1979 Buick Electra Park Avenue Sedan (Walkaround & Start)

A walkaround video and start of my survivor '79 Electra Park Avenue. The car is Medium Green Metallic (44), and is so far the only example of a '79 Electra Park Avenue I have ever seen in this color.
The car is currently being auctioned on Bring a Trailer: bringatrailer.com/listing/197...

[@ShervinsGarage]

Hey everyone! The auction is now live: bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-buick-electra-park-avenue-sedan/

[@catiesuncle]

The full size GM cars of the 70’s and 80’s had those pillowy seats that were so comfortable.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Yup late 70s early 80s crushed velour

[@AlexanderCrump]

@@truckerkevthepaidtourist It was called Prima velour. It was available in nicer GM models until about 1990. It was used in Monte Carlos, Regals, and the full-size B- and C-bodies.

[@seanc6468]

I always have loved the stance of all the models of that line . So strong and majestic

[@h-ch877]

A magnificent beast! A symbol of US motoring leisure, what an era. And what a color. Lush!

[@elmowilson298]

Yes, it is. Those were the full size luxurious bavk then

[@TysonHugie]

Seriously minty. Those opera lights, even. Talk about luxury and status for ‘79.

[@davidallen5776]

I find it hard to stomach that we as Americans have lost all respect for ourselves since these cars came out!!

[@TVHouseHistorian]

What an absolutely beautiful car. Where I’m from, you don’t see many Park Avenues or Regencys of this era on the road anymore. The engine in this car sounds so beautiful, and yes, the clunk of the doors shutting is a beautiful sound also! So glad you were able to capture this time capsule. ☺️

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you! Believe it or not, they’re nearly extinct even where I’m from too (California). Most of these cars either rusted away decades ago in other parts of the country (East Coast, Midwest, etc), or were heavily customized beyond recognition and lost all originality. It’s very rare to see a survivor like this nowadays, especially one that can still be registered in California since it still passes the biannual smog check!

[@freddyhoyt1849]

Looking at this video brings back so many great memories of me riding with my grandfather in his 79 park avenue

[@ShervinsGarage]

Glad it brought back those memories for you! :)

[@gertexan]

Cool car!! My mom had this exact car, but in silver. I took my driver´s test in it at age 15. If I remember correctly she drove it 1985 or 86 and it was still in mint condition when the sold it; dad was a stickler about taking care of our cars.

[@ShervinsGarage]

That’s fantastic. I wonder where it ended up!

[@jaygatz4335]

GM did an excellent job with their downsizing in '77. The '77s to '79s were very well proportioned, then in '80 the styling went downhill. The green inside and out is outstanding!

[@JoeyChrome]

I also love the GM green, inside & out. Many manufacturers offered this green during that era,with the last possibly the 1984-85 Lincoln Mark VII. They actually offered 2 shades of (similar) green. Correct me if I'm wrong,did you show the odometer? Does the a/c still work? Heat? Stereo? Do all power windows work as they should? Also,how rusty is the undercarriage? All these are important to document for this type of video.... Nevertheless, fantastic car, thanks for the video!

[@keith536]

Neighbor had a pale blue one with a white top. It was a nice car. Washed it many times for a little $$$. Boy I'm old.

[@sweets6865]

All the Buicks of 70's and 80's era are my favorites.

[@shayanashtiani]

Wow beautiful!

[@gclarkbloomfield8848]

...nice job on the wire covers...having them clean and sparkling adds to this 5th gen Electra's appeal... ...the missing bumper fillers and opera lamp cover and occasional tears in armrest vinyl are rather common in these cars...a working analog clock is a nice plus, and that medium (medium lime) exterior color is, indeed, rare.... ...the same interior stylists who were responsible for the "rolling Henredon living room" concept in the Olds 98 Regency were also at work with this Park Avenue ... it was a ride feeling like no other to settle into this overstuffed seats...and a sensation basically unknown to drivers under 40... ...trust that you'll have no troubles finding a new home for this unique beauty... ...and nice that it is fitted with the "big dog" 403cid/6.6L Olds V8...those extra 30-40 bhp make a big difference in motivating this premium full-sized American luxury craft down the road...

