Last of Its Breed: The 1984 Buick Electra Park Avenue Was Buick's Final RWD Luxury Hurrah!

Learn more about the 1984 Buick Electra as the car went through its final model year!

[@MARKB3946]

I loved the land yachts of times gone by. They had style, class and comfort. Plus you could tell what car it was even at night just by the way the taillights looked.

[@nycstarport8542]

Your reply is soooo True. 🙂

[@garysarratt1]

Square headlights in the mirror…😬

[@nycstarport8542]

@@garysarratt1 Do you remember seeing round headlights in the mirror?

[@garysarratt1]

@@nycstarport8542 Not really sure what you mean, so probably not. I remember the Crown Vics had distinctive square headlamps.

[@charlesmcginness7214]

My aunt and uncle had an ‘83 with the Park Avenue option. Beautiful car. It was as luxurious as a Cadillac with those pillowed seats. I still remember Park Avenue written in script on the instrument panel. To a 13yo boy that loved cars it was the coolest thing he’d ever seen.😅

[@grantkoeller8911]

This was very enjoyable! I love these full size Buicks, too bad they didn't use a 350-V8, or even a 400 V-8

[@bobbyheffley4955]

​@@grantkoeller8911or a 403 V8

[@blisterbrain]

Wildcat 455 FTW!

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I can relate 100%! I remember being entranced by the name placard too.

[@user-tv9sb9ng4g]

Weren't the Buick Roadmasters of the 90s rear wheel drive?

[@cadillacguy1890]

My (then) boss had an Electra Park Avenue in 1984. It was a very plush, quiet and comfortable car. He hammered the 307 mercilessly and it still delivered about 150,000 miles over five years before it was ready to be retired. I really liked that car.

[@Johnny_RB]

If I remember correctly the 305 engine used in that car was a chevy.

[@h8troodoh]

​@@Johnny_RBnope 307 Olds..

[@Johnny_RB]

@@h8troodoh Okay, I stand corrected. Thank you.

[@grandam]

​@@Johnny_RB My 1978 Buick Regals has the factory Chevy 305 engines.

[@Johnny_RB]

@@grandam Thank you.

[@Primus54]

Adam, your comment about the roads not improving over the last few decades is so correct, despite the billions of dollars spent on so-called “infrastructure”. With the sea of orange barrels that appear and announce the start of Spring each year, one has to wonder why we don’t have the best and smoothest roads on the planet! 😉

[@jamesbosworth4191]

One of the reasons on many roads is the undergrounding of electricity and phone wires. If wires need to be replaced, and they occasionally will, you have to tear up the street.

[@jamesmcintire3800]

I love these big old Buick’s! They were so stylish and so plush!

[@CORVAIRWILD]

I just returned from a 4650 mile drive in my newly purchased 1981 Bonneville Brougham 5.7 diesel from San Francisco to Houston to upstate New York... Old news, I've mentioned my road trip feat here earlier... almost 30mpg, windows down, and pure joy....

[@aaronwilliams6989]

COOL!

[@andrewdonohue1853]

I didn't think too many oldsmobile 5.7 diesels were still running

[@M21L35]

I ordered my own '80 LeSabre w/Buick's BT1 "Lawman" package. It was the police-version LeSabre, like Chevy's 9C1 & Oldsmobile's B07. The finest handling full-size GM I've ever owned & driven, & the final year for Buick's L77 350 V8 & T400 transmission. Equipped w/P225/70R15 Goodyear Blue Streak pursuit tires, they didn't need replacement until the odometer passed 60K miles!

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Cool🥰

[@steveoh9838]

The police chief's cruiser..very cool.

[@1allanbmw]

I drove an '84 Lincoln Town Car during the '84 Olympics in LA. It had been donated to the Egyptian Olympic Committee for their use by General Dynamics (I think...). I was a driver for a limo service out of Orange County and so we had the use of the car for our other customers as well. I've been bemoaning the disappearance of these big square RWD sedans for YEARS!! Not everyone wants, or is interested in a faux race car or 800 hp. Sometimes slow and show and especially COMFORT... without a center divider is just what the doctor ordered. I'm 64 now and don't hold out much hope of ever seeing such cars in production ever again. More's the pity! 😢

[@joccrane]

An 84 lincoln town car has been my dream car

[@DSP1968]

These Park Avenues were really nice cars. We had four members of the family/friends who had them, and each had a quality feel. The one I remember best was a light brown metallic/brown velour '82. You pictured one -- what a wonderful interior! Each owner got a lot of enjoyment and use of them.

[@whammond511]

My Dad had an ‘83 Electra Limited ParK Ave. with the Velour Pillowed seats. I had at the same time a ‘76 Electra Limited Park Ave. There was more room in the front seat on the ‘76 but the back seats felt the same. When it came to performance my ‘76 w/455 would waste my Dad’s ‘83. But his got twice the gas mileage that mine got. They both ran super quiet and were excellent cruisers. At that same time I also had a ‘73 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham d’Eleganze (60 Special) with virtually every option available that could smoke my Buick!! The only engine available was the monstrous 472!! What an engine, what a car. It weighed 5200# while my ‘76 weighed 4700# and my Dad’s ‘83 weighed 3800#. I drove all my cars to about 200,000 miles mostly trouble free. All were still running strong when I sold them. My sweetheart was my ‘63 Cadillac 4 window Sedan de’Ville. I bought it in 1980 w/128K on it. It was Arctic White w/Blue Interior and was optioned to the max. I still have it and now it’s got 164K on it. It was originally a Florida Car. It’s been Garage Kept for all of the 43 yrs. I’ve had it.

