Back in the “day” most families used or bought a full sized GM/Ford/Mopar wagon for towing their Airstream trailers. Those wagons were more capable from a structural stand point than a coil sprung rear luxury sedan.
I saw this car at a show in Fleetwood Pa last year. It's all metal, we went over it with a magnet, the workmanship is decent but not perfect. He never told me the PENNDOT story and I doubt that the State of Pennsylvania would be interested in manufacuring automobiles. The snow story make no sense, as Michael already posted, because lowering the extra wheels would remove weight from the driven wheels and the car would go nowhere on a slipery surface. The owner told me that this vehicle configured this way to tow trailers in a time before SUVs. He seems eager to sell it, it probably belongs in a museum.
I'm reading the traction aid in the snow would be keeping the rear from going sideways during wheel spin. Would the extra two wheels in back keep the car straight as opposed to sliding side to side? Seems to me like it might..
Penn Dot would never do this with a car. I call total Bullsh!t....They would have done all the swapping in Harrisburg if they did that. Not send it to another state..The would have had to have bids for everything and the lowest bidder would have done it. Just like all the equipment they buy.. Show me proof of them doing it and I'll say I was wrong...If he had the proof,he'd be slathering it all over the internet by now.
Dear V-8 Buick fans who have an interest in unusual cars, Hagerty's discovered this car as well and has a piece on it. So here is a bit more trivia associated with this car: https://www.hagerty.com/media/autom...buick-a-prototypical-tribute-to-pennsylvania/ Cheers, Edouard
'The car is back in the media, this time on BarnFinds dot com. This because someone came across the old listing on Facebook Marketplace from 10 weeks ago: PENNDOT Prototype: 1971 Buick Electra Limited Occasionally, a car will cross our desks at Barn Finds, which leaves us scratching our heads. Such is the case with this 1971 Buick Electra Limited. At a (very) brief first glance, it appears nothing unusual. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that it features approximately 50% more wheels than buyers expect to find on the average Electra. It is claimed to be a prototype vehicle, although the internet is awash with other theories surrounding its origins. The seller has listed it on behalf of its owner here on Facebook Marketplace in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. They set their price at $100,000. This is not the first time we’ve seen this Buick at Barn Finds, with it featured in this excellent article by our own Jamie Palmer in 2017. It presents quite nicely in Cascade Blue with a contrasting White vinyl top. The close-up shots reveal minor marks and imperfections, with the seller admitting the car needs work. The listing shots suggest the Buick was rescued years ago, spending time exposed to the elements. There are no apparent rust issues, although an investment of this magnitude justifies an in-person inspection. The trim and tinted glass are in good order, the vinyl looks excellent, and the Build Sheet confirms the wheels are a later addition. I have skirted around this car’s custom aspect, but it is impossible to ignore. Numerous government departments throughout automotive history have awarded grants for individuals to research and develop modifications designed to improve vehicle safety. That is what is claimed with this Buick. The listing indicates that a previous owner received $60,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Transport to produce this car. There have been various online claims that the aim was to improve towing capacity, but that is said to be incorrect. The additional wheels are independently sprung and can be lowered to improve rear-end grip on icy surfaces. The theory was that this approach would result in less damage to the tarmac than that caused by studded tires. The fact that we don’t see this feature on modern cars suggests the concept didn’t meet with universal approval. Regardless, the extra wheels and custom fender skirts guarantee this Buick will turn heads. The additional wheels are the only modifications to this Buick, with its drivetrain comprising standard ’71 Electra fare. The 455ci V8 sends 315hp and 450 ft/lbs of torque to the Posi rear end via a three-speed automatic transmission, while power assistance for the steering and brakes lightens the driver’s workload. This combination provided a ¼-mile ET of 17.1 seconds and a top speed of 120mph, but the reality may not be the case with this beauty. The modifications will have added significantly to the vehicle’s weight, which is guaranteed to tip the scales at considerably more than the company’s claimed 4,486 lbs. Therefore, it is unlikely to score many victories at a “Traffic Light Grand Prix.” However, cruising effortlessly on the open road at 70mph should not present many challenges. The seller indicates the car runs and drives, and the embedded video in the listing suggests the engine is in excellent health. It is unclear whether the Buick is genuinely roadworthy, but with the drivetrain remaining unmodified, getting it to that point if it isn’t is unlikely to break the bank. I will never understand why a seller will list a classic within this price range and then supply second-rate photos. That is the case with this Buick because this is one of only two interior shots in their listing. However, both suggest its Blue cloth and vinyl trim are in good order and that the new owner shouldn’t need to spend any cash inside this classic. The seller includes the original Build Sheet, confirming that the first owner didn’t hold back when ordering this Electra. It is equipped with air conditioning and power operation for the windows, locks, front seats, and trunk release. The list of goodies continues with cruise control, a speed alert, remote mirrors, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/tape player. It will be interesting to gauge your feedback on this 1971 Buick Electra Limited and whether you believe it is a genuine PENNDOT prototype. The article in 2017 generated an enormous response, and I expect to see the same again. The internet is awash with theories about this Electra, some of which are pretty fanciful. One point worth pondering is that in the earlier story, the owner at that time had it listed for $25,000. It raises the significant question of whether a four-fold price increase is justified since 2017. So, over to you.
So the article has a photo of the build sheet. One would think the build sheet would have had some kind of note about it. I don't see anything, but I may be missing it. Unless they took a finished car and then modified it. Which I don't think Buick would do in this case, but someone outside of GM would. In addition to what the author wrote in the article, I don't think Buick would bother with the fender skirts for an initial test mule for proof of concept.