[@ShervinsGarage]

Great info and great comment! Thanks for the kind words!

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Back in 1984 there was a used 1979 Park Avenue 4-door Sedan on a used car lot in the town next to where I was stationed. It was similar to this example but it was brown metallic with chromed road wheels. Not long after that I saw someone driving it on base.

[@bellalegosi7850]

What a beauty. Thanks for bringing me back ! I love the green.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

Young man , I had new in 1979 and I purchased again the wagon in 1987. Wonderful cars. Enjoy yours. Mr. Hahn, age 98 Clearwater Beach Florida Pinellas County

[@ThePrissy11]

She’s a beauty. Never saw that green before. My parents owned 70/80s era Electras and LeSabres.

[@bartfrees64]

My first car was a ‘78 Olds Delta 88 Royale Coupe (black with a red pin stripe) - wish I had it now!! It also had a 403 under the hood and it would run!! Great video of this classic Buick. I loved this era of automobiles.

[@ShervinsGarage]

That sounds like an awesome first car!

[@nielsm.5813]

A righteously beautiful Buick, my friend! Love that color, just like my Marquis. Truly jealous of whoever ends up with it!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Your Marquis is a dream! Thanks for the kind words!

[@jamescarrington5521]

I had a white 1978 Park Avenue with red velour interior....loved that car! The best one I ever had was my very first NEW car, a 1990 Park Avenue. They don't make 'em like this anymore and they never will again, sadly.

[@jamescarrington5521]

My dad was driving my '78 Park Ave. when some clod ran a red light and totaled it, though. He said something to me afterward that I'll never forget; he said, "We were standing around, waiting for the police to get there, and it took them almost 20 minutes; that car's engine was so quiet, I forgot it was still running, just like a faithful, soulful old hound dog....I reached in through the window and shut it off once I realized this." "Faithful old hound," indeed it was; they ALL were.

[@alijama1249]

@@jamescarrington5521yup u right I had the same one they so smooth had lots of fun back in days in Hartford. Ct

[@jeanyvesgauthier4082]

Very nice car, quite a rare color, just love it ! Back in 1985 i owned a 1979 Olds 98 with the same 403, great engine !

[@petermartinijr.1012]

Nice car. I remember these cars when the were new. By today's standard they are gigantic, but in 1979 they were known as knee breakers because they were so much smaller then the pre*1977's before GM downsized all their B, C, & D bodied cars. This was a GM C body.

[@maclac48]

Awesome ride, thanks for sharing. 👍🏿

[@plainbrownwrapper9688]

Just to help you out for next time, i have a tip to clean wire hubcaps an easy way. Put them in the dishwasher and they will come out perfectly clean. We used to have a dishwasher at a salvage yard i worked at and we used it to clean hubcaps. It melts away anything and everything on the cap. They came out looking like brand new everytime.

[@Trapper4265]

I found a one owner '79 Limited back in 1990 when I lived in Texarkana. It was brown with a tan interior. I loved the lines of that car. It was one of the prettiest cars I've ever owned. Thank for the post. It brought back fond memories. 😊

[@ShervinsGarage]

Sounds like a lovely car. Thanks for watching!

[@lonnybush5612]

Loved the opera lights. My work all the time I had the car.

[@sasz2107]

As you have pointed out, the nicer Buicks in this time period (late 70s, early 80s) had these really beautiful velour interiors. Any Buick model with the Limited trim level, or in the case of the Electra, the Park Avenue, got this type of interior, and they were gorgeous as well as comfortable. The Oldsmobiles that got interiors like this were called Broughams. Even some high level Pontiacs got this type of fabric! This was from about 1977 - 1985. Possibly later than that on some models. No cars have interiors near that nice now.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Yes, this was truly the era of plush interiors. This Velvet Knit Cloth interior was actually only available in the Park Avenue, as the Limited and 225 models had less fancy seats. Details are all included in the dealership binders that come with the car.

[@timothykeith1367]

A reason today's GM struggles is because this market segment vanished. America once loved this kind of car.

