I posted ten days ago about a white ’68 Buick Electra 225 I’ve seen prowling the streets near my neighborhood. While certainly appealing, the matter of that car’s incongruous styling was difficult to overlook entirely. This 1965 model, in a rich cashmere metallic, addresses all the complaints I had of its white counterpart, and even considering my preference for Engel’s ’65 Chryslers, I think this unrestored car is beautiful.
Paul posted a while back about a ’67 Electra convertible, calling it the Jayne Mansfield of cars. This hardtop sedan, on the other hand, reminds me of a frail, wealthy dowager. Chalk up the difference in viewpoint to age; Buicks weren’t the chosen car of the elderly when Paul was a kid. Nevertheless, both of us seem to see a certain femininity in these cars. For me, all the chrome decoration makes for a somewhat effete appearance and I can imagine its original owner wearing a fur jacket and chunky pendant necklace over her petite frame.
One very favorable difference between this car and the 1968 model is its full-width taillight reflector. There were also significant changes made to the sides and the front of the Electra between 1965 and 1968, but it’s the way the taillights were revised which affected its appearance most negatively. Our featured car gets the nod for its more integrated, tidy rear-end styling treatment, in addition to the straight, simple lines along its sides. Dealers take note: this is how you sell a hard top, with the windows open!
This shot shows a lot of the decoration I’m referring to. The car may not be flawless, but all four turbine inspired wheel covers are present. Should one be lost, replacements on eBay run between twenty and forty bucks. Note that the high beams are recessed further than the low beams. As for whether or not the circular turn signal complements the headlights, the jury is out.
I don’t think there’s anyway to drive this car but slowly, except on a deserted highway, so in that sense, one would be unlikely to get hurt in this car. Still, the lap belts, tiny steering wheel hub and sharp chrome ridges allow for extra glamorous injuries in case of an accident.
I can’t say this is the most attractive dashboard of its era–1964’s looked richer–but I am surprised to see a circular speedometer. A ribbon speedometer reappeared in the following year, as did a sleeker overall layout.
No complaints of this bedazzled door panel, though.
I am sad to say that this listing has expired, but of course, the real joy in posting eBay finds is appreciation, not promotion. And with such crisp edges and straight lines, calling it a tank or a boat would be unkind. While this particular car doesn’t have the delicate canopy of the 1961-1964 models, the overall look is more harmonious, something which can’t be said for the 1966 models. If it’s true that 1965 represents GM’s peak, consider this full-size Buick compelling proof.
I always liked these big elegant Buicks. This one especially represents good taste at its finest.
Thank you for finding this one Perry. This is what made GM and Buick so special, at one time.
This design has aged remarkably well. It is too bad about the dash design, as it doesn’t do the rest of the car justice. The round pods do seem out of place. As does their low positioning. But a classic design overall nevertheless, that complimented the concurrent RIv very well.
Truck Week has been a fun departure. But it is also very nice to return closer to the foundation of what makes Curbside Classic such a unique, and great site.
Great find! I’ve never been so attracted to the 1965 Buicks before. This seller does a tremendous job photographing all the cars he or she sells. I enjoy browsing through their listings.
Such a nice interior on that one, those seats! Also love the door panels and dash both very unique. My neighbor had a ’67 Wildcat same color and always drove with the tilt wheel in the same position you see in these pics.
I agree whole-heartedly with the viewpoints expressed here, except “Buicks weren’t the chosen car of the elderly when Paul was a kid.” Yes, they were. In particular I remember the middle-aged minister of our church who had a several-years-old black 1947 or 1948 Buick sedan with a pronounced rear-end whine. That was the archetype of the Old Man’s Car to my teenage mind.
+1 The elderly Monsignor at Immaculate Conception drove one exactly like this, in black, although it was the four door sedan. He really reinforced the image.
Anyone who drove an Electra 225 was “elderly”, at least from my POV then. But it would have been pretty hard to imagine someone under 50 buying one.
If someone younger fell into quick money, they might go for showy Cadillac, but these big Buick’s were “Banker’s cars”. And the Monsignor came from a wealthy banking family, at that 🙂
I’ve always assumed that was part of why Buick tried to do the Wildcat and the Riviera — to try to at least get some buyers in their 40s.
I disagree with that statement sir. In the Detroit area the Duce & a Quarter were status symbols especially the drop tops, Rivieras were also coveted in my fathers social circle. They were all entertainers, singers if you will, some more famous than others but they were all mostly sucessful. The pecking order if you will Fleetwood Eldorado, Deville Convertible, Duce convertible, Riviera, 98 convertible or sedan. That was up to the introduction of the FWD Eldorado and the Mark III. And none of thoses guys were in their 30s or 40s. It depends on where you were and a lack of distain for the american car of that era.
