My dad's first new car, was a 67 Wildcat...He maintained the car very well, drove it for 22 years, and put 320 thousand miles on it...the only mechanical expense at all, was replacing the U-joints, twice. That 360hp engine was very strong, very powerful...The Wildcat could do 0-60 in 7.7 seconds...awesome quickness for a large vehicle. It was still running well, when a drunk hit the rear of the car, bending the frame. My dad shed a tear or two, as the tow truck hauled that amazing Buick to the junkyard. We will never see such impressive cars again!
67 Wildcat had a particularly attractive concave themed grille without the central divider that was on the other large 67’s and included on the 68 Wildcat forward.
My dad bought a '67 Electra new in '67 I think for $4700. I was 6. I recall he didn't like the factory dual exhaust, so he had single installed right off the bat. He sold that car in '77 when he moved us from Itasca, Illinois to Pacifica, Ca. But I loved that car so much. White with black vinyl top, black interior. As I got older, I took over washing and waxing it, I obsessed over that Buick. My friends' parents all had newer, fancier cars every few years, so I had to keep up the Buick's looks. I had that car looking its best always. A practice that I carried with my own vehicles my whole life. That Buick took us to church, to the Bears games after stopping off at White Castle for sliders and hot chocolate. Drive-ins, Grandma's home in Lake Zurich, Uncle's home in Lake Forest, stopping at Howard Johnsons over the Tollway on the way home. Adam, I appreciate your work. So well done and your work spurs many happy, comforting memories. Thank you.
Hmm, I don't think it was common for someone to have factory duals replaced with a single exhaust. My Dad bought a new 64 Ford Country Sedan (a car I just barely remember) with 352 V8 and factory duals. When reminiscing about that car, Dad told me he had glass packs installed, and that the car ran super good. Mom hated the poor mileage ("It was a gas hog!"), so we didn't have the car for long. We had a 67 Ford Custom 500 sedan, bought new when I was 3. That was a car I really liked. And I get nostalgic when I see a 67 "standard" Ford.
@@scoutandscooterWhat cars were you driving? Drum brakes were fine when adjusted properly, these cars corner fine at reasonable speeds especially with modern tires and shocks, there was no death trap unless you created it
However the quality of the Buicks were far and away superior. Pontiacs used plastics in their valves and were subject to breaking timing belts on a regular bass. Oldsmobiles might have looked a bit staid but Buick and Oldsmobiles had the quality in the GM stable down to a science that even Cadillac couldn’t match.
@@LlyleHunter I agree, our neighbors ordered a 69 Pontiac Grand Prix. A beautiful car. That got me hooked on Pontiac being my favorite division. The timing change broke at 52 thousand miles. Two starters on it. I was 9 in 69. He said the starters were not strong enough for the 428 motor. Mom had a 72 Cutlass Supreme. 350. Had it 10 years. Never a bit of trouble. In 72 Oldsmobile didn't offer a 6 in any model. I heard Oldsmobile had the best 350 motors. Of any GM divisions. I don't know if that's true or not. My first car. A 76 Pontiac Grand Le Man's. A beautiful car. Had the 350. No trouble, beautiful dashboard. Like the 69 Grand Prix. Console was tilted towards the driver. It had firethorne red interior. Factory AM-FM 8 track. Factory air, tilt wheel. I miss all the cars from then. Sad they let Oldsmobile and Pontiac die off.
The first time I've read about him is when he commented about the Boattail Riviera in a 1990 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine. I was 13 then! Two years later I bought my first Buick, a '68 Wildcat Custom hardtop sedan. I've had plenty of 1965-68 full size Buicks, they are my favorites. What I just learned about Dave Holls is that he was involved in the design of the 1992 Seville, another favorite of mine (for its looks at least!). Not that I'd want to own one!
These ;67 full-size Buicks always looked good to me, well-designed for their intended market, model for model. Good body detail, a spare use of chrome, with a certain grace for large cars. That low-mileage example is quite something! Especially that upholstery fabric.
What made the 60s cars the best was that car makers employed designers as well as engineers. Every aspect of the car had human developement. Today all makers start with a Tesla S and either squish it or elongate it. 60s era cars are worth more than today's cars because more human effort went into building them than today's cars. Even if they don't run as well or as long. Give me an Electra over an S any day!
1967 was an amazing year for all the car manufacturers. First Gen Camaro, second Gen Mustang, second Gen barracuda, the front wheel drive Eldorado/Tornado, AMC Rebel, etc...
I'm surprised you didn't feature the '67 Buick Wildcat. As a kid (6 years old) I first laid eyes on a red '67 Wildcat with Buick's iconic black and chrome wheels, black vinyl top and black interior. The car was always kept clean and was in flawless condition. The owner would park it outside on on weekends but they family moved and I never saw it again. Years later I saw a young man at a car show with a stock '73 Buick Apollo in pristine condition with similar but not as nice Buick chrome and black wheels. He told me his father was a Buick man and as we talked more it turned out he grew up on the street of my cousin's house and that was his father's Wildcat. He told me his father still owned the car that he bought new at Reason Buick in Santa Ana, CA. just a few miles from their home. This was 20 years ago but I'm hope dad's Wildcat is still in the family. '67 was the first year for the collapsible steering column and the dual reservoir brakes. It was the last year for the blinged out dash with lot's of chrome. The '68 Buicks really toned things down as did most American cars due to DOT regulations.
