Craig, It looks like you have a lot of information about the Wholesale car order forms, maybe you could explain me this: The Sloan museum sent me the revision 2 of the Wholesale car order and they couldn't tell me what was the "C" option my car had in the "R" section. My 1975 has the light monitors (R 3) but their documentation mentionned "R C" Do you know what it could be? I know my car has the Z 49 code which is the "Canada Equipment Modification" It deleted the starter interlock on cars without air bags and it included French information about the "air cushion restraint system" in the glove box as well as french translation of "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY" below the license plate: "ESSENCE SANS PLOMB SEULEMENT" It isn't mentionned anywhere on the order sheet so Pat from the Sloan museum thought it might be related to it but she wasn't sure. Also, do you know where I could locate the sentinel option for my 75? If you have the wholesale car order or the Sloan museum info for your ParkAvenue Deluxe, could you tell me what's the "invoice amount" for it? Thanks
How did you get all of this Park Avenue knowledge??? The Standard Catalog of Buick sucks. It says nothing about them other than they were available.
GM did produce some documents explaining the option. The Sloan Museum in Flint provided me most of the information I have. There are still many things that are obscure to me, like what was included in the W 18 Park Avenue package. The documentation I have says it includes Auto Climate Control, light monitors, a storage console with 40/40 seats, an AM-FM stereo radio with a power antenna, a tilt/telescopic steering (deleted when J4-air restraint option is ordered), a posi rear end, and more... It doesn't say what "more" is!
reply to Phil r3, and sentinel, and z49 Well , according to my build sheet the "c" also shows up and is even circled in red felt tip pen, and has the c in print. Not sure why, listing as crtsy warn, the option is not printed as order form would be. As far as z49, I believe you will need the order form from a Canadian dealer as I think they were on there own and had a different order form. The sentinel lights are built into the light switch itself and ran on the rear dial behind the pull knob itself. I can watch for have not seen one for some time, But one yard in W Minnesota has about 10 electra 74-76 and will look at the dashes next time. To install you will have to get the rear button pushed in and pull out "pull knob" and un nut and remove and replace whole switch, hard to reach under dash use someone with long narrow arms.. My History, I belong to BCA National member 27925, and posted a wanted add for buick history on Park ave. Two replys came in, and one was a detroit dealer and retired , now dead. He sent me a manilla envelope with about 15 sheets and many hand notes about park ave. When asked about my aug 14 car date, he could not verify the assembly line recall date for the 75 year. The UAW cant tell me either. new post continue/////
history, continue park ave The buick salesmans name was Dave Roman , wife has verified his passing a few years ago. The first article was posted in bca want ads by a man Paul Stuber, out of Illinois, (Tinley Park), as asked many of the questions asked here. Dave sent him a packet years before me, but Dave kept records of his request and later when I posted an add, he sent me all his info and what paul had aquired. What is the biggest joke here is the dates as unconfirmed so far is the " Deluxe " cars. Start of the assembly line and when did the last 37 car roll off the line? In the "Price Guide" to old cars says add 10% to deluxe, how can you when the dates of production have not been confirmed, the fire at Buick destroyed much of what Sloan Mueseum does not have. Writer for Buick historian , talked at our club one evening and said I have more printed and hand dealer notes than Sloan has and proved this to myself at the 100 annv of buick in Flint when there, they have very little on the Park ave history, some even have said it was not built till 77 and I and many others know better. I would like a record somehow of how many have survived and let those people know of the real rarity of this car, and how we can help, craig
Another difference I think is the rear console in the Cadillac. Didn't it have a rear console option or a 4 seat package?
