We had two Buick Electra 225. My parents had a 1972 Buick Electra 225 (Chocolate brown, white vinyl roof, brown vinyl interior) and i I had a 1973 Buick Electra 225 my parents bought me as a college graduation gift. Mine was a beautiful like Ocean Blue, white vinyl roof, the deluxe brocade interior with a split 60/40 split front seat, am/fm radio and full power options!
Buick made some truly amazing vehicles during this time. It's hard not to love the Electras and Wildcats, Rivieras, even the intermediate skylarks... all with great motors, backed with fantastic transmissions.
My father in law while working in the engineering dept at Sag steering, was one of five on the column lock design. He got a plaque and a handshake. My Uncle Bill on the other hand, was lead at age 25 within AC Delco and had his hand in everything electronic wise that came out, all the way up to applied control into OBD1 I had always found it fascinating knowing he was technically a major part of Automotive history however, he considered it, just a job.
Absolutely. The 4dr is every bit as good looking as the 2dr coupe as well. If only we appreciated what we had back in the day (my family couldn't afford buicks though).
I've had a few antique cars, 1950 Buick, 1956 Buick, 1970 Continental MK III. I would love to have another antique, but I'm wondering on the push for EV? Can I get gas in 30 years? What do you think?
@@kenk7451 Yeah I hope petroleum stays around for a long time, but I don't know. I guess it depends on the governments that we elect. The power generation would have to be greatly expanded not to mention the transmission capacity to handle the increased power. I'm not against electric cars but think it would unwise to get rid of petroleum fuel and the internal combustion engine.
@@paulr7547 The government has to make some exceptions for antique/classis cars. Damn there are millions of them, and we aren't driving them every day. I recently read an article, and pardon me I don't remember the state. Oregon, or somewhere out there wanted to completely ban registering ANY car older than 1981. The bill was knocked down. My big concern is in 20-30 years I can still find available gas, and not pay anything ridiculous. Happy Motoring!
@@paulr7547 Any legitimate organizations that you know of? Yeah I know all 'new' vehicles are going to be EV probably by 2035, but do you know of any organizations to preserve our classics?
Thank you for posting. I didn't come around until the early 80s. At that time my grandparents where driving late 70s GM cars. Grandmother a '78 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and Grandfather a '79 Pontiac Grandprix. But by the mid to late 80s they had Cadillac's. But one Christmas as a kid when my grandmother bought her 1992 Cadillac Sedan Deville. I told her that Cadillac's must have been her best Luxury car she ever owned. She told me no, way before I came around, they used to own a Deuce & Quarter. My mother, Aunts and Uncles chimed in. About what a fabulous, comfortable car that was. And how smooth it was on the highway. I always wished I could go back in time to see what they were talking about...lol
I owned a base model 70 Electra...just like this one but not a limited model. Excellent riding vehicle, strong, smooth, handled well for a large car. Mine had a stage I cam put in by previous owner. It was a $ 500 car in the 1980s, and I drove it very hard. I finally took out a rod bearing, and sold to a buddy who had a 430 from a wrecked Riviera. It was installed and that car was smooth as silk. It was then sold to some old guy. It could still be running today, as that 430 was fresh rebuild.
1970 Was the best year for BUICKS. That was the year of the awesome 455 -370hp-510 ft. lb. torque. I think the 70 Deuce and and a quarter had the best body lines, grill, and styling and a rock solid frame. A true classic.
Hey Adam, your Electra 225 is gorgeous!!! The color is one of my favorites & was very popular back in the day. My neighbors had a 70 Riviera with the fender skirts & I thought it was a great looking car. Thanks for sharing another interesting video!! 👍👍
OMG this is a gorgeous car. If I could afford it I would get one in a heartbeat. As always thanks for sharing this wonderful car. PS I was born in 1970 so this was a car that I grew up with.
I knew guys in my old hood, the Southwest side of Detroit, who owned deuce and a quarters and thought they were to superior to Caddys and Lincolns. Saw a lot of them back in the day, especially '69s and '70s all styles and colors looked fantastic and stood out.
In 1970 the Buick 350 came in 3 states of tune. The top dog had 315 hp, the SAME as a 1971 455 (though the 71 455 had more torque 450 ft/lbs vs 70 350 410 ft/lbs). So 1970 was a great year for all Buick V8s.
Adam, thanks for doing this video. This was my first car, a family hand me down. As a 17 yo, it made such an impression. Compared to my mom’s Nova, which I learned to drive on, it had SO much power which I found addictive. Stomp on the gas pedal and the front literally rose up, just like a yacht. I only ever saw 9mpg but was lucky my dad always filled it up. Lots of power features and that unforgettable speed alert. It never needed much but I did replace the exhaust system myself and drove it to HS everyday, always in great comfort. What a monster of a car!
Adam, I definitely agree with you about the 70 Buicks, they ALL were good looking, it just seems like 70 was a year that cars looked good before the changeover year in 71 in which they lowered the horsepower
This channel, as well as being ultra interesting, and a joy to watch, has certainly dispelled a few myths. I was always under the impression that 70’s American cars were badly built, cheaply made throw away items. But listening to this review and many others, has made me realise that this isn’t the case whatsoever. This Buick sounds better put together, and a nicer drive than a comparable Rolls Royce!
Yeah. These were good cars. Their main issue was rust. The early 80s vehicles were the really bad ones, but even then the full size RWD cars were still pretty good.
@@RareClassicCars That’s one good thing that can be said for modern cars, the rust resistance is first class. Pretty much everything else though, not so much!
Thank you for bringing back memories of my late father. My Dad had a maroon 2 door w/the black vinyl roof and it was the car I learned to drive on and borrow as my college ride years later. Learning to drive such a big in New York City meant I was never intimated by vehicle size and I was a good gauger of the mysterious art of parallel parking. It was my Dad's first and last flirtation with the classic American land yacht. Since my Dad was Jamaican he was naturally a big Europhile when it came to his taste in cars. His next ride was a Rover 2000 TC then a BMW 528i. But man that "Deuce and a Quarter " can cruise all day at 100+ MPH down the Interstate with that big 4-barrel 455 big block steady as a rock.
