The Electra was Buick’s nameplate from 1959 to 1990 for its flagship, full-size luxury car offering. Taking over from the Roadmaster, six generations of Electra would see the light of day. The name Electra was based on a person, Texan sculptor and socialite Electra Waggoner Biggs. No doubt it was also helped by the fact that Electra was the sister-in-law of then-GM President Harlow H. Curtice. This 1974 Buick Electra 225 Limited that we've got for sale is a fourth-generation example with 100,497 miles on the odometer and a slice of what Seventies luxury motoring was like.

Exterior and Interior

Wearing a sort of copper-brown-red paint job, augmented by a contrasting white top, this 1974 Buick Electra 225 Limited comes in the 2-door coupe body style and showcases Seventies opulence that prevailed at the upper echelons, even though the Malaise Era was in full swing. Sitting at a shade over 230 inches in length, its styling highlights include quad headlamps, ample chrome work, a seriously lengthy rear overhang, and quad exhaust tips. The rear wheel spats make for a semi-faired look, another Seventies favorite at the luxury end of the spectrum. The correct term for these cars is "Land Yacht," after all. Venturing aboard this "Land Yacht," you can see that the brown interior is no less ostentatious, featuring acres of wood trim, incredibly plush-looking seats, and power functionality for windows, mirrors, and driver seat adjustment. The gear selector lives on the steering column, and this car enjoys climate control, as evidenced by the control panel in the center console. The original push-button radio also lives in its place, but a Kenwood head unit with CD, AUX, USB, and Bluetooth capabilities has been tucked in beneath the glove box.

Engine

As befitting a "Land Yacht," this 1974 Buick Electra 225 Limited comes with a 455ci V8, the larger of two engine options on offer for the fourth generation. The power output was claimed at 245hp; remember that this was peak emissions control time. Drive goes to the rear wheels via a smooth TH-400 three-speed automatic that won't be rushed, not with a near-5,000lb kerbweight, but will get you there.