1988 Buick LeSabre Estate Wagon - Electra
Trim
Originally Owned by a Buick Dealer in Metro New York
City
29,800 Original Miles From New - Preserved in
a climate-controlled & carpeted collector car facility 1988-2005
Absolutely MINT Condition - No Blemishes Now or Ever: Ding, Dent, Rust
and Bodywork Free From New
Oldsmobile 307ci V8 Engine / TH700R4 Transmission
Vehicle custom ordered new by Buick Dealer Service
Manager in Fairfield County, CT as a LeSabre Wagon with all the good Electra
exterior, dashboard and other options but without the high wear Electra
seats and simulated wood door cappings which were known even then
to deteriorate. This man owned several classic and collectable vehicles
which he stored in his heated and carpeted garage. He drove the car approximately
25,000 miles until his death. At the time of his death, his son sold the
car to a friend of his, a fellow classic car enthusiast in the area, who
drove the car approximately another 4,000 miles. During this time, the car
was used exclusively for highway trips to a summer house. This summer, he
traded it to a friend of mine here in Richmond who can no longer provide
proper storage for this exemplary car given his own classic car storage
limitations!
As mentioned before, the car was factory ordered
with all available Electra trim upgrades. Note the Electra script on the
dashboard in pictures to come. In addition to the already extensive LeSabre
standard equipment, the car has 60/40 split 6 way power seats for driver
and passenger, power windows, locks, tilt steering column, cruise control,
rear defog on the power rear tailgate window, the premium Delco AM/FM/Cassette
stereo, GM mudflaps and more. See the Service Parts Identification label
pictured below. One option this car does not have is the Electronic Level
Control with load levelling shock absorbers, which even on a sub-30,000
mile car, might lead to trouble in the future.
The absolutely straight as an arrow right side.
Left side is no different. Note GM logo mudflaps mentioned previously. Note
also here and above the absolutely perfect urethane molded bumper fillers
front and rear.
All chrome, anodized aluminum, stainless, plastichrome
trim, rubber bump strips, weatherstripping and most importantly the woodgrain
sheets are perfect. This car needs nothing cosmetically and, with luck,
only routine maintenance for many years to come. Recent work includes a
new battery, four Michelin Roadhandler Plus 225/75/R15 tires and new shock
absorbers all around.
The rear "cheese grater" spoiler keeps
the rear window clear, instead of having a clunky rear window wiper. Not
like you're going to drive it in the rain, though - nobody else has!
Have you seen as nice a LeSabre, Electra, Custom
Cruiser, Safari, Grandville, Caprice Classic - even a later model Roadmaster
- since a year or so since any of them were new? There are no excuses to
be made on this car - none!
I forgot to mention that the car has not been
detailed in years. This is the honest condition of the car - hence no shiny
tires or slimy trim - just the way a dealer demo car looked in 1988.
Wheelcovers are rattle-free, clean, and perfect
through and through.
Let's take a look inside. The flash makes the
seats look faded. They are anything but. Have NO doubt. Dash, door panels,
even the plastic around the seatbelts is perfect. I didn't shampoo the carpet
- we walked through some dust and tracked it onto the driver's floormat
and pedals. They are perfect.
Ah, the two common wear spots on a 70s-90s GM
vehicle, the side of the steering column where a large ring of keys would
rub it, and the brake pedal. As you see, it's all new - 17 years new.
Note the Electra plate on the dash. Note also
the premium Delco stereo. The options and standard items such as the AC,
heat, rear window, rear defog, et.c. et.al all work perfectly down to the
ice-cold original R-12 air conditioner.
Oh wait, the dash itself is the star of this
photo. It is perfect.
There's no coffee stains on the transmission
tunnel, no ash from cigarettes, cigars or pipes - ever; the seats are as
perfect as new with no sun damage or rub marks.
Right front door panel is no different. Note
the advantage to the LeSabre interior trim package - no fake wood on the
doortop cappings to go bad and be unavailable.
You know nobody's been in the 2nd row seats
from new.