I had a 1970 Electra Custom with the Moss Green Metallic paint. It was equipped with the clock, trip odometer, AM/FM radio, power antenna, power windows, power seat, power door locks, AC, cornering lights, rear defogger, electric trunk release, fully carpeted trunk, spare tire cover, and vinyl top. It was absolutely stunning with the glitter in the paint and was a dream to drive!
Great watch. A past friend of mine "bless his soul" had a 73 Buick Electra 225 back in the late 70's we'd cruise around in. Stylin'. Being a 70's teenager, I only remember the immense interior room it had cruising those Summer Nights!
Beautiful Electra Custom Limited! My mom had a 68 maroon Electra Custom 2dr hardtop which I loved. I can still remember her driving it and hearing her rings slap against the thin steering wheel when making turns. Funny the things or sounds you remember as a kid. I remember being fascinated with the driver's windshield wiper as well since it swept way over oscillating with those dual blades.
THIS was the car my mom drove when I was growing up. A 4-door '70 Deuce in gold with (HOT) black vinyl. It was given to my older brother when he went off to college in 1976 (replaced by a new Olds Regency) and my brother destroyed the Deuce within a year. Thanks for the memories!
Answered a lot of my questions regarding a car I’ve long admired. I have loved ALL Electras since my youth, having been born shortly after their introduction, I sort of grew up with them. When I was but 8-10 yrs old, I cut out magazine ads of Electras and had them on the walls of my bedroom. I loved everything about them, but especially the 4 ventiports.
For the 1965-76 Buick Electra's I liked the 1970's the best, I feel they have the best styling and definitely the best powertrain's of the 1965-76 Electra's, I also loved the 1972 Buick Electra's a lot and feel they were the best looking of the 1971-76 Electra's, heck of all the GM C-body cars built from 1971-76 my #1 favorite would be the 1972 Buick Electra.
In the '90s, a neighbor had a Bamboo Cream 1970 Buick Electra Custom Comvertible. I had a Fire Red 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible that was originally Bamboo Cream. Buick absolutely hit the nail with both a very identifiable 'brand look' and very handsome styling.
Everyone in my family loved and owned BUICKS for many reasons-1.RELIABILITY. 2.ROCK SOLID CARS. 3.GREAT ENGINES. 4.GREAT STYLING. 5.GREAT INTERIORS. 6. GREAT PAINT COLORS. 7. GREAT CHROME and TRIM. NOW, WOULDN'T YOU REALLY RATHER HAVE A BUICK.
This is the best classic car youtube channel I have discovered over the past 15 years! I really enjoy this content! It's a lot more in-depth and fact-filled than most of the stuff you see online. I am grateful for the work you do in keeping this going.
I have a 70 Wildcat that I received from my dad who bought it new off the lot. Very similar cars, with the Wildcat being slightly shorter. The 455 is such a smooth engine, it pulls very hard off the line now after I swapped a 3.42 gear set from a Riv GS. The front emblem is a universal problem for the entire 1970 full size lineup, I recently had my friend make a 3D printed copy that is proportionally extremely close to the original.
I was thinking about that as I watched the vid. Seems like those would be pretty easy to replicate - the difficult parts being the chrome, and the clear plastic cloisonné ('lens') which I suspect the black portion of the emblem has.
My friend’s Mother was a very classy suburban housewife and always drove these models. Fond memories of one with green crushed velour interior. Ethel is actually still hanging in there at 90+ years old.
I love Jay Leno, but one thing about his collection he doesn't collect 70s and 80s American cars. I love this channel because it shows your average, normal, every day cars that you once saw on the road. These are my favorite now classics to collect. You don't see too many at cars show either, and the fact that this era doesn't get as much love, motivates me to save as much as I can. They are getting really rare.
I've noticed with pleasure your great content includes Canadian car history. You have to be from a border town (Windsor, across the Detroit River in my case) to appreciate some unique differences between our two friendly countries. One that I noticed was that Canadian car buyers, even rich ones, were more conservative when it came to top-line cars. You saw very few deuce and 1/4's prowling our streets, while Detroit freeways seemed to be loaded with them. It was my late Mum who told me about the US attraction to glitz. She worked in a nightclub with 90% of the customers being from the states. As a sixteen year old, I'd volunteer to pick her up from work at 3am just so I could drive my Dad's (GM worker) '65 Impala. I noticed the throng of huge Caddy's and Electras in the parking lot (with MI plates). Some even had tinted windows, reminding me how our coke bottles were clear while US cokes had a green tint. And so many love these barges had air conditioning! Just wow, the opulence!
I love the Limited brocade cloth interiors. My dad had one just like yours, same interior and color of interior. The exterior was bamboo cream. I think the only options he did NOT have was the load leveling shocks, 8-Track and the space saving spare. Of the dozens and dozens of cars he ever own, I am sure it was his favorite. Well his 1994 Roadmaster Limited came close though. I currently have a convertible in bamboo cream with the sandalwood vinyl interior. Too bad the convertible was not offered in Limited trim, only the mid level Custom trim.
A very comprehensive report. Kudos ! I have long felt the beauty of this car has been greatly under appreciated. Yellow with a black vinyl top would be it for me
What a great video! I owned two 1969 deuce and a quarters with the 430 a few Caddy's from that same era, 5 Lincolns and three Olds Toronados and they all served me very well. This brings back some great memories... 😀
Thank you so much for posting this video. My father had a 1969 Electra 225 and although not as fast as Mom’s 1966 Wildcat I really enjoyed that luxury automobile. I remember driving my dad nuts by setting the speed alert to something like 10 MPH while he was inside the Gulf station getting the free glass with fill up (NFL Houston Oilers or some space related theme). He hopped in and as we drove off that horrible dying swan sound filled the cabin. He thought it was funny the first time but not when I did it the 30th or 40th time. 😂
A great presentation. It has been my lifelong default setting to have nothing but derision for Buicks and Buick owners. You have opened my eyes! I have always considered the '65 Wildcat to offer the pin ultimate in Buick styling. Thank you!