My best friend's father traded his 1964 Coupe de Ville for a 1967 Wildcat in midnight blue, and I well remember riding in the back seat of that car. You'd think going from a Caddy to a Buick was a step back, but that 64 had issues and the Buick was super reliable for him.
The '67 Wildcat you describe still remains to this day in the hands of its original owner. The beautiful car is well-known within the Buick Club of America. There are wonderful photos showing the owner and his wife leaving their wedding in 1967 in the spectacular Wildcat. Another tidbit regarding this car is that the owner walked alongside the car throughout its assembly at General Motors Assembly Division's Southgate, California assembly plant.
Luv all 67 to 70 Buicks. The beautiful swath trim running almost the full length, defining the upper and lower body. Sleek and wonderful.. . . . .drive critics, I really don't give a stuff. I get a little psd off. Read so many reviews criticizing the handling, floating etc.. But these cars were never designed to be a Sports car. . . . .of any desription! What they were designed for, they were unbeatable. Often adding insult to injury, people are reviewing from a modern context! Once again Adam great work! Total respect bro.
Love this! I was a gofer after high school in the early 70s for the local Buick dealer in SC. I drove my Mom's hand me down 69 Riviera, and I met a guy that regularly brought in a stunning Electra 225 convertible in a burgundy with black interior. All of these great lines were gorgeous on that car.
Dad had a ‘67 LeSabre coup in white (!!!). He was a working guy and ran that car hard. It held up well…a fond memory. Loved that fastback. Never saw that ever again in one of our family cars. Dad eventually graduated to an Electra 225…Also a fond memory: Robert Lansing (12 O’Clock High)….
My cousin had a '65 LeSabre coupe, deep red. Side style line was straight, but car was beautiful. I was too young to drive but she let me wash it and drive it around the area. I loved it. Great reviews.
Just the quality of those mid 1960s GM cars was fantastic. A friend of my grandmothers had a fully loaded 1967 Buick Electra, which she kept garaged at her home in Bel Air, CA. When she passed away, her son asked if I could drive it to Pasadena to drop it off at one of her children’s house. It was an amazing car in pristine shape and I loved the power vent windows and the upholstery, etc., etc. The car was nearly 30 years old and looked brand new. I never knew what happened to it.
The fix for the oil pumps was switching from the aluminum cover (that the gears ride against) to a hardened steel one. A friend of mine fixed his on a ‘70 Le Sabre with 455. The front mounted sump on the oil pan didn’t help, either, as hard launches could cause oil starvation, especially if you didn’t stay on top of the oil level.
I usually love the 1950s the most for design, I own a 1954 Pontiac star chief, but have also just picked up a 1968 Buick Wildcat! It's beautiful, 67-68 definitely best years!
Believe it or not! As an amateur stylist in this time I used an "S" line in several of my drawings about two years before Buicks appeared with a similar "S" line. I had no way of seeing Buicks with this line before I made my drawings. Thus the Buick stylists and I had similar thoughts in approximately the same time period. The "S" line seemed perfectly logical so I don't claim a great insight. But when I see these cars I am reminded of my very amateur drawings at a young age. I never thought about pursuing a career as a stylist. I had no idea that I could have. Competitive occupation I'm sure.
I really like the '67 full sized Buicks a lot. But I love the '68 versions! To me, the grills on the '68's are much cleaner looking, and the taillights are designed better to look more elegant. My parents had a '68 Wildcat 4 door sedan, in that real popular greenish gold color with a black vinyl roof and black vinyl interior. It was loaded with power windows, seat, tilt wheel, AC, etc. One of the cool options was the "speed alert". You turned a knob to set the speed that you didn't want to go over. If you went over the speed, it made a horrible sound that was kind of loud. My dad always said the engine was amazing and it was the best car he ever owned.
I have my great grandparents 67 Special Deluxe bought new at Korn Buick in Kalispell MT. In 92, mom and I drove it back home to California SoCal. I still have the Special Deluxe, and it has always been garaged. I have been with the Buick Club of America for over 20 years and have done many shows here in SoCal. The car has won many 1st and 2nd place awards. You don't see many with the 225 V6 and factory KL aqua on aqua two-tone paint.
Adam, thank you for mentioning Buick's two-piece drive shafts. This feature allowed a more shallow angle for the propeller shaft resulting in a reduced drive tunnel in the floor for rear seat passengers. When Buick bragged about rear passenger "three-across seating", they had the goods to back that up. Popular Science magazine reporters, Jan P. Norbye and Jim Dunne, recalled an interview with Buick General Manager Ed Ragsdale in 1960, he was so proud of Buick's continued use of Torque Tube drive (replaced by the two-piece drive shaft the next year).
@@RareClassicCars I read a book on Professional/Commercial vehicles, and the two-piece drive shaft was a way to create a flat floor for ambulance and hearse coachbuilders who wanted a lower overall height for the load floor. I admire the way each GM division made cars with unique features that gave buyers something to think about.
