The CC effect can sometimes hit twice; only a couple of months ago this post by Joseph Dennis was published with a featured in-motion ’83 two-door Park-Avenue, followed a month later by my own post of a ’78 Olds Omega (that’s in a seriously sorry state). Well, here’s another curbside find, that is another ’83 Electra Park-Avenue and is also spiraling downwards, condition wise. This, however, is a four-door.
Pretty easy to spot from across the street, wouldn’t you say? The only square shape for miles, besides being lower than all the SUVs:
At first I thought: “Cadillac”, as the size threw me. Since this is Israel, I didn’t expect to see a downsized C-body that’s not a Caprice Classic (commonly sold here), and the square shape didn’t help. But then I remembered those are 1980s Buick-styled rear light clusters:
Sure enough, “It’s a Buick!” (excuse the pun). Not only that, but its license plate number has it verified as an original import into Israel back in 1983 and not a new “classic import”, which makes it even rarer. Here’s a side view in all its, er, glory:
It doesn’t look all THAT bad. I mean, sure there’s rust but it looks to be mostly superficial. Most trim is present, and it’s not molested as far as I could tell. But it’s dropping a bit to the left, no?
Oh dear. Besides the flat tire you can also tell the front panel was mended at some point, but not finished as the trim is missing and the Bondo is showing. You could safely establish this is the “bad side”, not intended to be visible in the photo. Still, zooming out lets you compare it with a Mazda6 that is some forty years younger:
Not easy finding a modern sedan for this comparison, amongst the hordes of SUVs, but quite conveniently, it presented itself. Although the Buick is a 1983 model, it has got 1970s written all over it, whilst the Mazda is all flowing rounded lines. It looks in-motion even when motionless. And it’s also big – as big as the Buick (if not bigger). Remember the 1983 626? Back then, it was at least a size smaller than the Buick.
Inside, it doesn’t look half bad – this car was treated well by past owners, possibly driven not long ago. Anyway, sunglasses are ready at your disposal if you feel like driving again. Now we come to the piece de resistance:
The roof is shot, no doubt. But I still see no evidence of holes or rust, such as those present on the Omega I mentioned earlier. Plenty of surface rust, but that’s mendable. All in all, it’s not in such a bad state – so why is it “on the way down”, as the headline says? Because this Buick is just past the tipping point, in which the owner has succumbed to neglect that results from not driving the thing and not mending its issues. It’s much like that Omega, which is simply further down the line than the Buick.
I hope the owner will come to his\her senses, and either give the love to this Electra or pass it on to someone who can.
I’m afraid the owner of this “curbside classic” will do neither one.
So neat to find one still hanging on these days but NO way is the Mazda is bigger…
Don’t know if Mazda6 are different there, but ours are 193″L, 72″W, WB 111.4.
The “downsized” in ’79 1983 Electra is 221″L, 75.9″W and WB 118.9″. Hardly comparable. Still a classic US rwd V8 car as we knew them.
While the ’80 and later models were lightened and aero-sized to negative effect (I owned a ’78 Electra that had been owned new by the Buick dealer and I bought it from him) they are still rather clean and timeless designs in comparison to the pre ’77 rather flamboyant true full-size models. They still look great. And for those who want to drive this kind of car, the ’77-79 B and C body cars are the best of that type ever made for daily driving duty.
ps: the Caprice was a B body not a C body. Only Electra, Olds 98, and Cadillac were C body cars, and I believe that some Fleetwood models may have remained as D-bodies, but not sure of that… any Caddy people know?
The ’77-up Fleetwood used the same C body as the Sedan de Ville. When the de Ville and Fleetwood were replaced with even-more-downsized front-drivers for 1985, the new cars (and their Olds and Buick sisters) became the new C bodies, while the old design larger RWD Fleetwood Broughams redesignated D bodies.
It’s ELECTAFYING! 🤮 Pitty this poor Buick far from Park Avenue! Barely able to survive the ravages of time and climate. Looks like it’s final CURTAIN CALL! 😔
I think this old girl has seen her best days. So sad to think that someone would cover those beautiful Park Avenue seats in such awful seat covers.
This car made me think back to the early 1990’s when I worked at a Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Honda dealer in the mid-west. There was a “simple” guy who would visit the dealership about once per month in that exact car (color, etc) and his mom was always riding shotgun. This guy delivered magazine that advertised used cars (kind of like Auto Roundup). Remember, this was just before internet became popular and everything went digital. Anyhow, his PA was a 1983 and less than 10 years old at the time. However, he already had nearly 200K on the odometer and it was not well kept.
Great find – as an original import, I can definitely see this being a dignitary’s car in the early 1980s, especially with those rear window curtains. Special, for sure, but not as snobby as a Cadillac.
One feature I’d forgotten about with this cars is the optional “Electronic Touch Climate Control,” which this car has (it’s seen in the interior shot, above the radio). Instead of knobs or dials, the a/c system featured flat-to-the-touch buttons. Ubiquitous in later decades, but quite a curiosity in 1983.
I’d say it’s way past its prime. It does have some rare options like the telescope wheel and the outside thermometer. It was certainly someone’s pride and joy, or you’d like to think that.
We had a 1980 Park Avenue with the last of the Buick 350 engines. It was a stout and dependable car.
Great piece
Great find for sure. I have always like these. Not entirely sure why but some level of “rightness” to them.
The electrical tape on the front seat is a bit of a bad sign.
A great find, Yohai! Form what you have shown us of the classic car scene in Israel, I imagine there would be plenty of folk happy to take this one one. With a new roof and paint it would be a standout.
Amazing how it fills the parking space completely .
I love the curtains, clearly at one point this was a treasured car .
I too think it’d be a fairly easy, low buck project .
I wonder how much emissions equipment it had or didn’t have when it was new ~ this might mean it runs better and stronger than it’s U.S.A. compatriots .
-Nate
As a Buick owner and enthusiast, l am always pleased to see an old warrior like this still “on the road“, even though this one looks to have been sitting a while. I hope the owner will fix that tire and keep it going for a long time. By the way, this Buick is absolutely beautiful compared to that hideous blob Mazda parked beside it!
I love seeing these old American cars spotted by people in countries quite far from its homeland. The same way rare foreign oddballs like a Renault 10 are so much more surprising to see in the United States. While the pool of enthusiasts for a mainstream American malaise mobile in rough condition is quite small, I think it’s ‘Murica enough that someone would show it some love given the chance.