This was a very informative piece on the 1970 Buick Electra 225. I owned two 1970 Electra’s. I prefer the 1969 because of its more streamlined front end. They are capable road cars despite their size and even the “lazy” 2.56 rear car could manage 15.35 sec quarter mile times at 90mph in the traps. I have gotten 21 mph on 100 octane at 60mph. My modified 1969 Electra GSX runs 12.33@116.6. Thanks for the great video.
Beautiful car Adam, but I'm with you. I think the 1968 body style was more elegant and distinctive. My dad had a 1968 Wildcat 4 door, which was such a great car. I wish it was still part of our family today.
As a young boy aged 5 in 70 living in England can I say that the states was a magic place to see on tv shows like Colombo etc . I mean I just couldn’t wait to get there . I still can’t believe it’s all gone . What happened? It’s heartbreaking to see all this has gone . Imagine when showrooms were full of 225’s and the rest .
Loved the review - The 70 Buick Electra 225 was considered very upscale when I was a young serviceman back in 1971. - You are correct, the Deuce and a Quarter did have a sofa sized rear seat, which would be less common by 1980.
We had a 1970 Electra 225 base model. All black vinyl and a four speaker stereo. My dad never went for dealer add ons, so I assume that was another GM option. The squeeze on the steering wheel horn developed dead spots.
Such a beautiful car....and loaded! I noted that the vacuum temperature valve on the intake manifold has no hoses attached to it -- is there a reason for that?
It was part of a larger snake of vacuum hoses that only allowed vacuum to the distributor advance when the transmission was in 3rd gear. I just bypassed the entire thing. Early emissions.
This is one of my three favorites of yours, along with the 65 Bonneville (my best friend had a 67, same color) and the 72 Imperial. I can only imagine what a pleasure that car is to drive.
The emblem on our '70 Estate Wagon broke off by 1984. We ended up putting two chrome bolts in the holes where the emblem attached. Our local Buick dealer still carried the emblem in 1984 but it was around 30 bucks and my dad didn't care to replace it.
Fantastic piece about one of my favorite models. I have owned two, a 1971 and 1972. The 1971 had the highway-biased axle ratio and did indeed return 17 mpg on trips, with the kickdown available at surprisingly high speeds to great effect. And, unlike my Olds 455s, the starter had no trouble cranking the engine when restarting quickly on hot days. Apparently unlike the 1970, however, the cars did not seem overly rigid, particularly in torsion, as evidenced by creaking and groaning when traversing driveway curbs at an angle. Still, I count my 1972 as perhaps the best car I've ever owned, and I kept it far longer than any other.
I remember my uncle had a kind of cinnamon color 225 that was just gorgeous. It had some sort of personalized badge on the dash with his name on it from the factory, and I thought he must have been a total rock star to have it. When you are 8 years old, that is a really big impressive car! 😍
The year was 1970 and all the way down in suburbia Melbourne, Australia. My school friends father came to pick me up for basketball practice and guess what he drove, an Electra 225, a white one. I couldn't believe it, the size of it, how smooth it was to ride in, and the seats were like a thick metallic green embroidered fabric. I still remember it all vividly. And at the time I was all that into cars. A very rare beast in that part of the world. And it had to be converted to RHD. Down under you might see a couple of Mustangs on the road but nothing like this.
Very nice I had a 1974 Electra LTD dark blue on blue absolutely beautiful automobile to drive ! Distributor gear pin sheared off twice It also had low oil pressure when hot . Water pump was a treat ugh But it was awesome to drive 👍BVW Brantford Ontario Canada 👍
Hi Adam. Personally, I think the '70 Electra Limited is one of the best looking luxury GM vehicles. If you compare this car with the Deville, 98, and Bonneville, I think it has the best flowing, graceful lines. I would also say the interior trim levels of the Buick look the best, even over the Deville. I agree that the interior space is somewhat limited, especially when compared with the Ford, Mercury, Lincoln line up, partly due to the wasted space of the rear deck shelf and trunk. If you look at the 70 Bonneville, it's a little ridiculous of the wasted space. As always, great video!
Thanks for the love towards the '70 Riviera, which is an all-time favorite of mine and mostly overlooked if not downright maligned by many. At first glance, your cars are frequently not something I'd be serious about, but by the end of the video I'm hitting the internet like a crazy person waving money. If I were selling a classic car, I would time my listing to 15 minutes after your video dropped and fill out a deposit slip. Can't thank you enough for this solid gold content!
Buick water pumps....Argh&*&^%$! Bit my butt several times. I found the rebuilder water pumps were junk, went and found original NOS on my convertible 1969 Electra.
I really do feel as though Buicks are misunderstood vehicles, and I’m so glad you’ve clarified a bit more of what they were all about in what I consider to be one of their heydays. A lot of folks in the enthusiast community rightly mourn the passing of both Oldsmobile and Pontiac, but seem to feel embittered against Buick for surviving. They seem to forget that Buick wasn’t just a car for retirees. They engineered solid cars with powerful engines and approached their offerings in a unique way that perhaps drag strip fans and the motoring press don’t quite seem to appreciate. But I do. And I’m glad you do, too, Adam. Thanks for the mini education about this car and this engine.
My grandmother (St. Pete's FL) traded 1967 Lesabre for 1979 Marquis (Robin's Egg blue) that was cheap feeling with thin tin like exterior panels... it stayed in our family well into the 80's in Ontario Canada. Great 👍 video
I miss my '69. Loved the looped front bumper. I guess the '70 Limeted would be the holy grail perhaps. Perfect car to lounge around in listening to lounge/exotica music of the day! Like Martin Denny, Esquivel, etc.
My mom and dad owned one of these. My dad owned an automatic transmission shop. I worked there as a young man. My mom would complain to my dad that, something was wrong with the car. My dad would be like ok,ok. One day she made an appointment at our shop, for me to check her car. My dad jokingly went along with it. He told me to to take care of mom's car. So I tuned it up and rebuilt the carburetor. I re jetted it an set up the metering rods. I slightly advanced the timing. Wow mom had an animal to get around Middle Village. Dad looked a little upset, but he really liked it also.
A coworker of my Dad's had a 74'.. At that time Dad drove a Chevy van, blue flame, manual three in the tree. His coworker. A guy nicknamed Fonzy because he listened to Honey radio 56am. A popular oldies station in Detroit back then. Fonzy and his family passed us on I-75 north bound right at the Saginaw Steering gear plant doing about 90mph, them and us heading north for vacation. An impressive sight, and a forever memory. His was that same color brown. To say I like those cars is an understatement.