When I moved to the US in 1972, we brought a used nice Buick Electra 225 with fully equipped for $800.00. The US made car was beautiful and had a lots of feathers that the top Japanese like Toyota Crown and European brands like Rolls or Benze 600 does not have!
Please do a video on the brochure! 1960s American car ads were so often works of art themselves - erudite writing, accompanied by superb artwork & photography.
My grandparents had a 1965 Buick Electra that my parents inherited. Wonderful smooth riding cars that was great on a long road trip. Largest power front bench seat probably every engineered. Super thin steering wheel with equally over boosted power steering. The length and weight of that Buick really needed that power steering. My parent's model had the 401-445 Wildcat motor with the Single Carter AFB. Plenty of power to make some tracks with bias ply tires. Thanks for the video, brought back some memories.
I agree! My first car was a 67 Electra convertible- wonderful car, both exterior and interior were gorgeous. I later owned a 67 Special sedan and a 66 LeSabre coupe. I think the two piece driveshaft was done to reduce the height of the transmission tunnel. The Electra also had real wood veneer on the dash.
I learned to drive on a 68 Wildcat, which is the same as the 67, what a hood, the LeSabre body on the Electra wheelbase with the extra length ahead of the firewall.
My Dad always said his 66 Electra 225 Custom 4 door HT was the best car he ever owned. Big step up from his 64 Impala SS. The doors shut like a vault - super solid. No rattles. AC would freeze you out. Power seat and windows. The windows would work with key off. The only issues I recall was paint that was like enamel on a sink and easily chipped and a tendency to run hot when cruising with the AC on at 80 MPH. Dad had the speed alert set at 85 that would buzz annoyingly when passing someone on the 2-lanes!
Dad replaced his 64 LeSabre Spot Coupe with a 68, which is basically the same as the 67, with some trim variations; the IP was the most obvious. Both the 64 and 68 had bucket seats with a storage console, I have never seen another so equipped. Both cars were optioned identically as I remember, power steering and brakes, AC, and the 68 also had a factory 8-track player (I believe the first year available from Buick). I went with dad to order the 68, we specified gold with a white top.We were surprised when the LeSabre arrived with a painted top, we both thought it was going to be vinyl. Evidently we checked the wrong box, again, I've never seen another like this.
I had a 1968 La Sabre that I replaced the front bench seat with the bucket seats from a mid 1970's Honda Civic. The interior room went from large to ENORMOUS!
As interesting as the sedans were, the mostly carry-over 67 Riv was still outstanding. What a hunk of sculpture! As much as I like the rim 65 Riv, the 66-67 took styling to a different level. How GM ever got to the 71 Toronado and El Dorado, I will never know especially since the boattail Riv again dropped your jaw.
The LeSabre’s feature line along the side is a continuation of the the nautical theme-it’s not just portholes. Think of the way water is tossed up at the bow, then the wake settles down and spreads wider towards the stern. A boat indeed!
For as gorgeous as these cars are in photographs, they really pop in person! 65-70 (especially 67-68) Buicks are truly some of the best. The big fastbacks are awesome, but i do love the formal roof hardtop sedan Electras. Absolutely elegant.
Somebody wanted to give my partner a 67 Buick wildcat convertible and he turned it down! It looked great it had been restored many years ago and would make a great driver. It had the big engine bucket seats and console. Skirts and the Buick rims red with black top and interior. I always remind him of the missed opportunity 😝🤣
My dad’s first car was his grandfather’s ’67 Skylark. All though the lines on the Skylark are much more tame compared to the Buick’s in this video, it is a great year for Buick. Even though I live in the Detroit area and see a lot of 60s Buicks, I see a lot more pre & post ‘67 Buicks on the road than actual ’67s. Even though my dad’s Skylark is probably lone gone and had a lot of dents in it from his grandfather, still an elegant car from pictures. Definitely a great lineup of vehicles!
Great video. I really appreciate your use of design language when describing these cars, it gives a depth to the presentation that is lacking from other presenters. Thank you, Adam, and keep up the good work!
One of my uncles had a 67 LeSabre, it was a nice car. My father had a 68 Ford LTD. Both cars were 4 doors. I remember the different sounds that the doors on the cars made when you closed them. The LTD sounded very solid.
Growing up my mother had a 1967 Electra 225. First car I remember my parents buying. They bought it in 1969 used. White with black vinyl top and black vinyl interior. I loved growing up in that car. My father sold it in 1978 when he bought my mom her 1976 Electra Park Avenue. I’d love to have that ‘67. My dad always drove Impalas getting a new one about every 2-3 years. I drove that ‘76 Park Avenue to my high school prom.
I liked the '67 Buicks, too. Our next-door-neighbors in the late sixties had a red 1967 Wildcat fastback with black vinyl roof and black interior, a beautiful car.
Truly beautiful automotive design. Some of the best looking cars ever made were GM's full-size mid-late sixties models. Today's cars just can't compare. Inevitably, form suffers from the emphasis on function today.