You’re right, inasmuch as generalizations never apply universally. And there’s no question that a convertible, of any model, had more cachet than a four door sedan. But as a generalization, I’d still agree that the a four-door Deuce was more commonly bought by folks not trying to hard to draw too much attention to themselves; just some.
At the beginning of 1967 my mother drove a ’66 Skylark and my father a ’67 Le Sabre, she was 37 and my father was 39. So much for anecdotal stereotypes
“Rivieras were also coveted in my fathers social circle. They were all entertainers, singers if you will, some more famous than others but they were all mostly sucessful.”
What says ’60s cool better, Frank and Dean riding around in Frank’s ’63 Riviera or Leonard Nimoy standing in front of his?
Growing up in the S.F. Bay Area (Marin), the Buicks (Electra 225’s) were the car of choice for ‘old moneyed’ types who didn’t want the flash of a Cadillac or who did not want to come across as ostentatious. Ditto an Olds 98. Spencer Buick (Geary in San Francisco) and Stenstrom (later Don Collins in San Rafael) sold a respectable number of 225s. Dignified and luxurious; powerful yet able to ‘blend in’ with lesser GM “B’ bodied cars . . . .
My elderly (or so it seemed to a 7-year old) next door neighbors, the Souths, had this exact car – same body style, same color. And my great aunt across the street had a black on white 70 2-door hardtop – that thing was a boat, but this was a real yacht.
I particularly like how the fuel filler cover is integrated into the full-width taillight, rather than behind the license plate, as in later years. You know, when the last refresh of the UK Scorpio came out, it was derided for (among other things) having an “American” style full-width taillight. Not sure why, but European auto writers are very dismissive about full-width taillights. Probably because they didn’t invent them. But they look good and make a car look lower and wider. Nice to see Chrysler bringing them back on more and more products.
I agree, too, Buicks were decidedly the choice of older upper middle class professionals. My grandmother’s second to last car was a ’62 Buick LeSabre, my cousin’s grandparents had a ’55 Roadmaster, my Cub Scout den mothers drove 50’s era Buicks, my mother’s best friend had a ’57 Buick Super, my high school senior prom date’s father drove a ’62 Electra (he was a CPA, I believe), the list goes on. This was the penultimate auto for the middle-aged or older old moneyed conservative professional. That said, I do not see “femininity” or “effete appearance” at all in this Electra, rather it presents solid, crisp, stylish, tasteful elegance. It’s a beautiful car, thanks for bringing it here, it is a bygone reminder of what made GM great back then.
Agreed, Don. I think the Electras (and preceding Roadmasters) had a masculine air about them, yet with a touch of feminine grace. Again – the quiet, non-ostentatious types drove Buicks in droves back in the day . . . (San Francisco Bay Area).
I don’t necessarily find this too effeminate a car. I picture a collected man who had his life together driving this, probably off to some league of some sort, maybe some moderately important meeting. Not too many women (of these means) had their own car back in the early ’60s.
I like the round gauges Buick used then and throughout the decades since (the Lucerne’s remind me of the ’80s Electra’s, a throw-back I think!).
I like this a lot,who needs a Caddy when there’s a Buick that looks this good?So elegant and tasteful without being gaudy
I agree!
In my parent’s world, a Cadillac DeVille was thought to be “over the top”, too flashy and vulgar.
A top of the line Buick, however, exuded quiet good taste and refinement.
Ditto, Gem on the Oldsmobile 98, especially the mid-sixties 98 Luxury Sedan that had similar gingerbread found on a Cadillac Fleetwood!
That is a beauty, lean and clean and terrific evolution of the ’64 model, though that awkward dash may be a deal braker.
This is the car you can imagine the old money types buying because a Cadillac was “too flashy”.
A Cadillac for people not wanting to be seen driving a Cadillac.
A doctor’s car.
It is a beauty. I’ve always leaned toward Olds in these years. The Buick dash is an odd duck in the ’65 and ’66 cars.
Is there a Buick expert in the house? I think this may be the standard Electra interior for this year, and not the Custom. But, it is VERY well optioned. The power locks (vacuum actuated) were pretty rare. Also note the power vent windows. A lot of Cadillacs went without power vents.
If this is the high zoot Custom, the top line Olds 98 LS was much plusher – and had a super handsome dash as well.
This car does not have the base trim–these were the best seats available in the 1965 Electra. I agree that Olds did an excellent job with the Ninety-Eight LS for 1965, which took the car up a notch above the Buick as far as luxury trim was concerned. I’d imagine the Limited trim level introduced for 1967 was Buick’s response. Throughout this era, it was fun to watch all the GM C-Bodies duke it out for “luxury” supremacy. Olds also seems to have ignited the “tufted pillow wars” with the introduction of the Regency in 1972, prompting Park Avenues from Buick and more deluxe D’Elegance trims from Cadillac.