[@jakefloyd3300]

I was hoping that you would have demonstrated the back lit Park Avenue on the passenger side dashboard. ,That was so cool at night.

[@RareClassicCars]

Couldn’t find a pic sadly

[@bmerlin376]

The illuminated dash insignia didn't even use bulbs, it used the same electroluminescent lighting technology that Buick used for the exterior coach lamps. The LeSabre Limited and Regal Limited also had this feature. The 1985 Park Ave also had it, but was dropped for '86. There are a couple of videos showing it at night, but good luck finding them.🙂

[@charlesb7019]

I had a 1985 Buick LeSabre. Limited Collectors Edition. It was the last hurrah for the big rear wheel drive LeSabre. The Collectors Edition came with the Park Avenue interior from the prior year Electra and it was wonderful. We kept that car until 2004 and put 175k miles on it. Not a speck of rust and never a break down. Somewhat underpowered, but we loved that car.

[@austinevplab7167]

Hey I had one of those too. I loved that car!

[@AlexanderCrump]

Those were quite nice. I think Buick sold more of those than Olds did of basically the same thing - the Delta 88 LS had the Ninety-Eight front end and all the higher-level interior appointments for its final year but I have only seen a few of those. I see a lot of the LeSabres come up at auction.

[@alanhumphrey4198]

My dad bought the 1984 LeSabre medium blue with navy vinyl top brand new. It had an Olympics decal in a rear window.1984 Olympics was in Los Angeles that year. Best automobile we ever had for a family car.😊😊

[@dkt1976dt]

I had a 1985 Buick LeSabre Collectors Edition 2 door, it was black with burgundy velour interior and every option. I drove that car for years and the olds 307 was a very reliable engine and easy to work on. I miss the days of the big rear wheel drive Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, Chevrolets and Cadillacs.

[@DavidPysnik]

So true about the automotive journalists blasting these fabulous land yachts. The car magazines only ever seemed to have racing enthusiasts for writers. Every car they drove had to be small and sporty with excellent handling, great cornering, stiff and tight steering, hard seats that held you in place, and excessive road feel. Times on the Nurburgring were what mattered. These writers never seemed to understand that passenger vehicles on normal roads don’t and often can’t fully utilize any of these racing characteristics and, instead, other things like space, comfort, smooth ride, isolation, and ease of operation are actually preferable things to have. These land yachts are amazing machines, not for the Nurburgring, but for the boulevards on which most of us ride most of the time, and those narrow-focused journalists never gave them the credit they deserved. Land yachts ARE also fun to drive, just in a different way from, say, a Ferrari.

[@danielbennion80]

It was a well kept secret for those of us who preferred the land yachts, until the auto industry bought into it.

[@johnh2514]

Beautiful cars. My family had an identical 1984 Electra Park Avenue in dark blue with dark blue velour interior. I can attest that the pillow-backed seats were indeed more comfortable than our overstuffed living room sofa.

[@chriscallen6897]

This car brings back so many good memories. My grandparents owned an 80 model. I remember it had leather interior and a built in CB radio. When I was 13 my grandma let me drive it on a little access road at our local park. I remember her telling me don’t let my grandpa know about this. 😆. Such fond memories.

[@rafaelfiallo4123]

The 80 is probably the best version engine wise, it would have still had a Buick 350 in it.

[@howebrad4601]

Your comments about the automotive journalism regarding these cars is spot on...how foolish of them. Looking back these interiors are impressive and very plush. Now that I'm old enough and successful enough to buy this kind of car, nothing even remote is offered. Just look how luxurious and inviting these interiors are!! I'd buy a new car tomorrow if it had an interior like this.

[@johnlandacre767]

I agree. The car magazines of yesteryear employed many writers and editors who were spoiled, self-centered snobs who liked to cram themselves into tiny sports cars that took the S-curves well, but had zero passenger or driver roominess. Being 6'6" tall since high school, I never really appreciated most sports cars, and their tendency to leak various fluids and even burn oil. The magazine writers' culture required looking down one's nose at anyone who valued comfort and nice ride quality. That's not reality. Reality is piling three kids, a dog, mom and dad, and many suitcases in a car, then heading to the beach or mountains, while being comfortable along the way. Since most driving is done on interstates or other 4 lane highways, a "good handling" sports car is an expensive toy, and very impractical.

[@hq21]

Thank you for mentioning the automotive press's part in the demise of ultra comfortable (or even just comfortable) seating. Even in my youth I thought their constant complaining about lack of lateral support on non-sport cars was absurd. If a Camaro couldn't hold you in hard cornering then fine, criticize Chevy for that. But no one that bought a Town Car or even a Tempo was trying to pull G's much. Now that those writers are older I hope their tailbones are paying the price for their "victory".

[@AlexanderCrump]

OMG are you right! I never understood that either. When nice velour seats began disappearing and low-grade fabrics and leather began covering buckboard hard seats, I really lost interest in new cars.

[@tford1601]

I absolutely agree with you!!

