DeVille In Drag: 1966 Buick Electra 225 Convertible – Sold?

March 10, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

As a former owner of a ’68 “Deuce-And-A-Quarter” convertible, any time we come across a vintage Buick Electra 225 drop top, I immediately place it at the top of our Topless Thursday feature list. These cars are essentially more conservatively styled Cadillac Devilles with Buick power.  Our latest example is this driver-quality 1966 cream-colored Electra originally listed in January 2021 on Craigslist in Tupelo, Mississippi with 103K original miles, factory air conditioning, and an asking price of $18,500.   Comparing this price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller has their Electra 225 priced between this guide’s #2 “Excellent” appraisal of $24,400 and the #3 “Good” estimate of $14,700. As a second data point, the Collector Car Market Review indicates the current asking price falls between this guide’s #2 “Very Good” estimate of $15,500 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $22,400.

The Hagerty Insurance Valuation Tool provides a nice synopsis of the 1965-1970 Buick Electra:

The king of full-size Buicks in the middle to late 1960s was the Electra 225. At 18 feet, 8 inches long, the Electra was Buick’s largest vehicle in 1965. The model year brought the same kind of redesign that characterized GM’s entire lineup that year, with the space-age, rocket-inspired lines of the Kennedy years being replaced by the hallmark coke-bottle styling of the muscle car era. Buick’s trademark ventiport holes in the fenders were now so stylized that they’re easy to miss in cars from this era.

Buick offered the Electra a four-door sedan or hardtop, or as a two-door coupe or convertible. As the big car, the Electra featured power everything, a cigar lighter for the back seat, a nice interior, and woodgrain accents on the dashboard. Two trim levels were offered, with the uplevel Custom trim featuring plusher upholstery. Electras also came with distinctive rear wheel skirts filling the aft wheel arches.

Under the hood, the Electra 225 offered Buick’s standard 401-cid “Nailhead” V-8 at 325 hp. Optional 425-cid Nailhead V-8s with one or two carburetors offered 340 or 360 hp, respectively. That power was delivered to the rear wheels through GM’s standard Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission. Electra buyers needed all that horsepower, as the vehicle weighed in at a hefty 4,300 pounds.

The 1966 model year only saw trivial badging and taillight designs, while the 1967 model year brought a mid-cycle facelift with a new “Limited” trim level available on the four-door hardtop. Electra 225 Limited buyers received the best interior Buick could provide. “

While this ’67 Buick Electra commercial shows the mid-cycle styling refresh, it provides a glimpse of how smooth these cars are to drive:

This all-cream example appears to be wearing its original paint, although you’ll need to confirm that with the current caretaker. While we’re sure the custom-console-mounted and amplified stereo sounds great, we would try to source a factory radio to replace the hold currently shown in the dash where the original once was.  Although not called out, the air conditioning dryer and related fittings appear newer, so chances are good you can drive this big Buick on humid days comfortably with the top-up. If you’re most interested in owning and driving a classic land yacht than having it judged at car shows, this may be the convertible for you.   Good luck with the purchase!

Do you have a Buick Electra 225 convertible story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!