Photos by Erik Fuller, courtesy RM Auctions.
Though it was finished in black with a red interior back then, the 1960 Buick Electra 225 convertible seen here found its current owner in 2008, via the pages of Hemmings Motor News. What first appeared to be a good driver-quality car with an older restoration turned into something of an obsession, prompting a four-year restoration documented over two months in the pages of Hemmings Classic Car magazine in July and August 2013. Later this month, the AACA and concours award-winning Buick will cross the stage at RM Sotheby's Amelia Island sale.
Wanting a daily-driver companion for his 1955 Chrysler C-300, the car's current owner traveled from Connecticut to Ohio to view and drive the car prior to his 2008 purchase. Well equipped, the Buick came with such options as factory air conditioning, a center console, powered leather bucket seats, a powered antenna, power windows, the Town & Country AM radio with a rear speaker, Twilight Sentinel with Autronic Eye Guidematic, and safety minder with speed alert. The inspection showed rust as detailed by the seller, and the test drive gave no cause for concern, so a deal was struck and the Buick found a new home on the East Coast. Upon arriving in Connecticut, however, a more thorough inspection revealed body rot that had previously escaped detection.
At this stage in the ownership process, there are two clear paths: cut ties and sell the car to someone else, potentially at a loss, or press on regardless, knowing that as one gets deeper into the restoration process, even more flaws are likely to surface. The Buick's new owner chose the latter path, and though he couldn't possibly have known it at the time, the end result was four-year restoration that, without counting the hours spent disassembling and reassembling the Buick, totaled in excess of $140,000 in costs.
The real problems arose when the body was sent out for a chemical dip to remove the existing layers of paint, rust and filler. While the car's quarterpanels were known to be bad, the process revealed further problems with the rocker panels and floorpans, and a large dent, previously unseen, was discovered in one door. With replacement panels unavailable, two parts cars were sourced from California, and the subsequent bodywork (which included fabricating new inner and outer rocker panels, required to maintain the convertible's structural rigidity) reportedly stretched across three years.
If the body was the bad news, the frame was the good news: Not only was it rust-free, but it showed no evidence of collision damage. Though the engine ran strong and the transmission shifted smoothly enough, both were of questionable vintage, so rebuilds were worked into the schedule. To accommodate new pistons and rings, the 401-cu.in. "Wildcat 445" V-8 was bored .030 over, and a slightly warmer camshaft was added to improve performance over the original specifications.
The tear-down revealed that the Electra had originally been white with a red interior, but its owner preferred Pearl Fawn Metallic with a tan interior. To ensure that the Glasurit paint used was as close to the GM original as possible, a "test fender" from a donor car was painted first; satisfied with the results, the Buick was sprayed in three coats of Glasurit base, topped by four coats of clear. A tan cloth top was chosen to complete the build, even though vinyl would likely have been used for the Electra's original top.
Since the Buick's 2012 show debut, it has earned an AACA First Junior Award at Hershey in 2012, followed by a Post-War Buick National Award. In 2013, it took its AACA Senior Award in Charlotte, along with a Best in Class trophy at the 2013 Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance. In a homecoming of sorts, the car earned First in Class at the 2014 Hemmings Motor News Concours d'Elegance in Saratoga Springs, New York, last September.
RM Sotheby's predicts a selling price between $70,000 and $110,000 when the car takes the stage in Florida. That's quite a bit less than the money spent on its restoration, so from that perspective, the Buick's next owner will be getting a bargain on this proven show winner.
RM Sotheby's Amelia Island auction will take place on Saturday, March 14. For additional details, visit RMAuctions.com.
UPDATE (16.March): The 1960 Buick Electra 225 convertible sold for a fee-inclusive price of $137,500.
Recent
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1978 Aston Martin AM V8
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Aston Martin produced some version of its V8-powered saloon from 1969 through 1989, though we are more likely to refer to the body style as a coupe on this side of the Atlantic. A beefy 5.3-liter DOHC V8 with multiple carburetors and a stout Chrysler-sourced TorqueFlite automatic very much gave the models a muscle car vibe, albeit one made with fine leather upholstery and thick wool carpets. This silver on red 1978 Aston Martin AM V8 Series III saloon, which traded hands last year via online auction for $46,988, achieved one of the highest prices seen in recent years for a coupe equipped with a standard-specification engine, particularly outside the U.K., where values are typically stronger.
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Reserve: $63,000
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Perhaps no other American vehicle has combined class and off-road capability quite like the original Grand Wagoneer, the trailblazing luxury SUV that was produced by Jeep for almost three decades. This 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was submitted with just 27,417 miles showing on the odometer and plenty of notes from the seller indicating the original condition of the vehicle and all of its major components. The undercarriage, interior and engine bay photos all appeared to show an exceptionally clean example, which is notable for a rust-prone vehicle that has been in the Northeast since new. The net sale price, achieved with the 39th bid, was in line with market expectations for this very collectible vehicle.
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1972 Jaguar E-type Series III Roadster
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Did we leave out your favorite? If so, let us know in the comments. And if you're interested in reading more about classic American luxury cars, keep a lookout for the special feature in the July issue of Hemmings Motor News.
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