getting a V8 and the Bel Air. No reason to buy a Pontiac or even an Olds. By the '70's it was full on badge engineering. Everyone was moving up market and the up market divisions were moving down. Really the Park Avenue was a Cadillac.
A lot of people who could afford a Cadillac bought a Buick so as not to 'show off' or appear to be more expensive small business owners than their competition.
There was also the sad fact that Cadillac by the early '80's was building lower quality cars than the Buicks - and one could see and feel it.
In certain years, the Electra/Park Ave was NICER than the DeVille. (Check a 1977 Electra Limited interior VS a 1977 DeVille interior for example - Buick "out Cadillaced" the actual Cadillac!
One shyster practice I remember GM doing by then, something even my mechanic regarded with the same esteem as monkeypox, was swapping engines from one division into other divisions, so you'd run a risk of having a Chevy or Olds or Pontiac engine in your Buick...or vice-versa in any combination. Cadillac somehow was spared that treatment, at least until they tried the diesel bit (we all know what went with that).
Luckily, the '79 Electra-225 Limited I had was fitted with the X engine (the Buick-built 350)...although that engine did have serious valve trouble which I was never able to repair. Knowing what I know now, I could easily fix that problem...but back then I was still learning about cars beyond sticking a gas-pump nozzle into the tank.
@@jamesslick4790 That actually says a lot, considering that the taillight treatment of the '77 Electra was the worst-looking of the period...at least, I thought so. I'm partial to the '79 taillight treatment: *THE* best-looking taillights of any car back then, bar none...to include cars from other corporations.
But you're right about the interiors; they were plush, but not gaudy like Cadillac interiors, and had every practical creature-comfort one could ask for back then. Well...save for one: By then Cadillac started offering cassette players. Buicks still had 8-track players, however neatly concealed behind the radio scale, enough to fool any radio thief to pass it by. But retrofitting a cassette player into a '79 would not be a hard job at all; had I thought of doing that when I had my '79 Electra, I would have put it up against any Cadillac. But, back then, radio thefts were really big, and I didn't want to run the risk of my dash torn apart because somebody noticed the cassette deck.
Oh the video has to be one of your best, I was waiting for someone to do a video on the Electra, another story to be told should be about the Oldsmobile 88 which is another favorite of mine and I also owned 2 Olds 88s , 69 and an 80, love to see a video on this model
I still love every km in my Olds Delta88. Nothing can come close....
Had a 1978 electra ultra, with the 403 olds engine. Great car, awesome ride and comfy seats.
Thanks who ever run this channel, we love it.
Central California watching.
Definitely a classic! I remember as a kid I always wanted to own one!
Little known is that in the 1980s the Electra Estate Wagon had a stable mate in the Le Sabre Estate Wagon. The ladder came with less features and some of those could be optioned whereas the Estate Wagon had them as standard equipment. As well, I believe the Le Sabre version could be optioned without the exterior wood grained panels. Currently, when ordering parts on-line, the names between the two are often interchangeable, yet oddly at other vendors the Le Sabre name is used to denote the rear-wheel-drive-wagon and the Electra Estate name is used to denote the front-wheel-drive-sedan, even though a check box in the pull-down menu had been checked off for "Wagon".
My late brother had an 84' 350 equipped Park Ave coupe which he adored. He knew that was the last year for those and kept his for a long time. You sat in those cars and you then knew why Buick was only "one step away from Cadillac." They were posh, and truly had character. Good episode, thank you. I miss my bro and his silver Park Avenue.
Very nice line of Buick vehicles. Very nice.
I miss my 79 Electra Limited in Burgundy. Best highway cruiser I ever had!
I had 3, 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue, 1st Charcoal Grey/Maroon red interior (Sold), still having 2 both White with Maroon Red interiors, ride level control, Electric trunk pull down option, electric fuel cap release, fitted Cadillac true spoke chrome wheels, can't stop loving owing and driving them. Those days they put so much love and compassion in those cars...
