My parents purchased two 1960 Buicks and we drove 1960 Buicks through the 1990s. I was horrified when they removed the fins from Buick in 1961 and shrunk them as well. There was an economic recession in 1959-60 as well as a steel strike which caused a problem obtaining the required steel.
I inherited my Moms 61 Invicta when my Dad finally broke down a brought her a new 73 Caprice, I had just turned 17. I loved that Buick, so smooth and pretty quick for a full size car. The mirror adjustable dash /speedometer and ribbon speed indicator were truly unique and cool. Also very cool was the air cleaner with 445 Wildcat with a snarling cat painted on the top cover. I don't think a smoother automatic transmission has ever been made like the Dynaflow. I understand they stopped making them because they were very expensive to manufacture verses a Turbo Hydromatic. Great video as always, thanks for keeping the memories alive..!
The "regular" Dynaflow was not too expensive to make, it just enacted too much of a performance penalty. The triple-turbine Flight-Pitch Dynaflow of 58 - 59 is the one that was too expensive, and it didn't work very well either. It kept the engine at excessively high revs much of the time, enacted just as much of a performance penalty, if not worse, AND if it's Grade Retard/Hill Retard feature was mis-used, you severely damaged or even destroyed the converter. Chevrolet had a similar Turbo-Glide in 57 - 61, with similar poor results. Turbo Hydramatic didn't come out until 1964. The old 4 speed Hydramatic was a good solid unit and lasted through 1964 or 65, but the 61 - 64 "Slim Jim" Hydra was not a good unit.
There is no "Performance Penalty" withthe Dynaflow transmission. Starting out in Low and shifting into Drive at about 50 MPH enables the Buick to out-perform almost any cars of the time. I beat a '67 SS 396 at Thompson Dragway in Ohio with my '63 LeSabre 2 barrel 401. The torque off the line in Low is what makes al the difference. @@michaelbenardo5695
I think almost every American car design in the early 60's is beautiful. These Buicks, the canted eye Chryslers, just a lot of great looking cars. I don't know how I could've bought a new car in the early 60's. I wouldn't have been able to choose. They're all great looking.
When I was growing up my dad always drove Buicks. We had a 52 and 55 Roadmaster, 59 and 62 LeSabre, 65 Skylark, 66 Wildcat, 68 and 73 Electra. My first car was a 64 Special and then I had a 66 LeSabre. They were all great cars. My favorite was the 66 Wildcat since that was the one we had when I was 15 and learning to drive.
I think the ‘61 Buick front end with the bullet fenders was very attractive and the overall design was a huge modernization from the ‘59 and ‘60. And the convertible version was very sporty looking in the La Sabre and Invicta trims… the “Wildcat” name would have fit well. Interestingly, Oldsmobile used the reverse bullet at the rear of its ‘61 full size cars. I would love to get my hands on a restored ‘61 Buick but they are exceedingly rare. BTW, my dad owned a ‘60 Invicta in dark blue. He always said it was his favorite car.
I agree I always found the 61 Buick one of the most attractive Buicks of the 60s. My parents had a 59 Buick Lesabre wagon which to me looked more sinister than the 58 Christine Plymouth. 1960 Buick was more toned down but I liked the 61 best. I always liked the 61 Olds, Chevy, and Pontiac as well.
@@user-ph3rb1in6e I agree with you. All the GM ‘61s save Cadillac took on a generational design shift, particularly if one looks at the GM ‘58s by comparison. The difference in just three model years is stark. It was like someone flipped a switch to the “modern” position. Cheers!
@@Primus54 I would say that all the 61 GM cars except the Cadillac along with the all new 61 Lincoln Continental ushered in a new era along with the newly elected President John F. Kennedy. 1961 culturally was the beginning of the 60s and the year 1960 itself was actually like a continuation of the 50s. My parents were one of the first in 1961 to order the new 1962 Chevy II. When you compare the 62 Chevy II to the Falcon, Lancer, Valiant, and Rambler American it was a simpler more modern design resembling the newer model Mercedes at that time. Even the clothing changed in 1961 with an era of sleeker more minimalists designs more in vogue. Having myself been born in the early 50s I was a child in the late 50s and early 60s.
@@user-ph3rb1in6e Excellent observations. I was born in January, 1954 and was interested in cars as early as I can remember. All my siblings were considerably older than me so my parents bought a new ‘61 Pontiac Tempest for them… a very interesting new design. 👍
Me too. The angled fins AND angled headlights up front. The sides were awesome also. I love the '60 almost as much. Very surprised they didn't sell better!
For me also the Buick has the best looking front of all 59 GM cars. But about the rear end, I prefer Chevrolets perfect matching fin (gullwing) and taillight arrangement...
I’ve always loved the 1961 GM cars especially the BOP’s. I especially loved the Sport Sedan/Flat top 4-door hardtop sedans, though you rarely see them.
The mirror speedometer is similar in function to a modern aviation heads up display, however not in use at that time. I think the intent as said was to adjust for drivers' height with a low-profile speedo using the drum device. A creative solution ahead of its time, and a feature that is available today in several GM models. I wonder if the designers ever thought of using the inside of the windshield as a reflector for the display. Some good styling ideas shown here, and some very good interior design.