A fine choice! I've always been slightly more partial to the 67-68 iteration with the swoopspear - 68 for the grille, 67 for the pre-safety dash (much more attractive), but 69-70 are very close with the hook molding dropping back in one continuous line. Just a different design statement. (Even though non-traditional, I'd say the 70 wears the ventiports better, under the spear rather than over it, and has a better grille - so yeah me, I get the better engine in my fantasy machine) Out walking yesterday and saw a 68 hardtop sedan sitting in someone's drive - certainly no Adam car (!) but it was nice to someone had started a project and it would be saved - you could tell it was being actively worked on rather than just left to rot) Growing up I was friends with a kid whose family owned a stable (8, 9?) cars, and we'd sometimes just rotate through them over the course of an ill-supervised weekend. The cousin had a 70 Electra convertible, and so, while that wasn't one we could regularly use, it was a treat to be driven in and, top down, it certainly was long and low!
RE rear leg room: as had been common for several years, the roofline on the 4-door hardtop forced the situation of the back seat more forward for less legroom. As with the Cadillac and Olds 98, ordering the pillared 4-door sedan added a significant amount of added legroom due to its more upright roofline. Going all the way back to the '62-63 cars of the same model, the older 6-window hardtop added rear legroom due to its roofline, also. Great car and great video!
Adam, I pity the salesman that confused Keynote cloth with Keswick cloth on the order form. I am confident many of us would welcome a full video devoted to the 1970 Buick sales brochure. BTW the 'w' in Keswick is silent 😉
I like the pillarless design of the old GMs. The rear door hangs on a post instead of a solid pillar opening up the entire car. They were prone to leaking and sagging as they aged. Still very cool cars but you did have to keep up with the doors.
Great video. I do like these big Buick's, love that brocade interior. I have a collection of sales brochures of these Buick's from the early 60's through to the late 90's. As well as the other GM divisions and Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, Imperial etc They are awesome to read.
Hmm, I thought you previously told us that the Limited you own is actually 227 inches long... The 1970 Buick LeSabre that my Dad bought squeaked and rattled a great deal and he only kept it for two years, trading it in for a 1972 Electra 225 - 'twas a beautiful car with a ride like floating on a cloud. Only thing that needed replacement after ten years was the water pump. Enjoying your reviews!
I photographed a quite decrepit 225 Electra a few years ago. It was parked curbside, with damage to the front fenders and fallen leaves on it. A very rare sight here, especially in some town that is not the capital. Very cool car.
Like others here, I had some neighbors with one when I was young; theirs was a tomato red Custom convertible. Their 1970 Electra became my all-time favorite car by GM. Period.
My neighbor across the street and my brother-in-law’s mom both had brown 1970 Electras with black vinyl roofs. I don’t remember the trim levels, but that color scheme was very common. I liked Buicks back then. After owning two, post 1980, I don’t anymore.
Someone told me you sold this Electra to a family member. This Electra and your Riviera are my two favorite cars in your collection. My dad had one just like it with two exceptions. 1. It did not have the level control and 2. It was bamboo cream. I currently have a bamboo cream convertible. But to tell you the truth, I would rather have a Limited two door hardtop. Second choice would be a Limited 4 door hardtop like the one featured here. I am not much of a convertible fan, but I bought it because if its low mileage and it was also a Hemmings Classic Car magazine car.
The first car I drove on a public street was a '68 Electra, on a 4 lane street with narrow lanes at rush hour. Unfortunately, it was 8 years old and pretty tired at that point. Your brochure shows the pillared sedans had 3 inches more rear legroom. GM started offering two 4 door rooflines on their big cars in '59, and the frumpier one usually had significantly more room.
“When I first got out of high school, I drove an old farm truck. All the girls they walked right by me, Didn’t even say ‘Good luck’! Now I drive my 225, They all want to be my friend. I’ll pick you up later tonight my darling, If you can wait ‘til then! She’s a Detroit made, Deuce and a quarter, Babe!”……🎶 A GREAT John Hiatt tune - also nicely covered by Bob Seger……👍
This young man is a treasure. I hope he continues to crank out the content.
Yes, he and the guy who narrates curious cars are both interesting to listen to.
Let's see the Cadillac Coupe deville 1979
We had two Buick Electra 225. My parents had a 1972 Buick Electra 225 (Chocolate brown, white vinyl roof, brown vinyl interior) and i
I had a 1973 Buick Electra 225 my parents bought me as a college graduation gift. Mine was a beautiful like Ocean Blue, white vinyl roof, the deluxe brocade interior with a split 60/40 split front seat, am/fm radio and full power options!
Thank you for this late night automotive history lesson.
Buick made some truly amazing vehicles during this time. It's hard not to love the Electras and Wildcats, Rivieras, even the intermediate skylarks... all with great motors, backed with fantastic transmissions.
My dad had a 73 Limited. It really was a beautiful car that he purchased back in the day brand new.
My father in law while working in the engineering dept at Sag steering, was one of five on the column lock design. He got a plaque and a handshake.
My Uncle Bill on the other hand, was lead at age 25 within AC Delco and had his hand in everything electronic wise that came out, all the way up to applied control into OBD1
I had always found it fascinating knowing he was technically a major part of Automotive history however, he considered it, just a job.
That buick is beautiful indeed, GM at the top of their game for sure. Have always loved Buicks and their V8s.
Absolutely. The 4dr is every bit as good looking as the 2dr coupe as well. If only we appreciated what we had back in the day (my family couldn't afford buicks though).
Great cars. Great channel. Long live the internal combustion engine. Long live V8s.
I've had a few antique cars, 1950 Buick, 1956 Buick, 1970 Continental MK III. I would love to have another antique, but I'm wondering on the push for EV? Can I get gas in 30 years? What do you think?
@@kenk7451 Yeah I hope petroleum stays around for a long time, but I don't know. I guess it depends on the governments that we elect. The power generation would have to be greatly expanded not to mention the transmission capacity to handle the increased power. I'm not against electric cars but think it would unwise to get rid of petroleum fuel and the internal combustion engine.
