Hey, Ted! Those were the days when you could immediately identify a car by its grille, or tailights, or maybe even engine sound! Those days are indeed gone forever, sadly! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Glenn! Yes...jet airplanes and rocketry sure influenced automobile design during this period. The Buicks in question look like they are ready for the launch pad! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, David! You have to give these designers credit...they came up with some startling designs! The more they approached a space ship, the better. Thanks! :) Jack
I went back a few videos and came across one I missed and this is a Treasure to behold. Love the Originality. That Dash! The Front end as a kid would scare me LOL. That Steering wheel! GM’s 1959 FINS were Out of this World! Caddy with it’s KING Fins, Pontiac with it’s Twin fins each side, Buick here, Oldsmobiles with it’s After Burner Fins, Chevy with it’s Fins laid down to help the car “STABILIZE” for high speed runs. This Invicta is an Awesome color Jack!
Hey, Gene! Yes, it was the pinnacle of FINS! You couldn't accuse GM of not capitalizing on a trend, like the wrap around windshields that started in '54, and of course the FINS! These were road bound airships! Now if only afterburners were optional! :D Thanks! :D Jack
Hey, Gary! I think you had to grow up with these cars to understand them and the spirit of the country at the time. We were optimistic about the future and had extravagant ideas of what would be the style of the future! The bigger, and flashier, the better. Time and reality has reduced us to Chevy Sparks. Thanks! :) Jack
What a beautiful car!! 1959 was the pinnacle of "fin wars" and mass exageration. This particular gem seems so inviting. The interiors evoke a "personal lounge" sort of appeal. This one is very well executed and "no plastic". (Yay)!! Back then, cars were considered an investment and not for trading in at years end. The way they designed this car would make you remember it long after it was gone. Just like an old family friend! Excellent find Jack! Thanks loads!!
I was 14 years old when this car came out. Seeing it on the road when it first came out made you awestruck. It was all about the "FINS" ! My folks had a 1955 Mercury at the time and after seeing the Buick on the road decided to go look at the new cars. My parents wound up buying a new 1959 Pontiac Bonneville. Can't complain !
It sure must have been a startling sight on the road! I remember clearly the excitement when new cars were unveiled in the showroom! No question that fins got attention...and the "angry" front end was almost intimidating! LOL! Definitely not a car to be messed with! The '59 Bonneville was a great choice! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, guys! So true! The early 50's still had a lot of the remnants of pre-WW2 styling...the late 50's were futuristic, space-shippy stuff! I think it reflected the optimistic idea that we could do anything..including interplanetary travel! Thanks! :) Jack
Jeeze....I just find this after almost 6 years? Just found this, and love it, years ago my late sister in law told me her dad traded in the 55 Buick Century for one of these 59 Invicta's. She said they got hit pretty hard in it about a year later and it just wasn't the same car afterwards so her Dad turned it in in 1962. From what she told me, I think it looked very much like this, about the same color. They didn't age well , but they were pretty highly thought of in 1959-1960
Hey, Brian! I've noted that too...once a car has had a hard hit, it seems likely that it won't be the same as before. I don't know if it is a matter of hidden damage, or a slightly out of kilter frame. With some of the advanced technology out there, I think it's possible now to better repair cars after a severe hit. Thanks! :) Jack
@@coolrides yes, she said it might have been out of kilter, when you followed it , the down the road, the car looked like it was not sitting straight , which I guess changed the way it handled. Her Dad was a bit disgusted and said he would just go buy a new Chevy, which he did, a new 62 Impala 2 door hardtop, and it turned out to be the best car he ever had, and the only car he ever drove 12 years
It sure does look perfect! I agree, it's my experience that when a car looks this good, the engine compartment is usually detailed to a similar level! Thanks! :) Jack
I love the wrap around windshields in cars of this era... No blind spots! Love all the chrome too... I wonder if tail fins will ever make a comeback. The headlights are nearly a forerunner of the lamps found on today's cars. Funny how styles come and go.. then come around again.
My parents had the wagon version of this car in the exact same color.My mother drove the car it's first year & the last two years my dad drove it probably over 100,000 miles in business. Buicks held up.
Hey, Alan! Great that you had personal experience with this year's Buick! That's so true about Buick...you had every assurance that they would hold up for years! Thanks! :) Jack
family had white ht '59 invicta in late 60s early 70s.recall it being quite powerful, but then again, everything's powerful when you're 4-6. it had a "bar" speedometer, am tube radio and front/rear speakers.
Hey, Jex! That's so true...when you're that young, all cars are gigantic and the sounds they make can be intimidating! The cool thing back in the day was a rear speaker slightly out of sync with the front, so you had a "stereo" effect without the benefit of stereo. I had a reverb control on my '68 Coronet which introduced a slight delay in the circuit. Thanks! :) Jack
W😎 W what wonderful memories 🦅🇺🇸🦅 Invicta was an awesome ride , my 401 cubic engine would break motor mounts on every Whole shot , the reverberations stereo kit was the best part of the car ♥️♥️♥️🔥🔥🔥‼️
Every single time I look at the styling on the '59 Buick, I am Wowed. How can you look upon these lines and fail to be struck by the dynamic look of this car -from any angle ? GRRRRR...