My first car was a two door LeSaber convertible. Dad worked at a dealer and found it on the used car lot. Yellow with a terrible green interior. I loved that beast. Had to give it up when I went to college as I was not allowed to have a car freshman year. The first day taking it to school I had a couple of guys with me and the engine chocked out on the way up the hill. Got home and dad didn’t believe me but took it in next day anyway. Mechanic found the air cleaner was packed with acorns! The back seat had all the stuffing torn out. Squirrels had invaded the car at the previous owners house. What a hoot!
These cars are among my all-time favorites. My parents bought the first new 1961 Buick delivered in my hometown -- a LeSabre 4-door hardtop in "Desert Fawn". Two of my uncles followed suit, with a '61 Invicta 4-door hardtop and a '61 LeSabre 4-door sedan. The quality and long-term reliability of these cars were superb, with my uncles' cars providing years of faithful service on rural Oregon cattle ranches. . . . My wife and I regularly drive our '59 Electra 4-door hardtop, and never hesitate to head out on long driving tours. If I could add to my car collection, I would be searching for more Buicks from this era.
I remember this model year very well. As a little kid, our wealthy neighbors had a 61 Buick wagon. I remember riding in this car and marveling at the beauty, I also remember that crazy speedometer as well...
As a philomath, learn many new things everyday! Been blessed with great recall but sometimes it's not perfect and you taught me today, it was a '61, not a '62 LaSabre my Dad test drove!
Dad traded our '56 Roadmaster coupe (Dover white over Carlsbad black) for a new '61Electra 225 four door hardtop in Desert Fawn....a comfortable, easy driver....or as my brother called it, a "steer and stab" car. Wish I had the '56 Roadmaster today....
Great, fascinating video, Adam. I was kind of shocked the '59 & '60 didn't sell well. I know the '58 Buick was was real dud, and the Buick dealers were begging GM to let them "be first" with the new '59 models, and they were by a few weeks, coming out in Sept. '58. The '58's were overkill on the chrome, even by '50s 'rolling jukebox' standards. About the only continuity with '58 was the grill. To say they 'didn't look like a Buick' is unfair, because they didn't look any less like a Buick, than the '59 Chevy didn't look like a Chevrolet! The argument can be made that neither car did, I suppose, but that didn't mean they still weren't really gorgeous cars regardless of preconceived perceptions.
I enjoyed this episode particularly as I have a special fondness for the ‘59 Buick Elektra, which was our family car when I was a kid. What a beautiful, impressive car.
Thank you for this video. I own a 1963 Buick Electra Sport Coupe in bronze metallic. Bucket seats in leather. It has always been one of my favorite cars. Ruth Gordon (from Rosemary's Baby) had one too. Except hers was a convertible. Her car was the same color as my car.
The proposal looks very Pontiac. The brief split grille Buick always throws me off. But I think that’s would have been a great car design. The mirror speedometer is insane but typically ingenious post war prosperity engineering and I have nothing but love for it. It would be interesting hearing Mitchell’s thoughts on the split grille going from Buick to Olds.
Comparing the styling for all GM cars from 1960-1961, there is an obvious increase in sculpturing -- as shown in the Buick in this vid. I had a '62 Coupe de Ville, which I still think is the prettiest year for Cadillac.
For me, Buick didn’t start looking like a “Buick” again until 1963, which I totally love. The same can be said, in my opinion, about all the divisions. in spite of my fondness for the sculpting on the ‘61/‘62 Cadillacs as they destroyed the front clip area, only partially redeeming themselves with Cadillac’s ‘62 redesign, but the ‘63s total makeover was a game changer, not just for Cadillac but (as already stated) all the divisions.
My Dad had a 61 lesabre he purchased at a used car lot. A great car. I remember he licked the auto transmission. You could not detect any gear shift it was so smooth. You could even start the car by rolling it down a hill and then putting it drive if you had a dead battery. Also worked with a push start.
My grandma would get a new car every 3 years. I think a lot of them were Buicks. She has a 2016 Buick lacrosse right now and won’t upgrade because of absurd prices and lack of a CD player. I love everything about that car, it feels like luxury. Smooth, quiet, blue ambient lighting, flowing interior, physical buttons (some of them are touch and annoying), spacious seating, nice design, solid feel, and enough power. The touchscreen is a bummer, but that goes for any car. Her vehicle does not have a sunroof option equipped. I remember her car before the 2016 having a pass through behind the center arm rest to the trunk. It was always colder/warmer in the trunk than the rest of the car.
Those Buicks were still equipped with the DYNAFLO transmission. I remember the combination of nailhead/dynaflow as the worst gas guzzler powertrain I ever owned.
Not to mention that from a standing start, a Hydramatic equipped car would lunge ahead of them, unless you manually put it in Lo. Dynaslow was pretty reliable though.