[@aaron.hudacky]

Great video! I really like the Electra/Park Avenue from 77-84. Even Cadillac deVilles and Fleetwoods didn't have speakers in the doors in 84, and Buick's 5 spoke stamped steel or cast aluminum wheels were beautiful options, specifically the alloys with the larger center cap and dark cap center. My babysitter and her husband, an older couple, had a beige 84 Park Avenue with the aluminum wheels, lamp monitors, cornering lights, leather, and dark brown interior and top that they bought around 1989. The interior detailing was as good and in many ways better than the interior in my parents' 1979 Sedan deVille. The upper and lower interior door panel variations between the Ninety Eight, Electra, and deVille/Fleetwood of this era is especially interesting, and I like each of them. I prefer the Cadillac dash, but I think these had nicer door panels and seats, and although not fast, for me, the 307 puts these cars ahead of the 82-85 4100 RWD Cadillacs overall.

[@OHhooverpoof]

My dad bought our Mum a 1984 Lesabre white/white with moonroof and burgundy velour interior!! He bought it at the end of the year of 1984 and we drove it through the middle of 1992, when dad bought his first Mercury Marquis: Both were real creme puffs and I drove the 84 Buick around DC in 1991.....What a great car...friend nicknamed it a Land Yacht, as it truly seemed to be!!!

[@dave1956]

I really loved these when they were new. I had a 1980 Park Avenue with the 350 cubic inch Buick V8. I really enjoyed driving it.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I’ll never forget the 1988 FWD Park Ave I owned. I bought it with 112k in 2000, and the car went over 300k miles before it gave out. Absolutely the most comfortable and reliable car I’ve ever owned. I so miss it!

[@AlexanderCrump]

The '85 and later FWD Electras were awesome cars, but they were a whole 'nother animal from the RWD ones. Mechanically very different and they rode differently. Your FWD was much closer to modern sedans and handled about a million times better than the RWD ones.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

​@@AlexanderCrumpNo doubt.

[@chisoxfan2335]

The 1984 park avenue Electra was my first car in high school silver body with the red leather interior, rode like a dream. I always used to tell people it should be illegal to drive a car that comfortable!! My friend who was 6' 4" used to be able to stretch out and sleep in the back. You could fit 3 months worth of groceries in the trunk. Best car ever

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I remember Dick VanPatten was the spokesman for the Delta88 and he was talking about how it was still full sized while other cars were not. He showed his three six foot tall sons all getting out of the comfortable back seat! He was staring in the TV show “Eight is Enough” at that time. His wife in the show drove a very unsafe looking old British car, maybe a Triumph? The door’s opening was extremely low where it latched.

[@Chrismann2786]

Notice how car companies have forgotten about the seniors and the elderly.

[@dalewilliams2063]

They're too busy going after the younger generation so as to have extra years of repeat costumers.

[@nycstarport8542]

I'm 64, ever since I was a kid in the 60s, I always wanted a Big 'grandpa' car. Why, for COMFORT!!

[@anonlarson2875]

They drive small crossovers like the Honda CR-V now.

[@noscwoh1]

It's just that so many boomers think they're still 30, and they hated these cars when they were 30. They wanted BMW's then, and still want them now. Millennials don't remember these cars, and they've bought into the Cars Are Bad narrative. And Gen X, who remember these cars fondly from our youth, are forgotten about. Good for us, though... Prices for used ones are decent. #forgottengenx

[@howebrad4601]

One of the best narration and perspective of any of your videos

[@jeffstonecipher1594]

As an alternative to these 80s Buicks I've always recommended the later 70s versions to friends and family. In the early 90's I had a super clean emerald green 77' "Limited" with the 350 -very gutsy motor compared to the later 307s. That was just an awesome cruiser that I only kept for a short while - big regret to this day. Had the "oven timer" clock on the passenger side above the glove box that amazingly still worked. The poofy green valuer seats were great in that car too -almost resembled the Cadillac talisman seats you covered before. Thanks for bringing back those memories -Cheers Adam🙂

[@AlexanderCrump]

The Olds 350 was a really nice engine. It had a distinctive timbre to it that made it sound entirely different from the Chevy. There were traces of this timbre in the 307, noticeable when the engine is under load. I wonder how it would have fared had GM chosen to keep that one around instead of the Chevy 350. An Olds 350 Rocket with fuel-injection would be good for power north of 225 bhp.

[@jeffstonecipher1594]

@AlexanderCrump I did have the Olds 307 in an 88 Cadillac brogham I drove after that limited. I remember it did make a distinct rumble but barely moved that car out of it's own way. Cadillac later replaced it with the Chevy 305 and 350 a few years later. They didn't clock 225 hp till the LT1 in 95, but much torquier units than the Olds 307.

[@adamtrombino106]

I certainly recall working on tons of 307s in various GM cars from the 80, all the way through '88 on some Caddys and full sized wagons. From 81 up, they really didn't change much. Tons of emissions devises actuated by vacuum and some solenoids. Indeed, 1 had to be very careful if they had to do an intake manifold gasket for example, on where everything was plumbed. The worst thing in the world was to have a 307 whatever come in for an emissions failure...But I agree with Adam, nothing rode as nicely in the 80s as 1 of these overstuffed B's. Dead quiet, super comfy seats, lots of room.

[@MoparDan]

I owned an '86 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham with the 307 V8 that as a DIYer I successfully did an intake manifold gasket R & R on. I just took my time and used masking tape and laundry marker labels to help put all of the vacuum hoses back correctly. I fixed the external coolant leak and the engine ran smooth on start up without any vacuum leaks. I had the car for seventeen years.

