Buick 1959 - 60
Introduced in 1959 as an entry-level Buick range, and to replace the Buick Special, the Buick LeSabre took on GM's new B-body on a 123-inch wheelbase. Under the bonnet was the 5,965cc V8 engine. Bodies available were; 2-door and 4-door sedan, 2-door and 4-door hardtop, convertible and station wagon. The Buick Series 4600 Invicta was introduced to replace the Century, and was equipped with a 6,571cc V8 engine, and could be ordered in 5 different body styles from convertible to station wagon. This was the smaller Buick built on the new GM B-body, but with the engine of larger Buicks. GM also produced a new C-body for its larger cars in 1959 with a wheelbase of 126.3inches and given to the Electra, Electra 225, Oldsmobile 98, and all Cadillacs.
Buick Electra 225 1959 hardtop rear
Buick Electra 225 1959 hardtop rear
Buick Electra 225 1959 hardtop. With 4-door, 4-window hardtop body, the 'Electra 225' replaced the 'Limited' in 1959. The Electra 225 was 225-inches long, and it shared its GM C-body with the Oldsmobile 98 and Cadillac on a 126.3 inch wheelbase. A 6-window hardtop was marketed as the Electra 225 Riviera hardtop, but the 'Riviera' tag was not given to the 4-window hardtop.
Buick Invicta 1959 4-door hardtop front
Buick Invicta 1959 4-door hardtop front
Buick Invicta 1959 4-door hardtop. The Invicta name was first used in 1959 and was offered on 123-inch 4-door sedan, 2 and 4-door hardtop, Convertible and Station Wagon.
Buick Invicta 1960 4-door hardtop side
Buick Invicta 1960 4-door hardtop side
Buick Invicta 1960 4-door hardtop. After poor sales in 1959 Buick continued with the same body for the 1960 Invictas, but returned the 'VentiPorts' to the front wings (only 3 because the Invicta is an entry level car). The 'Swoopspear' also came back along the sides.
Buick LeSabre 1959 side
Buick LeSabre 1959 side
Buick LeSabre 1959 4-door hardtop. All new for 1959, well based on the 1975 concept 'XP-75'. LeSabre was the entry level Buick replacing the Special. LeSabre was marketed as 'the thriftiest Buick'. A 364cu inch V8 powered the LeSabre. The body was shared with other full-size GM cars, and even the top Cadillacs, Buick Electra, Oldsmobile 98 and Cadillac used a stretched version of this body.
Cadillac Sedan Deville 1960 rear
Cadillac Sedan Deville 1960 rear
Cadillac Sedan Deville 1960. The sedan Deville was a pillarless 4-door hardtop, and this design with large wraparound rear windows shared with other GM brands
Cadillac Sedan Deville 1960 side
Cadillac Sedan Deville 1960 side
Cadillac Sedan Deville 1960. The Series 6300 Sedan DeVille was built on a 130-inch wheelbase, and was a 4-door hardtop
Chevrolet Impala 1959 Sport Sedan rear
Chevrolet Impala 1959 Sport Sedan rear
Chevrolet Impala 1959 Sport Sedan, a 4-door hardtop,built on a 119-inch wheelbase. Longer versions of this body were given to Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Pontiac
Chevrolet Impala 1959 Sport Sedan side
Chevrolet Impala 1959 Sport Sedan side
Chevrolet Impala 1959 Sport Sedan. The Sport Sedan was almost a 4-dooor hardtop, and the large wraparound rear window made the Impala very light and roomy in the rear. The Cadillac Sedan DeVille shared this design on a larger body. The Cadillac Series 62 and 'deVille' models sat on a 130 inch wheelbase and measured 225 inches, whereas the Chevrolet Impala was 119 inches between the wheels and 211 inches overall.
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Image created by Simon GP Geoghegan (email: web@simoncars.co.uk)