Cargo area has never hauled a refrigerator,
washing machine, painter's equipment - most likely not even a set of golf
clubs. Headliner is perfect. There are a few small scuffs on the driver's
side plastic in front of the cubby box - the biggest flaw on the whole car.
More on the headliner.
I was amazed not to find the plastic still on
this seat. The latch was tight - because it hadn't been touched in 17 years.
Curious about the option package on this car?
Look up the codes! Your GM dealer will have the tome of codes to decipher
to tell you all about this unique car.
The left rear door panel.
The driver's door panel. Note 6 way power seat,
windows, lock and manual mirror control.
The owners manual packet is not covering up
any flaws in the driver's seat because there are no flaws to cover up. Not
even so much as rub spots from entrance and egress on the outer bolster
of the seatback, as pictured.
Closer?
OK! It's not been rolled over, disconnected
or tampered with. And we reserve the right to put a few more miles on before
you get it - so hurry up! Seriously, we took this to Hershey a few weeks
ago, and despite getting caught in the car's only rainstorm, it did great!
You wouldn't put anything up there, would you?
who am I?
I'm Chip Lamb,
President of the Central
VA Region of the Cadillac LaSalle Club. I also run a small parts operation
for orphan European sportscars and various other interests. The current
owner of this car is one of our members, a prominent local American car
enthusiast and collector, who is not quite as savvy with eBay as I am. I
can never turn down an opportunity to get acquainted with such a neat car
as this, so here you go - if nothing else, enjoy the pictures; not only
was this car one of a kind when built, it is arguably the nicest one left
in the world.
I do a select few cars on eBay each year, most
of which are exemplary examples of what they were when new. As such, I am
always happy to show a car here in Richmond by appointment - call me on
804-357-4926 - the car is in the near West End as I write this in one of
my garages. I am also happy to accomodate the legitimate overseas
buyer - see my feedback for a recent example from Germany, where we transported
the car to the shipping terminal.
If you use Buy it Now, we can do this for you
- to either Norfolk, VA - Baltimore, MD - Wilmington, DE - Chester, PA -
or any other shipping port within a 250 mile radius. We will also do this
for $1.25 per loaded mile thereafter for another 100 miles outside that
range or for that rate to the winning bidder who does not use the Buy it
Now. I do not drive the car - I have a large flatbed car hauler which keeps
wear, tear and highway debris away from your car. I move very valuable cars
fairly regularly.
payment and shipping terms
As is usual in all of my auctions, Payment is due within 7 (seven) days of auction
close, whether you take the auction to its conclusion, or you use the Buy
it Now - the clock starts there. If you have some complication regarding
payment during that term, we must agree to that PRIOR to your placing ANY
successful bid. I am available to talk to you during regular hours, Eastern
Standard Time on 804-357-4926, and I check
my e-mail fanatically. I do not float loans, I am not a bank, and my
patience - as well as that of the owner - is very thin as regards deadbeats
and those whose mind was made up but whose finances do not reflect this.
If you need financing - get it in place and
ready to send to me via certified funds - THEN place your bid!
Are you new to eBay? PLEASE contact me if you
have low (i.e. under 10) feedback or have any significant recent negatives
- with your current and complete contact information - prior to making a
successful bid. I don't want any misunderstandings - and you definitely
don't want to waste my time with a 'mistake' bid, your dog learned your
eBay password, et.c.
Shipping needs to occur
within 14 (fourteen) days of auction close per the above stipulations.
Shipping within a 250 mile radius is complimentary
to the Buy it Now Purchaser.
I do not go outside a 350 mile radius with my truck,
so if you are on the other side of the USA, in Canada, et.c., we will gladly
work with your transporter, pick you up at the airport, et.c. This car is
ready to cruise - and what a ride it would be for you - no matter how close
or far away you are. Too young to buy one new? Wasn't in the cards? Imagine
I'm your friendly Buick dealer, it's 1989, and you're buying this off a
one year trade. Impossible? Not really!
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?
E-mail me or call 804-357-4926
BID WITH CONFIDENCE, SEE MY FEEDBACK
THANKS FOR LOOKING!