Jack R Just when I think I must've made any and every comment possible about the 1959 Buick (here I go again) ...I saw one of these (although a 4 door Electra 225 Wildcat model,no less) at a local classic car show here in Dorset. Baby blue and blew everything else into insignificance. There, its chrome glistened in a field of stunned admirers like something that had just flown in from another dimension. The man who owned it looked quite ordinary. No silver suited captain with laser eyes, But an interesting human all the same... Heh heh = )
MungoidHen Yes, this does look like it could very well be an alien craft! It certainly was like nothing else in the world! You have to wonder if there is a type who invests in such craft...I think probably not. I think many admired them when they were on the road, but didn't have the means to buy them. Now, with perhaps more cash on hand, they can indulge their fantasies! Thanks! :) Jack
Jack R You got THAT Right Jack. You got That R 100% Right. You can see how I am thinking on this though. There definitely WAS a spaceship/Rocket theme running through the mid to late fifties. Didn't Ford even have a (...um, I was going to say)-"Star Cruiser" in the early sixties ? It had three 'star' crests on either side.. (?) whatever it was called... = ) ?
MungoidHen Ah...the STARLINER! Here are a couple references:facebook.com/pages/The-Starliner-Connection/119208321449634 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Starliner A real design triumph! Thanks! :) Jack
I think you're right Jack, it does grow on you. If someone saw this car closing in on them fast in their rear view mirror, they would get out of the way. 325 HP will move the car pretty good. I think it has a space age design, esp with the fins and the rocket exhaust looking tail lights.
I love all the '59 General Motors cars, but to me, the Buicks were the nicest out of all of them. That tough-looking grille gives the car a "snarling" look. Just imagine one of these in your rear-view mirror. Note that the '59 retains elements of the '58 in the grille, and the rest of the car gives a preview of the 1960 models. The '59 Buicks were a big departure from the chrome-laden '58s. And they had all-new names to go along with their all-new looks. An Electra 225 convertible was pace car at Indy in '59.
Hey, William! Great point about the evolution of Buick's "snarl" front end! I sure wouldn't want to trifle with it! I remember how Buick always seemed to be experimenting with their grilles...we remember the 1950 model with the vertical parts overlapping the bottom structure! I always wondered how expensive a front end collision would be when you considered the amount of highly polished grillework that was involved! A lot of design energy seemed to be expended in the frontal aspect of the car...and after all, that is how we could tell the make of a car instantaneously! Try that with today's cars! Thanks! :) Jack
Dang, this car has an AGGRESSIVE front end! Imagine if it was a cop car - you really wouldn't want to see that behind you. Looks like a predator. I can see it resembles that of the Bel Air/Impala of the same year. This is a quite cool car!
I have a feeling that designers, when making such large cars, may have decided to further enhance the design and make it aggressive! They sure succeeded with this car, leaving a clear message.."don't mess with me"! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Jason! I think this styling grows on a person! Those ventiports were a vestige of the past, and just weren't part of the new styling. Thanks! :) Jack
I think Buick really specialized in smooth and powerful at this point in their history. Styling was another matter! After their initial success in 1955, I think they were at a loss as to what direction to travel..they added about all the decoration that they could to the '55 style car. This was indeed a new direction..but not one that would make buyers or Buick happy. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Chris! I sure wish I could remember that specific commercial, although I do have a vague recollection of one in which a family was seated in a car's chassis, blithely rolling down the highway, not a care in their minds! Those guys at the ad agency...what a trip! :D Thanks! :D Jack
Hey, Barry! Very distinctive indeed! Buick and the other GM makes could give the current new car manufacturers a lesson in how to make a colorful interior! Too bad that everything is gray now...like we've lost our color vision! Thanks! :) Jack
yep, Electra was Buicks answer to the Cadillac and they did a really good job of it too. A guy told me once, Buick Electra gave Cadillac a run for the money
Nice looking car. At one time, I didn't care for the 1958 and 59 Buicks, perhaps because of the grille styling. But the rest of the car looked nice. I also like the lack of ventriports Buicks were known for.
Hi Jack, I recall the power brakes on most of these late 1950's models were really sensitive. You needed to give a very measured touch on the pedal -- too much and you'd be pressed firmly against the steering wheel through the force of their stopping power.
R. Crompton That's a great point! I wonder how many drivers, new to power brakes, found that out for themselves! I imagine it would even be trickier on wet roads, when you'd try to modulate them to avoid skidding. We sure have come a long way from those days..but it illustrates very well that driving one of these 50's and 60's cars is a unique experience...and takes some getting used to! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Chester! So true...dramatic success in the mid 50's made poor sales very difficult to stomach in the late 50's! You have to admit they were trying hard to give the public what they thought it wanted...something futuristic, and perhaps resembling one of those GM "dream cars" from Motorama! Thanks! :) Jack
What a beautiful car Jack! When you stand back and look at the side of this car I see a lot of the 59 Chevrolet in the styling. I think if you swapped out wheel covers it wouldn't be out of place on either. And for being a BUICK the interior is not that much nicer except the dash has a lot of chrome. And yes, I remember POWER steering and BRAKES stamped on our '59 Pontiac Star Chief.