[@willg.5168]

​@@jdslymanthat 98 all day, baby!💯

[@garryjames5338]

Park Avenue all the way

[@AlexanderCrump]

@@jdslyman They are both supremely handsome vehicles, Each one has its own flavor. Many of the full-size Buicks came with mag-type sport wheels instead of wire wheels. I love the casket swing handles on the doors of the Olds. The Olds rear end is more distinctive with its vertical lamps. Buick had the proprietary electronic climate control. But other than that they were equally luxurious and classy. The Buick 4.1 V6 was only available in the Buick. I would have liked to have driven one new to see how it compared to the 307.

[@AlexanderCrump]

My mom had an '82 Delta 88 with the 307. It developed a rough idle and it turned out to be a vacuum leak. Finally fixing it quelled the shaking at idle. It was so bad that the dash squeaked at idle. It was much later with the internet age that I learned that these engines are a vacuum hose nightmare.

[@aldenconsolver3428]

It is a very pleasurable education to hear you talk about these cars. Usually when people talk about these cars they either think everything about them was horrible or the GM (or ford or Chrysler or AMC or... )never made a mistake bunch. But you know these cars and know their fine points and their problems. All the way from bad phony wood to Olds 98 seats which were nicer by far than what's in the average living room. PS a buddy of mine had a real nice top trim package GMC pickup but grew to hate the plastic wood more and more each day until he finally spent months replacing all the 'wood' with real wood. Partly from a package he bought but also a lot of his own work (he was an aircraft machinist and tool and die builder). It was staggering the difference that made in the truck

[@dansmusic5749]

The way I remember it, cars were marketed very differently than they are now. It was changing by the time of this car's manufacture but the old ideas were still present. The details of cars, including the pedal types, the sound of the doors closing, the starter sound, the shape of the steering wheel, ride character, engine sound and performance etc., were used to identify each companies brands and each division to create a specific brand driving experience.This helped create brand loyalty and repeat buyers, thereby keeping the customer spending their money on newer models of the same brand of car so that a new car would cause many of the same pleasant experiences of the old beloved car. There were many expectations to be met. That is why the drop in quality was so obvious to many of us. Because so much care had been taken to differentiate the brands that the use of Chevrolet engines in Buicks, for instance, and the sharing of many parts across divisions, helped destroy the American car market and buyer loyalty. This was particularly true of GM which had spent so much money making each division almost completely distinct. So the buying public turned more and more to imported cars because they were getting better at quality while the domestic companies got worse. The imports never matched the variety of style nor had the strong personalities of the domestic cars of the past, however.

[@danielbennion80]

Very well stated. 👍

[@dansmusic5749]

Thank you for that as my comment was straight from a car lovers broken heart. @@danielbennion80

[@dansmusic5749]

Thank you. It was heartfelt.@@danielbennion80

[@danielbennion80]

When I was a teenager, my parents bought a '67 Electra. It was such a nice riding car that after graduating from high school I sought employment at a local Buick dealership where I worked cleaning cars for two years. My obsession for Buicks has been ever strong since then. I recall those Electras and LeSabres from that era, and I gotta tell ya, I'd love to own one to this very day. Such beautiful cars, inside and out.

[@hurstbear]

Had an 83 and 84 Park Avenue and the interior was the best. I, too, loved the back lighting on the passenger side. Thanks for bringing back great memories.

[@danielsteward5090]

My mom had a hand me down 1968 Buick Electra 225 that she got from my Grandmama' back when I was a youngster, maybe I was 8or9 at the time. I loved that big boat of a car. I would stand up in back and watch the road while mom drove that car.(yelling at me to sit down and put my seat belt on.) I've been a Buick fan since birth I think..

[@mg4663]

I purchased a brand new 1985 Buick LeSabre Limited, which had an interior very similar to the 1984 Electra loose cushion pillow design. It was a big, comfortable sedan, that my now adult children still talk about and reminisce about that "big old Buick".

[@carlbusque1856]

Parents had a 1979 Electra to replace their 1974 Electra. Not to be outdone, my friend’s parents got an 1984 Electra, knowing it was the last year of the big body. They were great cars and just ran forever. Thanks for the memories!

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

I had a 1981 Park Avenue in the late '90s. White with landau top and blue plush interior. That car was an absolute boat, but it rode pretty nice. As I get older, I long for the ride of those old land yachts.

[@garryjames5338]

My dad had a 1984 Royal Blue with the Park Avenue package It was a beautiful car that road so well. I wish I had that car right now.

[@paulparoma]

I miss the formal roofline, which none of today's "luxury" cars have, except perhaps the RR in some way. I think it greatly improves rear headroom and gives a car a stately look.

[@AlexanderCrump]

Yes. The '80s were a good era for this. I never warmed up to the curvy Roadmasters and Town Cars. They looked silly to me.

[@paulparoma]

@@AlexanderCrump The Caprice and Roadmaster were simply hideous and silly indeed. By contrast, the Town Car was quite handsome and stately through '97. I also liked my '93 Grand Marquis, but didn't care too much for the Crown Vic.

[@AlexanderCrump]

@@paulparoma Yeah, when the '91 Caprice came out, I thought it was hideous. The freshening a couple of years later helped, but the boxy era was clearly over. The Buick and Cadillac looked somewhat beytter. I thought the jellybean Town Car was absolutely ugly. It got SLIGHTLY better with freshening but it always looked ungainly and awkward to me, with its scooped in lower door panels. Very unsubstantial. It's predecessor was a very good evolution of the boxy Panthers and was a very handsome car. I drove limos and executive sedans in the mid '90s and they were all of this vintage.

