I agree with you if only everyone had maintained them correctly and just occasionally sprayed a little bit of white lithium grease in the tracks. With that tiny bit of maintenance they work flawlessly
I desperately tried to find one more loaded than this one. But once I found this one in the pristine original condition that it was in, there was no way I could let it slip through my fingers. I had to buy it
99% sure the single power window on the driver's door is an aftermarket conversion. Never heard of it as an option, and more to the point, the switch itself and rounded corner face plate are from a GM car a decade or so earlier. They should match if originally installed at the factory. Only incidence I'm aware of that power windows were installed with manual is the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. In the first year of that iconic body style, the base model was offered with power front windows and "crank" rear windows. That was odd and only lasted one year. Not sure why they did that
Absolutely Stunning!! The one power window is new to me lol, didnt know that was an option. EVERY angle is just as cool to look at as the next. Edit: Did you or any of the previous owners have to maintain/grease the clamshell in any way? just curious ✅ _Liked_ & ✅ _Subscribed_
@@michaelwhite2823 I have all the factory window regulators, switches, motors and wiring harnesses to convert this car to all power windows. However, the car is so original and pristine that I'm second guessing making those modifications to this particular wagon
PS...Clamshells...sigh. allowed too much water to go too nany unwanted places .. windows off track due to sliding glass dragging clothing, shoe laces, ropes into the roof...sigh.. motors were expensive and a pain tho change...slanted shape SUCKED IN exhaust fumes if left open ehile driving...things and PEOPKE/ANIMALS can FALL OUT when driving- and folks dismd drive with those open, my Dad HATED working on them. We owned the 1976 Chevrolet Kingswood-Estate version (California car, we only got chevy 400 small block power though).
So fun facts: #1. This Buick has 187 cubic feet of interior space with seats down...that is 47 MORE, MORE FOLKS - than a 2023 Suburban...think about that for a second. #2. When equipped with the 3-core heavy duty radiator, alternator, and 3.07 rear-end gears (towing pacage), one slso got heavy duty shocks...towing capacity was 7,000 pounds!! Wagons had BEEFY leaf springs (sedans used coils, better ride, less weight capacity). The wagons KEPT the underhood shock-tower to center of cowl stiffening rods...sedans lostcthem for 1976, why? Engineers found that the Electra and Park Avenue, using softer, 4 coil suspension simply were not able to be driven hard enough in a corner to need them...car would lean enough that the typical more elderly driver would slow down or be slower in corners to begin with. Also, ever cheap GM decontented cars of anything it could. $1.00 saved times 100,000 cars = $100,000...also every pound lost = better chance to meet C.A.F.E. fuel mileage targets. Wagons? Wagons are often loaded, or towing, and are too often unintentionally driven too fast into corners...also loads put added strain on frames and bodies which can cause creaks, squeaks, noiaes. SO wagons kept those underhood rods, they act as an extra anti-sway bar on the " top-side" of the car AND "triangulate" the whole front cowl. Add-in the heavy duty shocks biggest brakes, pads, drums, totors, shoes...and a wagon will be under better control by a driver with a load. As for the so-called smog motor 455?? In actual fact a 1970 455 was rated at 510 ft pounds...using the same gross rating method even the 1976 would only be down about 100 ft pounds...so still a strong 410 foot pound engine...the 1976 GM line-up was rhe end of a phenomenal era
Thank you for your comment. As a collector of 1976 Buick Electras (3) and Estate Wagon (1) I have always wondered why Lesabre, Estate Wagon and Riviera kept the under hood stabilizer bars while Electra lost them for 75 and 76. Especially since Electra had them from 71 to 74. Your explanation makes sense. Thank you. I'm curious where you found this information. I would love to see official GM paperwork explaining what you describe. I'm a avid collector and love hearing about the one curious fact that has befuddled me for years. I also have never heard someone say that power rear window tailgate glass dragging rope and clothing up into the roof. Oddly enough the rear glass doesn't have gears or motors in the roof as it is operated via cables (just like power seats) from a motor located behind the rear passenger tail light. As for letting water in, I know of Clamshell wagons with rusted out belly pans where the tailgate slides under the body. Luckily, this example is all original and has lived it's entire life sheltered indoors. This particular car is all original including the single stage "Mount Vernon Cream" single stage paint and doesn't even have a hint of surface rust anywhere. My mom had a 1973 Buick Estate Wagon. I know from personal experience that they were prone to rust behind the window trim of the huge rear side glass. I have only wash this car two times since I bought it. And after I wash it I use compressed air to blow all of that trapped moisture out of those moldings. I would be interested in talking to you more about these cars at some point! Thanks again!