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@timothykeith1367 Good point. It could also be that these American luxury brands evolved into a certain style and aesthetic that seemed to mainly be appreciated by older Americans who simply aged out of driving and buying new cars at a certain point. In other words, the retirees who bought cars like these new in the ‘70s were no longer driving by the ‘90s and ‘00s. Companies like Cadillac and Buick may have changed their ethos and focus simply because of this, even if you and I prefer them the way they were before.

[@fhwolthuis]

Beautiful car, love a color coded interior

[@chrisgreen67]

Great job showing off the Electra and telling its story! Having owned a green '77 also with a 403, I can vouch for the fact that they are great cars. Good luck with the auction!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks, Chris!

[@the_rocs_roost]

Yes, that is a rare color, and a rare car. Electras from this era are like hen's teeth, and this is a nice one. Congrats! I once owned a 1978 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Brougham in this color. I loved it, but it never turned heads quite like my other old car: a 1980 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance in Colonial yellow with white vinyl roof and yellow leather interior. To me, though, there ain't no machine like a green machine. The velour interior, too is something I actually prefer to the "leather" of the day. There's nothing like relaxing in a GM car with pillow-top velour seats! They beat Ford/Lincoln/Mercury to pieces! And the sound system-especially Cadillac Symphony Sound-there was simply nothing like it!

[@kingnillvwell381]

1979 - one of best years of GM Cars - starts from C to C / Chevys to Cadillacs / Buick’s was one of the best - with that 403/6.6 litter they can out last modern cars easily, keep it in that shape - you have a great investment and a showroom car . keep posting about it .

[@JeffKing310]

Nice Buick and fun video! Thanks for sharing.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@joelakers410]

My favorite buick

[@freddyhoyt1849]

My grandfather had the same year Buick but his was white with red velour interior

[@onlyhereonce7290]

A great video. And a great car.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you! Feel free to subscribe for more in the future.

[@onlyhereonce7290]

@@ShervinsGarage will do.

[@dionway3552]

beautiful car

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you.

[@ronbeeman357]

Beautiful car

[@monterriotedder1097]

I have the 78 Electra park avenue I love that car

[@ShervinsGarage]

What color is yours?

[@platec4798]

Truth be known, this "C" body Buick is actually an Oldsmobile 98 but with the Buick Front Clip, Rear Clip and Side Mouldings/Dash to make it a Buick. Some interior panels were the same as the Olsdmobiel. It was the reverse for the 1985 C body Oldsmobile 98 when it got downsized to a Front Drive Model. It was really a Buick Park Avenue/Lesabre model with an "Oldsmobile" kit BS Buick V6 engine. The 403 V8 was actually an Oldsmobile 350 Rocket V8 with bigger displacement mated to a Hydromatic Turbo 350 Transmission. If you took the time to remove all the pollution crap and exhaust recirculation devices, the 403 engine would wake up and move pretty good. Later versions of the same car came with a 307 V8, which again, was based on the Rocket 350 V8. The 307 could also be woken up if you knew what to do. They were mated to lazy 200R4 Transmission. There was also a police package Oldsmobile Delta 88 that also came with the 403 engine and a TH350 trans. In the 1983 Movie "Sudden Impact" with Clint Eastwood, you can see Eastwood driving one of these in the movie. Plate C

[@ShervinsGarage]

Great info! I’ll have to check that movie out.

[@shaunarriaga4798]

Love this car

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you!

[@riccidemus1]

Beautiful car and color. Those hubcaps clean up nice in the dishwasher in less time for future reference

[@ShervinsGarage]

I considered that option, but I didn’t want to run rust particles and brake dust in the same place I clean my plates and silverware! :)

[@kianrahnama6625]

Beautiful car! I wanted to buy one sometime but unfortunately couldn't. Love from IRAN

[@ShervinsGarage]

Kheyli mamnoon az peykhametoon, motmaenam ye roozi meslesh ro mikharid. :)

[@fredanddebramacdonald2445]

I bought a 1977 Buick Electra for a daily runner in 1993 for $2,000. It was a nice car so I kept it. Now days it mostly goes to shows and cruise nights. It won a Gold Senior award at the Buick Nationals last June. Two tons of fun! I tell my Grandsons that I have heavy metal in my garage, so I don’t need to listen to their heavy metal music!!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Usually stories like that end in, "but I sold it 30 years ago and I have no idea what happened to it." It's amazing that you've kept it all these years, even if it was a cheap car when you first bought it. Take good care of her!