Saw this Electra for sale on another channel recently and thought here's one for Adam. Beautiful car, but I can't fathom how a 57 year old car can only have 372 miles.
Both my late dad and uncle were Buick guys. My dads first car in 1961 was a 58 Mercury Monterey (it had a bad oil pump and it didn't last long). In 1966, a couple of years after he got out of the service, he bought his first brand new car, a 1966 Buick Skylark four door. His second new car was a 76 Lesabre (which was stolen in 78, the police found it, but my dad didn't want it back). Then he got a 79 Lesabre, which was the car I grew up in, I was born in 1980. My dad drove that car up until 1990/91. It sat in our back driveway from 91 until the year 2000. My dad sold it to the son of one of his co-workers that year. After sitting for that long, it fired right up, no issues at all. I think that car had the Chevy 305 or the Pontiac 301, not sure. Buicks were always great cars!
For me, I think the 68 Buicks are a bit cleaner with the cowl being updated to accommodate the concealed wipers, which the other divisions implemented that year as well...on their full size and redesigned midsize cars. I'd say the blue really brings out the design details on the coupe featured in your video. If I were ordering one new...that's the color I would get.
I owned a '89 Reatta for a few years. Hands made by Buick. I think one of their most beautiful automobiles. It was the most unreliable car I've ever owned. It was a leaky beauty that was expensive to fix.
Thank you Adam. I thought about this Buick year the same. A peak. Best car for me: The here forgotten Wildcat with it's one year only "concave" frontgrille🎉❤
I have always been a Buick guy!!~Poor oiling issues throughout the years in Buick based engines in those days though. Even the Skylark had the swooping body sideline/feature line also. Great content Adam, Thanks!!!!~
Roof sheet metal looks like they all came from the same stamping press for all the full size Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, and Buick 2 door coupes from what I can tell.
68 Buick Wildcat was something of a favourite with those breaking lines down the side and then those glorious taillights. It was elegant and playfully sporty all rolled up into one car. Great wheels as well. My automotive shop teacher in highschool had one impeccably maintained and something like 115 thousand miles on it oil changed every 1200 miles or so. Back then alot of cars were getting pretty tired by time they arrived at 100k. Blue smoke fron the tailpipe was not uncommon.But not his it was glorious.
Family had a 66 4 door Electra 225 when I came of drivers age.... Blue on Blue and no vinyl top. I can still rememerber the smell of sitting in the interior (no-smokind)
My dad's first new car, was a 67 Wildcat...He maintained the car very well, drove it for 22 years, and put 320 thousand miles on it...the only mechanical expense at all, was replacing the U-joints, twice. That 360hp engine was very strong, very powerful...The Wildcat could do 0-60 in 7.7 seconds...awesome quickness for a large vehicle. It was still running well, when a drunk hit the rear of the car, bending the frame. My dad shed a tear or two, as the tow truck hauled that amazing Buick to the junkyard. We will never see such impressive cars again!
As a kid who was born in 1966 I remember the Wildcats as used cars in the mid-late 70s and LOVED THEM! Always thought they were so cool
67 Wildcat had a particularly attractive concave themed grille without the central divider that was on the other large 67’s and included on the 68 Wildcat forward.
My dad bought a '67 Electra new in '67 I think for $4700. I was 6. I recall he didn't like the factory dual exhaust, so he had single installed right off the bat. He sold that car in '77 when he moved us from Itasca, Illinois to Pacifica, Ca. But I loved that car so much. White with black vinyl top, black interior. As I got older, I took over washing and waxing it, I obsessed over that Buick. My friends' parents all had newer, fancier cars every few years, so I had to keep up the Buick's looks. I had that car looking its best always. A practice that I carried with my own vehicles my whole life. That Buick took us to church, to the Bears games after stopping off at White Castle for sliders and hot chocolate. Drive-ins, Grandma's home in Lake Zurich, Uncle's home in Lake Forest, stopping at Howard Johnsons over the Tollway on the way home. Adam, I appreciate your work. So well done and your work spurs many happy, comforting memories. Thank you.
Great memories.
Hmm, I don't think it was common for someone to have factory duals replaced with a single exhaust. My Dad bought a new 64 Ford Country Sedan (a car I just barely remember) with 352 V8 and factory duals. When reminiscing about that car, Dad told me he had glass packs installed, and that the car ran super good. Mom hated the poor mileage ("It was a gas hog!"), so we didn't have the car for long. We had a 67 Ford Custom 500 sedan, bought new when I was 3. That was a car I really liked. And I get nostalgic when I see a 67 "standard" Ford.
@@MisterMikeTexas Right, me too. I am my whole life a dual exhaust guy-I think because of Dad's move the other way. He wanted quiet. Like the Caddys.
GM design of this era was so sensual. Nobody else came close. Nobody.
This era was before government regulations starting hitting
They could not handle a simple corner, had no brakes and were generally death traps, but they looked good.
@@scoutandscooter Yes.. that's what we're discussing here. Design artistry.
@@scoutandscooterWhat cars were you driving? Drum brakes were fine when adjusted properly, these cars corner fine at reasonable speeds especially with modern tires and shocks, there was no death trap unless you created it
Buicks and Pontiacs were THE ones!