[@paulparoma]

@@AlexanderCrump When I walked into a Lincoln dealership in late '97 and saw the new "98 TC, I couldn't believe how small and ugly it was.

[@garysarnowski3113]

Had a 82 LeSabre limited with that nice velour interior. Was two tone light and dark brown, brown velour interior. Had the 252 4bbl six engine. Loved the car, no issues in pa winter with studded radial snow tires on the back end.

[@michaelhilson4195]

I love Buicks. Beautiful car. Especially the mention of the Wildcat.

[@jacobtonge5386]

I'm with you, love the large smooth ride of those big GM cars from that era.

[@drwho534]

Had an '84 Park Ave., talk about room and comfort! It was one amazing plush long-distance highway cruiser.

[@gm80s24]

Great video! Love these cars. I grew up with them - Buick's, Oldsmobile's, and Cadillac's. I currently own a pristine example of an '83 Electra Park Avenue coupe. It has 8,600 original miles, with the 4.1 liter V6. I have owned similar cars, including Buick and Olds wagons, with the 307 and have to say that the V6 does not feel that much different, other than being a little rougher. It's still very refined for that era of V6 engines.

[@2010Supertube]

I had the 1985 Buick LeSabre 2dr Collectors Edition. Without a doubt, the best highway driving vehicle. Sluggish in the city. Built for 70 mph driving. One of my all time favourites!

[@SnifBelch]

Thank you for doing this one. My mom had a 83 in a sort of rust color with a tan top that was vinyl and tan vinal interior that she got after my parents divorced. It was the car I learned to drive in and you are right about the ride. It was exceptional. I messaged you before about her getting a 86 tornado when I was a junior in highschool so me and my brothers would have something more sporty to use atprom and date's. You bring back fond memories since I lost her two years ago and reinforced just how much she thought of her kids.

[@PizzaDave802]

That first picture is identical to my mom's. I loved that car. The deep dark red was such a nice color and the matching interior was gorgeous, the cloth was so soft. I have a 91 LeSabre but would love to find a nice rear wheel drive one.

[@damianbowyer2018]

A Very Stylish Luxury Car, Adam😊👍

[@goodbonezz1289]

I remember back as early as 1986, I was 15. These and every other full size RWD car were on the road and technically still current but really looked and gave off a dated vibe. The future had recently arrived as far as styling with the 1984 Audi 5000, and was rammed home with the (1986?) Taurus. And these cars-GM, Ford, Chrysler full size-were living dinosaurs who’s values were dropping like rocks. They just screamed, ‘old’. Which, was good for new drivers or anyone on a budget, as you could pick up a beautiful car for very short money. It was a unique time in automotive history where a consumer could have purchased a brand new Olds/Buick in ‘84 and in less than 18 months be seen as driving a stylistic and technological relic.

[@stephensmith2525]

Bought my daughter an 83 about a decade ago as kind of a joke and she fell in love with it. She drove it for 5 years and it broke down once, the same day she left the country for a year. Not bad.

[@jw77019]

We had a 1977 (the first year of this design) with a Buick 350 I loved so much I can’t even bring myself to watch this. It was silver with a silver vinyl top with automatic climate control but no electric passenger seat or lighted vanity mirrors on either side.

[@jeffreydavis9783]

Once again, Adam, an excellent - and informative - overview of these classy & under-appreciated cars. I’ve always loved the big GM C-body cars & blame automotive journalists for the demise of these - and other - plush, unabashedly American “yank tanks”. I was a long-time subscriber to numerous automotive journals back in the 70s & 80s (Car & Driver, Road & Track and Motor Trend) and vividly recall how journalists would praise the driver-centric, Teutonic qualities of Mercedes & BMW while alternately mocking the over-stuffed, ornately-decorated “rolling living rooms” from Detroit. Young, successful, career-minded professionals don’t drive bloated, insulated plush-mobiles, we were told…and we listened. Which is a shame because these cars not only defined a generation of Americans but represented a truly unique interpretation of automotive luxury unlike anything else on the road. Incidentally, I agree with your assertion that most faux wood looks ridiculous - with the possible exception of the 77/78 Cadillacs.

[@primemoverRR]

My parents had an 82 Park Avenue in Rosewood metallic with the dark burgundy velour interior and they both absolutely loved that car. It was a creampuff of a car, but their's had the V8 Diesel in it. Up until the head gasket started leaking, it was super dependable and they even got 37 MPG in it on a couple of different trips back and forth between Raleigh, NC and Nashville, TN. Once the head gasket started leaking, it would cause the coolant to overflow the overflow bottle. My dad rigged up this long tube that he literally ran up the radio antenna (which was stuck in the up position) from the coolant overflow bottle. It normally gave just enough extra capacity to keep anti-freeze from leaking all over the engine bay. However, one time I was with my mother in traffic in Raleigh and it was a VERY hot day and we were stopped at a very long red light. The heat was just too much, and while we were sitting there at the light, antifreeze starting squirting out the end of the tube at the top of the radio antenna and all over the car sitting in the lane next to us at the light. I remember trying to slump down in the seat so they couldn't see me. I was so embarrassed! LOL

[@prof.crastinator]

the v8 version was my first car. it was my grandfather’s and I inherited it in 1996 in highschool. at first my friends made fun of it- but then it became the go to car for trips. comfy velour seats and a smooth ride. I had dome good times in that car. Thanks.

