Incredible original car, loaded with options, awesome color combination.

Description

What you are looking at in this 1973 Buick Electra 225 Limited hardtop is possibly the finest unrestored, original car I’ve ever seen. Aside from those freakishly low-mileage cars and those late-models that never got driven, for a car to have survived four-and-a-half decades in this condition is rather remarkable. Making this car even more special is the triple black color scheme, the long list of luxury features and options, and the spectacular preservation. With just two owners from new (with the first keeping the car until 2016!), this heavily documented heavy cruiser from the ‘70s is just spectacular in every possible way.

If you’re like me, you probably overlooked these cars for most of your life. Sure, you might have noticed a few relics from the ‘70s, maybe an Eldorado convertible, a Corvette pace car, or a Trans Am of some kind, but for the most part, the big hitters never really showed up on your radar. But when this long, low, sleek Buick rolled into our parking lot, I stopped what I was doing to go out and see it up close and personal—pronto! It spoke to me on an almost instinctive level; this is an imposing car. The coupe silhouette completely transforms the bulky Buick into something long and sleek, something almost sporting. Check out the crease in the sheetmetal that begins between the headlights and stretches all the way back to meet the tips of the rear bumper and along the way integrating both the Buick “portholes” on the hood and the door handles. That’s just beautiful. And the paint! Wow! That’s factory original black paint that was applied in 1973 and it’s in fantastic condition. There’s a depth and gloss that’s totally unexpected in a car of this vintage and with original paint you also know there’s no rust, not bondo, no poorly repaired metalwork, just ultra-clean factory panels. If you park your nose a few inches away from the grille you might see one or two nicks, but even the fussiest enthusiast will have a hard time finding many nits to pick with the finish on this car. For being nearly 45 years old, it’s just amazing.

The car also has lots of nice chrome and stainless trim that remains in very good condition. Up close you might see some very, very minor signs of age, but the bumpers shine up brilliantly none of the stainless is dinged, and even the little chrome pods on top of the front fenders housing the fiber-optic indicators are in excellent condition. The only notable demerit is some pitting on the filler piece below the rear license plate, but for those of you who were there in 1973, you probably saw them sitting dealer lots with a few pits already starting to form—it’s quite common. That’s also the original black vinyl top and it looks almost new with zero popped seams and no signs of bubbles or other problems underneath.

The stunning interior is extremely well preserved and almost like new. Black vinyl was actually optional on the Electra and it does a fairly convincing impression of leather. The seats are soft and comfortable and the materials remain supple so it hasn’t been cooking in the sun. There are no springs poking you from behind and it’s easy to see how you could settle in for a long highway journey in this car. There’s a great deal of faux wood throughout: door panels, dashboard, even the three-spoke steering wheel. It’s not terribly convincing, but that’s how they were doing it in 1973. This car includes a rather lengthy list of options, including cold factory A/C, power seat, power windows, power locks, rear defroster, tilt steering column, remote trunk release, and an AM/FM stereo radio with rear speaker. Even better, everything works, even the clock! The aforementioned fiber-optic indicators shine bright and clear, both in front and in back, and the radio sounds decent in the tomb-like silence of the Buick’s interior. Heck, even the ultra-annoying seat belt buzzer works like it should (you can easily disconnect it, but we don’t want to touch it). The back seat, of course, looks completely unused and there are aftermarket floor mats protecting the factory carpets, but the original floor mats are included—just try to find a set of those! The trunk also shows almost like new and includes what appears to be the original spare tire with its cover and a full jack assembly.

There was still plenty of horsepower on tap from Buick’s big 455 cubic inch V8, which was largely unencumbered by the emissions controls that would hobble later versions. With a four-barrel carburetor on top and dual exhaust out back, it was rated at 250 horsepower and a rather substantial 375 pounds of torque. But the real reason you bought this car wasn’t because it would shred tires and run with Covettes, but rather that it was impeccably smooth and could handle any situation with effortless ease. Want to get around that slow-moving truck? A gentle squeeze of the accelerator and the V8 hurls the big coupe around it like a slingshot. Want to cruise all day at speeds that will get you arrested in 31 states? The Electra will do it. It’s also bulletproof reliable and parts are still easy to source, so you will be able to keep it in top form for years to come. Fortunately, this one has always been properly maintained and there are lots of new parts under the hood, including the ignition system (with a Pertronix electronic system inside the original distributor), filters, and the A/C system has been converted to R134a for easy service in the future. It’s still wearing its original Dante Red engine enamel and factory-installed air cleaner, which proudly spells out ‘455-4’ on top. All the original hardware is intact and you’ll note that even things like the heat riser tube and AIR injection pump are in place. It starts easily, idles smoothly, and drives like you’d expect Buick’s ultimate luxury car to drive. There’s a feeling of invincibility when you’re behind the wheel of this car and I suspect you’ll like that quite a lot.

The only transmission available was GM’s indestructible TH400 3-speed automatic, which shifts imperceptibly through the gears but is always ready with a snappy downshift if you really need to hustle. The Buick doesn’t like to do that, but you’ll also find that getting ahead of the other cars in the stop light grand prix is insanely easy with this big yacht. Part of that snappy feeling is due to the optional 3.23 gears in back, a nice upgrade over the too-tall 2.73s that came standard. It’s still effortless on the highway, but there’s a bit more punch available at any speed. The floors are absolutely spotless and this car has never seen inclement winter weather, so there are no nasty secrets waiting for you later. A light dusting of undercoating has probably been there for decades, and it hides nothing but still keeps the steel protected. The suspension is legendary, absorbing bumps that would tear the axles out of a lesser car and keeping you isolated and serene inside. There are newer shocks at all four corners, which certainly helps, and the brakes have just been serviced so they are confidence-inspiring. The dual exhaust system is also brand new and the fat 235/75/15 whitewall radials have only 250 miles on them, so this car is ready to enjoy immediately.

This car includes all the original owner paperwork, including manuals, service booklet, warranty book with the original owner and dealer’s names, and even a pair of Fisher Body line cards, which are similar to a build sheet. In addition, there are a lot of spare parts, including the original windshield wiper blades, mats, and a few other bits like filters and spark plugs. It also includes an original factory service manual.

There will never be cars like this again, and this dramatic black Buick has the kind of commanding presence and sporting demeanor that defined Buick in previous decades. I know, I know, you don’t really think of a car like this as something special and important, but I urge you to take a close look at the photos and details, because this is one of the finest unrestored cars you will ever find. It is a slam-dunk in preservation competition and if my experience in the Buick Club is any indication, this is a car that will always attract a great deal of attention, no matter what else is parked around it. And at this price, there’s just no bigger bang for the buck anywhere in the automotive world. Call today!