@@paulr7547 The government has to make some exceptions for antique/classis cars. Damn there are millions of them, and we aren't driving them every day. I recently read an article, and pardon me I don't remember the state. Oregon, or somewhere out there wanted to completely ban registering ANY car older than 1981. The bill was knocked down.
My big concern is in 20-30 years I can still find available gas, and not pay anything ridiculous.
Happy Motoring!
@@kenk7451 I agree with you . I don't agree with banning perfectly good vehicles for the sake of extreme ideologies. That is how I see it.
@@paulr7547 Any legitimate organizations that you know of? Yeah I know all 'new' vehicles are going to be EV probably by 2035, but do you know of any organizations to preserve our classics?
Thank you for posting. I didn't come around until the early 80s. At that time my grandparents where driving late 70s GM cars. Grandmother a '78 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and Grandfather a '79 Pontiac Grandprix. But by the mid to late 80s they had Cadillac's. But one Christmas as a kid when my grandmother bought her 1992 Cadillac Sedan Deville. I told her that Cadillac's must have been her best Luxury car she ever owned. She told me no, way before I came around, they used to own a Deuce & Quarter. My mother, Aunts and Uncles chimed in. About what a fabulous, comfortable car that was. And how smooth it was on the highway. I always wished I could go back in time to see what they were talking about...lol
I owned a base model 70 Electra...just like this one but not a limited model. Excellent riding vehicle, strong, smooth, handled well for a large car. Mine had a stage I cam put in by previous owner. It was a $ 500 car in the 1980s, and I drove it very hard. I finally took out a rod bearing, and sold to a buddy who had a 430 from a wrecked Riviera. It was installed and that car was smooth as silk. It was then sold to some old guy. It could still be running today, as that 430 was fresh rebuild.
1970 Was the best year for BUICKS. That was the year of the awesome 455 -370hp-510 ft. lb. torque. I think the 70 Deuce and and a quarter had the best body lines, grill, and styling and a rock solid frame. A true classic.
Hey Adam, your Electra 225 is gorgeous!!! The color is one of my favorites & was very popular back in the day. My neighbors had a 70 Riviera with the fender skirts & I thought it was a great looking car. Thanks for sharing another interesting video!! 👍👍
OMG this is a gorgeous car. If I could afford it I would get one in a heartbeat. As always thanks for sharing this wonderful car. PS I was born in 1970 so this was a car that I grew up with.
I knew guys in my old hood, the Southwest side of Detroit, who owned deuce and a quarters and thought they were to superior to Caddys and Lincolns. Saw a lot of them back in the day, especially '69s and '70s all styles and colors looked fantastic and stood out.
I once owned a 1966 Electra 225. Such a comfortable, smooth, powerful ride. I miss that car.
I used to have a 1970 Buick Electra 225,I honestly,wish I still had it! Thanks for the video!
My Mom had a 70 Skylark. I still consider it one of my all time favorite cars. Your videos are great, I really appreciate your efforts.
Buicks also had excellent brakes, accu drive suspension geometry and great steering. They ran down the freeway like no others. great cars to drive.
In 1970 the Buick 350 came in 3 states of tune. The top dog had 315 hp, the SAME as a 1971 455 (though the 71 455 had more torque 450 ft/lbs vs 70 350 410 ft/lbs). So 1970 was a great year for all Buick V8s.
Adam, thanks for doing this video. This was my first car, a family hand me down. As a 17 yo, it made such an impression. Compared to my mom’s Nova, which I learned to drive on, it had SO much power which I found addictive. Stomp on the gas pedal and the front literally rose up, just like a yacht. I only ever saw 9mpg but was lucky my dad always filled it up. Lots of power features and that unforgettable speed alert. It never needed much but I did replace the exhaust system myself and drove it to HS everyday, always in great comfort. What a monster of a car!
Adam, I definitely agree with you about the 70 Buicks, they ALL were good looking, it just seems like 70 was a year that cars looked good before the changeover year in 71 in which they lowered the horsepower
This channel, as well as being ultra interesting, and a joy to watch, has certainly dispelled a few myths.
I was always under the impression that 70’s American cars were badly built, cheaply made throw away items. But listening to this review and many others, has made me realise that this isn’t the case whatsoever. This Buick sounds better put together, and a nicer drive than a comparable Rolls Royce!
Yeah. These were good cars. Their main issue was rust. The early 80s vehicles were the really bad ones, but even then the full size RWD cars were still pretty good.
@@RareClassicCars That’s one good thing that can be said for modern cars, the rust resistance is first class.
Pretty much everything else though, not so much!
Thank you for bringing back memories of my late father. My Dad had a maroon 2 door w/the black vinyl roof and it was the car I learned to drive on and borrow as my college ride years later. Learning to drive such a big in New York City meant I was never intimated by vehicle size and I was a good gauger of the mysterious art of parallel parking. It was my Dad's first and last flirtation with the classic American land yacht. Since my Dad was Jamaican he was naturally a big Europhile when it came to his taste in cars. His next ride was a Rover 2000 TC then a BMW 528i. But man that "Deuce and a Quarter " can cruise all day at 100+ MPH down the Interstate with that big 4-barrel 455 big block steady as a rock.
I had a 1970 Electra Custom with the Moss Green Metallic paint. It was equipped with the clock, trip odometer, AM/FM radio, power antenna, power windows, power seat, power door locks, AC, cornering lights, rear defogger, electric trunk release, fully carpeted trunk, spare tire cover, and vinyl top. It was absolutely stunning with the glitter in the paint and was a dream to drive!
Great watch. A past friend of mine "bless his soul" had a 73 Buick Electra 225 back in the late 70's we'd cruise around in. Stylin'. Being a 70's teenager, I only remember the immense interior room it had cruising those Summer Nights!
Beautiful Electra Custom Limited! My mom had a 68 maroon Electra Custom 2dr hardtop which I loved. I can still remember her driving it and hearing her rings slap against the thin steering wheel when making turns. Funny the things or sounds you remember as a kid. I remember being fascinated with the driver's windshield wiper as well since it swept way over oscillating with those dual blades.
Well-written and so evocative. Thanks for sharing this.