[@fredanddebramacdonald2445]

@@ShervinsGarage Yes, she gets the best care I can provide. Just put on front shocks. We’re running Royal Purple HPS, etc. The air and cruise and even the clock still works. Power seat quit though and haven’t been able to find a power seat motor. Old cars are fun!

[@ghazanfarjavaid4159]

That's a real car...

[@baronvonjo1929]

People say new cars look the same. But dang I can't tell the difference between this and other American cars from the time.

[@Cheezwizzz]

Superb 😘

[@bryanpreston3595]

Well...this makes me sick. Why? Because now I long to have one. My mother bought a silver 1979 model, with the same wire spoke wheels. It rode really good! I loved it. I remember my stepfather driving it really fast one day. And it seemed to handle well. Much like you'd mentioned in other video of you driving this beauty. Now, she only kept it about a month before taking back to dealership and trading for the triple black 1979 Oldsmobile 98 Regency. I loved it too. It was what I learned to drive in. Had same wire spoke wheels, but with the Oldsmobile emblem. I wish I had one of each. Both are kind of similar. And both beautiful. I love your Buick's colors. Very nice green. And I love the whole car.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks, Bryan! I agree, it’s hard not to love these elegant cars from this time period. I’ll definitely miss this one, and I look forward to one day finding a green-on-green-on-green 1978 Buick Electra Park Avenue Sedan like the one my grandfather had (not a ‘79). Hope you can find yours too!

[@bryanpreston3595]

@@ShervinsGarage I hope you can find the '78 you are looking for. I ended up seeing a video of a 1978 2-dr Park Avenue and loved it. The front end is just a little bit different. Most of the rest of the car is still similar to the '79. So you'll still be getting a beautiful car once you find it. I understand you wanting one like or similar to what he had. I did, at one time, have a light greyfern 2-dr 1984 Buick Electra Limited. Same wire spoke wheels. Only thing I didn't like was the 307 V8. Not as fast as the 350. Other than that I loved it. Wish I still had it.

[@allenleavell2847]

I remember my father had a '79 Oldsmobile Delta 88 this exact same color... even had the white roof

[@ShervinsGarage]

That’s awesome. Basically twins!

[@allenleavell2847]

@@ShervinsGarage I loved that car as much as you probably love this Buick

[@ryanhowell4492]

Cool Car

[@chrislemaster2695]

The Oldsmobile 98 Regency and Regency Brougham also was available with the Oldsmobile 6.6L 403CIDV-8 but wasn't ordered as much as the 350 and the infamous 5.7L Oldsmobile LF9 Diesel.

[@stevevlossak2443]

Nice car

[@JoeyGarcia.]

Hi. Ohh she’s a beaut! This is so classy and elegant,, what we have now in the car market is pure crap

[@ShervinsGarage]

I definitely miss this era and philosophy of luxury in American cars. Soft plush cushy pillow-like bench seats in velvet or crushed velour, a padded vinyl roof, opera lamps, wire wheel covers, whitewall tires, chrome bumpers, a V8, and that signature floaty cloud-like full-size body-on-frame boulevard ride. Status, stature, and presence.

[@JoeyGarcia.]

@@ShervinsGarage yes!! And those chrome metal bumpers how I miss those. It’s all fiberglass junk now :(

[@billymcmanus9642]

The front plate is called the vanity plate GM cars had on the front of all their cars with make on model on them. Very rare & hard to find the original one's that came with the car

[@scottleyva8656]

I love 70s American cars!

[@ShervinsGarage]

You’re in the right place!

[@btrdangerdan2010]

@TofersCarTales would love this

[@dmansf49ers71]

Had a 77 225 with same motor. Smoooth running but had weird overheating issues

[@Doobie1975]

Nice car, I thought the 1979 front end was better looking than the 1977-78 front end

[@terrymertz1923]

very nice! incidently i have a 79 park avenue for sale in very nice condition!

[@chrisclayton585]

Terry Mertz Where would one find info on your car for sale?

