conceptcarz.com

1966 Buick Electra 225

The Buick Electra was named after the heiress and sculptor Electra Waggoner Biggs by her brother-in-law Harlow H. Curtice, the former president of Buick and later president of General Motors.

The styling of the 1966 Buick Electra was introduced the previous year, representing the third major redesign since its introduction in 1959. The Electra was not alone, as all GM passenger vehicles wore all-new sheet metal for 1965, with modern 'Coke bottle' profiles and fastback roof profiles for the coupes. The Electra was now available in two trim levels consisting of the 'base' and Custom, and rested on a new chassis with a full perimeter frame including side rails. The engine choices remained unchanged with standard power coming from a large, 401 cubic-inch V8 rated at 325 horsepower. Two versions of the even larger 425 CID V8 produced 340 hp with a four-barrel carburetor or 360 hp with two four-barrel carburetors. The standard transmission was the three-speed Super Turbine 400 automatic.

Only minor styling was applied to Buick's largest model for 1966, the Electra 225, most notably with updates to the grille and a revised full-width taillight and trunk lid. The 'BUICK' nameplate was replaced with 'Electra 225' script on the rear fenders, and four ventiports occupied the front fenders. Standard amenities included Custom-padded seat cushions, Custom front seat belts with retractors, a glove box light, map light, door-operated courtesy lamps, dual armrests, Step-On parking brake, carpeting, dual horns, direction signals, ashtray, cigar lighter, a heater and defroster, back-up lamps, two-speed wipers with washer, padded sun visors, and dual key locking system. Power brakes, power steering, and Super Turbine automatic transmissions were also standard, along with a Glare-proof mirror, and cloth and vinyl interiors.

The sedan body style had a base price of $4,022, the hardtop coupe added approximately $10, and the hardtop sedan listed at $4,150. The sedan was the most popular with 11,692 examples built, followed by 10,792 of the hardtop sedan, and 4,882 of the hardtop coupe.

The Electra 225 Custom trim level added even more accouterments with notchback cloth front seats for all body styles except for the convertible which had vinyl Strato buckets. All interiors had carpeted lower door panels. The sedan was priced at $4,200, the hardtop coupe was again $10 higher, the hardtop sedan at $4,330, and the convertible at $4,380. 34,149 examples of the hardtop sedan were built followed by 10,119 of the hardtop coupe, 9,368 of the sedan, and 7,175 of the convertible.

The combined 88,177 examples of the Electra 225 and Electra 225 Custom represented approximately sixteen percent of Buick's total production.


By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021

Related Reading : Buick Electra History

In the late 1950s, due to the combination of economic recession that made small vehicles popular, unpopular styling, and product problems, Buick went into a sinking decline. Sales plunged from a high of nearly three-quarters of a million vehicles in 1955, to barely a quarter of a million units in 1959.Discarding Special, Century, Limited and Roadmaster, Buick began to pull itself out of the tailspin....
Continue Reading >>

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1966 Electra 225
$4,375-$31,400
1966 Buick Electra 225 Price Range: $4,020 - $4,375

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1966 Buick Models
$2,630 - $3,170
$3,230 - $3,700

Electra

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
88,177
126.00 in.
8 cyl., 401.00 CID., 325.00hp
$4,020 - $4,375
100,304
126.00 in.
8 cyl., 430.00 CID., 360.00hp
$4,050 - $4,420
158,618
126.20 in.
8 cyl., 430.00 CID., 360.00hp
$4,300 - $4,810
150,201
127.00 in.
8 cyl., 455.00 CID., 350.00hp
8 cyl., 455.00 CID., 360.00hp
8 cyl., 455.00 CID., 370.00hp
$4,460 - $4,800

Related Automotive News