Sorry, I know there are more Olds than Buick fans here, but Ive always liked Buick styling over the equivalent Oldsmobile up to the odd “swoop” Buicks later on. Looking at the ’65 Olds 98, it was not as elegant inside or outside. The dash was at least as odd looking and the seats had a busy pattern instead of the Electra’s more classic look.
I’m in love with both the Buick and Olds. Your brochure shows the Olds Sport Sedan interior. The LS definitely took the C body luxury wars a step further – right into Cadillac territory with door mounted power seat switches and more.
Some oddities about Olds and Buick from roughly ’64 through ’66:
The LS took Olds above Buick in luxury and price – stomping on the GM ladder.
’65 Electra partial line-up.
$3989 Base Pillared Hardtop – about Impala level trim.
$4168 Custom Pillared Sedan – between Caprice and 98 Holiday level trim.
$4300 Four Door Hardtop – between Caprice and 98 Holiday level trim.
’65 Olds 98 partial line-up.
$4001 Base Pillared Town Sedan – about Caprice level trim.
$4275 Holiday four door hardtop – just a hair short of LS level trim.
$4351 LS Pillared Sedan – Arguably beating Cadillac DeVille level trim.
Odd to me that the top Olds came pillared. But, pillared only status was the same as the ’65 and up top dog Cadillac Fleetwood.
I would have been a torn Olds buyer in ’65. I really like the pillarless hardtop style, but having spent some quality time in LS cars, I can tell you they were plush with out being Cadillac Talisman obscene and they had quite high quality bits and pieces.
I think the Olds Holiday level sew patterns look better in different colors and in person than in the pics you have.
The LS took things even further………
Do you have data on ’65 Cadillac Calais pricing? Its obvious that by ’65 the “order” at GM was in trouble. I remember a road test a couple of years later that priced a fully loaded Chevy in base Cadillac territory, kind of stomping on Pontiac, Buick and Olds all at the same time.
The premium for Cadillac was huge, especially when you consider the drop in standard equipment such as power windows in the Calais.
$5247 Calais 4 door pillar sedan and 4 door hardtop.
$5666 DeVille 4 door pillar sedan and 4 door hardtop.
The Electra and Ninety-Eight were the thinking man’s Cadillac.
Dave B, you echo my sentiments exactly. The 98 LS for ’65 offered Fleetwood-like amenities that were just a slight tad below the Fleetwood or Caddy SDV (seat plushness). Many a moneyed individual or professional driving around the better parts of the S.F. Bay Area in those days would more often than not, be driving around in one of these or an Electra (wifey/Mom may have a Caddy or T-Bird . . . )
Odd to me that the top Olds came pillared.
I don’t know about these years, but ’67-’70, the pillared sedan had several inches more legroom than the hardtop.
The cloth interior would have been standard, the vinyl would have been the upgrade. Although I’m sure there was a leather option I could not find an example
The guide I have shows cloth and vinyl options and does not mention leather. Leather was pretty scarce in the mid ’60s. No mention even for Riviera.
My guide shows leather was standard in the ’57 Buick Roadmaster convertible, maybe not in ’58 Roadmaster, but the Limited did have leather options (standard convertible), and standard in the ’59 Electra convertible.
The Wildcat and Riviera both had leather options. I’ve seen plenty of both with leather. I can’t imagine it was not offered in the Electra except that the only leather I’ve seen were on bucket seats an option not available on the Electra
For a 1965, this vehicle is in remarkably good condition. I don’t mind the round speedometer and instrument cluster, although if I remember correctly all other GM full sized automobiles of that year used horizontal instrument clusters-still I like it. Buicks always reminded me of old-money cars, their styling was a bit more restrained than Cadillacs-if you wanted to show off you drove a Cadillac.
now that’s styling. you can tell that the basic structure is the same as an Impala, but even without the motor being different there is enough upgrade in the styling and interior to make you want to spend the extra money if you had it for a reason besides trying to impress the neighborhood on how much you spent. today’s cars have lost that.
I thought the C-bodies (Cadillac, Electra and 98) were a different structure than the B’s (Impala, LeSabre, 88, Catalina, etc). Not a huge difference, but not just a wheelbase stretch. Admittedly, by ’65, the divisions engineering differences had become relegated to mostly just engines.
Paul,
Right on, a younger priest at St. Ursula’s drove a ’64 Wildcat 4dr. I was always impressed that he left all the accessories on (wipers, a/c, radio) when he stopped, then started up with everything going back on instantly. My father would have a cow!