Hey, Gene! Very true...the styling departments at Chevy and Buick must have had a little collaboration at the time, or else it was simply luck! Chevy had upgraded its interiors so much that there was not that much separating them from Buick. When in doubt about how to make a car more upscale, the answer at this point was "add chrome"! :D Thanks! :D Jack
Hey, Gary! If there was any question about aeronautics influencing car design, this car surely would settle that question! All it needs is a runway and a jet engine! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Dave! I still remember Buick's slogan..."when better automobiles are built, Buick will build them"! It certainly was aspirational...and indicated their desire to be a top quality manufacturer. The fins would indeed make this car into a "space lounge" without too much of a stretch of the imagination! One could place the Jetsons in it! Their dog would have to be relegated to the back seat! LOL! Thanks! :D Jack
Back then ppl didnt expect a car to have P/S or P/B. Both were super power assist. If you didnt expect power brakes you were gonna smack the windshield with your face the first time u touch the brakes. You could turn the steering wheel lock to lock with 1 finger.
Hey, Angelo! Yes, early versions of power steering were particularly unsettling because they tended to over boost, and lacked any semblance of road feel. Power brakes sure took some getting used to! Thanks! :) Jack
chris havill Hey, Chris! Yes, that's an amazingly quick transaction! Today, they would take at least another hour to talk you into extended warranties and other "stuff"! Thanks! :) Jack
The latter part of the 50s was not a good time for Buick. In 1955 they sold nearly three-quarters of a million vehicles and by 1959 they barely sold a quarter of a million. Buick was the first to introduce their 59 models in Sept 58 and of course I was there. A neighbor bought a new Invicta that night and it was the same color as this one except it had a white top and it was a 4 dr hdtp. At the time I thought the 59 Buicks were gorgeous. A year earlier I felt the same about the Edsel. :P
My grandmother always drove 225s. This year is the first one I remember. She and my grandfather regarded Cadillac as too pretentious. He always drove Chevys.
Hey, Jeff! I think that same philosophy was fairly widespread. Many hesitated to buy a Cadillac for that very reason, and the 225 was a great substitute. Thanks! :) Jack
Nice car, a sibling of it was kind of infamous - not its fault! - in our family. One of my uncles made the mistake of driving his brand new Buick across the border and into Tijuana where a local cop liked his car so much it seems that he had to have it for himself. My uncle was arrested, pretty quickly deported and never saw his car again. He still had to make 3 years of payments on the thing and it was an annual affair at our family reunions to hear his bitter story on it.
That really is atrocious! It's one of those things that you can bet you won't get resolved in your favor. Dealing with the powers that be in another country is most likely a lost cause! Thanks! :) Jack
Electra has additional brightwork at the bottom of the front fender, extending into the door, and along the bottom of the rear quarter panel, behind the rear wheels. Because it claimed to be the "luxurious" Buick, one could bet that there were more choices in interior fabrics and leather. Both Invicta and Electra used the 401 c.i. engine. Electra had an extended model, the Electra 225. Thanks! :) Jack
59 and 60 chevy fins were flat. still have my 59 Le Sabre. 364 V8, 300 horse. it still has under a hundred thousand miles. trans was rebuilt once. my Sabre should have had the Invicta tags on it, as it has power seats and windows and air conditioning, as well as power steering and brakes. great car. gas mileage sucks, around 15mpg.
Hey, Ron! Yes, Chevy changed the direction of their fins this year, I suppose they were trying for a different look. Congratulations on still having your Buick...it's a work of art, but the downside is fuel consumption. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Micah! I post a new old car video every day...keep checking...and as for advertised cars, Hemmings has a classified section that I think is really cool. Thanks! :) Jack
Excellent example of a 59 Buick Invicta looks too perfect must have been a concourse restoration . I would have loved to see what it looks like under the hood .I bet my bottom dollar it would be just as perfect as the outside and you could eat off of it . Thanks
It really is no surprise that it doesn't have power windows or seats as it was a mid series car in the late 50s. If it was an Electra I'd be Suprised. The door panels look richly embossed....the pattern cloth seat fabric....not so much. Overall the car makes a decent presentation.
Hey, Larry! Yes, I bet they saved the all out power accessories for the Electra. The choice of seat materials back in the day was staggering! I don't know how the assembly line kept up with the choices! Thanks! :) Jack
They sure looked like a batmobile but liked the distintive styling and the 60 Buick was simular but toned down a little bit and by 61 they completely changed to a more conservitive style. 59 was so differnt even the names changed at least stylist knew how to make nice interiors back then with 3 tone colors and a good variety colors and chrome to accent it off. Todays interiors are all bland what are stylist thinking now days. I work for a Ford dealer the outside colors are good but all grey inte
Yes, at 3:29 you see the crank for the window on the opposite side. So I would say that the passenger rear side window would roll down. Thanks! :) Jack
steve blake Hey, Steve! I think that is the universal thought when one looks at the front end of this car! I wouldn't get in its way! LOL! Thanks! :D Jack
My great aunt had one of these back in the day. As I remember these cars had a very odd way to start them. There was a starter button under gas pedal. You turned the key to "on" then depressed the gas pedal all the way down. Doing this did two things at once. Closed the carb plate and hit the starter button at the same time
inkey2 Hi, Inkey! That is strange....but not altogether a complete surprise...if memory serves me, it was a typical starting system for Buicks, going back to the 30's at least. It is strange that it continued at this point. It was one way of assuring that the carb would get a fresh shot of gas, and that the automatic choke would be set. Thanks! :) Jack
Jack R The one other thing that I remember being really weird was the speedometer. It wasn't a needle. It was like a red ribbon or a read line that went from left to right as you accelerated. It must have been like a long roller behind the speedometer...similar in shape to a cardboard paper towel roller
inkey2 Hey, Inkey! It was the age of the horizontal speedometer. When you saw the speedometer, it was actually its mirror image...and the angle of the mirror could be adjusted by a wheel next to it. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Richard! I don't own the car, merely video it at a show. If I had my wish, all the cars I video would have their hoods open, but I don't have any control over that. The owner decides how his or her car is displayed. Thanks! :) Jack
The channel "USAutoIndustry" has many commercials of cars from that time and may have that clip. Check it out when you get the chance. You won't be disappointed!!