In 1970 I purchased a black, '61 4 door sedan LaSabre with 100,000 miles on the odo. I liked the car. It was well built, quiet, smooth riding and comfortable to drive. I found the mirrored speedometer an interesting feature but saw no advantage to it vs. traditional displays. What I did like however was the adjustable rear heat control not found on many cars back in the day. Nice to have on cold winter Canadian mornings. The swing out tissue holder under the dash was also a handy feature. I can't recall which engine it had other than it required the use of premium fuel to prevent pre-ignition under load. No such thing as knock sensors back then. It's a car I sometimes wish I could have kept.
I never knew anyone who had a '61 full-size Buick, but some neighbors of ours in the sixties had a 1960 Electra and a friend of mine said that her favorite car she ever owned was a '62 Electra.
Yes, I like the speedometer. My recollection from the day (internet, feel free to comment) is that the early 60's Buicks were relatively lightweight and the nailhead V8 made very decent horsepower. It made for a good performer, they were cool cars.
I like the eyebrown concept version and the mirror speedometer. My first car as a teen in 1978 was a 1962 Electra. I inheirited the vehicle from my great Uncle. I enjoyed everything about it except the 2-speed fluid drive transmission, however the transmission design combined with the weight of the car made for fantastic traction control on snow covered roads.
I’m going back in time to the 70’s and 80’s, and showing this video to my teachers who always tried to correct my spelling of GAGE. My dad (Borg Warner UAW) was a “Tool and GAGE” inspector. Borg Warner - and I guess the company that provided the tools - also used the GAGE spelling.
From Sydney, Australia, Born in the mid-fifties, these were new cars when I was a little kid, I from first seeing them thought that they were "pretty" looking cars the interior dash section is so crisp, modern and thoughtfully color matched to each car, this 1961 dashboard being one of my favorites in any car ever an automotive mid-century modern design. Excellent, not gaudy in any area inside nor outside, out of all the body styles, this is one where I like the formal sedan in the 225 Electra series with the framed window glass best, the chrome framing of the door glass I feel really suits the intrinsic long 6 window design and adds a sweet spot, rather than a big bland opening if it was the pillarless hard top version. I like the 61's best, but the '62's look good as well even the dash makeover is well done. However, the following 2 years '63 & '64 just look bland, the only nice Buick's those years being Riviera's.
The color matching is very good. I also love Crome window framing. Our 65 impala SS is surprisingly color matched. Blue carpet in back window, darker blue or black carpet for floor. Dark for and light blue for dash. Blue seats and headliner (with the stars). Outside is glacier grey.
My dad had the nerve, in 1963, to buy a used 1959 Buick Le Sabre convertible...bright red! My mother was embarassed, for some reason...but I was happy, as I had just got my driver's license, and a couple girls in my neighborhood actually "allowed" me to drive them to High School! That car was garish, outlandish--and cool! Very few 59 buick Convertibles are left, and collectors are paying upwards of $100 grand for a nice one.
Hey Adam. Really nice on the Buicks. I really appreciate your great knowledge of the industry and also your great appreciation and description of the many features of these vehicles. Keep it coming. Cheers.
We had a 1962 Le Sabre four door hardtop that my grandparents had bought new. Gunmetal Gray. I never realized how low slung those cars were with the X frame.
1:09 Buick was surprisingly competitive for 1955, with an improved variable-pich stator Dynaflow. The Century with the bigger V8 got to 60 in 9.8 seconds and a got a little over 13 MPG in mixed driving.
As a boy I always thought it was interesting that the 61 Buick had the bullet Fender out front, as did, I think the 61 rambler, and of course the 61 T-bird in much bigger form
I really appreciate explaining about the decisions on the design direction and the photos of the clay model mock ups are incredible including the last one I really is tasteful and yes I can a little Pontiac in the design
My grandparent owned a 1963 Buick Electra, green exterior white interior. I became more interested with Buicks. I always liked the wild 59 & 60. When it came to the 61, my first thoughts were too plain. But as time went on the more i looked at the 61, the more i like it. And agree with you about the 61 having the eyebrows as the 66 Toronado which my parents bought one in those days
The 401 with the 4 barrel carb which was standard in the Invicta and Electra series had 325 horsepower since it’s introduction in 1959 to the end of the production in 1966. The 364 previously offered in 1957-58 Buick Century, Super, Roadmaster and Limited was the one with 300 HP.
Thanks for this one, Adam! My Dad owned a '61 LeSabre in the mid- '60's, so I'm familiar with that model. The mirrored speedometer was a cool idea. My Mom liked it because she was vertically challenged... an issue which also caused the car to develop several bruises over time as she struggled to see over the hood, particularly where the front corners were.
One thing better about the 61 over the 62 is the engine's location - mostly behind the front axle. The 62 and later had it directly above the front axle, which caused heavy understeer when pushed. The 61 felt more agile.
Because Buick had so much success in 1955 it was bound to subside by 1959. Everyone who wanted a Buick already had one. A natural ebb and flow of desire and demand.
Had a 61 Electra convertible back in 67. Loved the mirrored speedo until the speedometer cable broke because the bearing inside the cluster froze. When I disassembled the cluster a bunch of clear light pipes fell over when I opened it (had it upside down) and it was like a puzzle putting it back together. Got the bearing worked loose, but when I went into the military in 1968, the oil light still displayed reversed!!!
