GM's 1977 downsizing crash diet shaved over 11 inches and 800 pounds off the full-size Electra in one model-year leap.
Lead trim: Electra 252 cu in Buick V6 · up to 185 hp
Buick Electra1977–1984
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Buick Electra yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactGM's 1977 downsizing crash diet shaved over 11 inches and 800 pounds off the full-size Electra in one model-year leap.
For 1977 a fifth-generation Electra was introduced as GM downsized its C-body full-size lines, again a counterpart of the Oldsmobile 98: it shed over 11 inches of length and over 800 pounds of curb weight and Buick ended production of hardtop body styles (4-door sedan, 2-door coupe and 4-door station wagon). Wheelbase 118.9 in; length 222.1 in (1977–79), 220.9 in (1980), 221.2 in (1981–82) and 221.3 in (1983–84); width 77.2 in (1977–79) to 76.2 in (1982–84); curb weight 3,800–4,200 lb. Engines for the generation: gasoline 252 cu in (4.1 L) Buick V6, 307 cu in (5.0 L) Oldsmobile V8, 350 cu in (5.7 L) Buick V8 and 403 cu in (6.6 L) Oldsmobile V8, and a 350 cu in Oldsmobile diesel V8, with a three-speed TH350 or four-speed THM200-4R automatic.
Collectors Spotted in the Buick Electra Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Buick Electra yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
3 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electra 252 cu in Buick V6 | 1977–1984 | 4.1 L V6 | 125 hp | 205 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Electra 350 cu in Buick V8 | 1977–1984 | 5.7 L V8 | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Electra 403 cu in Oldsmobile V8 | 1977–1984 | 6.6 L V8 | 185 hp | 320 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
An estimate, for the Electra 252 cu in Buick V6 trim: fuel on its EPA figure and a dated national price, upkeep on a per-mile average for the kind of car it is.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
GM's 1977 downsizing crash diet shaved over 11 inches and 800 pounds off the full-size Electra in one model-year leap.
The 1975 Electra 225 was the longest Buick ever built — over 19 feet nose to tail — right before downsizing shrank the whole lineup for good.
A 4,700-pound land yacht doesn't sound quick, but the dual-exhaust 1969 Electra 225 Custom Convertible ran the quarter mile in 15.5 seconds at 90 mph.
Buick only sold a base Electra alongside the Electra 225 for one single year. By 1962 the plain Electra was gone, and the "225" name carried the whole lineup.
'Deuce and a quarter' wasn't just slang — Buick named the Electra 225 after its actual length, over 225 inches bumper to bumper.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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