THIS was the car my mom drove when I was growing up. A 4-door '70 Deuce in gold with (HOT) black vinyl. It was given to my older brother when he went off to college in 1976 (replaced by a new Olds Regency) and my brother destroyed the Deuce within a year. Thanks for the memories!
Wow I cannot believe how perfect this car is. It looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. I would love to drive that! Great video thank you!
Answered a lot of my questions regarding a car I’ve long admired. I have loved ALL Electras since my youth, having been born shortly after their introduction, I sort of grew up with them. When I was but 8-10 yrs old, I cut out magazine ads of Electras and had them on the walls of my bedroom. I loved everything about them, but especially the 4 ventiports.
For the 1965-76 Buick Electra's I liked the 1970's the best, I feel they have the best styling and definitely the best powertrain's of the 1965-76 Electra's, I also loved the 1972 Buick Electra's a lot and feel they were the best looking of the 1971-76 Electra's, heck of all the GM C-body cars built from 1971-76 my #1 favorite would be the 1972 Buick Electra.
In the '90s, a neighbor had a Bamboo Cream 1970 Buick Electra Custom Comvertible. I had a Fire Red 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible that was originally Bamboo Cream. Buick absolutely hit the nail with both a very identifiable 'brand look' and very handsome styling.
What a weekend treat this Buick video is, another gem Adam thanks.
I owned a silver 1970 Buick Electra 225 years ago... I loved that car...At times still miss it
Everyone in my family loved and owned BUICKS for many reasons-1.RELIABILITY. 2.ROCK SOLID CARS. 3.GREAT ENGINES. 4.GREAT STYLING. 5.GREAT INTERIORS. 6. GREAT PAINT COLORS. 7. GREAT CHROME and TRIM. NOW, WOULDN'T YOU REALLY RATHER HAVE A BUICK.
This is the best classic car youtube channel I have discovered over the past 15 years! I really enjoy this content! It's a lot more in-depth and fact-filled than most of the stuff you see online. I am grateful for the work you do in keeping this going.
It brought back memories of my beloved Grandmother . Thanks
I have a 70 Wildcat that I received from my dad who bought it new off the lot. Very similar cars, with the Wildcat being slightly shorter. The 455 is such a smooth engine, it pulls very hard off the line now after I swapped a 3.42 gear set from a Riv GS. The front emblem is a universal problem for the entire 1970 full size lineup, I recently had my friend make a 3D printed copy that is proportionally extremely close to the original.
Really? If he’d like to make another, I’ll take one! Email me.
Email sent
I was thinking about that as I watched the vid. Seems like those would be pretty easy to replicate - the difficult parts being the chrome, and the clear plastic cloisonné ('lens') which I suspect the black portion of the emblem has.
This channel is so underrated. Love the content!
My friend’s Mother was a very classy suburban housewife and always drove these models. Fond memories of one with green crushed velour interior.
Ethel is actually still hanging in there at 90+ years old.
Beautiful car. I love the sweeping line on the profile and also the tail lights.
My dad had a 72’ in the 80s. Brown with the tan top, 4 doors. It was a beautiful car, and will always be.
I had a 70 225 convertible back in the 80's. It was fabulous! For as large as it was it handled like a sports car. One of those SHOUD-A-KEPT cars.
I love Jay Leno, but one thing about his collection he doesn't collect 70s and 80s American cars. I love this channel because it shows your average, normal, every day cars that you once saw on the road. These are my favorite now classics to collect. You don't see too many at cars show either, and the fact that this era doesn't get as much love, motivates me to save as much as I can. They are getting really rare.
Yes they are. Thx!
Thanks Adam! My Grandmother had one from new, drove it well into the 1980's. Brings back some good memories. Double green with black vinyl top.
I've noticed with pleasure your great content includes Canadian car history. You have to be from a border town (Windsor, across the Detroit River in my case) to appreciate some unique differences between our two friendly countries. One that I noticed was that Canadian car buyers, even rich ones, were more conservative when it came to top-line cars. You saw very few deuce and 1/4's prowling our streets, while Detroit freeways seemed to be loaded with them.
It was my late Mum who told me about the US attraction to glitz. She worked in a nightclub with 90% of the customers being from the states. As a sixteen year old, I'd volunteer to pick her up from work at 3am just so I could drive my Dad's (GM worker) '65 Impala. I noticed the throng of huge Caddy's and Electras in the parking lot (with MI plates). Some even had tinted windows, reminding me how our coke bottles were clear while US cokes had a green tint. And so many love these barges had air conditioning! Just wow, the opulence!
I love the Limited brocade cloth interiors. My dad had one just like yours, same interior and color of interior. The exterior was bamboo cream. I think the only options he did NOT have was the load leveling shocks, 8-Track and the space saving spare. Of the dozens and dozens of cars he ever own, I am sure it was his favorite. Well his 1994 Roadmaster Limited came close though. I currently have a convertible in bamboo cream with the sandalwood vinyl interior. Too bad the convertible was not offered in Limited trim, only the mid level Custom trim.
A very comprehensive report. Kudos ! I have long felt the beauty of this car has been greatly under appreciated. Yellow with a black vinyl top would be it for me
Haaa! When I was a kid my neighbor across the alley had the same car.It was the same color to!Brings back memories.Thanks for posting!
What a great video! I owned two 1969 deuce and a quarters with the 430 a few Caddy's from that same era, 5 Lincolns and three Olds Toronados and they all served me very well. This brings back some great memories... 😀
Thank you so much for posting this video. My father had a 1969 Electra 225 and although not as fast as Mom’s 1966 Wildcat I really enjoyed that luxury automobile. I remember driving my dad nuts by setting the speed alert to something like 10 MPH while he was inside the Gulf station getting the free glass with fill up (NFL Houston Oilers or some space related theme). He hopped in and as we drove off that horrible dying swan sound filled the cabin. He thought it was funny the first time but not when I did it the 30th or 40th time. 😂
Great video. I never even cared about these Buicks until now.
A great presentation. It has been my lifelong default setting to have nothing but derision for Buicks and Buick owners. You have opened my eyes! I have always considered the '65 Wildcat to offer the pin ultimate in Buick styling. Thank you!