Thank you Adam. I liked the studio design proposals and the reason for the design themes. I was shocked to learn Buick struggled in the early 1960's, but got its mojo back. This was interesting to see the direction they were pursing. I do not know why it is over the years that I have seen more GM design proposals that looked better than what went into production. As you said it was all about being competitive.
The alternate styling themes were pretty cool. I agree that the one proposal would have been a better choice! I recently saw a nicely restored '60 Le Sabre hardtop parked at a restaurant and it was stunning!
I almost bought a 61 Invecta four door in 1988 (I was 20) for $1800 from an old guy looking to downsize. It was such a smooth and quiet car, beige with a tan interior. The only reason i didn't get it was because I had no garage to keep it (I was a college student living at home) and I already had a 70 Fury III.
The first example of the buick concept you're showing is one half of a full size model against a mirrored wall. I am assuming the model was carved out in full size. Truly a different look for Buick at the time. Love the video
One of my best friends in high school’s father had a 56 white/green Buick and a 61 brown LaSabre. He bought a 72 Buick LeSabre and traded in the 56. He would later buy a 84 Buick LaSabre. Adam , I do agree that 61 Buick they didn’t build was fantastic looking!!
Great commentary on the ‘61 Buick, Adam. The 1961 Buick and Lincoln dashboards are my all time favorites, btw the ‘62 Plymouth dash has a great asymmetrical aesthetic which is also appealing to me. You should have mentioned that Buick was 9th in sales back in ‘60 and that AMC jumped to #3 in 1961 (thanks to George Romney). As a kid the ‘bubble tops’ were starting to all go away, I never cared for the ‘61 Buick’s taillights. Today I would rate Buick as the best looking ‘61 GM with Pontiac a very close second. I love that front end and glad it was also used on the ‘Y’ body Special.
I kinda liked the first one... Invicta Impaler special... with turbo tail treatment. But the third version was pretty good 👍 61 had a lot of my favorite designs From the bullet Bird, GT Hawk and the Bubble top's from GM and the four fin Caddy's.🇺🇲🏁
I don't think any automotive manufacturer ever had a lineup as attractive as GM had for 1961. All lines were new and stunning. Chevrolet to Cadillac, all were great cars.
The blue 61 Invicta is one of the nicer looking cars you'll run across period. Dad had a Lesabre in 61 but no convertible. Wildcat on the air filter pretty much gave me bragging rights in the neighborhood for coolest engine! Lol
Thant "windsplit" you describe on the backlight of the first model is a result of the mirror reflecting what is actually a half scale model, GM Design typically did this with scale models to save time.
I remember the speedometer from the 1960 Buick. As the the actual spedometer was horizontal, dust collected on it and made it dull if not cleaned a few times a year.
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The 1961 Buick is one of the most beautiful mid-century modern designs in automotive history. The public wasn’t ready for it.
My parents purchased two 1960 Buicks and we drove 1960 Buicks through the 1990s. I was horrified when they removed the fins from Buick in 1961 and shrunk them as well. There was an economic recession in 1959-60 as well as a steel strike which caused a problem obtaining the required steel.
1961 and 1957 were fantastic years for GM. The ‘61 Buick is gorgeous.
Not for Buick though. The 57 didn't live up to it's hype and the 61 didn't look or feel like a Buick, except for the DynaFlow transmission.
I loved both the 60 &61 Buick,both cars were pretty mid century outrageous. But compared to 55-59 toned down.
I inherited my Moms 61 Invicta when my Dad finally broke down a brought her a new 73 Caprice, I had just turned 17. I loved that Buick, so smooth and pretty quick for a full size car. The mirror adjustable dash /speedometer and ribbon speed indicator were truly unique and cool. Also very cool was the air cleaner with 445 Wildcat with a snarling cat painted on the top cover. I don't think a smoother automatic transmission has ever been made like the Dynaflow. I understand they stopped making them because they were very expensive to manufacture verses a Turbo Hydromatic. Great video as always, thanks for keeping the memories alive..!
The "regular" Dynaflow was not too expensive to make, it just enacted too much of a performance penalty. The triple-turbine Flight-Pitch Dynaflow of 58 - 59 is the one that was too expensive, and it didn't work very well either. It kept the engine at excessively high revs much of the time, enacted just as much of a performance penalty, if not worse, AND if it's Grade Retard/Hill Retard feature was mis-used, you severely damaged or even destroyed the converter. Chevrolet had a similar Turbo-Glide in 57 - 61, with similar poor results. Turbo Hydramatic didn't come out until 1964. The old 4 speed Hydramatic was a good solid unit and lasted through 1964 or 65, but the 61 - 64 "Slim Jim" Hydra was not a good unit.
There is no "Performance Penalty" withthe Dynaflow transmission. Starting out in Low and shifting into Drive at about 50 MPH enables the Buick to out-perform almost any cars of the time. I beat a '67 SS 396 at Thompson Dragway in Ohio with my '63 LeSabre 2 barrel 401. The torque off the line in Low is what makes al the difference.
