“Engineered well into the future.”
The 1985 Buick Electra sedan was substantially downsized from the previous year and switched to front wheel drive. The big sedan’s overall length decreased by over two feet from 221.3 inches to 197 inches, while shipping weight dropped by about 14%. Design details of the all-new Electra included a front-hinged hood, a flush-mounted windshield, and a flush-mounted back window.
Standard power came from the LK9 110 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor. Optional engines were the 125 bhp LG3 3.8 liter/231 ci multi-port fuel-injected V6 ($260) and the 85 bhp LS2 4.3 liter/261 ci V6 diesel ($390). All engines were teamed with a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. For 1985 only, Buick named base model Electras by their engine size—Electra 300, Electra 380, and Electra 430. The 3.0 liter V6 was discontinued in the middle of the 1985 model year, and the diesel V6 would be gone by the time the 1986 model year rolled around.
MotorWeek clocked a 0-60 time of 12 seconds flat in a 1985 Electra with the 3.8 liter V6. Mileage for the short-lived standard engine was 18 city/25 highway by the 1985 measures (16/23 by today’s standards). Hilariously, the upmarket 3.8 liter engine was rated at 19 city/26 highway, the precision of the multi-port fuel injection more than making up for the increased displacement. Buyers of the diesel could expect 22 city/32 highway. With an 18-gallon gas tank, an Electra 380 owner could expect a range of 335 to 360 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
The Electra 300‘s base price was $14,331—approximately $43,800 in 2025 dollars and about what a 2025 Buick Enclave full-size crossover goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included Soft-Ray tinted glass, rack-and-pinion steering with power assist, an independent four-wheel suspension, automatic level control, low drag power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P205/75R14 steel-belted radial-ply blackwall tires (a size still available thanks to Hankook and Kumho) on 14-inch wheels. Inside, cloth 45/55 notchback front seats, a six-way power driver’s seat, manual seatback recliners, air conditioning, power windows, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with clock were standard.
An Electra purchaser could go in two directions if the base model wasn’t enough—more luxury or a sporting touch. Most buyers opted for luxury, which continued to be represented by the Park Avenue. The $16,240 Park Avenue added whitewall tires, a tilt steering column, Electronic Cruise Control, electric door locks, an electric trunk release, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with seek and scan and clock. The Park Avenue included the 3.8 liter V6, but allowed buyers to choose the diesel.
Choosing the $15,568 T TYPE added black accents, a Gran Touring suspension (higher-rate springs, larger shock absorbers, and bigger front and rear stabilizer bars), styled aluminum alloy wheels, cloth 45/55 front sport seats with a storage console, and a leather wrapped Sport steering wheel. The T TYPE included and required the 3.8 liter V6.
Options & Production Numbers
Individual options included an electric sliding glass Astroroof ($1,195), a six-way power passenger’s seat ($215), Electronic Touch Climate Control air conditioning ($165), Twilight Sentinel headlamp control ($60), an electric rear window defogger ($140), and the all-conquering Delco GM/Bose Music System ($895).
55/45 leather front seats ($425) were only available with the Park Avenue. Options only available for the T TYPE included 45/45 leather front Sport seats ($175) and Goodyear Eagle GT P215/65R15 performance tires paired with 15 x 6 inch aluminum wheels.
These C-bodies (there were also Cadillac and Oldsmobile versions) had a stately appearance. Big and (I think) handsome, they had a lot of interior room despite the downsizing—at 111 cubic feet, they had only one cubic foot less than the 1984.
Sales of the 1985 Electra sedan and its variants were good—at 131,011 sedans, more than double the 52,551 that had been sold in 1984. It’s unclear what percentage of buyers went with the Park Avenue or the T TYPE, but I’m betting that the Park Avenue was quite popular.
The View From 2025
C-body Electra sedans sometimes come up for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors. Bring a Trailer has sold four from this generation, including two 1985s.
Make mine the extra-cost ($200) Blue Firemist, please.
I have written about the top-of-the-line 1989 Electra Park Avenue Ultra sedan—likely Buick’s finest sedan of the eighties. The only other 1985 Buick I have written about is the Somerset Regal coupe.
Eighties Cars 
In 1985 my mom was about to retire her late father’s 1967 LTD and dad was driving a 1980 Civic 3-door. My dad decided he wanted a Cadillac, maybe a Lincoln, and we visited Parkwood Central and Addison on Bay, 2 GM dealers known for Caddy sales, but the sticker on new ones made him nauseous. And he didn’t want to go back to a used car.
We went to Vince Grande Motors in nearby Keswick. Mom liked a blue 1985 Buick Regal Limited 2-door. But, Mr Grande himself had been using a new 1985 Buick Park Avenue. That turned out to be the car. With GMAC, I think the total out the door was about $26k CDN (
(About $19k USD at the time).
It was white, white padded vinyl roof, burgundy velour interior. It lacked only leather, moonroof and memory seat if memory serves. I loved the car, very roomy, smooth, a really nice car.
It did eventually suffer typical GM quality issues… transmission kickdown issue, small motor failures, a couple computer freak outs. My dad kept it going a long time, mom (and variously me and my sister) drove it until 2002.
Thank you, as always, for your comments.
That sounds like a sharp Park Avenue—17 years is a good run.