+Chaleco Salvavides Hey, Chaleco! Yes, I see a definite resemblance....be careful of people wearing long black capes behind the wheel! :D Thanks! :D Jack
I bought a 1963 black on red leather Buick Wildcat. A real head turner. i.pinimg.com/originals/be/ab/7b/beab7b2b0843a5bdab32dc308a153231.jpg Invicta was a beautiful car .... although "flesh" is not my favorite color for a vehicle. I chose the '59 Plymouth Belvedere over the Invicta. I bought it when I lived on Freemont Street in Vegas. i.pinimg.com/originals/bc/3d/2b/bc3d2b3129828e7b7c8bbdaab4c11354.jpg
They are BOTH great looking cars in their own rights! A coworker had one of those Wildcats...and the Belvedere is one of the best expressions of the finned "Forward Look". Both cars would turn heads no matter where you were! That Plymouth would look like a space ship in Vegas! Thanks! :) Jack
This was when a Buick was really a Buick. Gorgeous cars!
Hey, Ted! Those were the days when you could immediately identify a car by its grille, or tailights, or maybe even engine sound! Those days are indeed gone forever, sadly! Thanks! :) Jack
@@coolrides Isn’t that the truth. I always liked Buicks from this era. Classy understated luxury, at a bit of a value compared to Cadillac.
Love the flamboyant "space-age" look of the 1957-63 American cars. The 1959-60 Buicks are definite favorites of this wonderful style.
Hey, Glenn! Yes...jet airplanes and rocketry sure influenced automobile design during this period. The Buicks in question look like they are ready for the launch pad! Thanks! :) Jack
Anything's better than the decadence of the present!
Hey, David! You have to give these designers credit...they came up with some startling designs! The more they approached a space ship, the better. Thanks! :) Jack
I went back a few videos and came across one I missed and this is a Treasure to behold. Love the Originality. That Dash! The Front end as a kid would scare me LOL. That Steering wheel! GM’s 1959 FINS were Out of this World! Caddy with it’s KING Fins, Pontiac with it’s Twin fins each side, Buick here, Oldsmobiles with it’s After Burner Fins, Chevy with it’s Fins laid down to help the car “STABILIZE” for high speed runs. This Invicta is an Awesome color Jack!
Hey, Gene! Yes, it was the pinnacle of FINS! You couldn't accuse GM of not capitalizing on a trend, like the wrap around windshields that started in '54, and of course the FINS! These were road bound airships! Now if only afterburners were optional! :D Thanks! :D Jack
I didn't understand styling back when I was first buying vehicles in the early 80's but now what a jewel.
Thanks
Hey, Gary! I think you had to grow up with these cars to understand them and the spirit of the country at the time. We were optimistic about the future and had extravagant ideas of what would be the style of the future! The bigger, and flashier, the better. Time and reality has reduced us to Chevy Sparks. Thanks! :) Jack
@@coolrides Unfortunately.
This is a very masculine-looking car!
The car is very nice. Kudos to those who kept it up or who restored it!
Thank you for sharing.
I agree! That front end sure looks like it means business, and those big fins, for me, symbolized strength! Thanks! :) Jack
What a beautiful car!! 1959 was the pinnacle of "fin wars" and mass exageration. This particular gem seems so inviting. The interiors evoke a "personal lounge" sort of appeal. This one is very well executed and "no plastic". (Yay)!! Back then, cars were considered an investment and not for trading in at years end. The way they designed this car would make you remember it long after it was gone. Just like an old family friend! Excellent find Jack! Thanks loads!!
VERY well said! 👏 I "lost" my '96 Fleetwood 2 mos ago. Had it 7 yrs, and miss it SO much! 😢 But THIS car could make me forget..for a while! 😉😂
I was 14 years old when this car came out. Seeing it on the road when it first came out made you awestruck. It was all about the "FINS" ! My folks had a 1955 Mercury at the time and after seeing the Buick on the road decided to go look at the new cars. My parents wound up buying a new 1959 Pontiac Bonneville. Can't complain !