[@davecraig51]

I worked for IBM, and for the first 7 years I had to travel. I had this car and loved it. I put over 100K miles and other than normal wear and tear this car never failed me. I put close to 200K before trading it. I miss these full sized beautiful cars.

[@somejackball]

1:26 my Ex's mom's wagon from the 80s! (minus the brown side panels) So she used to let me and her daughter borrow it time to time to go out in, and sometimes we would flip the air filter lid over so it'd make that noise when you got on it, just for fun. well, one time i forgot to flip it back over, and her mom's driving it, and i guess from the noise it was making when she accelerated, she thought a hose or something was loose, and took it to the shop. so she's had it to the shop and back, and about to question her daughter and me about it.. she says the mechanic looked at it, and came and ask her if any kids or teenagers ever drive it.. well, guess what, we were busted! no more driving her mom's wagon 😅 ahh, the 80s, good times! ☮

[@cjdesign5700]

I had a '89 Park Avenue, an '87 Estate Wagon, and my in-laws had a beautiful '84 Park Avenue in White with bright Red interior. All Great Cars.

[@guyb7005]

great comment "ride vs handling". Even Greyhound were compromising ride for other reasons (sardine compartment to add a few seats). Love this era and how you presented it!

[@OhioPeteS2k]

My dad had an ‘84 Park Avenue after a series of ‘77 Electra two doors. It was silver with the smooth hubcaps. I remember it because it was the car he taught me to drive in the late 80s

[@charlesjames1442]

My brother had one that he bought used - somebody's creampuff. It drove very sedately and smoothly. Never gave him any problem's either. I had a 1984 Delta 88 coupe with the 307 - 4bbl. No horsepower factory but the car could stay out of it's own way with no problem. Used no oil and ran very well and dependably. Of course it got good regular maintenance; which makes all the difference.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

If you had replaced the overly high-geared rear with one with shorter gearing, it would have been much much more lively.

[@chaseman94]

When i was 5 my mom bought an '83 Park Avenue Electra 2 door coupe all blue inside and out brand new off the lot. That summer we went to Florida to Walt Disney World and Epcot Center in it though at one point during the trip i got sick along the way but i had the time of my life. About a year later my mom had put on some Cragar SS wheels on it which really made the car look a whole lot cooler she kept the car until around early 1993 when she traded it in for a 1992 Chevy 1500 truck.

[@eawillis]

Nothing rides like the older Buicks. Riding in a large Buick is like floating on a cloud.

[@bennetfox]

I've always loved those phonywood Buick dashes!

[@oscargeorge1]

Love this car! My favorite seats in a car ever!!

[@bentrovato3082]

Adam, Great summary. We had an Electra as a company car at GD San Diego. It was blue metallic and had one of those big car phones on the transmission hump. John McSweeney was the GM back then. Every once once in awhile I got to drive this car car down to our Lindbergh field plant. Great car, great memories!

[@IrishLincoln]

The seats in these cars are the absolute best. My great aunt had a mid 80s Buick, then a Cordoba. Talk about plush.

[@user-bl6pg2ed4l]

I love the look of these cars. There absolutely beautiful!😊🎉

[@yukonstriker1703]

Rode like a Rolls ;)

[@cward094]

I had a 1986 Buick Electra Station wagon with the Same front End ...The Same Buick Alloy rims...Had a Oldsmobile 307 V8 Engine...Car had the Cloth Pillow seats in all Woodgrain dash & Tilt Wheel.....It was a Land Yacht for sure.....

[@CalledbyGrace-zs1dl]

In 1982 my Mom bought a new one of these, Limited version, not Park Avenue trim. The neighbors across the street bought a 1982 Mercedes 300TD Wagon. They kept the dark green (green for a reason) W123 Diesel Sedan they had bought brand new in 1977. That's the car I was fascinated by as a kid, but that wagon was noisy and rode really rough. One of their kids was my best friend.

[@warwgn3956]

My first car was a 1989 Electra Estate Wagon. I loved the ride and the drivers forward view overtop the hood.

[@jamescarrington5521]

Loved, loved, LOVED my Electra Park Avenues....my 1990 was still being called the Electra Park Avenue at that time, according to my owner's manual. My first P/A was a 1978, followed by my 1984, then my 1990. I was REALLY LEERY of the downsized 1990, but I swear, it was even quieter and smoother/softer of a ride than the others, while also being very sure-footed and confident, particularly in the snow, and the ride comfort was NOT compromised in the least. My 1984's engine went OVER 250K miles, so I don't know about the lower total engine mileage that you mention here. ALL of my Electras were like faithful, quiet, LOYAL old hounds, always there, waiting to serve and do their best, always. I bought these cars, as a kid of 19 y/o, SOLELY BECAUSE OF THOSE SEATS AND THAT LUXURIOUS, QUIET COMFORT! I was mocked, made fun of, and I experienced much....disdain, at the hands of BOTH my friends, as well as MY OWN PARENTS. They all thought I should be driving, and indeed, WANTING to be driving, a HARSH, NOISY, rough-riding, terrible seating quality Mustang or Camaro or Firebird or TransAm, but I wanted NOTHING to do with those cars AT ALL, because those cars weren't ME. I was always far more mature than my peers, and more than a few grown adults; I liked refinement and luxury, and I still do and I always will. BRING BACK THOSE OVERSTUFFED, LUXURIOUS, 6-way power seats, PLEASE!!! "Luxury" cars today are a huge disappointment, and say it all the time, and it bears repeating here: you Millennials and Gen Zers and beyond....will just NEVER KNOW what actual, TRUE LUXURY in a car feels like, and once WAS. MY friends all made fun of me for my car choices....until they actually rode in them as passengers; the barbs and ribbing soon stopped, and they began asking to borrow my cars when they had a hot new love they wanted to impress, or a grand wedding they were planning to attend. Those old Buicks were damned near limousine luxury....they just didn't have TVs and liquor cabinets in them!