No no. These Buicks are great! They were something special.
This was a very informative piece on the 1970 Buick Electra 225. I owned two 1970 Electra’s. I prefer the 1969 because of its more streamlined front end. They are capable road cars despite their size and even the “lazy” 2.56 rear car could manage 15.35 sec quarter mile times at 90mph in the traps. I have gotten 21 mph on 100 octane at 60mph. My modified 1969 Electra GSX runs 12.33@116.6. Thanks for the great video.
Beautiful car Adam, but I'm with you. I think the 1968 body style was more elegant and distinctive. My dad had a 1968 Wildcat 4 door, which was such a great car. I wish it was still part of our family today.
As a young boy aged 5 in 70 living in England can I say that the states was a magic place to see on tv shows like Colombo etc . I mean I just couldn’t wait to get there . I still can’t believe it’s all gone . What happened? It’s heartbreaking to see all this has gone . Imagine when showrooms were full of 225’s and the rest .
Loved the review - The 70 Buick Electra 225 was considered very upscale when I was a young serviceman back in 1971. - You are correct, the Deuce and a Quarter did have a sofa sized rear seat, which would be less common by 1980.
We had a 1970 Electra 225 base model. All black vinyl and a four speaker stereo. My dad never went for dealer add ons, so I assume that was another GM option.
The squeeze on the steering wheel horn developed dead spots.
My first car was a 1961 Electra 225 4dr hardtop. Rose with white top and gray interior. Loved it!
Such a beautiful car....and loaded! I noted that the vacuum temperature valve on the intake manifold has no hoses attached to it -- is there a reason for that?
It was part of a larger snake of vacuum hoses that only allowed vacuum to the distributor advance when the transmission was in 3rd gear. I just bypassed the entire thing. Early emissions.
This is one of my three favorites of yours, along with the 65 Bonneville (my best friend had a 67, same color) and the 72 Imperial. I can only imagine what a pleasure that car is to drive.
My dad had a 65& 66 Electra, I had a 65 bonneville, red white a white top, loved that car
The emblem on our '70 Estate Wagon broke off by 1984. We ended up putting two chrome bolts in the holes where the emblem attached. Our local Buick dealer still carried the emblem in 1984 but it was around 30 bucks and my dad didn't care to replace it.
Fantastic piece about one of my favorite models. I have owned two, a 1971 and 1972. The 1971 had the highway-biased axle ratio and did indeed return 17 mpg on trips, with the kickdown available at surprisingly high speeds to great effect. And, unlike my Olds 455s, the starter had no trouble cranking the engine when restarting quickly on hot days. Apparently unlike the 1970, however, the cars did not seem overly rigid, particularly in torsion, as evidenced by creaking and groaning when traversing driveway curbs at an angle. Still, I count my 1972 as perhaps the best car I've ever owned, and I kept it far longer than any other.
I remember my uncle had a kind of cinnamon color 225 that was just gorgeous. It had some sort of personalized badge on the dash with his name on it from the factory, and I thought he must have been a total rock star to have it. When you are 8 years old, that is a really big impressive car!
😍
The year was 1970 and all the way down in suburbia Melbourne, Australia. My school friends father came to pick me up for basketball practice and guess what he drove, an Electra 225, a white one. I couldn't believe it, the size of it, how smooth it was to ride in, and the seats were like a thick metallic green embroidered fabric. I still remember it all vividly. And at the time I was all that into cars. A very rare beast in that part of the world. And it had to be converted to RHD.
Down under you might see a couple of Mustangs on the road but nothing like this.
I enjoyed your video. I owned a 1970 Electra in the past and really enjoyed it. It was very luxurious.
Great video, my dad's was a convertible tan and really smooth. Brings back great memories.
Very nice I had a 1974 Electra LTD dark blue on blue absolutely beautiful automobile to drive ! Distributor gear pin sheared off twice It also had low oil pressure when hot . Water pump was a treat ugh But it was awesome to drive 👍BVW Brantford Ontario Canada 👍
:) You needed to replace the oil pump impellers. Both problems would probably have gone away.
Hi Adam. Personally, I think the '70 Electra Limited is one of the best looking luxury GM vehicles. If you compare this car with the Deville, 98, and Bonneville, I think it has the best flowing, graceful lines. I would also say the interior trim levels of the Buick look the best, even over the Deville. I agree that the interior space is somewhat limited, especially when compared with the Ford, Mercury, Lincoln line up, partly due to the wasted space of the rear deck shelf and trunk. If you look at the 70 Bonneville, it's a little ridiculous of the wasted space. As always, great video!
Thanks for the love towards the '70 Riviera, which is an all-time favorite of mine and mostly overlooked if not downright maligned by many. At first glance, your cars are frequently not something I'd be serious about, but by the end of the video I'm hitting the internet like a crazy person waving money. If I were selling a classic car, I would time my listing to 15 minutes after your video dropped and fill out a deposit slip. Can't thank you enough for this solid gold content!
Ha! Thx!
Lmao !!
You brought back a flood of memories when you mentioned the small bolts for the water pump. I believe they were 7/16
Buick water pumps....Argh&*&^%$! Bit my butt several times. I found the rebuilder water pumps were junk, went and found original NOS on my convertible 1969 Electra.
Balanced and blue printed Buick front timing covers are available through T/A Performance
Oh yeah The Deuce, gotta love the 70's
Another excellent video Adam. You always do a great job with a comprehensive review. Thanks. Now I want one.
Thanks Adam, just fabulous.
I really do feel as though Buicks are misunderstood vehicles, and I’m so glad you’ve clarified a bit more of what they were all about in what I consider to be one of their heydays.
A lot of folks in the enthusiast community rightly mourn the passing of both Oldsmobile and Pontiac, but seem to feel embittered against Buick for surviving. They seem to forget that Buick wasn’t just a car for retirees. They engineered solid cars with powerful engines and approached their offerings in a unique way that perhaps drag strip fans and the motoring press don’t quite seem to appreciate.
But I do. And I’m glad you do, too, Adam. Thanks for the mini education about this car and this engine.
