1959 Electra in salmon

Body looks solid, interior all there,but hurtin'

https://bismarck.craigslist.org/ctd/d/windom-1959-buick-electra-4-door-post/7005681772.html

 

Tawny Rose and the other GM divisions equivalents is my favorite 59 Color. Pontiacs NBC Abe for it was my favorite, Sunset Glow. This ones paint needs a good buffing. Pretty basic LeSabre, I’d bet that one came with black walls when new

 

Skirts always look terrible when there's a fender flare detail. Flush... or flush 'em.
Another gripe: '59-60s always look 'naked' with painted window surrounds.
Other than that it looks pretty solid.

 

It's advertised as an Electra,but I have a hard time distinguishing between Invictas ,Lesabres and Electras of this era. All the missing side chrome makes me think this isn't an Electra.
How can you guys tell these models apart? There seems to be a minimum of badging etc.

 

1959 VIN starting with 4 = Le Sabre

According to: https://www.hometownbuick.com/1959-buick/1959-buick-body-tag-decode/

 

The vin is often not mentioned in ads, I guess I was looking more for visual cues. I was unable to read the hood badge. Maybe that says Lesabre.

 

Maybe they added it after you first looked but there is a picture of the VIN tag on the listing.

 

In ‘59- theres zero exterior ‘LeSabre’ badging. They also commonly/standard had no rocker or window surround chrome. When that was the case, there was ALSO no grille badge.
In fact, I’m not sure theres any interior ‘LeS’ badging!
I have a ‘59 Invicta- those got the aforementioned chrome and grille ornament, plus there were ‘Invicta’ scripts on the frt fenders. But theres no interior model name.

 

So Invictas had scripts on the front fenders! That helps narrow the field for me when looking at these cars. I would suppose that means the Electra would also have fender scripts.

 

^ correct, plus electra-specific chrome.
The challenge when shopping ‘59s is moreso determining if a higher model has been stripped of ID-ing trim, or if its just a LeSabre (which had the 364 vs the rest having the 401). VIN is your best verification.

 

There is also different trim between an Electra and Electra 225, confused yet?

 

I am now! I thought all Electras were 225's Very educational.

 

Yeah; actually 4 series in’59.
We can keep going; the top convert is the Electra 225, which referred to overall length, but the E225 convert was the only E225 that wasn’t 225”.

 

I always thought they were amiss in not putting the rear quarter molding on the 225 conv

 

Agreed, tho would have meant a new stamping.

I’ve always been of the opinion that Buick was somehow rushed on the ‘59s, despite being the basis of the other ‘59s as far as core stampings- 2-dr inner doors, front floor pan, firewall. A cursory comparison between Buick and the 2-tiers lower Pontiac sure shows a LOT less detail and features. What Buick was doing while Pontiac was so busy/productive, I have no idea. B-59s have a fantastic shape but are pretty short on details.

 

Agree 100%, always thought the 59 Buick’s lacked interior detail, Would take a 59 Bonneville in a second

 

A bit pricey for a basic LeSabre... Another quick way to tell is the LeSabre had a white dash surround around the radio and glove box, whereas the Electra and the Invicta had chrome.