1990 Buick Electra Park Avenue - Buick's Old Big Dog

I need to spend more time just wandering around the Pull-A-Part yard instead of going there only when I need stuff. Seems I always come across something interesting like this 1990 Buick Electra Park Avenue. Well, interesting to me at least. 

Yes, Electra Park Avenue. Up from 1975 through 1990, the Park Avenue was a top-of-the-line trim level or sub-model of Buick's Electra line. After 1991, Park Avenue became Buick's big dog with "Electra" sent to the dumpster. Or junk yard. 

This being a '90 makes it somewhat historically significant. This was the end of the line for the first generation of General Motors front-wheel-drive "C-bodies" that also included the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight and the Cadillac deVille series. These first hit the road in 1985. 

Many of GM's older buyers thought these cars were too small although they have more room inside than what they replaced. The Cadillac's got bigger in 1989, for '91, the Buick and Oldsmobile's were significantly upsized. With no increase in interior space either. Just like GM did in the old days. 

These cars have their naysayers. I certainly can't say they were beautiful in their day, but their driving dynamics were much improved over what they replaced. That being the body on frame, rear-wheel-drive, mostly V-8 powered C-bodies. Problem was, they were still a far cry from what was coming ashore in those days. And by 1990, GM's pricing ladder had all but been obliterated making the differences between their lines hard to distinguish. Save for what GM charged for them. 

Probably the most interesting styling\engineering detail on these cars is this "clam shell" hood. It pops open at the front like a regular hood, but it has a reverse cantilever hinge that opens it much like the clam shell hood on Corvettes at the time. Pretty neat. I couldn't get it open all the way but trust me, it gave you tremendous access to the engine compartment. My father had a similar 1987 "H-body" Buick LeSabre that had the same hood design. 

What's really amazing is how great the body is on this thing. I didn't see any rust and there was only 61,000 on its old school analog ticker. I know the guy sells cars out of this lot and he says many people throw cars away that have very minor problems. He fixes them and then he sells them. They have to be sold with salvage titles but who cares? 

I guess whatever sent this car here must have been too much for someone to fix.