My grandmother (St. Pete's FL) traded 1967 Lesabre for 1979 Marquis (Robin's Egg blue) that was cheap feeling with thin tin like exterior panels... it stayed in our family well into the 80's in Ontario Canada. Great 👍 video
I miss my '69. Loved the looped front bumper. I guess the '70 Limeted would be the holy grail perhaps.
Perfect car to lounge around in listening to lounge/exotica music of the day! Like Martin Denny, Esquivel, etc.
Beautiful smooth Buick!
My mom and dad owned one of these. My dad owned an automatic transmission shop. I worked there as a young man. My mom would complain to my dad that, something was wrong with the car. My dad would be like ok,ok. One day she made an appointment at our shop, for me to check her car. My dad jokingly went along with it. He told me to to take care of mom's car. So I tuned it up and rebuilt the carburetor. I re jetted it an set up the metering rods. I slightly advanced the timing. Wow mom had an animal to get around Middle Village. Dad looked a little upset, but he really liked it also.
My first car was a 70 225 ! i paid $50 for it and found $ 26 under the rear seat ! great car !
Man , Back In The Day A 225 Deuce & A Quarter Was Big Time , That Was Like Owning A Cadillac ....A Deuce & A Quarter Was A Very Beautiful Luxury Car
Great video, had a 69 430 Wildcat back ago. That car could be insane if you put your foot into it.
Whenever I see this car I think of Inez Foxx's song, Circuits Overloaded, with the lyrics, "I got an Electra 225 that I can drive."
A coworker of my Dad's had a 74'.. At that time Dad drove a Chevy van, blue flame, manual three in the tree. His coworker. A guy nicknamed Fonzy because he listened to Honey radio 56am. A popular oldies station in Detroit back then. Fonzy and his family passed us on I-75 north bound right at the Saginaw Steering gear plant doing about 90mph, them and us heading north for vacation. An impressive sight, and a forever memory. His was that same color brown. To say I like those cars is an understatement.
A fine choice! I've always been slightly more partial to the 67-68 iteration with the swoopspear - 68 for the grille, 67 for the pre-safety dash (much more attractive), but 69-70 are very close with the hook molding dropping back in one continuous line. Just a different design statement. (Even though non-traditional, I'd say the 70 wears the ventiports better, under the spear rather than over it, and has a better grille - so yeah me, I get the better engine in my fantasy machine) Out walking yesterday and saw a 68 hardtop sedan sitting in someone's drive - certainly no Adam car (!) but it was nice to someone had started a project and it would be saved - you could tell it was being actively worked on rather than just left to rot)
Growing up I was friends with a kid whose family owned a stable (8, 9?) cars, and we'd sometimes just rotate through them over the course of an ill-supervised weekend. The cousin had a 70 Electra convertible, and so, while that wasn't one we could regularly use, it was a treat to be driven in and, top down, it certainly was long and low!
RE rear leg room: as had been common for several years, the roofline on the 4-door hardtop forced the situation of the back seat more forward for less legroom. As with the Cadillac and Olds 98, ordering the pillared 4-door sedan added a significant amount of added legroom due to its more upright roofline. Going all the way back to the '62-63 cars of the same model, the older 6-window hardtop added rear legroom due to its roofline, also. Great car and great video!
Adam, I pity the salesman that confused Keynote cloth with Keswick cloth on the order form. I am confident many of us would welcome a full video devoted to the 1970 Buick sales brochure.
BTW the 'w' in Keswick is silent 😉
Of all of the classic cars I have bought and sold, a blue 72 Buick Limited is the one I miss most.
I like the pillarless design of the old GMs. The rear door hangs on a post instead of a solid pillar opening up the entire car. They were prone to leaking and sagging as they aged. Still very cool cars but you did have to keep up with the doors.
Great video. I do like these big Buick's, love that brocade interior. I have a collection of sales brochures of these Buick's from the early 60's through to the late 90's. As well as the other GM divisions and Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, Imperial etc They are awesome to read.
Hmm, I thought you previously told us that the Limited you own is actually 227 inches long... The 1970 Buick LeSabre that my Dad bought squeaked and rattled a great deal and he only kept it for two years, trading it in for a 1972 Electra 225 - 'twas a beautiful car with a ride like floating on a cloud. Only thing that needed replacement after ten years was the water pump. Enjoying your reviews!
225.7
My Grandmother had a 65 Electra 225. The seats were like woven silk and beautiful!
I photographed a quite decrepit 225 Electra a few years ago. It was parked curbside, with damage to the front fenders and fallen leaves on it. A very rare sight here, especially in some town that is not the capital. Very cool car.
Like others here, I had some neighbors with one when I was young; theirs was a tomato red Custom convertible. Their 1970 Electra became my all-time favorite car by GM. Period.
beautiful car. my dads favorite. forest green with a fawn vinyl top. stunning
My neighbor across the street and my brother-in-law’s mom both had brown 1970 Electras with black vinyl roofs. I don’t remember the trim levels, but that color scheme was very common. I liked Buicks back then. After owning two, post 1980, I don’t anymore.
i like those 4 door electras. i remember the centurion was kinda similar.
Someone told me you sold this Electra to a family member. This Electra and your Riviera are my two favorite cars in your collection. My dad had one just like it with two exceptions. 1. It did not have the level control and 2. It was bamboo cream. I currently have a bamboo cream convertible. But to tell you the truth, I would rather have a Limited two door hardtop. Second choice would be a Limited 4 door hardtop like the one featured here. I am not much of a convertible fan, but I bought it because if its low mileage and it was also a Hemmings Classic Car magazine car.
The first car I drove on a public street was a '68 Electra, on a 4 lane street with narrow lanes at rush hour. Unfortunately, it was 8 years old and pretty tired at that point.
Your brochure shows the pillared sedans had 3 inches more rear legroom. GM started offering two 4 door rooflines on their big cars in '59, and the frumpier one usually had significantly more room.
“When I first got out of high school,
I drove an old farm truck.
All the girls they walked right by me,
Didn’t even say ‘Good luck’!
Now I drive my 225,
They all want to be my friend.
I’ll pick you up later tonight my darling,
If you can wait ‘til then!
She’s a Detroit made,
Deuce and a quarter, Babe!”……🎶
A GREAT John Hiatt tune - also nicely covered by Bob Seger……👍