They still are!
However the quality of the Buicks were far and away superior. Pontiacs used plastics in their valves and were subject to breaking timing belts on a regular bass. Oldsmobiles might have looked a bit staid but Buick and Oldsmobiles had the quality in the GM stable down to a science that even Cadillac couldn’t match.
@@LlyleHunter I agree, our neighbors ordered a 69 Pontiac Grand Prix. A beautiful car. That got me hooked on Pontiac being my favorite division. The timing change broke at 52 thousand miles. Two starters on it. I was 9 in 69. He said the starters were not strong enough for the 428 motor. Mom had a 72 Cutlass Supreme. 350. Had it 10 years. Never a bit of trouble. In 72 Oldsmobile didn't offer a 6 in any model. I heard Oldsmobile had the best 350 motors. Of any GM divisions. I don't know if that's true or not. My first car. A 76 Pontiac Grand Le
Man's. A beautiful car. Had the 350. No trouble, beautiful dashboard. Like the 69 Grand Prix. Console was tilted towards the driver. It had firethorne red interior.
Factory AM-FM 8 track. Factory air, tilt wheel. I miss all the cars from then. Sad they let Oldsmobile and Pontiac die off.
Didnt have plastic valves, had plastic cam gear, not timing belt was chain in@@LlyleHunter
Never heard of Holls but he designed some of my favorites. That's why I like this channel.
The first time I've read about him is when he commented about the Boattail Riviera in a 1990 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine. I was 13 then! Two years later I bought my first Buick, a '68 Wildcat Custom hardtop sedan. I've had plenty of 1965-68 full size Buicks, they are my favorites.
What I just learned about Dave Holls is that he was involved in the design of the 1992 Seville, another favorite of mine (for its looks at least!). Not that I'd want to own one!
These ;67 full-size Buicks always looked good to me, well-designed for their intended market, model for model. Good body detail, a spare use of chrome, with a certain grace for large cars. That low-mileage example is quite something! Especially that upholstery fabric.
What made the 60s cars the best was that car makers employed designers as well as engineers. Every aspect of the car had human developement. Today all makers start with a Tesla S and either squish it or elongate it. 60s era cars are worth more than today's cars because more human effort went into building them than today's cars. Even if they don't run as well or as long. Give me an Electra over an S any day!
Honestly I think 1967 was the high water mark for all of General Motors
The length of the rear quarter panel is tremendous!
My first car was a 1970 buick electra 225 ! I paid $50 for it and found $26 under the back seat ! This car just ran and ran like no tomorrow !
1967 was an amazing year for all the car manufacturers. First Gen Camaro, second Gen Mustang, second Gen barracuda, the front wheel drive Eldorado/Tornado, AMC Rebel, etc...
I'm surprised you didn't feature the '67 Buick Wildcat. As a kid (6 years old) I first laid eyes on a red '67 Wildcat with Buick's iconic black and chrome wheels, black vinyl top and black interior. The car was always kept clean and was in flawless condition. The owner would park it outside on on weekends but they family moved and I never saw it again. Years later I saw a young man at a car show with a stock '73 Buick Apollo in pristine condition with similar but not as nice Buick chrome and black wheels. He told me his father was a Buick man and as we talked more it turned out he grew up on the street of my cousin's house and that was his father's Wildcat. He told me his father still owned the car that he bought new at Reason Buick in Santa Ana, CA. just a few miles from their home. This was 20 years ago but I'm hope dad's Wildcat is still in the family. '67 was the first year for the collapsible steering column and the dual reservoir brakes. It was the last year for the blinged out dash with lot's of chrome. The '68 Buicks really toned things down as did most American cars due to DOT regulations.
My best friend's father traded his 1964 Coupe de Ville for a 1967 Wildcat in midnight blue, and I well remember riding in the back seat of that car. You'd think going from a Caddy to a Buick was a step back, but that 64 had issues and the Buick was super reliable for him.
The '67 Wildcat you describe still remains to this day in the hands of its original owner. The beautiful car is well-known within the Buick Club of America. There are wonderful photos showing the owner and his wife leaving their wedding in 1967 in the spectacular Wildcat. Another tidbit regarding this car is that the owner walked alongside the car throughout its assembly at General Motors Assembly Division's Southgate, California assembly plant.
I think the '60s Buick is some of the best-looking full-size cars Gm ever offered.
1967 was an awesome year for GM.
1967 was the pinnacle for GM styling
Full length/width styling cues, Electra's wheel covers were absolutely ageless classics, and 430 with switch-pitch was up to the task.
Luv all 67 to 70 Buicks. The beautiful swath trim running almost the full length, defining the upper and lower body. Sleek and wonderful.. . . . .drive critics, I really don't give a stuff.
I get a little psd off. Read so many reviews criticizing the handling, floating etc.. But these cars were never designed to be a Sports car. . . . .of any desription! What they were designed for, they were unbeatable. Often adding insult to injury, people are reviewing from a modern context! Once again Adam great work! Total respect bro.
That side profile shot of the '67 LeSabre coupe is absolutely beautiful. Whew.
As if it is in motion! Absolutely stunning....
