1976 Buick Electra Limited 455 V8

Huh, I didn't realize you had added duels on yours and yup it would be absurd to find a old style catalytic converter. Hey the car is so insulated and the exhaust sound is blowing behind you anyways Of my cars with duel exhaust my stock 73 Riv really gave the nicest burble sound that only iv'e heard on a 455 Buick. Even though you have the smogged down heads i'm sure its sweet..
The 76 limited upholstery did always look alot more durable than the Park Ave and thanks for clarifying it, and i'm again thinking it was starting the phase for the 77 down sizing and more plastic over all?? or it just could be the thinner Park Ave velour was easier to work with to make it look so pleated??
I had asked about the FB page brochure because i'm still kinda convinced that the really plush Park Ave headliner I saw was a rare stock option. If you saw what I saw you might just agree and even make you love these 76's a tiny bit more!!!! if thats possible..
Magic, look closely at pic's of that coupe beauty and you will see the rear window optic lights. How are these cars still out there and how are you even finding them stangs??

 

Yes it was thinner material to be more pliable for all the folds and pleats in the extra pillowed seats that were designed by FlexSteel. Most of these cars I post are already sold and have been sold again and again. I am definitely noticing a upwards swing in the prices they are selling for in the last couple years. If you remember the 1976 2 door that I posted with the red leather earlier in this thread, it was sold at auction for $6200. The buyer put 25 miles on it, detailed the car and repainted the engine. It sold again yesterday for $12,900 on Ebay. I will attach a photo of another 1976 Park Avenue interior so you can see why they used the thinner material. As for the "How do you find all these cars"? question, If you are beginning to notice, I have a quite obsessive passion for these Buick's which is odd because all the rest of my cars are Pontic's. Go figure lol

 

ahhh yes well spotted on the rear optics . they certainly came out with some neat options back then .

 

I agree. Many neat options. I guess in if I had to pick a favorite option that was available on these cars it would have to be the Automatic Climate Control and the mirror thermometer. Very cool stuff for 70's Buicks

 

So the seats inners are different or just upoholestry was designed by Flexsteel? And who is Flexsteel??
The 76 98's might ride the same but they are ugly and look like a big box , same as the 76 Lincohn Town Cars and even the Caddies. To me there isn't one line or curve or thing I would do to the Electra, not one thing. Even the dash to me is perfect. Buick nailed it over all the big boats and iv'e had some Ford guy friends from young who reluctantly agreed.
Stangs, what 8 t0 12 year old kids like us drooled over 76 Electra's?? Safe to say not many
Did you find anymore about the 76 Park Ave Deluxe?

 

I agree about the other C body cars from GM. Buick hit the nail on the head with that generations styling. I actually have a "Collectible Automobile" magazine that goes though the entire development, styling study, clay models, and all technical specifications for the 1971 to 1976 full size Buick's. (I will attach a picture of the magazine) Its a very informative read and goes through every year and option of these cars. It was so cool to see all the design studies and clay mock-ups for our cars. They must have built more than 25 full size clay mock ups alone and the styling drawing that started the whole design process for our cars looked like a futuristic space ship!!! Park Ave seats were BUILT by Flex-Steel furniture company, not just designed. You can still find that magazine on Ebay occasionally. (I have 3 copies myself lol) Its a 2007 copy of the magazine with the title: "Changing of the Guard The 1971 to 1976 Full Size Buick Line" Here is what it looks like on the cover

 

Wow, never had a clue just how much was involved..I will look for the magazine on ebay. Thanks Stangs!

 

Just a FYI. This was the only car GM built EVER that was longer than the 1975 and 1976 Buick Electra 4-door hardtop. However, The 1974 to 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Talisman was a sedan and not a hardtop like the 4 door Electra which gives our cars the title of GM's longest 4 door hardtops ever built. The car in this video is a very nice car and Talismans are RARE

 

if anyone's on facebook there's a pretty good group on there called 1970's Great American Land Yacht . check it out

 

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?conversations/thread-on-‘76-electras.205590/#message-236961
Thanks Mike!
This is Stephen Shortt the Australian who joined us in Bowling Green in his ‘76 Electra Limited. He raced in BSA and won money! Heck of a nice guy; last I heard from him he was in Moscow, headed for Nepal I think.
Patrick

 

Looks like that's the closet thing to a full blown limo the General ever built!

I worked for Hess & Eisenhardt in the late 80s building fleet limos for the General. The Cadillacs were shipped there with a opened section in them were they got cut in half.

Even after those "fleet limos" were stretched, they were shorter than that car! LOL

 

As far as dual exhaust and without doing a bunch of digging, were dual exhausts not an option on Electra in the 75/76 era?

Wish they would have shown the CB unit to see if it was actually the GM one or an aftermarket one, the compass is not the correct one. It is missing the best option for a fully loaded car, a sunroof.

 

Regarding dual exhaust, I believe the size (and weight, cost, and heat) of the catalytic converter meant GM only put one per car. Even performance models like the Trans Am got, at best, a single pipe through the converter and a split after it into two mufflers and tailpipes. I’d bet that interest in duals on an Electra had been on the wane before that, too.

 

I have personally never seen one in person with the sunroof option so it MUST be very rare indeed

 

Lighted vanity mirror question. My Buick did not come with that option. However, I was fortunate enough to find a set of factory visors on Ebay off another Electra with the same color interior as mine. (The passenger side is the only visor lighted when someone specified this option) My question is: Does anyone know if all the cars had power supply wire in the passenger side A pillar or will I have to run my own wire from the fuse panel? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

Another score and the same color! Wish I could help but have no clue. Are you going take a peak?

 

Yes eventually. However, I was just curious before I go pulling the dash (for the 4th time) to get access to the A pillar channel. I'm not sure if you know it, but at least on the 1975 and 1976 Electra's, LeSabres and Riviera's you must pull the dash to replace bulbs for the warning lights and back lighting of the speedometer. RIDICULOUS!!!!

 

No I didn't know Just why and what were they thinking!!!
There's no secret hidden panel or screw that you might of missed even after 4 times???

 

No there is no secret panel. Believe me!! You would have to have the arms of a gnat to reach them from under the dash!! haha

 

I managed to take both the passenger A pillar out and I believe I changed the bulbs in my warning lights next to the speedometer by pulling out the speedometer surround,by taking out the clear Plexiglas protector and disconnecting the speedo cable, it was a while ago and I still have the scar as a reminder.
I am sure it would be easier to pull the dash...
On the 76 Volo car a couple of things desides the sunroof missing, air bags, spare tire cover and the air cleaner housing looks like it's from a 73 or earlier no intake hose..