It sure must have been a startling sight on the road! I remember clearly the excitement when new cars were unveiled in the showroom! No question that fins got attention...and the "angry" front end was almost intimidating! LOL! Definitely not a car to be messed with! The '59 Bonneville was a great choice! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, guys! So true! The early 50's still had a lot of the remnants of pre-WW2 styling...the late 50's were futuristic, space-shippy stuff! I think it reflected the optimistic idea that we could do anything..including interplanetary travel! Thanks! :) Jack
Jeeze....I just find this after almost 6 years? Just found this, and love it, years ago my late sister in law told me her dad traded in the 55 Buick Century for one of these 59 Invicta's. She said they got hit pretty hard in it about a year later and it just wasn't the same car afterwards so her Dad turned it in in 1962. From what she told me, I think it looked very much like this, about the same color. They didn't age well , but they were pretty highly thought of in 1959-1960
Hey, Brian! I've noted that too...once a car has had a hard hit, it seems likely that it won't be the same as before. I don't know if it is a matter of hidden damage, or a slightly out of kilter frame. With some of the advanced technology out there, I think it's possible now to better repair cars after a severe hit. Thanks! :) Jack
@@coolrides yes, she said it might have been out of kilter, when you followed it , the down the road, the car looked like it was not sitting straight , which I guess changed the way it handled. Her Dad was a bit disgusted and said he would just go buy a new Chevy, which he did, a new 62 Impala 2 door hardtop, and it turned out to be the best car he ever had, and the only car he ever drove 12 years
It sure does look perfect! I agree, it's my experience that when a car looks this good, the engine compartment is usually detailed to a similar level! Thanks! :) Jack
A thing of beauty!!!!
Hey, Derick! It sure is...a great symbol of Americana in the late 50's! Thanks! :) Jack
I love the wrap around windshields in cars of this era... No blind spots! Love all the chrome too... I wonder if tail fins will ever make a comeback. The headlights are nearly a forerunner of the lamps found on today's cars. Funny how styles come and go.. then come around again.
Nice..beautiful car. I have always lloved this body styling. Thanks for sharing..
That's great! I was into Chrysler products at the time...never got the chance to drive one of these big Buicks! Thanks! :) Jack
When I look to these great cars I feel the old designers were creatives so much .
Hey, Arkan! This era's cars really were a designer's dream....they had a lot of freedom to create artistic masterpieces! Thanks! :) Jack
EXACTLY
My parents had the wagon version of this car in the exact same color.My mother drove the car it's first year & the last two years my dad drove it probably over 100,000 miles in business. Buicks held up.
Hey, Alan! Great that you had personal experience with this year's Buick! That's so true about Buick...you had every assurance that they would hold up for years! Thanks! :) Jack
family had white ht '59 invicta in late 60s early 70s.recall it being quite powerful, but then again, everything's powerful when you're 4-6. it had a "bar" speedometer, am tube radio and front/rear speakers.
Hey, Jex! That's so true...when you're that young, all cars are gigantic and the sounds they make can be intimidating! The cool thing back in the day was a rear speaker slightly out of sync with the front, so you had a "stereo" effect without the benefit of stereo. I had a reverb control on my '68 Coronet which introduced a slight delay in the circuit. Thanks! :) Jack
W😎 W what wonderful memories 🦅🇺🇸🦅 Invicta was an awesome ride , my 401 cubic engine would break motor mounts on every Whole shot , the reverberations stereo kit was the best part of the car ♥️♥️♥️🔥🔥🔥‼️
Hey, David! I'm glad the car in this video brought back such great memories of your Invicta! They were in a class of their own! Thanks! :) Jack
Every single time I look at the styling on the '59 Buick, I am Wowed.
How can you look upon these lines and fail to be struck by the dynamic look of this car -from any angle ? GRRRRR...
That's so true...that is a sinister front end, unapologetic...I wouldn't want to get in its way! :D Thanks! :D Jack
Jack R Just when I think I must've made any and every comment possible about the 1959 Buick (here I go again)
...I saw one of these (although a 4 door Electra 225 Wildcat model,no less) at a local classic car show here in Dorset. Baby blue and blew everything else into insignificance. There, its chrome glistened in a field of stunned admirers like something that had just flown in from another dimension. The man who owned it looked quite ordinary. No silver suited captain with laser eyes,
But an interesting human all the same...
Heh heh = )
MungoidHen Yes, this does look like it could very well be an alien craft! It certainly was like nothing else in the world! You have to wonder if there is a type who invests in such craft...I think probably not. I think many admired them when they were on the road, but didn't have the means to buy them. Now, with perhaps more cash on hand, they can indulge their fantasies! Thanks! :) Jack
Jack R You got THAT Right Jack. You got That R 100% Right.
You can see how I am thinking on this though. There definitely WAS a spaceship/Rocket theme running through the mid to late fifties. Didn't Ford even have a (...um, I was going to say)-"Star Cruiser" in the early sixties ? It had three 'star' crests on either side.. (?) whatever it was called... = ) ?
MungoidHen Ah...the STARLINER! Here are a couple references:facebook.com/pages/The-Starliner-Connection/119208321449634
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Starliner
A real design triumph! Thanks! :) Jack
I think you're right Jack, it does grow on you. If someone saw this car closing in on them fast in their rear view mirror, they would get out of the way. 325 HP will move the car pretty good. I think it has a space age design, esp with the fins and the rocket exhaust looking tail lights.
