1959 Buick Electra 225 Convertible
Named for its 225-inch overall length (the longest figure in GM’s 1959 model catalog), the Electra 225 occupied the top position in Buick’s newly reorganized lineup, which had shed long-standing names like Roadmaster and Limited in favor of LeSabre, Invicta, and Electra.
The two-door convertible was exclusive to the 225 series, with just 5,493 produced.
The 1959 restyle was among the most dramatic GM undertook that year, itself a broad response to Chrysler’s finned 1957 cars. Buicks received a distinct treatment: sharply angled “Delta-Fins” sweeping rearward, canted headlights, and a wide chromed grille.
The Electra 225 convertible rode on a 126.3-inch wheelbase, sharing GM’s C-body platform with the Oldsmobile 98 and Cadillac Series 62 and 6200 models. Leather interiors were standard on the Electra 225 convertible, along with power windows, power steering, and power brakes.
Under the hood sat Buick’s 401 cubic inch (6.6L) “Nailhead” V8, rated at 325 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque with the standard four-barrel carburetor. Twin-Turbine automatic was standard.
Front brakes used finned aluminum drums with cast-iron liners. Despite the extensive restyle, Buick’s overall production fell in 1959 compared to the previous year, even as the broader industry recovered from the 1958 recession.
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