1976 Buick Electra Limited 455 V8

The full vinyl definitely looks better to me..I'd also prefer no vinyl at all over just the halo. What's the option deal as far as the headliner on the Park Ave? Years ago I saw one with a real thick plush headliner that had to be an inch thick On that option wow did Buick go all the way, but when I try to look at the 76 dealer brochoure on the laptop screen I can't make it out..
It's mags all the way, but I think the standard hupcaps look better than the spoked ones.
75 and 76 seemed to be the years that the dashboard and interior's started leaning more on the plastic side as a warm up to the down sizing starting in 77 but either way I love the 75 and 76 dash over all the earliers 68 to 74.
Stangs, can you tell if the the overall metal gauge thickness as far as body panels and the bumpers are any thinner on your 76 over a 72, 73 or 74? even though the 75 and 76 have to have a heck of alot more insolation inside.

 

The halo top was most striking when the roof was a different color than the car, this really accented the halo roof, on cars with top and paint matching color it was lost. The Park Avenue option was really like the "Limited" trim option when it came out, basically an interior upgrade. I see nothing in any of the option lists or packages that says the Landau had opera lights available or included. It was common for these tops to be added in the day, they were usually puffier and fancier than the factory version, that is probably what you a have seen. Here is an example of the contrasting colors that really show the halo.

 

I know that the headliner material was velour on the Park Avenues. The option also made the sun visors half vinyl and half velour. The regular Electra and Electra Limited used the "snakebite" pattern headliner fabric. As far as the gauge of the metal I will just have to check and get back with you. I personally loved the dash on the 1973 Electra's and other full size Buick's but I love the brushed aluminum speedometer face on the 75-76 cars

 

From a distance, like that picture, it looks fine, but when you get closer, I simply do not like the extra chrome molding outlining the vinyl with paint showing in between it and drip rail.

 

ok im a bit confused . this is my first car with a vinyl top . what's the difference between a vinyl top and a halo ?

 

With the non Park Avenue cars like ours it means that the vinyl top comes all the way out to the outer perimeter of the roof where the drip rails and windshield molding is. The Park Avenue cars have a additional piece of chrome inside the drip rails and front windshield molding. You will see what I men with this video of a 76 Park Avenue.

 

This video shows the interior and headliner you asked about better.

 

Oh ok, I was also way off. I was thinking the Halo was a back half vinyl roof. Now wonder I couldn't even find a back half 76 on Utube..

 

The 1974 to 1976 2 door cars did have the half top when you ordered the Landau option. This picture is a Landau Custom. The Custom made the rear side glass much smaller than the regular 2 door cars rear windows.

 

This picture shows well the halo effect, the regular roof the vinyl went to the edge unlike this photo

 

Yes I like the thicker padding. I just wish it covered the whole top

 

https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4639/24319019677_90e454a098_b.jpg

I always thought the side molding would have been better stopping at the ventiports like the molding stopped at the ventiports on my 67

 

The side molding only extended forward of the ventiports if you ordered the "Wide Custom Side Molding" option

 

Ok now I got the halo option. Unless the dealer's were really well informed alot of options at the time had to be missed. Some are are so mi-nute.
Stangs, it was a long time ago but I swear that headliner was really thick and plush, more than the video shows. Unless it was custom done, it just could be another extra option by 76 and not yet on the 75's?? The rest of the interior was regular Park Ave..

 

Correct, but I meant in that configuration I thought the molding going past the verntiports was clumsy looking

 

The halo roof was not an option that could be or not be ordered, it was standard on Park Ave and not available on the regular Electra or Limited

 

Oops meant by 75 or 76 when there seemed to be alot more available on cars and these Electra's, 98's and Caddy's.
Oh yup though, it wouldn't look proper with the sporty front lines and curve of your 67 and if it were to be extended. Running the back half looks really good.
That's a well optioned and sweet Special deluxe. Has to be rare for a Special

Yikes: 3rd times a charm on the Halo!!

 

It was probably custom. As far as all my sales books say all Park Avenues used the same fabric

 

The Halo molding was an option on the full vinyl top '75 Limited coupe I ordered new. I remember, because that's the way I wanted it. I only wish I still had the order form from that car. If I had known at the time about the "wide custom side molding" I would have ordered that too. I think those cars look best with that molding on it. I also remember that the "Road Wheels" were only going to cost me $59 for the set of 5.

 

When my parents’ ‘76 four door 225 arrived (silver, burgungy standard interior, black vinyl top), it didn’t have the side molding. Dad, thinking it was standard, hadn’t added it when he ordered the car. He had the dealer add it, and it looked much better with it. It also was a standard wheelcover car; it needed road wheels. That car and the green ‘69 225 four door hardtop it replaced are two I wish they’d kept.
Patrick