[@bennettblum3513]

I totally agree with you opinion regarding luxury cars. I want power everything. My Lexus and gs 350 has it all. If I had the money in the early 70s, when I started to drive, I would have purchased a Buick Electric Park Avenue with every option including leather seats. Thank you for your honesty and voicing your right to what YOU like.

[@lindawolffkashmir2768]

Everyone made fun of these cars, until they rode in them. I loved my 86 road couch!

[@greggc8088]

Yeah, that 307 was a bit underpowered like you said, but also great engines that lasted a while as you also said. They were way less prone to overheating, head cracking, valve spring tension loss, and rocker stand wear as were the 260's and the later production 350's. A big box, a Saturday afternoon with a few tools, and all the smog stuff removed along with ign timing bumped up and the 4 barrel secondary flaps loosened a bit and it ran decent.

[@johnbrooke2764]

Wonderful vehicle, Luxury!

[@LakeNipissing]

Beautiful, quiet cruiser!! I believe the 1986 Pontiac Parisienne Brougham I have is the final year for full size RWD Pontiac luxury. But it has factory Chev 305 instead of Olds 307.

[@willg.5168]

I think that year is when Pontiac shared the same body as the Caprice 👍🏽

[@MrJasonshores364]

I miss those seats, the MOST COMFORTABLE seats

[@kroge007]

I so agree with you Adam. Loved the interiors of these vehicles.

[@carsmax]

Hi. I was able to ride one of those in 1992 . After the wall fell down in 1990 we could travel around the world and so on we visit our relatives in Lansing Mi. I love Americas cars(not all) but all V8`s !!! In these cars I will say, "the road is the goal"!!!!! But my dream car is the 1966 Chevy Impala🤤🤤

[@IDGAF56852]

These beautiful cars were so comfortable,the seats were like sitting in a lounge chair.

[@gregarmstrong552]

You touched on 2 of my family's vehicles. We had a '67 Buick Wildcat 4dr hardtop (Black vinyl interior) Black vinyl over Grey. Later we had a '84 Buick Electra Park Avenue, Dk Brown over Beige. Brown cloth interior (those seats you liked). I liked the look of that "Park Avenue" script at night. The carriage light between the F/R doors was some kind of electro-luminesent light. It looked cool. The '84 Olds 98 regency only had a regular bulb and cream lens. My Aunt had an '84 98 I could compare it to. They bought Olds and My Parents bought Buicks.

[@neilouellette3004]

I had a mint 83 & 84 Buick Electra Park Avenues. One had the V6 which was powerless moving all that weight. I loved those Buicks. So comfortable.

[@MSX98FMDnB]

love these last gen rwd c-bodies

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I don't remember if I told this story on your channel, but here goes: In 1983, my first year in college, my dad bought a 1980 Electra sedan, a former company car for a pickle company's marketing division for a fire sale price, which was less than a new Civic or Corolla. It was a nice burgundy inside and out. It had the 350, 150HP, and Dad was very impressed with the mileage. Supposedly, our neighbor's wife across the street cried when she saw our new-to-us Buick, so in a few months, hubby bought her a brand new 1984 model. I think it was a metallic tan. Dad eventually traded in our Buick for a new 1985 brown & tan Chevy Caprice sedan with the 4.3 V6.

[@troygreen9321]

Thank you, I had a 78 Park Ave. with the Olds 403

[@bills4223]

I had an '85 Delta 88 royale brougham LS. Just as you mentioned, very smooth nice car with very limited power. Not as big as my '76 Delta 88, but still a nice car. As with so many of these, the transmission did break. Thanks for the video.

[@duster497]

Back in the late 90s, I had an 84 LeSabre four door. The car had electronics gremlins that would affect the dash, windshield wipers and more. About three months into the six months I owned it, I was driving in the country at night All of a sudden, the dash in front of the passenger seat lit up. Out of nowhere. And then about five minutes later, it went dark again and I never saw it lit up again. It was such a random thing, I won't forget. These were such comfy cars though!! Even my LeSabre was plush on the inside.

[@OLDS98]

Good job Adam. Another excellent video. I liked the information shared. This last rear drive Electra/Park Avenue with handsome looks. Then Roadmaster came along trying to recapture that magic. I hear you on the downsized Park Avenue 1985-1990, but the 1991 upsizing could not come fast enough. I understand the downsized model sold well. I liked that you mentioned the seats from Park Avenue ended up in the Buick LeSabre Limited. I liked hearing about the 1985 Delta 88 Royale Brougham LS. I hope you feature it one day. I am glad you mentioned that steering wheel was shared with the downsized 1985 98. I liked the comments about the gas pedal as well. That is wasting money. You also made a good point about the automotive journalist as well. I recall them being negative and wanted everything to look and ride European. They got it, and no one is buying them. Excellent job Adam.