Love this! I was a gofer after high school in the early 70s for the local Buick dealer in SC. I drove my Mom's hand me down 69 Riviera, and I met a guy that regularly brought in a stunning Electra 225 convertible in a burgundy with black interior. All of these great lines were gorgeous on that car.
Buick styling and engendering of this era through 1970 were top notch! Love the signature Buick “side sweep” body lines!
Looking at these beautiful Buicks makes one wish for a time machine!
Buick really had some great designs! Nice
1967 was a good year for most makes
None more than GM
Dad had a ‘67 LeSabre coup in white (!!!). He was a working guy and ran that car hard. It held up well…a fond memory. Loved that fastback. Never saw that ever again in one of our family cars. Dad eventually graduated to an Electra 225…Also a fond memory: Robert Lansing (12 O’Clock High)….
My cousin had a '65 LeSabre coupe, deep red. Side style line was straight, but car was beautiful. I was too young to drive but she let me wash it and drive it around the area. I loved it. Great reviews.
Great looking cars.
Gorgeous Machines.
Yes! I love the 1967 lineup, definitely my favorite for sure. Need another Buick in my life.
Adam, I will take one example of each '67 Buick sedan and two Sport Wagons. 🤩🤩
All the full size models and Riviera deserved sequential taillights
Just the quality of those mid 1960s GM cars was fantastic. A friend of my grandmothers had a fully loaded 1967 Buick Electra, which she kept garaged at her home in Bel Air, CA. When she passed away, her son asked if I could drive it to Pasadena to drop it off at one of her children’s house. It was an amazing car in pristine shape and I loved the power vent windows and the upholstery, etc., etc.
The car was nearly 30 years old and looked brand new. I never knew what happened to it.
Cool story! I can picture the car and little road trip in my vivid imagination LOL
Gorgeous car, a work of art.
The fix for the oil pumps was switching from the aluminum cover (that the gears ride against) to a hardened steel one. A friend of mine fixed his on a ‘70 Le Sabre with 455. The front mounted sump on the oil pan didn’t help, either, as hard launches could cause oil starvation, especially if you didn’t stay on top of the oil level.
I usually love the 1950s the most for design, I own a 1954 Pontiac star chief, but have also just picked up a 1968 Buick Wildcat! It's beautiful, 67-68 definitely best years!
Top quality well built cars . ❤
Believe it or not! As an amateur stylist in this time I used an "S" line in several of my drawings about two years before Buicks appeared with a similar "S" line. I had no way of seeing Buicks with this line before I made my drawings. Thus the Buick stylists and I had similar thoughts in approximately the same time period. The "S" line seemed perfectly logical so I don't claim a great insight. But when I see these cars I am reminded of my very amateur drawings at a young age. I never thought about pursuing a career as a stylist. I had no idea that I could have. Competitive occupation I'm sure.
I really like the '67 full sized Buicks a lot. But I love the '68 versions! To me, the grills on the '68's are much cleaner looking, and the taillights are designed better to look more elegant. My parents had a '68 Wildcat 4 door sedan, in that real popular greenish gold color with a black vinyl roof and black vinyl interior. It was loaded with power windows, seat, tilt wheel, AC, etc. One of the cool options was the "speed alert". You turned a knob to set the speed that you didn't want to go over. If you went over the speed, it made a horrible sound that was kind of loud. My dad always said the engine was amazing and it was the best car he ever owned.
Grandfathers 59 buick had speed alert that buzzed if excedding set limit, used to call it a wounded duck alarm
2:00. I recall the body side swage line being described as a “bow wave”. I think this defined it perfectly.
Fastback looks good
on practically every model.
I have my great grandparents 67 Special Deluxe bought new at Korn Buick in Kalispell MT. In 92, mom and I drove it back home to California SoCal. I still have the Special Deluxe, and it has always been garaged. I have been with the Buick Club of America for over 20 years and have done many shows here in SoCal. The car has won many 1st and 2nd place awards. You don't see many with the 225 V6 and factory KL aqua on aqua two-tone paint.
My uncle had a gray 67 4 door. Gorgeous.
Favorite year of my favorites marque. Can't wait to own as many as possible.
Pure class!
Adam, thank you for mentioning Buick's two-piece drive shafts. This feature allowed a more shallow angle for the propeller shaft resulting in a reduced drive tunnel in the floor for rear seat passengers. When Buick bragged about rear passenger "three-across seating", they had the goods to back that up. Popular Science magazine reporters, Jan P. Norbye and Jim Dunne, recalled an interview with Buick General Manager Ed Ragsdale in 1960, he was so proud of Buick's continued use of Torque Tube drive (replaced by the two-piece drive shaft the next year).
Ah! Thx for the tip
@@RareClassicCars I read a book on Professional/Commercial vehicles, and the two-piece drive shaft was a way to create a flat floor for ambulance and hearse coachbuilders who wanted a lower overall height for the load floor. I admire the way each GM division made cars with unique features that gave buyers something to think about.
@@RareClassicCarsthe advantage of torque tube shaft is it absorbes engine torque to prevent axle wrap n wheel hop
GM built so many great looking cars in the ‘60’s. These Buicks are beautiful!
