1960 Buick Electra

1960 Buick Electra 2 Door Hardtop If the 1950s had been a decade of dazzle, the 1960s started out by turning down the volume - at least with the 1960 Buick Electra and the GM bunch.  Big changes had been the rule for the 1959 Buick, with their huge canted Delta wing fins and slanted quad headlights.  Some considered it the most dramatic Buick of all and a sharp contrast to the garish 1958 with its unexcelled load of perhaps over the top chrome.  Romesentinel.com, March 2014  For consignment, a 1960 Buick Electra 2 door hardtop showing 23,420 miles which are not actual.  This beautiful car has had some mechanical upgrades and new parts.  Its clean exterior is an ornate showpiece and the interior has some special features as well but could use some freshening in several areas.   Exterior Amazing body lines give the Buick a part jet/part car profile with more bends, folds, and bulges than the sandstone cliffs of Utah.  The dual headlights appear to grimace with the fender brows leaning earnestly towards the center which keeps its swell all the way to the back of the car where it expands to wrap the round tail lights under canted wings at an even more severe angle and both ends are underscored by relatively straight, horizontal chrome bumpers in fine shape.  The hood and vertical panels wear Chalet Blue paint while the roof and decklid wear white.  Brightwork includes trim that surrounds a stingray type lifted point on the hood, a body length piece on the waistline, amazing window reveals on curved glass, and faux ventiports on the front fenders.  Let's not forget the concave grille, a row of vertical bands of thin metal.  Imperfections include numerous spots of bubbling, scratches, cracking paint, and scuffs on the rocker panel trim.  Interior The patina filled interior begins with the door panels where the cloth uppers show particular age along with the metal trim pieces and the vinyl is otherwise decent.  The combo of blue cloth and vinyl continues on the split bench seat where some wear is noted including a few tears in the cloth.  Things are better in the back bench which sports armrests and ashtrays along with dedicated window cranks for the sizable rear glass.  The horn bar of the steering wheel is bright and shiny but the black plastic rim is cracked in multiple spots.  Upfront, the soft blue shelf of the dashboard shows quite a bit of age but our eyes are drawn to the overall design, which is a work of art.  The horizontal speedometer lives under a hood it shares with a round clock while a series of square buttons line up below over a brushed aluminum panel that houses chrome knobs and the AM radio.  The passenger gets a carved cove with a padded dash in front and this one is in good shape.  The blue carpet below looks new, and the headliner will need cleaning or replacement to meet its quality.  The trunk is essentially barren save for the spare tire.  Drivetrain Under the hood is a clean 401ci V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and a Turbine Drive 2-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear axle and 3.23 gears.  Power drum brakes occupy the front and rear wheels.  Our consignor states the following has been added or upgraded: the brake system including shoes, hoses, master cylinder, and booster, power steering pump, rag joint, starter, and radiator.  Undercarriage General patina underneath and typical surface rust is noted but nothing of concern structurally.  The dual exhaust travels through a stock style muffler in back and leaves as two tailpipes under the car.  Suspension here is made up of new coil springs up front and a 3 link with coil springs and panhard bar out back.  The knuckles are spotless, confirming our consignor's claim of the new tie rod sleeves, rebuilt steering box, and front end kit.   Drive-Ability Jet-like on the outside but more boat-like on the inside, we're piloting a wide car with canted fins at both ends as we crank the V8 to lif