I bought a 1977 Buick Electra 225 in 1993 for my go to work beater. The car was nice so I kept it and still have it. We have been places in six states with it, and this unrestored beauty wins at the car shows too. Not bad for $2,000.
I loved the brown velour seats in the Park Avenue my dad drove. It had a dark brown vinyl roof with light brown paint.
I love your program I can watch this kind of stuff all day long
Thanks for the video. Buick always got Cadillac's old steering wheels and some appointments. We had a beautiful 58 BuickRoadmaster Convertible, more chrome than the 58 Cadillac. After that Dad bought Olds 98s, they were more luxurious than some of the Cadillacs, but while they were great cars, I think the real reason was our local Buick dealer also sold Cadillacs and Dad was afraid my Mom if looking at an Electra saw a Fleetwood Brougham she liked better he'd be on the hook. The Olds dealer stood alone.
My Dad had a brand new '79. He got a speeding ticket on the first day with it. It was a good car. It had a gap between the hood and the fender that you could fit your thumb in. It was all good after they cured that.
I have a 77 Electra rotting away in my backyard. It was my grandfathers and I thought I would eventually get the body work done on it but life gets in the way.
Always loved the Buick Electra, Riviera and even Regal
My Grandparents had a 1979 Buick LeSabre Four Door , Top-Of-The-Line with the spoft-top-hard-top. We use to go from New Orleans, Louisiana to Silver Creek, Mississippi in that vehicle to visit the Grandparents. This was in the very early 1990s.
Trouble with old car memories, the people you remember having the old cars are mostly dead.
I think about that all the time. My fondest memories turn a little sad when I realize that the people that made them fond are now gone.
Back in the mid 80's I bought a 1970 Electra 225 with the 455 engine for $500 from a local car lot next to the repair shop I worked at. It was fun to drive, but I forgot what I ever did with it. Also bought a 1976 Trans Am with a smashed in quarter panel from the same place, also $500.
In 1993 I had a 1985 Buick LeSabre Limited Collector's Editon..White with grey cloth interior If I remember right.. I loved the ride..
I bought a 83 Electra from an old lady for 600 dollars back in November, I love her and wouldn’t trade her in for anything
Love these short doco films.
One of my favorite channel about cars🤗
What a beautiful car back then with those white wall tires.
I once had requested this channel to do a show on the 1968 to 1976 Electra. Nevertheless, thank you most heartily for a great segment on the ‘77 to ‘84 model years. Well done!
Yep, they used to say these cars were built for cruising not for speed. Which DECODED as, if you put your foot down they guzzled gas at even more alarming rates. They lacked the power to speed. Lacked the brakes to stop. Lacked the suspension to corner or handle and apart from all that, they were fine.
Sweet car mom had one
Great video. Even though those late 80s Electras were a big departure from the previous model, they were still great cars. I remember them still being common place on the roads in the 2000s. Heck, I still remember seeing them pop up from time to time in the early/mid 2010s.
One of my favorites from GM the C body Buick and Oldsmobile luxury cars .
I kind of liked that "floaty" feel. Like a magic carpet.
My mother had a new 1970 Electra 225 4 door in bamboo yellow with a black vinyl top & a cream brocade interior. In 1974, my dad too went with the Electra Limited. It was a beautiful brown color with tan top and very plush brownish interior. It was much more loaded than their other one. Of the two though, I wish I could own the 1970 now.
I'm going to be honest, I love cars, having owned 39 currently have a Rubicon jeep unlimited, but.. the best one's I've ever owned were big cruisers.. I used to spend my driving days on big long stretches of highway. Doing that in a panther platform Ford or a Cadillac were the best vehicle's for the job. Now, today, I have to say that I hate SUVs, and really don't like new cars. I would love a new basic bench seat and suspension comparable to Jello.. I hate that the American car is gone.
I had a 77 Electra landau coupe, with a 350 engine, my mechanic told me it was a Olds engine but since I'm in California, it might not have been. Car ran great. My grandmother bought it new , traded in her 71 Coupe DeVille on the Buick. She stopped driving and I bought it Jan 1982 with 22k miles on it, drove it till 1996. Great running car
Likely Olds as the Olds v8 could meet emission standards of the day easier then other GM V8s.
