Big Buicks represent some of the finest cars Detroit pushed out during the good ol’ days. Imagine our joy when we stumbled upon two of the lumbering giants, a decade apart in age but nearly equal in coolness, over the span of a couple of days. Which one do you want?
The first one we saw was this awesome 1960 model. High points of the ’60 Electras were the two-way power seats, back up lights, power windows (in convertible models), a map light, and optional front buckets. This car appears to be a driver and we can only image floating down the road with one finger on the big wheel and all that Nailhead torque at the end of our toe. The stock motor was the Wildcat 375E motor which produced 235hp and 375 lb/ft of torque. The optional mill was the 300hp, four-barrel equipped, Wildcat 405. Roughly 27,000 were produced.
Next, we happened upon this 1970 Electra 225 that was actually sitting on the lot of a local repo company. It’s a great looking convertible that seems to be about a half mile long. It was previously owned by people named Joyce and Earl, which we determined by using our powers of observation. The stickers on the doors helped, too. This puppy is equipped with a 370hp 455 and is one of just 6,045 convertibles produced in 1970. Plush interior pieces and some chrome brightwork kicked the big car into the “luxury” bracket.
This seems strangely familiar . . . .
The unshown ’59 model…
The 60 because I don’t like convertables very much otherwise the 70.
Remember Wildcat XXX designations are for torque, the base engine would be a 364cid nailhead the top engine a 401. Downsides is it’s still a closed driveline (torque tube) and the transmission is a Dynoflow automatic. Makes it hard to upgrade the car without doing a whole lot to the driveline to make it work. Even a 425 swap would be restricted to getting one from a 63 Riviera and that’s actually the most limited production of the 425’s since it was an option and the 63 Riviera was limited production to begin with.
Not on the list is the 65-66 which could have factory come with 425 nailhead power and a SP400 transmission. Additionally they aren’t X-frames like the 61-64 cars so that opens the options up a bit too.
Uh, the 1970. You stopped quoting 1970 Buick 455 engine specs just before you reached the important one: 510 ft/lbs of torque. Yes. Stock. My buddies and I called it the “510 Club.” I had a 70 Deuce 2-dr after I totaled my Skylark Gran Sport. Later, I pulled the motor out of the 225, built it with Poston Enterprises parts (remember them?) and stuffed it into a ’73 Centurion convertible.
I would love to build another 455 and actually put it in a car that weighed less than 2.5 tons.
I am aware of Chad’s hate for Buick mills, but, c’mon… 510 torque?
70 all the way. I actually would like a 72,in black .
1959 for me, convertible or 2dr hardtop please. Light blue or white. I’m not particular.
grandma had a 67 deuce & quarter 2dr Lblue
she would take me to the lake as a young lad I would wax the land yacht
she would promise to buy me ice cream…..
there she was this 6ft platinum blond divorce/widower
in her halter top putting moves on the good humor man
me with a heat stroke her with a date for the night and a newly waxed ride
she was a piece of work. The car was a beauty
I’d cruise that monster convertible road sofa all day.
My friend at work has his dads 70 that he took to the prom.50,000 miles never needed restored.Yeah that’s the one year I’d go with.
59 or 60 2dr ht, definitely ! Bubble-top rules !