For those of you who haven't experienced the wonderful blend of performance and luxury that these amazing Buicks offer, let me share my perspectives with you. Buick always marched to a slightly different drummer, and you can see evidence of that throughout this car: the starter actuated by the accelerator pedal, the Turbine Drive transmission that uses torque converters instead of gears, and a torque tube drive that delivers impeccable road manners all contribute to this car's special feeling on the road. This Electra 225 was my first exposure to a late-50s/early-60s Buick and for the record, I will say that there's almost nothing built today that can capture the finely polished feeling of driving this car. It feels like every moving part is lined with silk and everything it does is supremely effortless. It is not unusual to find yourself going 10-15 MPH faster than expected simply because this 1960 Electra 225 convertible is so competent in everything it does.

Hailing from the long-time collection of a retired Buick dealer, this gorgeous Arctic White convertible shows just 69,898 original miles and has never been fully disassembled. It was treated to a quality repaint several years ago in the original color, and while it is undoubtedly modern urethane paint, it has a soft shine that looks wholly authentic on the dramatic 1960 sheetmetal. No hard clearcoat shine, but rather a soft gloss that looks period-correct yet should last for decades with proper care. If I had to guess, I would say that this car has never been fully disassembled and the doors are still in place right where the factory workers put them back in July of 1960. Panel alignment isn't perfect, but it's probably what you got with your new Electra and it's pretty darned good.

Of course, stainless and chrome trim is critical on any car of this era, particularly a major luxury convertible like this, and it's obvious that a goodly amount of cash was spent restoring much of it, while anything that was untouched was an excellent original piece. As a result, it all has a crisp, bright, and high-quality look that works together without anything standing out as either too nice or too deteriorated. Perhaps the only demerit is some light pitting on the unique cast aluminum rocker panel trim pieces, but it's only evident upon close inspection. The body appears solid and has never been hit, and the only possible issue might be some crustiness at the base of the windshield just inside the driver's door where it appears that the paint isn't sticking to the original seam sealer very well. But the car is so nice overall, something minor like this tends to stand out and it's shown in the photos.

The red leather interior was completely restored when the car was painted and shows almost no signs of use since it was finished. Bucket seats and a consolette were rather rare options when new, but it seems that every Electra 225 convertible today has them, so perhaps they were more popular than the number books suggest. Regardless, the bright red leather seat covers are correct and beautifully finished reproductions that show zero wear save for some light stretching on the driver's chair. Plush carpets, correct door panels, and a nicely finished dashboard add to the Buick's highly ornate look. Of note, power windows and a 2-way power driver's seat were standard equipment on the Electra 225 convertible, and everything functions properly. Buick's interesting "Mirromagic" instrument panel uses a tilting mirror to adjust the gauges directly into any driver's line of sight, and if you think white-faced instruments are a recent invention, guess again. This car also features a Sonomatic AM radio and wonderful aircraft-style levers to control the heat and ventilation system. The shiny chrome horn pad was revolutionary at a time when everyone else was still doing horn rings, and the stand-alone clock, which is not functioning, is parked up there like a mantle clock instead of just another dial on the dashboard. The white power convertible top and crystal clear plastic rear window were replaced within the past two years and disappears beneath a red boot that matches the interior. The trunk is upholstered in black carpet that's not completely correct but is nicely fitted and offers new cardboard side panels and a freshly restored spare tire and wheel assembly.

The true joy of this big Buick lives under the hood: a 401 cubic inch "Nailhead" V8. The Wildcat 445 designation refers to the engine's prodigious torque output which makes this car feel effortless in everything it does. It's barely perceptible at idle and has a smooth, powerful, yet subdued V8 burble from the twin tailpipes out back. Given the low mileage, we strongly suspect the engine is untouched and completely original, paint and all, and if that's the case it would be a crime to try to restore it today. It has been properly maintained and offers a recent fuel pump, a comprehensive tune-up including plugs and wires, and a new battery. It's a little cranky to start after it's been sitting for a while, but driven regularly it fires easily and idles so smoothly you can barely feel it running.

Part of that effortless feeling is due to the Turbine Drive transmission, which uses torque converters instead of gears to propel the sleek Buick, much like the original Dynaflow. Ease into the throttle and you ride a seemingly endless wave of torque that accelerates the car without effort, much like an electric locomotive, and it isn't unusual to suddenly find yourself going much faster than you expected. Press the throttle to the floor and there's no violent downshift, just a rising swell of torque that feels like you're at the end of a giant recoiling rubber band. Once you understand how it works, the feeling is remarkable, but it can be a little disorienting to the uninitiated. The torque tube drive system also permits the use of plush coil springs at all four corners, so this Electra not only rides like a hovercraft, but feels far more agile than its period competitors that wallowed like foundering boats in rough seas. Power steering and brakes were standard equipment, and it rolls on 7.60-15 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whites that have less than 500 miles on them.

Enthusiasts will argue the relative merits of the 1959 versus the 1960 design, but for sheer traffic-stopping charisma, few cars can match this Buick Electra convertible. The fact that it is also delightful to drive is merely icing on a very big white cake.