[Pat Baysinger]

I sure wish I could read that article, but when I click to enlarge, it flashes up big on the screen for an instant, then reduces in size and the print is too fuzzy to read. Help?

[Smartin]

Pat, when it shrinks like that, hold your mouse over the picture and a little icon will appear after 3 seconds at the bottom of the picture itself. Click on that icon to blow the picture back yp to original size. That's one of IE6's brilliant AUTO SIZE picture dealies...

[imported_55PackardGuy]

It seems to work by clicking directly on the page you want to enlarge. The burnout image is the one I was remembering when I asked about those "serious" Electra drag racing pics. I hope he didn't run over those two fella's toes!

Thanks for re-posting this, Michael, and to Smartin for that great live-action Buick vs Buick shot. How 'bout that Riv? Did you beat 'im?

To me, these cars look right at home at the track. There's something about all that metal going that fast. What used to amaze me was how LIGHT the cars felt because of all the torque. I recall the first time I drove the '65 Electra, and that feeling of effortless acceleration. I was hooked. Passed my license exam in that car... although the long back overhang actually scraped over a high curb when I parallel parked. The car was lined up right, but I guess the examiner marked off points for scary noises.

[Smartin]

The Riviera is Yardley's!

Here is his webpage....and no I didn't beat him. I still have over a second to catch up!

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jholthenrichs/

[Pat Baysinger]

Got it. Thanks Adam.

[BqUICK]

Reatta Man: You said:

Quote:

A chopped and pieced together Electra will NEVER be worth anything near the value of a factory stock GS 455 or corretly resotred GSX.

LOT 198


ESTIMATE:
$ 90,000 -- $ 110,000

http://www.rmauctions.com/events/cat...&tmpNumber=198



"1959 Buick Electra 225 Convertible

325hp 401 cu. in. vee eight-cylinder engine, two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, live axle rear suspension with coil springs, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 217.4?



Buick regularly rebels against its ordained position in Alfred P. Sloan?s marque hierarchy. Sometimes it pushes downward into Pontiac territory, but Buick has never, ever, lost its fascination with pushing into Cadillac?s turf. Regularly it has introduced models like the Limited that shamelessly surpass Cadillac in size, power and luxury, only to get its fingers slapped by the GM brass for stepping too far over the line. Buick?s aspirations were nowhere better expressed than in 1959 with the Electra 225. Not only was it fourteenths of an inch longer that that year?s Cadillac, its 401 cubic inch Wildcat engine was bigger than Cadillac?s, too. The 1959 Buicks also were completely restyled, with one of the most effective treatments of the finned era which was nearing the end of its time at GM. The Electra 225?s great length and sloping beltline accented by a thin strip of chrome wore Buick?s canted fins particularly well. Carried over from earlier years, however, was Buick?s distinctive grille of rectangular rods which blended earlier Buicks? identity with the new styling?s sweeping lines. Production in 1959 was cut short by a steel strike, but not before the Electra 225 convertible paced the Indianapolis 500 mile race. Buick sold 32,645 convertibles in 1959, 11% of the year?s production. Of these, only 5,493 were the top of the line Electra 225. Every Electra 225 convertible was luxuriously equipped, including leather interior, power windows, power top Safety group, Super Deluxe wheel covers and outside rear view mirror to compensate for the convertible?s restricted rear quarter vision. Standard equipment on all premium Buicks also included a padded dashboard, power steering, power brakes, 2- speed wipers and dual exhausts to help the big 401 cubic inch ?Nail-Head? V8 breathe deeply. These beautiful, extravagant, luxurious automobiles have a presence that attracts attention wherever they appear, exactly as Buick intended when it created this opulent signature series. None of them better display the 1959 Electra 225?s presence than the example offered here. Fresh from a complete, nut-and-bolt, body-off restoration, it is brilliantly presented in Sable Black with Red leather interior and a Black vinyl top, it is a wonderful statement of the power, prestige and confidence of Detroit and America in the late fifties. It has never been shown and is ready to impress both judges and spectators at any show or gathering. It is lavishly equipped with a full complement of comfort and convenience options and accessories including air conditioning, which make it friendly to use and drive, or simply easy to maneuver into a place of honor on the show field. Extremely rare and special when new, 1959 Buick Electra 225 convertibles are even more unusual today and this must be the finest and most impressive example of Buick?s successful encroachment upon Cadillac?s turf in existence today."



Modified or not, Buick Electras are among the fastest appreciating American luxury muscle cars. When was the last time you saw a GS go for 90 grand?

PS: SOLD for $92,400.00

[Smartin]

One for the money...




Michael, how much did THIS cost???

[BqUICK]

The Electra GSX "Faithful Pursuit" cost is hard to determine. The Machuga/Putman built, one off, steel Electra GSX Ram-Air hood required more than 80 hours of expert welding, hammering, shrinking, and reinforcing before paint! The 32 gal. fuel cell rear cockpit firewall has well over 500 spot welds. The body-off chassis resto, NOS Pee Gee Performance Built 455 STAGE 1, GT Performance narrowed FORD 9", Gear Vendors Overdrive, custom stainless steel underbody Ram-Air trans/engine oil cooler induction, etc., etc. cost a bunch! The appraised value should be determined in 2005 after race day.

[Reatta Man]

I stand by my original comment with one revision:

A chopped 1969-1970 Electra will never be worth what a restored REAL GSX is worth.

And, I think "most" Buick enthusiasts would agree that a 1959 Electra is in another world compared to the 1969-1970 models. You can also spend a ton of money, and get some of it back, but it definitely is not the best way to try to make money.

Keep in mind, we started out talking about a chopped up 1969-1970 Electra, then you showed the auction results of a very unusual 1959 example.

[Reatta Man]

Oh, one OTHER thing....

I was talking about a chopped Electra, in the 1969-70 vintage. The narrative you used was not only for a 1959 model, it apparently was not CHOPPED UP but rather was a meticulously restored and cared for example.

My point is still that a chopped customized 1969-70 Electra will bring less than a faithfully restored GS or GSX.

Let's leave twisting and spinning facts and previous statements to the politicians, shall we?