Buick Electra 225 Convertible

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Model number: LDC92598R

This model of the Buick Electra 225 is a model from a low budget firm of Lucky-Diecast also known as Yat Ming. They often sell as low as 29 Euros here in Europe. I think these model cars are from the later years, as the details are better than the earlier years. But let us go for a moment back to the real car of 59. This new Buick was a giant leap from the Riviera of 58! Low, wide and remarkable fewer chrome parts. At first one will miss the chrome, but later we learn to accept the new "wave" for flowing lines. I'm not saying this car is without chrome - just look at the massive grill in the cars front. And take a look at the new headlight. This car is both inviting and aggressive at once. Note also the "eyebrows" that extrude all way back to become the low panel under the fins! -A true masterpiece in design. The car statement from the back, are highlighted by the round backlights that resemble the exhaust from a rocket spaceship. I can not hide anymore, that I like the Buick Electra 225 from 1959!

Now back to the 1:18 model, of this marvelous car. This model is huge. 225 in the name referred to 225 inch in length, and even in scale 1:18 this is big!

When we look at the red and white interior here, with the well made bucket seats. I must say, you'll get a decent richness in details. Although; I chose to gave it a layer of semi matt varnish, for getting rid of the "taste" of poor plastic. If you will be good to the model, a must is the black wash in the front grill - this is an easy way to make the "black holes" in otherwise full chrome model part. My paint is acrylic based on water. Adjust easily with swaps; in case of any black paint accidently bleed over the holes. The direction lights in the front also have this problem. On the real car these are in white opal glass. -Same procedure as above, now just with white paint.

 I must sat that Yat Ming have done a good job, regarding the chrome. But the long chrome part, that has it out springs just behind the windscreen and go all back on the tips of the fins, are painted in chrome paint instead of the real chrome. Why? - Maybe because this is a low budget model or they want to preserve the sharp die cast fin - I don't know. One option to fix this is chrome foiling. I'm sure that will give the model a good look. I have the new pen from Molotow "Liquid Chrome" so I gave the panel some "real" chrome, with a good result! One place more the model have chrome paint, is around the wheel wells on the fenders. Here the pen also will have some effect, but I leave it to another day.

Some of the drawbacks on this model is: No trunk to open, poor detailing regarding the engine. And if  I shall be a bit hard: the paintjob could have been better - on some of the pictures, you can see waves in the paint after a hard spraying. But again, what will we get in a low budget model car? I think we get what we have paid fore - and more - in this class; A nice well detailed model car, that I will surely recommend to you!

I will give this model 3 out of 6 stars  ******

Below here are pictures of the model, historical description, old brochures, technical data and a little movie clip for the real car. So please enjoy!

The Car

A low sleek car that will impress most potential buyers - also as a model

Buick Electra 225 1959

For 1958, the Roadmaster and the Limited constituted the upper echelon of Buick's lineup. For 1959, they were renamed the Electra and the Electra 225 respectively. The appearance was shared with two other Buick models, the mid-level Invicta and the entry level LeSabre.

The Electra 225 nameplate was a nod to the latter car's overall length of over 225 in (5,715 mm), earning it the street name "deuce and a quarter."

The Electra 225 Riviera was the top-line model and it shared its six window hardtop roofline exclusively with Cadillac (which offered it on all of its models). Buick first applied the "Riviera" name to a premium trimmed 2-door Roadmaster hardtop in the middle of the 1949 model year, and thereafter denoted all Buick hardtops Rivieras. Also, from 1950 through 1953, Buick made a premium trimmed, stretched wheelbase sedan, exclusively in the Roadmaster and Super lines, that was called Riviera. But 1959 was the first year that not all Buick hardtops were called Rivieras. A standard 4-window four-door hardtop was also available, as was a 4-door 6-window pillared sedan, along with a stripped chassis of which 144 were built in 1959 and 1960. The two-door convertible was only available as an Electra 225, and the 2-door hardtop as an Electra.

For 1959, the Electra and Electra 225 both used the General Motors C-body shared with the Oldsmobile 98 and all Cadillac, riding on a longer 126.3-inch (3,210 mm) wheelbase than the B-body LeSabre and Invicta, both of which rode on 123 inches (3,100 mm). The standard and only available engine was the 401 cubic-inch Wildcat V8 with four-barrel carburetor, 10.25 to 1 compression ratio and 325 horsepower (242 kW) mated to a two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission, which was also standard equipment along with power steering and power brakes using Buick's unique 12-inch (300 mm) finned aluminum brake drums. Power windows and seat and leather interiors were standard on the Electra 225 convertible and optional on all other models. Front bucket seats were optional on the convertible. Electra interiors were trimmed in nylon Mojave cloth or broadcloth combinations with Cordaveen. Electra 225 convertibles were trimmed in leather. Standard Electra features included horizontal Red-line speedometer, two-speed electric windshield wipers, trip mileage indicator, cigar lighter, dual sunshades, Step-On parking brake, dual horns, Twin-Turbine automatic transmission, Foamtex seat cushions, electric clock, trunk light, glovebox light, power steering, power brakes, full wheelcovers and dual exhaust. In addition Electra 225s had Super Deluxe wheelcovers and an outside rearview mirror as standard equipment. Padded dashboards were also standard.

The Electra, along with all other 1959 Buicks, featured all new styling not shared with other GM divisions that included slanted headlights in front along with a highly chromed square grille somewhat similar to the 1958 Buick and "Delta-Fins" back along with round taillights. The "slanted" headlights were also shared with the 1958-60 Lincoln Continental. Exterior distinction from other Buicks came from extra-wide moldings, with a massive Electra emblem on the front fender extension. The Electra 225 script was found on the front fenders ahead of the wheelhouse. The 4-door models had a lower bright rear fender molding as well.

                                                                                                                                                 Technical specification:

Production: 5.493 Buick Electra 225 Convertibles.

Cost: Base price 3.795,00 $

Old brochures of the Buick 1959

Video of the real car from Youtube

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