After the wild styling of the 1958, and the winged wonderment of the 1959 and 1960 models, it was time to bring Buick, as well as the other GM divisions, back to earth for 1961. By the time the 1962 Buicks hit showrooms, the industry was moving toward more conservative styling. The 1962 Models were still full of chrome trim, but more refined in style, bridging the gap between the excess of the late 1950’s, and the clean, stately looks of Buicks of the mid and late 1960’s. The Electra 225 convertible was the most expensive and deluxe car in the Buick stable for 1962. The “225 ”refers to the wheel base of the first Electra, introduced in 1959. The 1962 car actually has a 126” wheelbase.
With a curb weight just under 4,500 pounds, and loaded with power accessories, the Electra was built to meet the demands of the modern luxury car buyer. The venerable Buick “nailhead” 401 engine produced 325 horsepower, assuring the driver they would have the power befitting a car of this stature. Buick’s finned aluminum front brake drums provided stopping power. The famous Buick portholes on the fenders numbered four on the Electra, while lesser models in the Buick lineup carried only three. An Electra convertible had a base price of $4368 in 1962, but many were delivered loaded with options like air conditioning, power trunk release and automatic high-beam headlight dimmer, pushing the price even higher. A total of 7894 of these luxury Buicks were sold in 1962, more than double its closest GM competitor, the Oldsmobile 98 convertible.
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