Cars - Buick Electra

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	Cars - Buick Electra

:For other meanings of the word, see Electra/Elektra (disambiguation).

The Buick Electra and the Buick Electra 225 were full-size premium automobiles built by the Buick division of General Motors. The Electra name (in various manners) was used by Buick between 1959 and 1990.

1959 — 1970

Prior to 1959, the Buick Super, Roadmaster and Limited constituted the upper echelon of Buick's model range. In 1959 all of Buick's models were renamed, with the Electra taking the place of the Super, and the Electra 225 taking the place of the Roadmaster and Limited models.

The Electra 225 nameplate was a nod to the vehicle's overall length of 225 in (5,715 mm), earning it the street name "deuce and a quarter."

The Electra 225 Riviera was the top-of-the-line model and it shared it's 6-window hardtop roofline with the Cadillac Fleetwood. Buick had been using the "Riviera" name to indicate a premium trimmed hardtop body style beginning with the 1949 model year.

Buick discontinued the Electra nameplate in 1963, leaving only the Electra 225. Buick also dropped the Riviera name as a body style designation, shifting the Riviera name to Buick's new personal luxury coupe.

All GM passenger vehicles received major restyling in 1965 dominated by flowing lines and "Coke bottle" roof lines on its coupe models, and the 6 window-body style was eliminated as GM moved to place more emphasis on the luxury provided by its four-door hardtop bodies. For 1965 Buick changed its marketing strategy and offering the Electra 225 in two trim levels, base and Custom. There was a new "Limited" option package on the Electra 225 Custom 4-door hardtop and later became available on two-door hardtop models as well.

Windshield wiper blades were hidden in 1968 and 1969 saw the elimination of the vent windows on the front doors.

The 1959-1966 Electra models were powered by Buick's 401 ci (6.6L) V8 with an available 425 in version of the same engine in 1964-66. The 1967 model had the new Buick 430ci (7.0L) and a 455 in³ (7.5L) version of the same engine replaced it in 1970.

Automatic transmissions were always standard. The 1959-63 had twin turbine Dynaflow (the triple turbine Flightpitch was available as an option in 1959) and starting in 1964, they were equipped the Super Turbine 400 / THM 400 transmissions.

1971 — 1976

All Electra 225s were hardtops in the 1971 to 1973 model years, eliminating the previous 4-door pillared sedan variant and the convertible. In 1974 Buick adopted GM's pillared coupe body and fitted it with the "Landau" option on the Electra Limited coupe; in 1975, all Electra 225 coupes had fixed rear side windows and center posts. The 4 door models remained hardtops until the 1977 model. Starting in 1974, the Limited model didn't have any Electra 225 badges on it and there was a new Park Avenue option package available on the "Limited" 4 door hardtop in 1975.

The was the longest 4-door hardtop car GM ever built. At 233.4 inches it was even longer than the 1975 Cadillac DeVille; its last Fleetwood 4-door hardtop had been in 1964. The model also ushered in a return of the six window configuration that Buick offered between 1959 and 1964.

1977 — 1984

After the downsizing of 1977, the car went nearer to its original length at 225 in (5,715 mm) but the 1980 model was downsized again and lost the "225" part of its name. The 1981 model saw very few changes but it got a modified grille, new powertrains (the Buick 350 V8 was dropped) and for the first time since 1959, Electras didn't have 4 portholes in 1981. The top-of-the-line Electra Park Avenue model continued to show 4 small depressions with stickers in the chrome moulding on it's front fenders until they were completely gone in 1985.

1985 — 1990

In 1985, a redesigned front wheel drive Electra debuted on the GM C platform, including a performance-oriented T-Type version. Also in 1985, Park Avenue became an official trim designation within the Electra series, though it had appeared unofficially as early as 1975. In 1989-1990, in addition of the Electra Limited, T/Type and Park Avenue models, there was a new Park Avenue Ultra that featured standard leather trim interior and a padded vinyl top. The name "Ultra" was better known on the next generation Park Avenue as it more or less combined the characteristics of the sportier T/Type and the luxurious Ultra. The Electra Estate station wagon model was an entirely different car that was based upon the 1977 full-size GM station wagon body (revised in 1980). 1990 saw the last of Electra production, making way for the smaller Park Avenue and larger Roadmaster.

Engine: 3.0L Buick V6 in the 1985 Electra Limited 3.8L V6 in the 1985 Electra 380, Park Avenue and T/Type models 4.3L Diesel Oldsmobile V6 in the 1985 Electra 430.

3.8 L (231 in³) V6

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Buick Electra ]

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Cars - Buick Electra

1959 — 1970

1971 — 1976

1977 — 1984

1985 — 1990

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