pricing too for buick Cadillac sedan deville went for about 7200 in 75, here are the prices to the 4cx39 Limited and Park ave, base prices, $6516 was Limited base with adding on park with 1718.00 tilt/tele, or airbag 1629.oo, so the price base would be 8145.00-8234.00 and any added goodys not in park package in the convience catagory and trim packages as choices of wheel covers more or less money or ralley wheels. We all know the cost of a car is not the bottom line and most cars fully loaded can always get more if so desired in special dealer ops and and so on, over all the price went over a Cadillac and most buyers in buick went to about 7000 tops in the Limited of this year, causing buick to deregulate and come down with the price for 77 to have any competition. Also no more console in the 77 because of customer complaints to Buick, have had limiteds and Parks at the same time, and swear there is a different set of springs in the park , as it rides smoother than any limiteds , and much quieter too due to the double insulation under the carpets and in the doors and behind back seat, Most 75-76 have build sheets behind driver back door panel under arm rest, happy hunting , craig
talisman vs park ave Mind the Park ave name was a Cadillac name plate bought by buick from cadillac. but, here we go. The seats are similar to park the seating is based on 4 people in both cars, the seats are set up with pillow cushions to have comfort for the 4 people, the center of the rear seat was low and flat like the park ave, basically no padding under just the hump cover. My kids fight the sitting in the center, not comfortable. the console on the other hand , the cad was tall and short just between the front seats, and buick used the full from rear of front seat to the under dash edge, deviding the whole front, the cad had about 2 feet infront of the console to the dash, although cad did do something buick thought of but did not do. Cad offered Fuel injection 500cu in and buick would not do this as not proven at that date yet. Ever get to see a 500 fuelly take a look, it looks like a nitrous set up. The head liner, both cars had velour head liner but do no interchange, the fleetwood was 5 inch longer front to rear and bows were different and cant be used in the sedan or electra, (tried), the carpets were both early deep shag carpet later losing to plush gm standard. craig
It would of been nice for the Park Avenue to have been a seperate model and had the stretched body like the Fleetwood, but that probably would not have given Cadillac enough of a premium over the other GM brands. I didn't know that Buick competed alot with Cadillac, I thought GM would have had them be below the Cadillac, but IMO I don't really think so. The 75 and 76 cars are underpowered, but 190 horsepower from the Cadillac 500 4bbl in a 5200 lb car is whack. I'd rather have the 205hp Buick. Did Oldsmobile ever offer anything special with the 98 besides the Regency model? Cadillac, Olds, and Buick were the only Gm companies that had C-body models in 1975 and 1976. Have you tried switching parts from the sedan Deville into an Electra? Like windows or such?
interchange, gm most interchange manuals fit b and c will interchange some and most c to c and b to b, in other words, most parts generically will fit. cadillac glass all will fit Buick electra in sedans only windshield in coupedeville and doors, front seats will go in wont look good, and back seats do not interchange, some mechanical do shocks springs so on, not brakes disc is different will go on not a good fit on buick, brake shoes same, most under hood does not interchange cadillac made sure you bought caddy. Always hated cad for the cad only on many parts, and most are 2 times as expensive. No body parts fit any buick,or olds. Oldsmoble had a brougham regency with the deluxe interior which is not seen much either but not as nice as buicks interior. Many olds and buick shared parts and used different years to pass down or over to other make for trim reuse by gm. Most 98 door panels will fit buick but not right of course, used 74 trim of 88 in my 72 electra 225 door panels, see pass down to olds two years later. Front door trim of b series fit c series front doors but not back doors. Hit your local salvage yard and watch olds and buick parts to interchange many do ; may be a year or two off, craig
I don't like the Fleetwood pillared sedan body, I prefer the hardtop sedans De Ville and Electra models. Compared to the Electra, the DeVille has a longer 129" wheelbase but I think it's a bit shorter in overall lenght. Craig, Do you know if the air bags were still available in the 76 Buicks? I have never seen a 76 with this option. From the info in my 76 owner's manual, chassis manual and sales brochure, it should be available but the Buick parts catalogue lists the option for the 74 and 75 models. Also, the front bumper reinforcement redesign in 76 didn't leave space for the impact detector mounting behind the license plate. While the Oldsmobile and Cadillac models had their detector mounted on a separate bracket behind the bumper, Buicks had it mounted inside the bumper. I do not have a wholesale car order for the 76, do you have one? Does it mentions the ACRS option? Thanks!
What are the production total's for 75&76? Rare??? Just how rare are these? Two years ago I traded a damn nice 75 Park Ave Limited for a plow truck ou: I couldn't give the car away when it was for sale, got lot's of insultingly low offer's on it from guy's who wanted to Demo Derby it. I wasn't going to let that happen, it was too nice! Dark Brown, light beige vinyl top/tan interior bucket's console with two separate storage compartment's, man what a ride, I still miss it.
Deport people, doing such crazy stuff, to Hawaii (or any other snow-free area) :af: ....... :laugh: 1975: The PA option package was only available for the 4 drs Electra Limited (US$ 495.00), and also an even richer PA DeLuxe group (US$ 1675.00) 1975 Electra Limited 4 drs production: 33778 1976: PA option package (US$ 419.00) (with DeLuxe console US$ 525.00) Production of 4 drs Electra Limited: 51067 I'm sure someone will come up with the exact figures for 1975/1976 cars with the packages :TU:
The Cadillac with the 40/40 seats and console was the Fleetwood and the option was called Talisman. In 74 it came with a console for both front and rear seats, so that the car only sat 4 people. One reviewer said that the option alone cost as much as a new Pinto. They removed the rear console for 75-76, so the car had room for 5 people though.