Beautiful car! GM was truly firing on all cylinders when the 1965 B- and C-body cars were introduced. I personally swooned over the ’65 Pontiac Bonneville 2-door hardtop as a middle-schooler. The family car at the time was a plain-Jane ’61 Chevy Bel Air 2-door sedan.
These were classy cars. Actually, Buicks probably featured fully as many round instrument pods and speedometers as ribbon type over many years. I did not like the low placement on these, however.
” And with such crisp edges and straight lines, calling it a tank or a boat would be unkind. While this particular car doesn’t have the delicate canopy of the 1961-1964 models, the overall look is more harmonious, something which can’t be said for the 1966 models. If it’s true that 1965 represents GM’s peak, consider this full-size Buick compelling proof.”
I couldn’t agree more. the ’65-’66 Buicks where the finest of all the ’60s Buicks
What a gorgeous machine. I’d have a tough time deciding between the Buick, Olds, and Pontiac flagships of this year. This is the first one I’ve seen with power vents. it’s surprising how rare that option was: much rarer than power windows.
Too bad I can’t figure out how to convert the ventipanes to power in my ’77-’87 GM trucks!!
I’ve seen Bonnevilles of the 1965-68 era with power vent windows, but yes, they’re surely rare even on Cadillacs. My old ’66 Bonneville convertible didn’t have power vents but did have vacuum door locks, which I thought was quite the indulgence for a 2-door car.
As for the Buicks: The tail of the ’66 LeSabre/Wildcat was and still is bleh. Generally, among the fancier models I liked the Wildcats better than the Electras, especially the ’67 and ’68 Wildcat 4-door hardtop.
Yes, these were classy cars. I was fortunate enough to grow up in an upper middle class neighborhood, and Buicks were everywhere. The head of the family across the street had a ’62 225, I don’t know what his profession was, but he was affluent enough to have his own airplane. There were 3 doctors up the street, one with a ’65 225 2 door hardtop and the other 2 with a ’66 Wildcat and a ’64 Skylark. The dentist had a ’66 Le Sabre. It’s true that all these cars were owned by people in their mid-40s or older, but I thought these cars were still highly desirable. When my friend’s family decided to sell their ’61 Invicta, I wanted it so bad! It was a prior demonstrator car with everything including leather. Buicks in the ’60s rocked!
What a handsome car! I even like this conservative color. This signaled the beginning of the Electra looking better and better as time pasted in the 1960s.
Nice car. Tasteful and elegant without being overdone. I’d take one of these over a Cadillac of that vintage any time.
+ 1a red Buick Electra first got my brother and myself interested in American cars,it was a 59 coupe from the USAF base near my grandparents
Beautiful car. When I was a kid, some family friends had a white 66. He was a homebuilder (probably in his early 40s at the time) and the Buick was what his wife drove mostly. I was in love with those full width taillights. That is also the first air conditioned car I recall riding in.
Funny, I am not sure I have ever seen that dash before. Was this the inspiration for the IP layout on the early Dodge B series van? That is the only other place I can recall seeing those low-mounted twin pods.
I think the dash was to compliment the wildly popular Riviera dash, it was also used in the Le Sabre and Wildcat where it comes off better in conjunction with the bucket seats, but misses in the Electra
The Riv dash by ’65 was actually sort of a leftover from the ’63 and ’64 era full size Buicks. It used a lot of parts from those cars. While there are some similarities, the layout in the Riv is much more conventional – and I really liked my ’65 Riv dash.
That center console was not conventional, it was jet fighter cockpit. It totally blew me away when our neighbors got one in the fall of ’62, I believe that was the day my car-fetish began
I always thought the dash on the Electra looked like a reverse/inside out version of the Riviera dash for some reason.
…or upside down and backward
Love those elegant and tasteful ’65 Electras, was floored by them as new cars. I miss seeing them on the street daily. Showing it with all the windows down really drives home the appeal of a hardtop.
Conceptually, the four door hardtop is a four door convertible sedan with a steel roof afixed. Pre-war, the convertible sedan was the most expensive, top-of-the-line, owner-driven luxury model available. Appropriate in the postwar affluence that body style would be revived and modified to fit the needs and outlooks of the times.
My Maternal Grandfather (1893-1968) was a successful architect who had married into an old moneyed S.F. family. When my Mom was little, they droves Nashes, Pontiacs and Buicks (mostly Pontiacs); they wouldn’t have been caught dead in a Cadillac. (Actually, I take that back – they WERE caught dead in Cadillacs – on the way to Holy Cross cemetery . . . )
They sound like Packard people