This looks to be a treasure trove of good things Buick! I've owned way too many cars and trucks in my life, but never owned a Buick until recently. My "new" Buick is a 1961 Electra 4 door with the 455 Wildcat. I found it as a one owner vehicle setting in a huge old logging shop I am hoping to purchase that is adjacent to property my wife and I own. The owner was the mother of a retired friend of mine that owned the shop until he passed last year. The Electra has been stored in the shop for many years covered with dust and a tarp. It is still parked in the shop covered in the original dust. After I take some photographs of the vehicle in it's current condition and long standing parking spot I'll get to dusting it off. Probably after Father's day sometime. Next, I'll squirt some Marvel Mystery oil into the cylinders, install a battery and hope the carb is not too gummed up after all the years of setting. I'm looking forward to hearing the wildcat purr! Yes, I wear rose colored glasses on occasion, how about all of you? If you care to cross your fingers for me it couldn't hurt! The Electra's paint and body are straight with the exception of the rear bumper that has been bumped on the passenger side. Not so sure it can be successfully straightened with the compound curves. Good luck finding a replacement, I suppose! The interior is a tad dusty, the front seat could use new fabric, but everything else should clean up quite well! OK, this is my first post and it's a bit long winded. I'll keep future posts shorter. (I hope) I'm glad I found V8 Buick! And the Electra too!
"rflegel": Please put your name in your signature, we're all here on a friendly first name base :TU: ! Great find, a model year 1961 Electra About the engine: It's not a 455 Wildcat but a Wildcat 445: The 445 is the torque rating for the engine, not the engine size. The Wildcat 445 is the 401 CI "Nailhead" engine with 4 barrel carburator, base engine in the model year 1961 Electra and Electra 225. This engine was also used as a starter engine for the SR-71 "Blackbird" military jets, in fact they used two 401 Nailhead engines on a trolley to start these aircrafts. Is your car the "regular" Electra or is it an Electra 225 ? If it's an Electra 225, it's a 4 drs hardtop sedan. The "regular" Electra was offered as a 4 drs sedan and as a 4 drs hardtop. Model year 1961 production totals: Electra: 4 drs sedan = 13,818 cars 4 drs hardtop = 8978 cars Electra 225: 4 drs hardtop = 7158 cars
Welcome! I'm a neighbor about 80 miles from you in Raymond. Should be a fun car you have there. Only other thing I might suggest is to drain the gas tank. That old gas may cause some issues. If you don't want to drain it, you may put some premium in it, 5 gallons or so. Check the filter too. Might not replace it until you run a little of the old gas since you will be picking up some crud most likely. You may want to give the points a quick cleaning with a file and just gap them to get the dwell pretty close. About 0.016 should be darn close if I remember right. You should make it to the big Buick show in Puyallup this Saturday. You would probably have a good time, get some inspiration, and may find someone who can help you out with needed parts, like the bumper.
OK, I've created a simple signature with my name Eric. To be honest, I'm not sure if I have the deuce & 1/4 or the Electra. Title has yet to be handed over and I do not remember seeing any numbers after the Electra name on the side emblem. The owner's manual is still in the glove box, so I'll check it out when I go to the shop next. I posted a question in Classic Buicks regarding the Sedan vs Hardtop designations. I'm not sure what the difference would be but am guessing it has to do with window layout. Thanks for your reply Eric.
Hello neighbor! Thanks for your reply. I did have a bit more of a list beyond the Mystery oil, but appreciate your additions! I do hate to drain old gasoline, but it may very well become a to-do soon. I'm wondering just how much jello might be wiggling in the carburetor after the long sleep period the Electra has had. I'll know soon. One of my parcels has sixteen "corners". How would you like a challenge some day? A few markers have walked away or been buried... I wish I did not have family plans Saturday. A Big Buick show would be fun! Maybe next year. Thanks again David!
Rick, On a hardtop, there isn't a pillar between the side windows. 1961 LeSabre hardtop sedan: 1961 LeSabre sedan: Check the VIN plate, located in the driver's door, near the hinges: If it starts with a 7, it's an Electra if it starts with an 8, it's an Electra 225 You can also check the Body Number Plate in your Electra, it's located at the firewall, in the engine bay. STYLE 61-4737 = Electra 4 drs sedan STYLE 61-4739 = Electra 4 drs hardtop STYLE 61-4829 = Electra 225 4 drs hardtop
Thanks Eric, My short term memory seems to need a jump start. I do not remember if there was a post. I don't think so, but there was a triangular window behind the rear doors, if my memory is correct. I'm not going to fight the barn bats to find out tonight. It's time for some shut-eye anyway. I'll have more information sometime soon. Thanks for the reply!
Welcome Rick Im across the Hood Canal from you in Port Orchard, Sounds like you found a keeper. Good Luck on bringing her back to life.. Thats how I got my Wildcat, from original owner and been parked in his garage for 3-4 yrs. Drive to Puyallup Saturday and check out the Buicks, Im sure there will be at least one 61:TU: or more to check out and meet some folks to help you get her on the road. Gary:beers2:
Welcome to the board!! Lot of great people here and a good place for Buick information (as I'm sure you've found out already) You're only about 40 miles from me. Like Gary said... come on out to Puyallup and see the show and meet some folks. Another 4 Door... GREAT!!! :TU: Gotta love the Aircraftcarriers...:laugh:
Thanks to everyone for the hospitality! I'll see if I can make a dash by Puyallup on my way to a Father's Day event my family is having for me in Bonney Lake. Possibilities are slight though, for this year. I'm glad to see there are some locals to my area. maybe we will meet someday when time allows! Thanks again to you all! Rick
Welcome, I know you have been harassed to come to the show in Puyallup, but one more won't hurt!:grin: You should try and make it out.
Welcome! I have some experience with reviving dormant beasts. I would be glad to share with you some extremely insightful tips. Tip 1: Always fortify oneself with a refreshing beverage before attempting such a project. I find that beer works quite well for this task. Tip 2: alwys fortify onesself with copious amount s of refreshing beers for drink the car to life!
OK, enough pressure My wife and myself will be visiting the Buick Open in Puyallup on Saturday, but only as visitors this trip as the Electra is still in the shop under a layer of dust waiting to be revived. I'm looking forward to the visit and seeing all of your Buicks! I just told my wife about my '61 Electra purchase today. We usually discuss these things first, but the opportunity (with the wonderful chrome) had presented itself and I jumped on it without the prerequisite conversation with my wife (& best friend). Whew! It went well even though we have an abundance of various rolling stock and limited time and money to play well with any of it! We have also had discussions previously on why I might be inclined to be keeping some of the stock... I'm sure my answer was based on a somewhat weak foundation for some items including a 1969 Chevy Step Van, 1973 Ford F100, 197? Combi-Camp 210 Camp trailer... The Combi-Camp was just sold to finance the Electra purchase. Sometimes it just all works out! How many of you will have your gems at the show? I'll look for you there! Yee Haw!:TU: Rick
Thanks for your tips, Bent Rod. I find reviving an old sleeping beast is usually a vocabulary expanding experience! A cold one while pondering the situation might just be helpful at that! :beer Rick Rick
Well at least four of us have our cars pictured in the posts, so that should help you to know if you are looking at one of the guys from the board. You will also maybe see BQUICK shirts and a couple of us have banners, both with art work by a guy on this board. Introduce yourself when you see us!
Looking forward to it! I'll be the camera carrying, blue eyed graybeard with a pony tail drooling over shiny chrome, waxed finishes, old V8's and great designs! Can't wait to get there! :3gears: Rick
