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1967 Buick Electra 225

The Electra was part of the Buick model lineup for over thirty years, beginning in 1959 and continuing to 1990 with six distinct generations of styling. The 'Electra' was named after heiress and sculptor Electra Waggoner Briggs by her brother-in-law Harlow H. Curtice, the former president of Buick (who would later become president of General Motors). It used rear-wheel-drive until 1984, switching to front-wheel drive in 1985 for all body styles except the station wagon. When its production ended in 1990, it was replaced in 1991 by the Park Avenue.

The 'third generation' of styling was introduced in 1965 and would continue through 1970. During the Electra's entire production lifespan, it would use some form of GM's C platform. Body styles included a two- and four-door hardtop, a sedan, and convertible. The wheelbase measured 126-inches and its length of 224.1-inches, growing to 223.9-inches by 1967, and eventually to 225.8-inches by the end of '3rd Gen' production, in 1970. The wheelbase was the same as the 'second generation' which had a similar length, growing from 219.2-inches in 1961 to 222.8-inches in 1964.

The Electra embraced the graceful 'Coke bottle' styling theme, with fastback rooflines on the coupes, the elimination of the six-window body style, but retaining the rear wheelhouse skirts and wide, ribbed lower body moldings. In the front was a cross-hatch textured cast grille and the interiors received either fabrics or vinyl, with woodgrain dash accents. The previous 'X' frame, used since 1961, was replaced by a new chassis with a full perimeter frame with side rails. The engine selection remained the same as in 1964, with the standard 401 CID V8 developing 325 horsepower, and the optional 425 CID V8 rated at 340 hp with a four-barrel carburetor, or 36 hp when equipped with two four-barrel carbs. The standard engine was a three-speed Super Turbine 400 automatic.

The 1966 model year brought minor styling updates, including a revised full-width taillight and trunk lid that wore 'Electra 225' script replacing the previous 'BUICK' nameplate. Fender skirts remained standard, the lower body sides wore full-length moldings and a new front grille. The dual-quad 360 horsepower engine was downgraded from a factory option to dealer-installed. Front-seat headrests became part of the options list, and the instrument panel received a fuel gauge, warning lights, and a horizontal sweep speedometer.

1967 Buick Electra
For 1967, the Buick Electra was restyled with a sweep spear body side design similar to the rest of the model line-up. It remained Buick's largest vehicle, with a 126-inch wheelbase which it shared with the Buick Wildcat. The engine was a 360 horsepower V8 unit, shared with the Wildcat, with overhead valves, 10.25:1 compression ratio, a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, and 475 foot-pounds. The engine was mated to a Super Turbine automatic gearbox.

In the back of the car were full-width taillights. An Electra 225 script could be found on each rear fender. The Electra 225 was available as a sedan, hardtop sedan, and a two-door sport coupe. The Custom Series added a convertible to the lineup, which sold for $4,420. The Custom Series was more luxurious, with more comfortable cloth-and-vinyl interiors, and vinyl bucket seats optional on the convertible.

Minor styling updates were applied in 1968 before a major styling update arrived in 1969, the final year for the Electra convertible. Headrests became standard equipment in compliance with a federal safety mandate, and the steering column with an ignition switch that also locked the steering wheel with the transmission in 'Park.' Additional changes included concealed radio antenna, ventless front windows, a revised front suspension system called 'Accu-Drive,' and a new variable-ratio power steering system. The 455 cubic-inch V8 with 370 horsepower replaced the 430 V8 used from 1967 to 1969.

A complete restyling arrived in 1971 and would continue through 1976.


By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010

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....
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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1967 Electra 225
$4,420-$25,580
1967 Buick Electra 225 Price Range: $4,050 - $4,420

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1967 Buick Models
$2,733 - $3,345
$3,000 - $3,380

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

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