[@terrymertz1923]

I think this car brought $8100

[@chrisclayton585]

Terry Mertz... do you have pictures of the one your selling? That one was just to far away from me.

[@terrymertz1923]

@@chrisclayton585 i do

[@terrymertz1923]

i will post some on the electra facebook page

[@markmclendon8621]

believe it or not this was a pretty good generation of auto...i had a 2 door Bonneville with the 400 motor....i ordered it from the factory with a strange combination of options....disk brakes , trans oil cooler..... wish i still had it ....100000 miles in 18 months

[@user-ot5br7pq3b]

Clean

[@Guitarjosii]

I wish mine would still have the opera lamps

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

The classic sign of a general motors door That clunk tells you it's a body by Fisher

[@johnyB615]

I’ve had 2 Buicks and best cars ever. The wire hub caps are a pain, but Eagle One makes a shampoo that’s AWESOME. Spray it on, good scrub with a soft brush- dirt is gone

[@paulparoma]

Great car, but under-optioned. No cornering lights, no alloy wheels, no automatic climate control. I had a '78 Electra Limited that had all those options and a 403, amazingly. No wonder it got stolen.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Yeah, that was interesting to me too. Despite it being a Park Avenue, it wasn’t even ordered with a passenger side mirror!

[@paulparoma]

@@ShervinsGarage Someone had decided to save a little money when buying a fancy car.;) BTW, thanks for dressing well for the video.

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@paulparoma Thanks. Presentation is important to me. :)

[@paulparoma]

@@ShervinsGarage Glad you feel that way.

[@weegeemike]

Can't believe that in 1979 an upscale brand like Buick didn't offer a passenger side rear-view mirror as standard equipment. Come on that's a big ol car I would feel really weird driving it without the 2nd mirror.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Agreed! I found it strange too.

[@MSX98FMDnB]

love the american fullsize rwd v8 cars

[@fmphotooffice5513]

a beast... We had the Chevrolet Caprice version in dark blue with silver sides. BTW the orange doodad on the driver's fender well is the electronics interface from before OBD standards. I wonder if GM can still use it for data I/O?

[@ShervinsGarage]

I always wondered what that was! Thanks for relaying (get it?) that info. 😄

[@jonathanmorrisey5771]

It was a plug-in plate with voltmeter access points for technicians to use. GM used a scan tool during final inspection at the factory for electrical check-out.

[@demetriusjohnson3677]

Just use oven cleaner to clean those spoke hubcaps. Works wonders

[@ShervinsGarage]

Had no idea that could be used too! I’ll have to give it a try next time. I know it works wonders for engine bays.

[@armedinbama]

My father's first "exactly what he wants" car was a 1978 Electra Limited 2-door in gold over tan with the Landau roof. Unfortunately it turned out to be a bit of a lemon. It developed overheating problems within a couple of years and never was made exactly correct.

[@sasz2107]

This is a really nice old Buick in a nice color. You don't want to keep this? You know you won't find another. I am almost positive you could get the 403 in a LeSabre sedan as well as the Estate Wagon and Electra. The only thing I find unusual on your car is the steering column. It's a bit scratched up, but also the steering wheel should have faux wood where you press down for the horn. I'm wondering, maybe someone replaced it and this was as close as they could get? The color is correct. Who cares if it isn't a 78? 79 was the last year you could get the 403. In 1980 I believe the 350 was the biggest engine you could get. Then in 81, the offered the 4.1 L V6. I believe the biggest V8 that year was the 301 V8 (which was a Pontiac engine). In 1982, you may have been able to get the 307 Olds V8, but V6s were the norm by then - in a car this size!

[@ShervinsGarage]

I really will miss it. Yes, the ‘79 is only one year newer than the ‘78, and it’s still the same body style too-but there are numerous small changes that make all the difference to me, since my grandfather had the ‘78. But this ‘79 is truly a magnificent boat, and you’re absolutely right that I won’t find another one like it. Hopefully someone new can take care of it like I have. As for the steering wheel, you’re correct that the horn button cover was originally faux wood. I’m not sure how it ended up this way, but there is a spare example included in the sale (though it has been painted black). The steering column shows some discoloration since the columns were presumably painted the color of the upholstery, but this will be very easy to fix if the next owner wishes to do so.