I already posted this in the previous thread but here is a list of most of the options available in the 75 Electra Limited 4 door hardtops and the number and % of cars equipped with them. It includes the the 3 Park Avenue packages. Here is the number and % of 1975 Electra Limited 4 door hardtops produced with each option. * indicates the options mine has. If some 75 Electra owners are interested to copy it and indicate which options their's have, it would be interesting. I hope somebody will come with similar 76 information as well! -1975 Electra Limited 4 door total:---------------33778___100%* -AGI 6 way power driver seat:--------------------32927___97.5%* -AG2 6 way power passenger seat-------------13873___41.1%* -AM6 60/40 seat-----------------------------------27699___ 82.0%* -AR3 air bag restraint---------------------------------123___0.4%* -AT7 40/40 seat-------------------------------------6079___18.0% -AU3 power door locks----------------------------28643___85.4% -AU4 Automatic door locks--------------------------3194___9.5%* -A01 tinted glass----------------------------------33386___98.8%* -A02 tinted windshield--------------------------------272___0.8% -A03 plain glass--------------------------------------120___0.4% -A90 trunk release----------------------------------25097___74.3%* -B32 carpet savers-------------------------------25919___76.7%* -B33 handy mats--------------------------------24321___72.0%* -B75 trunk carpeting-----------------------------6844___20.3%* -B93 door guards-------------------------------23356___69.1%* -CD4 pulse wipers-------------------------------15088___44.7%* -C41 standard heater (no a/c)----------------------53___0.2% -C49 electric rear defroster----------------------15478___45.8%* -C60 manual a/c--------------------------------20271___60.0% -C61 automatic climate control-------------------13454___39.8%* -C90 door warning lamps------------------------14018___41.5%* -DE6 mini console----------------------------------545___1.6% -DE9 Park Avenue console-------------------------6079___18.0% -DF3 remote passenger mirror--------------------16933___50.1%* -D64 lighted passenger visor mirror---------------17720___52.5%* -D65 left mirror with thermometer------------------9029___26.7%* -F40 firmride suspension---------------------------4790___14.2%* -GM8 2.56 axle ratio---------------------------------10___0.03% -GU2 2.73 axle ratio------------------------------33709___99.8%* -GU5 3.23 axle ratio---------------------------------59___0.2% -G67 automatic level control-----------------------2941___8.7%* -G80 limited slip rear axle--------------------------5027___14.9%* -K30 cruise control-------------------------------29043___86.0%* -K97 80 amp alternator----------------------------1029___3.0%* -L74 455 engine----------------------------------33778___100%* -M40 THM 400 transmission-----------------------33778___100%* -NB4 california emissions---------------------------1344___4.0% -NB5 single exhaust-------------------------------33778___100%* -N33 tilt steering---------------------------------23831___70.6% -N37 tilt/telescope steering------------------------7073___20.9% -N96 chrome wheel imitation wheelcover------------509___1.5% -PA1 wire wheelcover-------------------------------4228___12.5% -PO5 chrome wheel--------------------------------5827___17.3% -QBC blackwall JR78-15 tires-------------------------145___0.4% -QBN wide whitewall JR78-15----------------------5325___15.8% -QEX whitewall JR78-15---------------------------28307___83.8%* -TP1 maintenance-free battery---------------------1809___5.4%* -T53 front fender moulding------------------------21831___64.6%* -T63 headlamp-on buzzer and light----------------4699___13.9%* -T87 cornering lamps------------------------------19769___58.5%* -UM1 am radio with 8 track tape-------------------2308___6.8% -UM2 am/fm stereo with 8 track tape-------------12693___37.6% -UR1 fuel usage gauge----------------------------8367___24.8%* -U09 four note horn--------------------------------8584___25.4%* -U15 speed alert and trip meter------------------21561___63.8%* -U18 kilometer speedometer-------------------------802___2.4% -U41 low fuel indicator-----------------------------10719___31.7%* -U46 front and rear light monitors------------------17936___53.1%* -U58 am/fm stereo----------------------------------15483___45.8%* -U63 am radio---------------------------------------1047___3.1% -U75 automatic power antenna-------------------12816___37.9%* -V31 front bumper guard---------------------------28644___84.8%* -V32 rear bumper guard---------------------------28644___84.8%* -WH9 Park Avenue with 60/40 seat-------------------588___1.7% -W10 Park Avenue with 40/40 seat and console----6042___17.9% -W16 leather 60/40 seats----------------------------2780___8.2% -W18 Park Avenue deluxe--------------------------------37___0.1% -Y40 heavy duty cooling-------------------------------6907___20.4%* -Z49 Canada equipment modifications---------------1778___5.3%*