When I moved to the US in 1972, we brought a used nice Buick Electra 225 with fully equipped for $800.00. The US made car was beautiful and had a lots of feathers that the top Japanese like Toyota Crown and European brands like Rolls or Benze 600 does not have!
That LeSabre is gorgeous.
The 63 Wildcat was one of my favorites with that silver side trim. The Olds Starfire did a similar treatment.
Please do a video on the brochure! 1960s American car ads were so often works of art themselves - erudite writing, accompanied by superb artwork & photography.
Thanks! I remember our family's '67 Wildcat 4dr. Rode in it on many trips.👍
My grandparents had a 1965 Buick Electra that my parents inherited. Wonderful smooth riding cars that was great on a long road trip. Largest power front bench seat probably every engineered. Super thin steering wheel with equally over boosted power steering. The length and weight of that Buick really needed that power steering. My parent's model had the 401-445 Wildcat motor with the Single Carter AFB. Plenty of power to make some tracks with bias ply tires. Thanks for the video, brought back some memories.
These are among the most handsome cars made.
I agree! My first car was a 67 Electra convertible- wonderful car, both exterior and interior were gorgeous. I later owned a 67 Special sedan and a 66 LeSabre coupe. I think the two piece driveshaft was done to reduce the height of the transmission tunnel. The Electra also had real wood veneer on the dash.
I learned to drive on a 68 Wildcat, which is the same as the 67, what a hood, the LeSabre body on the Electra wheelbase with the extra length ahead of the firewall.
Yes! The body proportions of the Wildcat were fabulous!
@@pebble4713for a faster ride use 67 skylark, same style w less #
Had a 67 Riviera GS. Wouldn't mind a Electra 2 door hardtop Limited today.
My Dad always said his 66 Electra 225 Custom 4 door HT was the best car he ever owned. Big step up from his 64 Impala SS. The doors shut like a vault - super solid. No rattles. AC would freeze you out. Power seat and windows. The windows would work with key off. The only issues I recall was paint that was like enamel on a sink and easily chipped and a tendency to run hot when cruising with the AC on at 80 MPH. Dad had the speed alert set at 85 that would buzz annoyingly when passing someone on the 2-lanes!
The Pontiac Catalina also had a beatiful 2 door fast back with great 389 engine.
Agreed Again Adam! Enjoyed, Love the turbo 400 transmissions as well!
Buick had a ST300 and ST400 with the switch pitch converter.
I never really thought they were all that handsome in the day ... however now that you mention it yeah I see it
My first car was a 67 Electra 225 Sports coupe - i still miss it
Truly gorgeous cars, especially the leSabre 2 dr
Dad replaced his 64 LeSabre Spot Coupe with a 68, which is basically the same as the 67, with some trim variations; the IP was the most obvious. Both the 64 and 68 had bucket seats with a storage console, I have never seen another so equipped. Both cars were optioned identically as I remember, power steering and brakes, AC, and the 68 also had a factory 8-track player (I believe the first year available from Buick). I went with dad to order the 68, we specified gold with a white top.We were surprised when the LeSabre arrived with a painted top, we both thought it was going to be vinyl. Evidently we checked the wrong box, again, I've never seen another like this.
The ‘68 also benefited from the dual chamber master cylinder braking system. That was a major improvement.
The color on the Electra sedan was called Champagne Mist which was the prettiest Buick color ever imho
I had a 1968 La Sabre that I replaced the front bench seat with the bucket seats from
a mid 1970's Honda Civic.
The interior room went from large to ENORMOUS!
As interesting as the sedans were, the mostly carry-over 67 Riv was still outstanding. What a hunk of sculpture! As much as I like the rim 65 Riv, the 66-67 took styling to a different level. How GM ever got to the 71 Toronado and El Dorado, I will never know especially since the boattail Riv again dropped your jaw.
The LeSabre’s feature line along the side is a continuation of the the nautical theme-it’s not just portholes. Think of the way water is tossed up at the bow, then the wake settles down and spreads wider towards the stern. A boat indeed!
My Dad had a 67 LeSabre 2dr with a 340 2V. It was a nice cruising car.
For as gorgeous as these cars are in photographs, they really pop in person! 65-70 (especially 67-68) Buicks are truly some of the best. The big fastbacks are awesome, but i do love the formal roof hardtop sedan Electras. Absolutely elegant.
Proud owner of a 68 Le Sabre 400 2 door coupe w/ bucket seats and mini console!
I’ll take all the Electra videos you can kick out Adam! 😃👍
Great video of great cars!! Thank you!
My uncle Vincent had a loaded '67 Electra, it made me weak in the knees from it's beauty. Crazy for a 5 Y/O. The new 430 got 20 mpg on the highway .
Totally agree on Buick. I had a 68 Wildcat 4 door hardtop. It was a terrific looking car, I thought. Well built too.
they were superb the dad of a friend of mine bought the LeSabre convertible in 1967 - it was a knock out !!!
Dad had the 67 Wildcat custom 4 Dr hardtop in that same sapphire blue
Somebody wanted to give my partner a 67 Buick wildcat convertible and he turned it down! It looked great it had been restored many years ago and would make a great driver. It had the big engine bucket seats and console. Skirts and the Buick rims red with black top and interior.
