Hi. I was wondering if someone could tell me the difference between the 4 door hardtop and sedan, specifically on the 1970 Electra 225. I bought one a few months ago but haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet. I'm pretty familiar with the specs of the GS's and standard Skylarks, but not so with the big ones. It's bamboo cream with the vinyl brown top if that helps. I bought it for the engine since it has a 455 in good running condition. My original thought was to eventually rebuild it and place in a Skylark but for now I'm thinking I might just fix up the Electra. It's not in bad shape, just a little rust on the quarters and trunk lid just above the lights, passenger side of the vinyl top is missing the crome where it comes down to the trunk, and the seats have some rips that need to be repaired. I'm a novice when it comes to restoration, so any advice would be appreciated. Also, if anyone can refer me to someone in the Raleigh NC area that would be willing to do some of the work that would be great. Thanks. David
The hardtops (2 and 4 doors) have no center posts between the front and rear side windows. Pillared sedans usally have fixed window frames but not every model does. In the case of the 65-66-67-68-69-70 Electras, sedans do not have window frames but they do have center posts between the front and read door windows. GM was sometimes confusing with it's appellations. In the late sixties, Lesabre and Wildcat 4 door sedans (with window frames) were called thin pillar sedans while Electras (without window frames) were called semi-thin pillar sedans. Hardtops were often called "sport coupes" and "sport sedans". In 1973, the A body Century350/Luxus/Regal models were all called "Colonnade hardtops" as they had center posts but no window frames (like the 1970 Electra sedan). GM probably thought it would be nice to call them hardtops as "hardtop" was associated with more expensive cars but they were not! Before 1965, all hardtop cars (except the 63-64 Riviera) had metal frames around their windows that makes some almost look like sedans when the windows are up. In 1965 GM got rid of the metal frames on all it's hardtops.
