The big fin Cadillacs of 1959-60 seem to generate A LOT of attention, and with good reason: dramatic styling, big horsepower, and a glamorous reputation. And that’s all fine, but if you’re a person who appreciates driving and want to stand out in an equally big way, I would argue that the 1960 Buick Electra 225 convertible is a much smarter choice. It’s just as big as a Cadillac and the revised 1960 styling was a big improvement over the somewhat ostentatious ‘59s (also like Cadillac). The Buick makes the same 325 horsepower as the Cadillac, but the 401 cubic inch Buick Nailhead V8 is a torque factory, out-muscling the Cadillac by a significant margin. And the Buicks are rarer, with about half as many Electra 225s built as Cadillac Series 62 ragtops. Best of all, the Buick is cheaper to buy. Wouldn’t you rather own a Buick?

This particular “Deuce-and-a-Quarter” convertible is one of those special cars that only reveals itself in layers. The traditional Alpine White over red color combination is ideal for anything with big fins and lots of chrome, and it highlights the dramatic creases in the bodywork that are a hallmark of the ’60 Buicks. Paint and bodywork are excellent, the result of a very high-quality restoration some years ago and careful maintenance ever since. So it’s not perfect, but it’s really, really good and you’ll never regret being seen behind the wheel. You’ll also be pleased with the ultra-clean sheetmetal with no botched bodywork or clumsy filler smeared all over the place, and the doors on this giant convertible swing closed as solidly as any closed car we’ve ever driven. There’s an appropriate gloss to the finish, not too shiny, and it looks like 1960 all over again. Traditional Buick styling cues remain, including stylized portholes on the front fenders, and big Tri-Shield emblems fore and aft leave no mistake as to what kind of car this is. Exceptional trim work makes it glitter, from the concave grille that’s simple yet striking to the chrome strips that run atop the tail fins to the fluted rocker panels that probably cost deep into the 5-figure range to restore properly. Our favorite features might just be the chrome on the hood, making an arrowhead shape that neatly stands in for a clunky hood ornament. This car looks like a movie star from any angle.

Red leather is the ideal choice in a big, flashy convertible like this. Beautifully restored using factory patterns, it’s clean, simple, and elegant. Supple, high-quality leather shows some minor wrinkles but somehow it looks better because of it, not worse, and it’s rather extraordinary how all the various textures and materials match so well. These cars were Buick’s top-of-the-line models, so they came loaded with features, with this car carrying power windows, a power seat, a power antenna, and an AM radio in the center of the dash, all of which are fully operational. Buick also introduced the “Magic Eye” instrument panel, an adjustable mirror that reflects the ribbon-style speedometer and other gauges so they’re easy to see regardless of how tall the driver is. The matching red steering wheel feels substantial, and with power steering the car is effortless to guide down the highway. The only notable deviations from OEM spec are the seat belts (which are only a good idea) and a small aftermarket temperature gauge tucked on the left side of the instrument panel. Aircraft influences can be seen in the design of the ventilation controls and the clean, unadorned dashboard is a fantastic contrast to the over-chromed jukeboxes of the 1950s. The white power top is in excellent condition and stows itself easily with the touch of a button, and it hides under a matching red vinyl boot. There’s also a handsomely upholstered trunk that includes a full-sized spare tire with cover and complete jack assembly.

Buick’s 401 cubic inch “Wildcat” V8 was already a legend by the time this Electra was built. In 1960, it was topped by a 4-barrel carb and made 325 horsepower and 445 pounds of torque—that’s more twist than any other mass-produced V8 in America. Rebuilt to stock specs and nicely detailed with corporate turquoise paint, oversized air cleaner, and reproduction decals to give it a correct look. Original components are used throughout, including an original-style generator, power steering pump, and power master cylinder, and while there are a few signs of use, everything works properly. 1960 was the final year Buick used the accelerator pedal-mounted starter switch, and this big convertible fires almost instantly by simply pressing the pedal to the floor. It idles smoothly enough that you might think it has stalled at red lights, but there’s a slightly muscular hum that you’ll feel through the seat of your pants—this isn’t quite the soft, isolated luxury car that the Cadillac is. This is a car for people who enjoy driving. There’s torque available at any speed and despite a near-5000 pound curb weight, that Nailhead V8 easily ignores a good chunk of it.

Buick’s Dynaflow automatic was called the “Twin Turbine” transmission in 1960, but the operation had not changed: no gears, no clutches, no shifts, just a smooth flow of power uninterrupted by gear changes. There are some who will argue that it sucks up too much power, but after driving this car you will likely change your mind—whatever you’re doing, there’s a ton of acceleration on tap regardless of the transmission doing the work. In the meantime, it’s an invisible servant that delivers a completely different driving experience from a conventional automatic, and we like it a lot. Out back, this car packs 3.23 gears, so it’s a superb highway cruiser that just eats up pavement like few other cars can. Buick’s torque tube driveline provides exceptional stability and ride control and with coil springs all around it doesn’t feel like a big luxury car. Sure, it’s soft, but it’s not sloppy. Buick’s enormous finned aluminum brakes provide the best stopping power of the era and the dual exhaust system uses a correct transverse muffler that’s even galvanized like the original. Check the floors and you’ll see they’re completely solid—ditto for the rockers and trunk—and Buick’s perimeter frame gives this massive ragtop the kind of solidity that few other cars of the period can match. Steel wheels are painted red and carry correct hubcaps and modern 225/75/15 whitewall radials that ride and handle great.

This car is documented with a pile of restoration receipts and includes spare parts like hubcaps and an original radio.

This car sneaks up on you. Sure, it’s an 18-foot-long convertible in flashy colors, but once you start driving it you’ll be amazed simply by how well it works. It doesn’t feel old, it doesn’t feel dated, and it certainly doesn’t feel sloppy or heavy. It’s powerful, tight, smooth, and confident. If you like how it looks and appreciate being the center of attention, this car delivers. But if you simply want a car that rewards you with a joyous driving experience, this one is much better than most. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.