@@michaelbenardo5695
It was the '58 recession that hammered all medium and upper cars thru '60
I think almost every American car design in the early 60's is beautiful. These Buicks, the canted eye Chryslers, just a lot of great looking cars. I don't know how I could've bought a new car in the early 60's. I wouldn't have been able to choose. They're all great looking.
Looks like its going fast while sitting still. Thats always a win.
When I was growing up my dad always drove Buicks. We had a 52 and 55 Roadmaster, 59 and 62 LeSabre, 65 Skylark, 66 Wildcat, 68 and 73 Electra. My first car was a 64 Special and then I had a 66 LeSabre. They were all great cars. My favorite was the 66 Wildcat since that was the one we had when I was 15 and learning to drive.
I think the ‘61 Buick front end with the bullet fenders was very attractive and the overall design was a huge modernization from the ‘59 and ‘60. And the convertible version was very sporty looking in the La Sabre and Invicta trims… the “Wildcat” name would have fit well. Interestingly, Oldsmobile used the reverse bullet at the rear of its ‘61 full size cars. I would love to get my hands on a restored ‘61 Buick but they are exceedingly rare. BTW, my dad owned a ‘60 Invicta in dark blue. He always said it was his favorite car.
I do love the flat tops though…
I agree I always found the 61 Buick one of the most attractive Buicks of the 60s. My parents had a 59 Buick Lesabre wagon which to me looked more sinister than the 58 Christine Plymouth. 1960 Buick was more toned down but I liked the 61 best. I always liked the 61 Olds, Chevy, and Pontiac as well.
@@user-ph3rb1in6e I agree with you. All the GM ‘61s save Cadillac took on a generational design shift, particularly if one looks at the GM ‘58s by comparison. The difference in just three model years is stark. It was like someone flipped a switch to the “modern” position. Cheers!
@@Primus54 I would say that all the 61 GM cars except the Cadillac along with the all new 61 Lincoln Continental ushered in a new era along with the newly elected President John F. Kennedy. 1961 culturally was the beginning of the 60s and the year 1960 itself was actually like a continuation of the 50s. My parents were one of the first in 1961 to order the new 1962 Chevy II. When you compare the 62 Chevy II to the Falcon, Lancer, Valiant, and Rambler American it was a simpler more modern design resembling the newer model Mercedes at that time. Even the clothing changed in 1961 with an era of sleeker more minimalists designs more in vogue. Having myself been born in the early 50s I was a child in the late 50s and early 60s.
@@user-ph3rb1in6e Excellent observations. I was born in January, 1954 and was interested in cars as early as I can remember. All my siblings were considerably older than me so my parents bought a new ‘61 Pontiac Tempest for them… a very interesting new design. 👍
I’ve always thought the 1959 Buicks to be the best looking GM cars of that year. The angled fins were just superb.
Me too. The angled fins AND angled headlights up front. The sides were awesome also. I love the '60 almost as much. Very surprised they didn't sell better!
For me also the Buick has the best looking front of all 59 GM cars.
But about the rear end, I prefer Chevrolets perfect matching fin (gullwing) and taillight arrangement...
I totally disagree.
It proves that like and dislike are subjective.
Adam, you're always killing it, outstanding content!!
I agree
a little too killing it, just unsubbed, 5 notifications all from 1 channel. in a day.
@@OregonCrow
😆
@@OregonCrow:
Bye Felicia...👋
@@OregonCrow I only got two.
I saw some of your videos, nice. Great work taking care of the bike thief!
I’ve always loved the 1961 GM cars especially the BOP’s. I especially loved the Sport Sedan/Flat top 4-door hardtop sedans, though you rarely see them.
The mirror speedometer is similar in function to a modern aviation heads up display, however not in use at that time. I think the intent as said was to adjust for drivers' height with a low-profile speedo using the drum device. A creative solution ahead of its time, and a feature that is available today in several GM models. I wonder if the designers ever thought of using the inside of the windshield as a reflector for the display. Some good styling ideas shown here, and some very good interior design.
The 59 and 60 Buicks are still way better than the years following. Most beautiful cars from Buick ever.
My first car was a two door LeSaber convertible. Dad worked at a dealer and found it on the used car lot. Yellow with a terrible green interior. I loved that beast. Had to give it up when I went to college as I was not allowed to have a car freshman year. The first day taking it to school I had a couple of guys with me and the engine chocked out on the way up the hill. Got home and dad didn’t believe me but took it in next day anyway. Mechanic found the air cleaner was packed with acorns! The back seat had all the stuffing torn out. Squirrels had invaded the car at the previous owners house. What a hoot!
These cars are among my all-time favorites. My parents bought the first new 1961 Buick delivered in my hometown -- a LeSabre 4-door hardtop in "Desert Fawn". Two of my uncles followed suit, with a '61 Invicta 4-door hardtop and a '61 LeSabre 4-door sedan. The quality and long-term reliability of these cars were superb, with my uncles' cars providing years of faithful service on rural Oregon cattle ranches. . . . My wife and I regularly drive our '59 Electra 4-door hardtop, and never hesitate to head out on long driving tours. If I could add to my car collection, I would be searching for more Buicks from this era.
Adam, I always enjoy seeing these styling proposals no matter how crazy they are.