Buick Park Ave was the luxury 2nd Cadillac back in the day love these old skool luxury including Oldsmobile 98 Brougham
❤ I currently own a VERY CLEAN 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue sedan. Sky blue paint with a navy blue full top & pillow velour seats it’s rust free Georgia car 9/10 overall condition GETS ATTENTION EVERYWHERE FROM EVERYONE kids men women young old black white you name it ! Everyone tells me how their family or older relatives had one. Some people even ask to take pictures with it! I stole it for $1200 in July of 2022 it has the 252 cubic inch motor v6 with 88,000 og miles. My father had this same car 3 of them on 30s & vogues when I was a kid in the late 80s early 90s I still have pictures from back then with his cars
My late mother used to have a 1973 Buick Electra 225 from 1974 to 1980
Is amazing all those cars when you drive is like floating in the air ..but now even luxury cars you can drive faster but you feel everything and the road noise ,low profile tires .it broke the passion the love to drive . Thanks ENGINEER DEPT FOR KILL THE LOVE FOR THE ROUTE .
Had a1981 Buick Lesabre. 307 olds motor with overdrive. Car rode so smooth with 120;000 miles
I have 2 Roadmasters, a 94 and a 95, both with the LT-1, they can still move
Had several of these over the years, all the way up to 2019 when I sold my '77 Limited with a Buick 350.
I can attest to the greatness of the Electra wagon. ;)
My Dad had a two door Electra Limited with the landau roof from this generation. Not exactly sure of the year; I think maybe it was an early 80s model. I wasn't really a fan of such a large car having only two doors, as it makes the doors very long, but I always liked the interior of that car, particularly the dashboard with its big round gauges and simulated wood trim.
Cross my eyes and see Sharp lines, squares, rectangles. Sad time in US industry
Love your videos!!!
Those Works of Art were about an exquisite JOURNEY - even if just a trip to the Mall or the Beach - now, it's a cramped recycled Japanese beer can, only interested in the DESTINATION, meanwhile fidgeting in an attempt to be comfortable, sitting in traffic, staring at our phones, enduring neverending boredom ... 🤭🥴😲🤧😉😎
Here in England I still see the magnificent 1959 Electra at car shows, and you can pick up a good entry-level Le Sabre to restore for £3000 . (Matthewsons in Yorkshire sell them).
Dad owned the Ole Duece and a Quarter, had fun driving it.
I'm going to get one of these my favorite old school car by far
Still beautiful,an ageless beauty, once known as the executive suite on wheels in 1979, the403 olds engine was as close as you could get to having the performance similar to a 455big block Buick, enclave is nothing compared to this one.
I love the 1987 Buick Electra Estate Wagon. The same car that was in the movie, Adventures in Babysitting (1987), at 7:51.
the b-bodies will always be the best from gm imo
hey do.a video.on 1977 to 1979.pontiac.bonneville
Parents bought a new 82 Electra Limited. That was the fancies car my parents ever had.
Thèse cars were absolutely gorgeous.
My dad used to have the caprice classic brougham 1985 it had a lot of room and capacity with beautiful wooden interior totally one of the best car’s i’ve driven but sadly the car had water damage
The model with the green paint (late 70s here) was striking. Big American cars had that noodl-ey power steering, but they all, "floated," as you say here, like a big, old boat. They all had great suspension systems that the foreign cars could not come near, IMHO.
The tone of your voice is like "Gah! Do I have to do this?".
They talking about how the Buick Electra absorbed pot holes it also absorbed Toyotas and other small cars very well also
God Bless the Electra and the 1997 Grand National.
Cut my mechanic’s teeth working on a bunch of these. Definitely nice cars, if cared for. Made a ton of money fixing the diesel powered models. Thanks for sharing.
A two doors are bulletproof. Period.
Looking for one ASAP.
I had a 2 dr.84 LeSabre and a 84 Buick Estate wagon . We drove the wheels off those car's. don't even see them on the road anymore.