[@Doobie1975]

The 403 was available on the 1977-78 Buick Le Sabre's and the 1977-79 Buick Electra and wagon's.

[@neilouellette3004]

Sold for $8,100 Feb. 4, 2022 on BAT Online Auction. One hell of a deal.

[@ShervinsGarage]

I thought so too!

[@joeknowz4898]

My father in law had a 79 LeSabre Landau ...I wanted that one , 2 door front splint bench and black and chrome rally wheels...about a year after I started dating his daughter in 1982..it was stolen..

[@Chitwn81]

Is this still for sale? If no how much did you let it go for? I love the 77-79 Olds 98 Regency Buick Electra and 77-78 Riviera

[@ShervinsGarage]

Yes, it has been sold. Please see the link in the pinned comment to see the auction’s results.

[@freddyhoyt1849]

I always thought that the 70s Buicks were more beautiful cars than Cadillac

[@nomebear]

They felt like stripped down models posing as luxury cars that were not comparable to what they replaced. And, there was no justification for their price. The metal was thinner, the paint finish was crap, the fuel mileage wasn't much better, the transmissions had issues, the V6 engines blew head gaskets, and they drove and felt too light for a luxury vehicle. Shoved down our throats, many U.S. buyers moved to German luxury cars as alternative choices. Ugly as it was, my 1979 Mercedes S-Class replaced a 1977 Cadillac.

[@sepposinerva]

You said that you sit on the rear seat so that we can see how cushy it is. Well, no one was able to see it, because your body was there. The seats are the best part of Park Lane model, but how they looked like in this car remained in secrecy to the watchers of your video.

[@ShervinsGarage]

The car is called a Park Avenue, not a Park Lane. And thank you for the feedback, I’ll try to incorporate it into my future videos.

[@chrisclayton585]

Has this car sold? If not how much are you asking and where is it located?

[@ShervinsGarage]

Hi there! It hasn’t sold yet. It will be auctioned on Bring A Trailer soon. When the auction goes live, I’ll post the link here.

[@shermanpup]

where's the coffin interior ? My 79 PA had it

[@ShervinsGarage]

I’ve never seen it on a ‘79! I’ve only seen those on ‘78s and earlier.

[@brianevans981]

Does anyone know the name of that color?

[@ShervinsGarage]

It’s Medium Green Metallic (44), with a White (11) Electra Long Heavy Padded Vinyl Top (Elk-grain vinyl with modified rear window, sales code CB5). The interior is Green Velvet Knit Cloth. Keep in mind though that this particular shade of green was only available for the 1979 model year, despite Buick using the same name during other years too!

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

I believe it's called Medium Green.

[@brianevans981]

@@reallyrandomrides1296 Thanx

[@terrymertz1923]

im curious what you had to pay for it

[@amitamir1413]

My girlfriend years ago had a very similar car

[@amitamir1413]

Lauren use to rev the daylights out of the engine in the winter mercilessly punishing the engine with her foot on the gas pedal making it scream for mercy

[@philipaltamore331]

not a cold start see how it starts in the morn

[@bigpimp9066]

78 and 79 are close minus the tailights...buddy

[@ShervinsGarage]

The front is also different, as are the seats on the Park Avenue, the door panels, and the colors themselves. Not too different for the average person, but different enough for me to notice and care about.

[@MrJayrock620]

Dude, don’t sell it just because it’s a year off from your grandpa’s. You just found a unicorn in the wild, and I doubt you’ll find a cleaner one it that colour combo. Also, I’m actually sitting on an overstuffed couch right now the exact same colour as that interior Lol

[@ShervinsGarage]

Haha, you have a good point! I'm abnormally particular when it comes to the year/make/model/trim/colors of a car I'm looking for, so I had to let it go. But it was honestly one of the most fun cars I have ever owned, and it went to a good home. Nothing I have ever driven has ever come close to the level of daily attention it received, even in a part of the Bay Area where pretty much all the residents drive Priuses, Teslas, or something else in a similar category.

[@ersansozer9309]

My American broth, please, please next time replace a mat before you put your legs on it, l implore you. l have this elegant car in my world so l expect everybody to treat it as l do.