The 1961 bubble top Le Sabre shown in the thumbnail is super rare and a very valuable car today. Available for one year only.
Love the blue '61 convertible. Very nice looking car! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO.
Man that blue convertible @8:54 is just gorgeous!!!!
I remember this model year very well. As a little kid, our wealthy neighbors had a 61 Buick wagon. I remember riding in this car and marveling at the beauty, I also remember that crazy speedometer as well...
As a philomath, learn many new things everyday! Been blessed with great recall but sometimes it's not perfect and you taught me today, it was a '61, not a '62 LaSabre my Dad test drove!
Dad traded our '56 Roadmaster coupe (Dover white over Carlsbad black) for a new '61Electra 225 four door hardtop in Desert Fawn....a comfortable, easy driver....or as my brother called it, a "steer and stab" car. Wish I had the '56 Roadmaster today....
Great, fascinating video, Adam. I was kind of shocked the '59 & '60 didn't sell well. I know the '58 Buick was was real dud, and the Buick dealers were begging GM to let them "be first" with the new '59 models, and they were by a few weeks, coming out in Sept. '58. The '58's were overkill on the chrome, even by '50s 'rolling jukebox' standards. About the only continuity with '58 was the grill. To say they 'didn't look like a Buick' is unfair, because they didn't look any less like a Buick, than the '59 Chevy didn't look like a Chevrolet! The argument can be made that neither car did, I suppose, but that didn't mean they still weren't really gorgeous cars regardless of preconceived perceptions.
From the time I was a little boy then, I always loved the '61 Buicks, especially the new 6-window Electra 225. Plus, the cool dashboard!
I enjoyed this episode particularly as I have a special fondness for the ‘59 Buick Elektra, which was our family car when I was a kid. What a beautiful, impressive car.
Some of the best looking Buicks ever.
Very interesting overview, Adam. I rather enjoy the Buicks of this era as they have many unique features.
Thank you for this video. I own a 1963 Buick Electra Sport Coupe in bronze metallic. Bucket seats in leather. It has always been one of my favorite cars. Ruth Gordon (from Rosemary's Baby) had one too. Except hers was a convertible. Her car was the same color as my car.
I love Ruth Gordon.
@@josephgaviota me too! Especially in Harold & Maude!
The proposal looks very Pontiac. The brief split grille Buick always throws me off. But I think that’s would have been a great car design. The mirror speedometer is insane but typically ingenious post war prosperity engineering and I have nothing but love for it. It would be interesting hearing Mitchell’s thoughts on the split grille going from Buick to Olds.
Comparing the styling for all GM cars from 1960-1961, there is an obvious increase in sculpturing -- as shown in the Buick in this vid. I had a '62 Coupe de Ville, which I still think is the prettiest year for Cadillac.
For me, Buick didn’t start looking like a “Buick” again until 1963, which I totally love. The same can be said, in my opinion, about all the divisions. in spite of my fondness for the sculpting on the ‘61/‘62 Cadillacs as they destroyed the front clip area, only partially redeeming themselves with Cadillac’s ‘62 redesign, but the ‘63s total makeover was a game changer, not just for Cadillac but (as already stated) all the divisions.
Some of those long Buicks like the Invicta were amazing . A friend of my parents had one as i can barely remember.
The Invicta was one of the "small" Buicks. The LeSabre was the other. The Electra and Electra 225 were the big Buicks, nearly as big as a Cad.
My Dad had a 61 lesabre he purchased at a used car lot. A great car. I remember he licked the auto transmission. You could not detect any gear shift it was so smooth. You could even start the car by rolling it down a hill and then putting it drive if you had a dead battery. Also worked with a push start.
DynaFlow didn't shift. In Drive, it operated entirely in high gear. That's why it was so slow.
My grandma would get a new car every 3 years. I think a lot of them were Buicks. She has a 2016 Buick lacrosse right now and won’t upgrade because of absurd prices and lack of a CD player. I love everything about that car, it feels like luxury. Smooth, quiet, blue ambient lighting, flowing interior, physical buttons (some of them are touch and annoying), spacious seating, nice design, solid feel, and enough power. The touchscreen is a bummer, but that goes for any car. Her vehicle does not have a sunroof option equipped.
I remember her car before the 2016 having a pass through behind the center arm rest to the trunk. It was always colder/warmer in the trunk than the rest of the car.
Enjoyed this, Adam. Thank you.
Those clay models are wild
4:50 From the rear, that's looking a lot like the Batmobile, which didn't show up on our TV screens for another few years.
Those Buicks were still equipped with the DYNAFLO transmission. I remember the combination of nailhead/dynaflow as the worst gas guzzler powertrain I ever owned.
Not to mention that from a standing start, a Hydramatic equipped car would lunge ahead of them, unless you manually put it in Lo. Dynaslow was pretty reliable though.