I always remind him of the missed opportunity 😝🤣
Fascinating information!
Fastback styling really helps
My dad’s first car was his grandfather’s ’67 Skylark. All though the lines on the Skylark are much more tame compared to the Buick’s in this video, it is a great year for Buick.
Even though I live in the Detroit area and see a lot of 60s Buicks, I see a lot more pre & post ‘67 Buicks on the road than actual ’67s.
Even though my dad’s Skylark is probably lone gone and had a lot of dents in it from his grandfather, still an elegant car from pictures. Definitely a great lineup of vehicles!
Great video. I really appreciate your use of design language when describing these cars, it gives a depth to the presentation that is lacking from other presenters. Thank you, Adam, and keep up the good work!
Stunning design, and so well explained.
I'd love to see the entire 1967 Buick brochure.
One of my uncles had a 67 LeSabre, it was a nice car. My father had a 68 Ford LTD. Both cars were 4 doors. I remember the different sounds that the doors on the cars made when you closed them. The LTD sounded very solid.
Growing up my mother had a 1967 Electra 225. First car I remember my parents buying. They bought it in 1969 used. White with black vinyl top and black vinyl interior. I loved growing up in that car. My father sold it in 1978 when he bought my mom her 1976 Electra Park Avenue. I’d love to have that ‘67. My dad always drove Impalas getting a new one about every 2-3 years. I drove that ‘76 Park Avenue to my high school prom.
I liked the '67 Buicks, too. Our next-door-neighbors in the late sixties had a red 1967 Wildcat fastback with black vinyl roof and black interior, a beautiful car.
Truly beautiful automotive design. Some of the best looking cars ever made were GM's full-size mid-late sixties models. Today's cars just can't compare. Inevitably, form suffers from the emphasis on function today.
Altho function suffers now with electronic engine control failures
Saw this Electra for sale on another channel recently and thought here's one for Adam. Beautiful car, but I can't fathom how a 57 year old car can only have 372 miles.
Grandma drive only to church small town per used car salesman
i like the electras.
They bump out on the trunk was done to help the trunk space, as the trunks were long, but pretty shallow
beautiful cars indeed.
How well I remember Uncle Fred's 67 Olds Delmont 88 coupe. I remember my fourth grade teacher's 67 Electra four door as well, beautiful cars
Yes, the Wildcat of 1967 was a cool car. Nice styling. 1968 was also a good year. I see alot of Pontiac influences.
Adam, you see them as grace and style. I unfortunately only remember them as rusted out old granny cars 😄
Both my late dad and uncle were Buick guys. My dads first car in 1961 was a 58 Mercury Monterey (it had a bad oil pump and it didn't last long). In 1966, a couple of years after he got out of the service, he bought his first brand new car, a 1966 Buick Skylark four door. His second new car was a 76 Lesabre (which was stolen in 78, the police found it, but my dad didn't want it back). Then he got a 79 Lesabre, which was the car I grew up in, I was born in 1980. My dad drove that car up until 1990/91. It sat in our back driveway from 91 until the year 2000. My dad sold it to the son of one of his co-workers that year. After sitting for that long, it fired right up, no issues at all. I think that car had the Chevy 305 or the Pontiac 301, not sure. Buicks were always great cars!
For me, I think the 68 Buicks are a bit cleaner with the cowl being updated to accommodate the concealed wipers, which the other divisions implemented that year as well...on their full size and redesigned midsize cars. I'd say the blue really brings out the design details on the coupe featured in your video. If I were ordering one new...that's the color I would get.
Yes!... Full-size 1967 Buicks looked the best!! A family member drove a '67 Wildcat Sedan in White!!... Beautiful car!
I owned a '89 Reatta for a few years. Hands made by Buick. I think one of their most beautiful automobiles.
It was the most unreliable car I've ever owned. It was a leaky beauty that was expensive to fix.
Interesting. Beautiful car.
Thank you Adam. I thought about this Buick year the same. A peak. Best car for me: The here forgotten Wildcat with it's one year only "concave" frontgrille🎉❤
Yes I do. Great video!
I have always been a Buick guy!!~Poor oiling issues throughout the years in Buick based engines in those days though. Even the Skylark had the swooping body sideline/feature line also. Great content Adam, Thanks!!!!~
Roof sheet metal looks like they all came from the same stamping press for all the full size Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, and Buick 2 door coupes from what I can tell.
That is correct.
68 Buick Wildcat was something of a favourite with those breaking lines down the side and then those glorious taillights. It was elegant and playfully sporty all rolled up into one car. Great wheels as well. My automotive shop teacher in highschool had one impeccably maintained and something like 115 thousand miles on it oil changed every 1200 miles or so. Back then alot of cars were getting pretty tired by time they arrived at 100k. Blue smoke fron the tailpipe was not uncommon.But not his it was glorious.
Family had a 66 4 door Electra 225 when I came of drivers age.... Blue on Blue and no vinyl top. I can still rememerber the smell of sitting in the interior (no-smokind)