I love all the '59 General Motors cars, but to me, the Buicks were the nicest out of all of them. That tough-looking grille gives the car a "snarling" look. Just imagine one of these in your rear-view mirror. Note that the '59 retains elements of the '58 in the grille, and the rest of the car gives a preview of the 1960 models. The '59 Buicks were a big departure from the chrome-laden '58s. And they had all-new names to go along with their all-new looks. An Electra 225 convertible was pace car at Indy in '59.
Hey, William! Great point about the evolution of Buick's "snarl" front end! I sure wouldn't want to trifle with it! I remember how Buick always seemed to be experimenting with their grilles...we remember the 1950 model with the vertical parts overlapping the bottom structure! I always wondered how expensive a front end collision would be when you considered the amount of highly polished grillework that was involved! A lot of design energy seemed to be expended in the frontal aspect of the car...and after all, that is how we could tell the make of a car instantaneously! Try that with today's cars! Thanks! :) Jack
William Reed snarling?? I was thinking angry look lol
William Reed I like the 59 impala and the 59 invicta more and lesabre
Dang, this car has an AGGRESSIVE front end! Imagine if it was a cop car - you really wouldn't want to see that behind you. Looks like a predator. I can see it resembles that of the Bel Air/Impala of the same year. This is a quite cool car!
I have a feeling that designers, when making such large cars, may have decided to further enhance the design and make it aggressive! They sure succeeded with this car, leaving a clear message.."don't mess with me"! Thanks! :) Jack
This is nice love the 1959s car deuce and a quarter
BEAUTIFUL car!!
It sure is amazing...a very dramatic car! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Jason! I think this styling grows on a person! Those ventiports were a vestige of the past, and just weren't part of the new styling. Thanks! :) Jack
Very beautiful
Hey, Donovan! Very much like a work of art! Thanks! :) Jack
I think Buick really specialized in smooth and powerful at this point in their history. Styling was another matter! After their initial success in 1955, I think they were at a loss as to what direction to travel..they added about all the decoration that they could to the '55 style car. This was indeed a new direction..but not one that would make buyers or Buick happy. Thanks! :) Jack
Beautiful car indeed.
Hey, Jimmie! It sure is...glad you like! Thanks! :) Jack
Thanks, Jack,,, I hope your camera skills are a bit less herky-jerky now!
Hey, Doug! This video is 7 years old....looking back, I do see some improvement! :D Thanks! :D Jack
Hey, Chris! I sure wish I could remember that specific commercial, although I do have a vague recollection of one in which a family was seated in a car's chassis, blithely rolling down the highway, not a care in their minds! Those guys at the ad agency...what a trip! :D Thanks! :D Jack
Hey, Barry! Very distinctive indeed! Buick and the other GM makes could give the current new car manufacturers a lesson in how to make a colorful interior! Too bad that everything is gray now...like we've lost our color vision! Thanks! :) Jack
Only the Electra came with power windows/seats. Power steering/brakes and automatic transmission came with the whole series.
Thanks! Amazing how those options are almost not options today! :) Jack
U know your buicks
yep, Electra was Buicks answer to the Cadillac and they did a really good job of it too. A guy told me once, Buick Electra gave Cadillac a run for the money
@@coolrides You're right
Nice looking car. At one time, I didn't care for the 1958 and 59 Buicks, perhaps because of the grille styling. But the rest of the car looked nice. I also like the lack of ventriports Buicks were known for.
Hi Jack, I recall the power brakes on most of these late 1950's models were really sensitive. You needed to give a very measured touch on the pedal -- too much and you'd be pressed firmly against the steering wheel through the force of their stopping power.
R. Crompton That's a great point! I wonder how many drivers, new to power brakes, found that out for themselves! I imagine it would even be trickier on wet roads, when you'd try to modulate them to avoid skidding. We sure have come a long way from those days..but it illustrates very well that driving one of these 50's and 60's cars is a unique experience...and takes some getting used to! Thanks! :) Jack
Yes, I was up really late one night going through the collection! Warning, it's addicting! Lol! Enjoy!
Hey, Chester! So true...dramatic success in the mid 50's made poor sales very difficult to stomach in the late 50's! You have to admit they were trying hard to give the public what they thought it wanted...something futuristic, and perhaps resembling one of those GM "dream cars" from Motorama! Thanks! :) Jack
Es la nave más hermosa!!!!!
¡Hola, Sandro Alonso! Esto seguramente podría compararse con un barco ... ¡Muy grande de hecho! ¡Gracias! :) Sota
Had a car like that!
What a beautiful car Jack! When you stand back and look at the side of this car I see a lot of the 59 Chevrolet in the styling. I think if you swapped out wheel covers it wouldn't be out of place on either. And for being a BUICK the interior is not that much nicer except the dash has a lot of chrome. And yes, I remember POWER steering and BRAKES stamped on our '59 Pontiac Star Chief.