In 1970 I purchased a black, '61 4 door sedan LaSabre with 100,000 miles on the odo. I liked the car. It was well built, quiet, smooth riding and comfortable to drive. I found the mirrored speedometer an interesting feature but saw no advantage to it vs. traditional displays. What I did like however was the adjustable rear heat control not found on many cars back in the day. Nice to have on cold winter Canadian mornings. The swing out tissue holder under the dash was also a handy feature. I can't recall which engine it had other than it required the use of premium fuel to prevent pre-ignition under load. No such thing as knock sensors back then. It's a car I sometimes wish I could have kept.
I never knew anyone who had a '61 full-size Buick, but some neighbors of ours in the sixties had a 1960 Electra and a friend of mine said that her favorite car she ever owned was a '62 Electra.
My first car was a 1961 LeSabre, and I loved it.
Yes, I like the speedometer. My recollection from the day (internet, feel free to comment) is that the early 60's Buicks were relatively lightweight and the nailhead V8 made very decent horsepower. It made for a good performer, they were cool cars.
That last 61 buick concept is just...georgeous!
I like the eyebrown concept version and the mirror speedometer. My first car as a teen in 1978 was a 1962 Electra. I inheirited the vehicle from my great Uncle. I enjoyed everything about it except the 2-speed fluid drive transmission, however the transmission design combined with the weight of the car made for fantastic traction control on snow covered roads.
I love the '61 Invicta styling the best in two door versions. Also love to find a '65 Skylark GS with the 401 V8 and manual shift.
I’m going back in time to the 70’s and 80’s, and showing this video to my teachers who always tried to correct my spelling of GAGE. My dad (Borg Warner UAW) was a “Tool and GAGE” inspector. Borg Warner - and I guess the company that provided the tools - also used the GAGE spelling.
That speedometer is very cool 😎
From Sydney, Australia, Born in the mid-fifties, these were new cars when I was a little kid, I from first seeing them thought that they were "pretty" looking cars the interior dash section is so crisp, modern and thoughtfully color matched to each car, this 1961 dashboard being one of my favorites in any car ever an automotive mid-century modern design. Excellent, not gaudy in any area inside nor outside, out of all the body styles, this is one where I like the formal sedan in the 225 Electra series with the framed window glass best, the chrome framing of the door glass I feel really suits the intrinsic long 6 window design and adds a sweet spot, rather than a big bland opening if it was the pillarless hard top version. I like the 61's best, but the '62's look good as well even the dash makeover is well done. However, the following 2 years '63 & '64 just look bland, the only nice Buick's those years being Riviera's.
The color matching is very good. I also love Crome window framing.
Our 65 impala SS is surprisingly color matched. Blue carpet in back window, darker blue or black carpet for floor. Dark for and light blue for dash. Blue seats and headliner (with the stars). Outside is glacier grey.
Fascinating cars. Totally over the top for my taste, but a sign of those times indeed.
That speedo was very clever and high tech for the era.
6:42 - aka the "Eugene Levy concept". Keep up the great work!
Outstanding and informative overview of the 1961 Buicks. Thank you for sharing!
Those were great cars, like fine Jewelry Adam
My dad had the nerve, in 1963, to buy a used 1959 Buick Le Sabre convertible...bright red! My mother was embarassed, for some reason...but I was happy, as I had just got my driver's license, and a couple girls in my neighborhood actually "allowed" me to drive them to High School! That car was garish, outlandish--and cool! Very few 59 buick Convertibles are left, and collectors are paying upwards of $100 grand for a nice one.
Hey Adam. Really nice on the Buicks.
I really appreciate your great knowledge of the industry and also your great appreciation and description of the many features of these vehicles. Keep it coming. Cheers.
1961 is before General Ne Win. Very cool. Thank you 😊.
We had a 1962 Le Sabre four door hardtop that my grandparents had bought new. Gunmetal Gray. I never realized how low slung those cars were with the X frame.
1:09 Buick was surprisingly competitive for 1955, with an improved variable-pich stator Dynaflow. The Century with the bigger V8 got to 60 in 9.8 seconds and a got a little over 13 MPG in mixed driving.
As a boy I always thought it was interesting that the 61 Buick had the bullet Fender out front, as did, I think the 61 rambler, and of course the 61 T-bird in much bigger form
I love the 59,60 Invicta.
I would enjoy any Buick from the mid 50s all the way to the 70s. They are great
Love the adjustable speedometer!
BTW, I’m happy to see you made a video about Buick cars with Nailhead engines! Still hoping to see you cover my favorite years, 1965-66!
I really appreciate explaining about the decisions on the design direction and the photos of the clay model mock ups are incredible including the last one I really is tasteful and yes I can a little Pontiac in the design
'61 is one of my most favorite GM years for sure.
My grandparent owned a 1963 Buick Electra, green exterior white interior. I became more interested with Buicks. I always liked the wild 59 & 60. When it came to the 61, my first thoughts were too plain. But as time went on the more i looked at the 61, the more i like it. And agree with you about the 61 having the eyebrows as the 66 Toronado which my parents bought one in those days
6:44 I agree, even better than the final production form. Olds and T-Bird also when for the bullet look.
I agree with you about the proposed 61 with the eyebrows. Much better than the production model.
The early 60's were a good period for GM full-sized styling. It would be interesting to see the scrapped designs for the '59 model year.
