The “old” Buick Electra and the new Buick Electra are about as different as two vehicles with the same name can possibly be. The Electra of 50 years ago was a massive sedan or coupe with available big-block V8 power. The Electra for 2025 is a battery-powered electric crossover. Apples to apples? Hardly.
The Pick of the Day is a 1973 Buick Electra 225 two-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Northridge, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
Let us turn our sights to an Electra of yesteryear that hails from the nameplate’s fourth generation (sold from model years 1971 through 1976). During that timeframe, the car rode on what General Motors called the C-body platform which was both larger and heavier than its predecessor. Some design and engineering updates were made for 1973 including revisions to the eggcrate grill and the introduction of a federally mandated “five mph” front bumper. All Electra 225s were hardtops from 1971 to 1973.
The Electra is described as a car that “glides into the annals of automotive history with a grandeur that is as undeniable as it is elegant.” The color combo is particularly striking, consisting of a deep burgundy exterior and a white vinyl interior. The woodgrain dash trim and Sonomatic “Stereo Eight” push-button AM radio were luxurious features for the time.
The seller says the 455cid (7.5-liter) big-block V8 was rebuilt in 2019 and has been driven 120 miles since that time. Power is channeled to the rear wheels via a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission. The odometer shows just 81,421 miles, and maintenance documentation is robust. Included on the service checklist are a starter motor, fuel tank, tires, exhaust, shock absorbers, radiator, front brakes, sway bar link, and heater control valve in addition to a rebuild of the four-barrel carburetor.
Ready or not, the Electra will be back as an electric car. The name is perfect, right? Set to go on sale this fall in China is the Buick Electra “E5” – a crossover that shares the same “Ultium” battery platform that underpins the Cadillac Lyriq, the Chevrolet Blazer EV, and the Acura ZDX. It remains to be seen exactly how the North American version will differ from the Electra that is headed to China.
Until then, I have a feeling most of our readers will prefer an old-school big-block V8 Electra anyway.
“This is a magnificent example,” the listing concludes. The asking price is $24,000 or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, cruise on by Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com