Hey, Gene! Very true...the styling departments at Chevy and Buick must have had a little collaboration at the time, or else it was simply luck! Chevy had upgraded its interiors so much that there was not that much separating them from Buick. When in doubt about how to make a car more upscale, the answer at this point was "add chrome"! :D Thanks! :D Jack
The first of the Delta Wing years
Hey, Gary! If there was any question about aeronautics influencing car design, this car surely would settle that question! All it needs is a runway and a jet engine! Thanks! :) Jack
Great job Absolutely beautiful😎
Hey, Paul! It really is a beauty! Thanks for the compliment! :) Jack
I have the same car now in green I pull my vintage camper with it really turns heads
Hey, Raymond! That's great...it must really be a showstopper going down the road pulling a vintage camper! Thanks! :) Jack
For some reason, they did return for 1960 and stayed for quite some time afterwords.
beautiful car 👍
Hey, Jeroen! It sure is beautiful! Buick was very adventurous in its styling at this point. Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Dave! I still remember Buick's slogan..."when better automobiles are built, Buick will build them"! It certainly was aspirational...and indicated their desire to be a top quality manufacturer. The fins would indeed make this car into a "space lounge" without too much of a stretch of the imagination! One could place the Jetsons in it! Their dog would have to be relegated to the back seat! LOL! Thanks! :D Jack
Back then ppl didnt expect a car to have P/S or P/B. Both were super power assist.
If you didnt expect power brakes you were gonna smack the windshield with your face the first time u touch the brakes.
You could turn the steering wheel lock to lock with 1 finger.
Hey, Angelo! Yes, early versions of power steering were particularly unsettling because they tended to over boost, and lacked any semblance of road feel. Power brakes sure took some getting used to! Thanks! :) Jack
I owened one that I bought and drove away in less than 30 min from City Buick in Toronto one Sat nite, Try that now
chris havill Hey, Chris! Yes, that's an amazingly quick transaction! Today, they would take at least another hour to talk you into extended warranties and other "stuff"! Thanks! :) Jack
The latter part of the 50s was not a good time for Buick. In 1955 they sold nearly three-quarters of a million vehicles and by 1959 they barely sold a quarter of a million. Buick was the first to introduce their 59 models in Sept 58 and of course I was there. A neighbor bought a new Invicta that night and it was the same color as this one except it had a white top and it was a 4 dr hdtp. At the time I thought the 59 Buicks were gorgeous. A year earlier I felt the same about the Edsel. :P
i want one of these with the flattop roof
Hey, Le! Those flat top roof cars are rare and very desirable! I wish you luck in finding one! Thanks! :) Jack
then you would need to get the 4door hardtop.
My grandmother always drove 225s. This year is the first one I remember. She and my grandfather regarded Cadillac as too pretentious. He always drove Chevys.
Hey, Jeff! I think that same philosophy was fairly widespread. Many hesitated to buy a Cadillac for that very reason, and the 225 was a great substitute. Thanks! :) Jack
Nice car, a sibling of it was kind of infamous - not its fault! - in our family. One of my uncles made the mistake of driving his brand new Buick across the border and into Tijuana where a local cop liked his car so much it seems that he had to have it for himself. My uncle was arrested, pretty quickly deported and never saw his car again. He still had to make 3 years of payments on the thing and it was an annual affair at our family reunions to hear his bitter story on it.
That really is atrocious! It's one of those things that you can bet you won't get resolved in your favor. Dealing with the powers that be in another country is most likely a lost cause! Thanks! :) Jack
dsteele27 fuckin bastards
Does anyone here know the difference between the Electra and Invicta. Are there any visual differences?
Electra has additional brightwork at the bottom of the front fender, extending into the door, and along the bottom of the rear quarter panel, behind the rear wheels. Because it claimed to be the "luxurious" Buick, one could bet that there were more choices in interior fabrics and leather. Both Invicta and Electra used the 401 c.i. engine. Electra had an extended model, the Electra 225. Thanks! :) Jack
to my knoledge the 225 stood for the length in inces but 59 was the only year they were that long
Dewey Veer Hey, Dewey! I never knew that...it makes sense...that was one long car! Thanks! :) Jack
59 and 60 chevy fins were flat. still have my 59 Le Sabre. 364 V8, 300 horse. it still has under a hundred thousand miles. trans was rebuilt once. my Sabre should have had the Invicta tags on it, as it has power seats and windows and air conditioning, as well as power steering and brakes. great car. gas mileage sucks, around 15mpg.
Hey, Ron! Yes, Chevy changed the direction of their fins this year, I suppose they were trying for a different look. Congratulations on still having your Buick...it's a work of art, but the downside is fuel consumption. Thanks! :) Jack
There's no LCD instrument panel.
True! thanks! :) Jack
There's always one moron!!!
If you change the angle of the fins downward it looks like a 59 Chevrolet
Hey, Ander! That's true! Makes you wonder if the stylists at the various divisions talked to each other! Thanks! :) Jack
Hello. My very first car was a 1966 Chevy Impala SS. Looking for one. Lemme know if you can help!
Hey, Micah! I post a new old car video every day...keep checking...and as for advertised cars, Hemmings has a classified section that I think is really cool. Thanks! :) Jack
Excellent example of a 59 Buick Invicta looks too perfect must have been a concourse restoration . I would have loved to see what it looks like under the hood .I bet my bottom dollar it would be just as perfect as the outside and you could eat off of it . Thanks
It really is no surprise that it doesn't have power windows or seats as it was a mid series car in the late 50s. If it was an Electra I'd be Suprised. The door panels look richly embossed....the pattern cloth seat fabric....not so much. Overall the car makes a decent presentation.