The 401 with the 4 barrel carb which was standard in the Invicta and Electra series had 325 horsepower since it’s introduction in 1959 to the end of the production in 1966. The 364 previously offered in 1957-58 Buick Century, Super, Roadmaster and Limited was the one with 300 HP.
Great vid!!
Thanks for this one, Adam! My Dad owned a '61 LeSabre in the mid- '60's, so I'm familiar with that model. The mirrored speedometer was a cool idea. My Mom liked it because she was vertically challenged... an issue which also caused the car to develop several bruises over time as she struggled to see over the hood, particularly where the front corners were.
One thing better about the 61 over the 62 is the engine's location - mostly behind the front axle. The 62 and later had it directly above the front axle, which caused heavy understeer when pushed. The 61 felt more agile.
Because Buick had so much success in 1955 it was bound to subside by 1959. Everyone who wanted a Buick already had one. A natural ebb and flow of desire and demand.
The 58 - 61 Buicks didn't look Buick enough for the typical Buick buyer. The change in the model names in 59 didn't help either.
Had a 61 Electra convertible back in 67. Loved the mirrored speedo until the speedometer cable broke because the bearing inside the cluster froze. When I disassembled the cluster a bunch of clear light pipes fell over when I opened it (had it upside down) and it was like a puzzle putting it back together. Got the bearing worked loose, but when I went into the military in 1968, the oil light still displayed reversed!!!
Thank you Adam. I liked the studio design proposals and the reason for the design themes. I was shocked to learn Buick struggled in the early 1960's, but got its mojo back. This was interesting to see the direction they were pursing. I do not know why it is over the years that I have seen more GM design proposals that looked better than what went into production. As you said it was all about being competitive.
The alternate styling themes were pretty cool. I agree that the one proposal would have been a better choice! I recently saw a nicely restored '60 Le Sabre hardtop parked at a restaurant and it was stunning!
I almost bought a 61 Invecta four door in 1988 (I was 20) for $1800 from an old guy looking to downsize. It was such a smooth and quiet car, beige with a tan interior. The only reason i didn't get it was because I had no garage to keep it (I was a college student living at home) and I already had a 70 Fury III.
Great video! Adam!
The mirror display of the speedometer is also used in the second and/or third generation Toyota Prius though theirs is fluorescent.
The 1960 Buick featured here was actually very handsome...the 61 and 62 were good looking as well.
The first example of the buick concept you're showing is one half of a full size model against a mirrored wall. I am assuming the model was carved out in full size. Truly a different look for Buick at the time. Love the video
In 1970 -1972 my dad owned two 1961 Buick LeSabres, my brother had a 1962 Buick LeSabre and I had a 1963.
The “split” showing up on your clay model is where your half model is placed against a mirror to look complete and symmetrical.
I used to watch speedvision then velocity channel no longer
I much prefer your content
Keep it up 👍
One of my best friends in high school’s father had a 56 white/green Buick and a 61 brown LaSabre. He bought a 72 Buick LeSabre and traded in the 56. He would later buy a 84 Buick LaSabre. Adam , I do agree that 61 Buick they didn’t build was fantastic looking!!
Great video, thank you!
Great job !
My first car was a 1961 Buick bubble top and I bought another one when I retired.
With regards to the front end treatment seen at 7 minutes, the "eyebrows" remind me a lot of the ones on the original 1966 Olds Toronado.
I see Judge Reinhold wearing pirate hat in a certain movie in the Invicta
Great commentary on the ‘61 Buick, Adam. The 1961 Buick and Lincoln dashboards are my all time favorites, btw the ‘62 Plymouth dash has a great asymmetrical aesthetic which is also appealing to me. You should have mentioned that Buick was 9th in sales back in ‘60 and that AMC jumped to #3 in 1961 (thanks to George Romney). As a kid the ‘bubble tops’ were starting to all go away, I never cared for the ‘61 Buick’s taillights. Today I would rate Buick as the best looking ‘61 GM with Pontiac a very close second. I love that front end and glad it was also used on the ‘Y’ body Special.
I kinda liked the first one... Invicta Impaler special... with turbo tail treatment. But the third version was pretty good 👍 61 had a lot of my favorite designs From the bullet Bird, GT Hawk and the Bubble top's from GM and the four fin Caddy's.🇺🇲🏁
Me too...boris!
I don't think any automotive manufacturer ever had a lineup as attractive as GM had for 1961. All lines were new and stunning. Chevrolet to Cadillac, all were great cars.
That blue convertible at 3:34 could be a bit of inspiration for the mid-sixties Thunderbirds, to my eye at l at least.
The blue 61 Invicta is one of the nicer looking cars you'll run across period. Dad had a Lesabre in 61 but no convertible. Wildcat on the air filter pretty much gave me bragging rights in the neighborhood for coolest engine! Lol
Thant "windsplit" you describe on the backlight of the first model is a result of the mirror reflecting what is actually a half scale model, GM Design typically did this with scale models to save time.
I remember the speedometer from the 1960 Buick. As the the actual spedometer was horizontal, dust collected on it and made it dull if not cleaned a few times a year.
Suddenly its 2030! I like those 1960 Buick Invicta's.