Introduced in 1959 as a successor to the Roadmaster, the Electra remained Buick’s flagship model until its discontinuation in 1990. The lineup featured a range-topping version named the Electra 225, a nod to its impressive overall length of 225.4 inches (5,725 mm). Unlike the standard Electra, the 225 Riviera shared its exclusive six-window roofline design with Cadillac models.
Similar to its predecessor, the debut-year Electra sported a flamboyant exterior. It featured a frowning front fascia with angled headlamps, a grille adorned with chrome accents, and prominent rear fins accented by a thick chrome bar stretching from one corner to the other. Buick’s distinctive “Delta Fin,” first introduced in 1958, reached its pinnacle in 1959 before being downsized in 1960 and ultimately phased out in 1961.
While the 1959 Electra may not be the most extravagant Buick in my view (that honor belongs to the 1958 model year), it certainly comes in as a close second. The metallic pink four-door hardtop showcased here perfectly embodies the term “drop-dead gorgeous.”
This Electra 225 resurfaced after years in long-term storage as a meticulously restored masterpiece. The paint and chrome shine brilliantly, and I’m convinced this Buick looks even better now than it did when it first graced the showroom floor.
And don’t be deceived by the color. Although it might appear to be a custom paint job, this is actually a factory color Buick offered in 1959. Known as Lido Lavender, it was one of two mauve-inspired hues available that year, alongside Desert Sage. With a stronger pink tone, Lido Lavender stands out as the more striking of the two.
This color is also unique to the 1959 model year and remains quite rare. While there are no official statistics on how many vehicles were finished in Lido Lavender, I can’t recall seeing another Electra like this. I’ve come across examples in the LeSabre lineup, a two-door Electra, and even an Invicta, but never a four-door flat-top model.
On that note, Buick produced 66,493 Electras in 1959. Of these, only 10,491 were four-door Electra 225 hardtop versions.
Beyond its immaculate restoration, this Electra 225 retains its original drivetrain. All first-generation Electras came equipped with Buick’s 401-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) Nailhead V8 engine, which debuted as part of the second generation of Nailheads in 1957. For the 1959 model year, the engine’s displacement grew from 364 to 401 cubic inches.
On this particular car, the engine bore the “Wildcat 445” designation, referencing its torque output of 445 pound-feet (603 Nm). It delivered 325 horsepower to the rear wheels through an automatic transmission. The single four-barrel “Wildcat 445” engine remained the standard powertrain in the Electra until 1966.
The engine bay is just as pristine as the rest of the car, and it runs seamlessly. The restoration work here is nothing short of phenomenal, and the current owner deserves recognition for preserving this Buick to museum-quality standards.
As an added bonus, the owner also possesses a 1960 Electra, and the video offers a fascinating rear fascia comparison between the two models toward the end.
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