Hey, Larry! Yes, I bet they saved the all out power accessories for the Electra. The choice of seat materials back in the day was staggering! I don't know how the assembly line kept up with the choices! Thanks! :) Jack
They sure looked like a batmobile but liked the distintive styling and the 60 Buick was simular but toned down a little bit and by 61 they completely changed to a more conservitive style. 59 was so differnt even the names changed at least stylist knew how to make nice interiors back then with 3 tone colors and a good variety colors and chrome to accent it off. Todays interiors are all bland what are stylist thinking now days. I work for a Ford dealer the outside colors are good but all grey inte
Nice
Hey, Daniel! It sure is nice....glad you like! Thanks! :) Jack
Nice Looking 1959 Buick Invicta-Can this car go from 0-60?
Invictas and Electras had the 401 c.i. engine with 325 horses....so despite its weight, it should be pretty fast! Thanks! :) Jack
Jack R u tell them 👏👏👏👏🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏🐎👏
01:57 Could roll down that window?
Yes, at 3:29 you see the crank for the window on the opposite side. So I would say that the passenger rear side window would roll down. Thanks! :) Jack
@@coolrides You're right! that car is beautiful like a work of art, thanks for uploading the video, greetings from Uruguay
Damn, what an angry car
steve blake Hey, Steve! I think that is the universal thought when one looks at the front end of this car! I wouldn't get in its way! LOL! Thanks! :D Jack
I wouldn't either, lol
How much money for the car
Hey, Ken! Not my car...I videoed it 7 years ago, and I don't know its status now. Thanks! :) Jack
Beautifull thanks
Hey, Master Jhon! It sure is beautiful! A work of art! Thanks! :) Jack
Hey, Dave! I have seen some on You Tube...very interesting, and information that is truly unique! I'll check this channel out! Thanks! :) Jack
and WILDCAT convertible
The Wildcat is always an outstanding Buick! A secretary at work had a Wildcat convertible! Thanks! :) Jack
The latest Dodge Charger looks like the front end
Hey, Bob! They both sure have an aggressive look! Thanks! :) Jack
Sorry I don't see it
My great aunt had one of these back in the day. As I remember these cars had a very odd way to start them. There was a starter button under gas pedal. You turned the key to "on" then depressed the gas pedal all the way down. Doing this did two things at once. Closed the carb plate and hit the starter button at the same time
inkey2 Hi, Inkey! That is strange....but not altogether a complete surprise...if memory serves me, it was a typical starting system for Buicks, going back to the 30's at least. It is strange that it continued at this point. It was one way of assuring that the carb would get a fresh shot of gas, and that the automatic choke would be set. Thanks! :) Jack
Jack R The one other thing that I remember being really weird was the speedometer. It wasn't a needle. It was like a red ribbon or a read line that went from left to right as you accelerated. It must have been like a long roller behind the speedometer...similar in shape to a cardboard paper towel roller
inkey2 Hey, Inkey! It was the age of the horizontal speedometer. When you saw the speedometer, it was actually its mirror image...and the angle of the mirror could be adjusted by a wheel next to it. Thanks! :) Jack
Jack R OMG you are right......it was reflected on a mirror....that was the 3rd weird thing about it
inkey2 It was a pretty cool arrangement in that it could be adjusted to the driver's line of sight! Thanks! :) Jack
You should of showed Us the Engine!!
Hey, Richard! I don't own the car, merely video it at a show. If I had my wish, all the cars I video would have their hoods open, but I don't have any control over that. The owner decides how his or her car is displayed. Thanks! :) Jack
The channel "USAutoIndustry" has many commercials of cars from that time and may have that clip. Check it out when you get the chance. You won't be disappointed!!
Prices pls
Hey, Perry! Sorry, but I'm not an expert in old car prices...I'd refer you to Hagerty, which does that on a regular basis. Thanks! :) Jack
Batmobile!
Hey, Chaleco! Yes indeed...the wings on this car definitely give the impression of a very worthy Batmobile! Thanks! :) Jack
BATMOBILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+Chaleco Salvavides Hey, Chaleco! Yes, I see a definite resemblance....be careful of people wearing long black capes behind the wheel! :D Thanks! :D Jack
I bought a 1963 black on red leather Buick Wildcat. A real head turner.
i.pinimg.com/originals/be/ab/7b/beab7b2b0843a5bdab32dc308a153231.jpg
Invicta was a beautiful car .... although "flesh" is not my favorite color for a vehicle.
I chose the '59 Plymouth Belvedere over the Invicta. I bought it when I lived on Freemont Street in Vegas.
i.pinimg.com/originals/bc/3d/2b/bc3d2b3129828e7b7c8bbdaab4c11354.jpg
They are BOTH great looking cars in their own rights! A coworker had one of those Wildcats...and the Belvedere is one of the best expressions of the finned "Forward Look". Both cars would turn heads no matter where you were! That Plymouth would look like a space ship in Vegas! Thanks! :) Jack
Ugliest car of the 50s.
You either loved the styling or hated it...there was no middle ground! Thanks! :) Jack