[@MultiMusicbuff]

The Buick Roadmaster ended up being a Chevy Caprice in disguise.They used as many parts from the Caprice parts bin as they could,right down to the cheap power window switches in the doors.I was very disappointed.

[@OLDS98]

@@MultiMusicbuff What you say is true as Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser was worse off because it had Buick and Chevrolet parts except for the grille, wheels and cluster and seats.

[@jeffshadow2407]

​@@OLDS98And yet, I would only buy a 1991 or 1992 Custom Cruiser!

[@nycstarport8542]

GMs, upsizing of the '90s, was excellent; but it was too little - too Late.

[@OLDS98]

@@nycstarport8542 The sizes of the GM C and H and E Bodies that they gained in 1989-1992 time frame should have been the sizes they were in 1985-1986. Then it would have been only an issue of correcting the styling and improving powertrains.

[@phillipbouchard4197]

Hi Adam, I had a friend that had multiple full size Buick's over his lifetime one of which was a 1978 Le Sabre in silver gray exterior and plush velour upholstery in maroon red. That car rode great and could seat six comfortably. He also went on to own a Buick Roadmaster wagon I believe was a 1996, as well as a 1987 Buick Le Sabre wagon in yellow. Nice video, Thanks !

[@vince7657]

I love this body style, my parents had a white w/ red interior 2 door limited with the 4.1 when I was a kid, it was so comfortable

[@markbehr88]

I have a beautiful white one with blue interior. It even had power passenger recline. Lovely car and I love the concave grille.

[@MrDavfit]

the 2dr park avenue was really cool looking with wheel skirts a rare beast.

[@DB-bw5fz]

I grew up in one! My parents owned an 81 Electra Park Avenue…which I’ve come to realize was quite the odd ball, even by GM standards. It must have been a very early 81 or something…as It had the Buick 350 with the 3 speed automatic…which doesn’t show as having been available in an 81. It still had the Cadillac style rectangular steering wheel that the 1980 models had…but it had the the darker grey gauges that the 81-84 got. It had the 81-84 style seats and grill as well.

[@Jeff-bd5yo]

The Buick 350 V8 was one of the best small-block General Motors engines made!

[@ezzeldakroryable]

am so lucky that was the car of my dreams I bought this car 5 years ago in Cairo Egypt it’s a 5 liter 307 I love it it so soft and quit 😊

[@aaronwilliams6989]

Great points, Adam!

[@connor_flanigan]

our family had quite a few Lesabres/Electras in the 70s/80s. absolutely fantastic cars when they were new - big, beautiful, comfortable - rode and drove like a dream. engine or tranny would go bad at about 7 years - you could just about set your watch to it.

[@MrBanacek]

Buick always had very handsome road wheels, and 1984 was no exception.

[@Sam62254]

I'd love to get my hands on one of these land yachts in mint condition with the V8. Another great video, Adam. Thanks!

[@AlexanderCrump]

10:51 I heard several women, including my mother, say they appreciated the large accelerator when wearing heels. I always loved this aspect of Oldsmobiles and Buicks and felt it made them seem so much more substantial vehicles than Chevys and Fords.

[@runoflife87]

Best C-body speaking of looks. Still very archaic for mid-80's.

[@timbo389]

There are days when I wish I still had my folks’ 83 LeSabre. It was my first car and while it wasn’t in the best shape, it was definitely comfortable. And the easiest steering car I’ve ever driven. And another thing I always liked about GM carbs of the era was once the engine was warmed up, you barely had to touch the starter for restart.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

Had new in 1984 and again in 1987 wagon. I wish had back today.

[@williammaceri8244]

Hey Adam, thanks for the 1985 Buick Electra review. As usual, you pointed out a few things I didn't know about the Electras. As a total Ford fan, I can appreciate the other Big Three manufacturers. I am very fond of Chrysler and a very few of the GM brands. I've always liked the full-size Pontiacs and Buick Electras. In the late 60s, I thought the Electra 225s were the best-looking GM cars of all the 5 GM brands. They were very classy both inside and out. They had very sharp lines, taillights were always attractive, and I could always see a little of Lincoln Continentals' looks, which is probably why I like them. I think most of us that have been around a while certainly miss our American luxury cars from the 60s up until the mid-80s, actually not just the luxury cars, I miss them all. I'm so glad I was around when our American cars had distinctive styling and actually came in beautiful colors. I may not have liked all the colors, but at least we had options. The interiors were comfortable and also very stylish. When you mentioned how the Park Avenue dashboard was backlit above the glove box, that was all I had to hear. That was something I had always wished for. To me, that's a very exciting idea In the early 2000s, a few Fords and Mercurys offered what Ford called "Ambient lighting that was under the dash, and on the door panels, you even had a choice of colors to select from. I loved that. I'm still hopeful we will get back to those types of features in the near future. I'm still holding out for the return of good old sedans and and our beloved traditional station wagons. We love full-size wagons, we have since the early 50s when they really came into their own, and everyone knows it. Sure, we were told the minivans and the SUVs were the new wagons. Well, they aren't, and I never never bought it.

[@rafaelfiallo4123]

Ford also did a lit dash insert on the Fox Continentals.