Buick's C body was the only member of the trio that was a thoroughly tested and thoughtfully well engineered, and Buick innovated the first fuel injection front and rear wheel drive V6, the car itself was a tough act to follow, even Oldsmobile and Cadillac couldn't keep up with Buick, between 1984-87 Buick was really kicking ass and taking names, for once Buick made mom and dad (me) with Park Ave and, made the kids happy with the Grand national and gnx.
GM's lines (Under Cadillac) had their decades where they would dominate. Pontiac was the shit in the '60s with the Grand Prix and the GTO Oldsmobile was the shit in the '70s with the Cutlass being the dominant seller of the decade. The 80's belonged to BUICK!
I saw the first one 40 years ago, front wheel drive C,s BOC park Ave was the most outstanding,a small car with traditional big car ideas, it also marked the beginning of new V6 engine technology that I still appreciate, the car may not have been technicalogical wonder, but the engine would later prove the most technically advanced engine Buick ever made.❤
My great aunt had an 86 sedan Deville but grandma tried to talk her into the Buick. I backed grandma up saying the Buick has better reliability and quality even though I was 12 but I knew.
I must confess that I have always had a borderline obsession with the front drive GM C/H bodies.......this is where GM REALLY got their crap together & produced, at least in the case of the Buicks, the most trouble-free American car ever!!!!! Fun fact: 1985 was the only year to offer a carbureted base engine (4:45) & an optional diesel engine (5:02).
The first few years of these had their issues, but ended up becoming a very reliable platform. I know several C body owners that got well over 200K out of them.
Wont s#!t talk these cars. Although they still had that built in GM "quality", they were definitely better for their time and by '87, were pretty reliable and performed well.
The first FWD Electras (and their Olds 98 brothers) were that rare GOOD 1980s GM car! More reliable and better handling than the Cadillac version while being CHEAPER! I could not afford one but the LeSabre version (Same basic car with slightly different "faster" roofline and less fancy interior...) came out a year later. That I COULD do! I bought my '86 LeSabre new and kept her for 15 years!
These Buick Electras were the coolest C-Bodies ever, I thought the T-type had a 3800 turbocharged, because of the horsepower torque numbers. But it was seven years later with the Park Ave. Ultra.
I am old enough to remember when a car the size of a 1985 Buick Electra would have been called a COMPACT! Not even mid size. Compare the '85 Electra to the '75 Electra!
I own a 1975 Lesabre (nearly identical size) and the outside indeed is huge. Interior space isnt though. Wouldnt be surprised if this electra has more interior room than my 226.9 inch boat
@@rovervitesse1985 It might. Space utilization improved over the 71-76 Electra with the ,77-.84 Electras and the '85s were nearly as roomy as the '84s.
I first saw that car in February 1984 I still ❤ em 40yrs later.
Parents had an 88 LeSabre. First year of the 3800. That thing was a beast, and very dependable.
Wow! Love these early year Motorweek episodes. Thank you for all your hard work to preserve and share these!
Buick's C body was the only member of the trio that was a thoroughly tested and thoughtfully well engineered, and Buick innovated the first fuel injection front and rear wheel drive V6, the car itself was a tough act to follow, even Oldsmobile and Cadillac couldn't keep up with Buick, between 1984-87 Buick was really kicking ass and taking names, for once Buick made mom and dad (me) with Park Ave and, made the kids happy with the Grand national and gnx.
GM's lines (Under Cadillac) had their decades where they would dominate. Pontiac was the shit in the '60s with the Grand Prix and the GTO Oldsmobile was the shit in the '70s with the Cutlass being the dominant seller of the decade. The 80's belonged to BUICK!
I saw the first one 40 years ago, front wheel drive C,s BOC park Ave was the most outstanding,a small car with traditional big car ideas, it also marked the beginning of new V6 engine technology that I still appreciate, the car may not have been technicalogical wonder, but the engine would later prove the most technically advanced engine Buick ever made.❤
My great aunt had an 86 sedan Deville but grandma tried to talk her into the Buick. I backed grandma up saying the Buick has better reliability and quality even though I was 12 but I knew.
The 3.8 liter was the best engine Buick produced for those car's
Today's plastic fantastic Buicks can't compare...
❤ Buick of days gone by...
I must confess that I have always had a borderline obsession with the front drive GM C/H bodies.......this is where GM REALLY got their crap together & produced, at least in the case of the Buicks, the most trouble-free American car ever!!!!! Fun fact: 1985 was the only year to offer a carbureted base engine (4:45) & an optional diesel engine (5:02).
The first few years of these had their issues, but ended up becoming a very reliable platform. I know several C body owners that got well over 200K out of them.
Love the look of the T Type
My parents had a ‘96 Buick Park Avenue in beautiful maroon with a medium gray leather interior. I loved that car!
Wont s#!t talk these cars. Although they still had that built in GM "quality", they were definitely better for their time and by '87, were pretty reliable and performed well.
Man v6's had come a long way! There are so much powerful since early 2000's
What a great car inside and out. Love the engineering “quirks and features”
The first FWD Electras (and their Olds 98 brothers) were that rare GOOD 1980s GM car! More reliable and better handling than the Cadillac version while being CHEAPER! I could not afford one but the LeSabre version (Same basic car with slightly different "faster" roofline and less fancy interior...) came out a year later. That I COULD do! I bought my '86 LeSabre new and kept her for 15 years!
These Buick Electras were the coolest C-Bodies ever, I thought the T-type had a 3800 turbocharged, because of the horsepower torque numbers. But it was seven years later with the Park Ave. Ultra.
I am old enough to remember when a car the size of a 1985 Buick Electra would have been called a COMPACT! Not even mid size. Compare the '85 Electra to the '75 Electra!
Very nice and beautiful the Buick Eletro 85. Great engine, solid and confortable car
@toomuchthyme , The Camry Defines the mid size car today. The Electra was a luxury car, closer to a Lexus or at least an Avalon.
I own a 1975 Lesabre (nearly identical size) and the outside indeed is huge. Interior space isnt though. Wouldnt be surprised if this electra has more interior room than my 226.9 inch boat
@@rovervitesse1985 It might. Space utilization improved over the 71-76 Electra with the ,77-.84 Electras and the '85s were nearly as roomy as the '84s.
Just a side note, those new C-body cars were built in GM's new assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri.
My Honda Accord 78 had front wheel drive,back then too much maintenance!
Never have I ever seen that console
The flexing at 2:48 😱
Stand equipment GM
Pushed button harder than necessary
My 84 Buick Electra was better. But these are still better than the crossover garbage people drive today.
These style cars did last, coming from a non GM fan. They were good rides
Wow never knew these had so many little interesting design features.
I love this Buick Electra 1985. 1985-1988 is my favorites
Yeah except for that harsh roofline 🤔
The A pillar is a weird angle and the backlight slope strange too.
Union Carbide were unabashed about putting their name about...despite (or because of) Bhopal.
Did the downsized 1985 Electra revert back to a scary buzzer since it no longer counted as a full-size car?
These were great cars, but not in ‘85. Junk engines and transmissions. Still needed more development.
Full-size, no way.
They had pretty roomy interiors.
They were considered full size at the time
Dont worry,in 2 yrs the GNX Buick will scratch youre itch.