Mini or Electra?
January 29th, 2011 10:00 AM
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I snapped this shot of an Austin Mini (technically a Morris 850) and a Buick Electra 225 parked side-by-side in an Alameda, California parking lot before I left the West Coast, and every time I look at it I wonder: would I rather have an early Mini or a Malaise Era Electra? I can’t decide!
Writer d'Elegance Brougham Landau.
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Well, the Mini probably fits in the Buick's trunk, so you can have a both/and solution. Seriously, Buick all the way. A '74 Electra was my daily driver from 1992-96. They are great cars which handle better and get better mileage than many other barges of that era. The Electras had more rear overhang than the Cadillac sedans, so the Electra is within an inch of a Fleetwood Brougham in length and has a much bigger trunk. You can see the decklid thru the back window, so it's not hard to parallel park.
I'd take the Electra, simply because it's of a breed that's tough to find in this day in age. Lots of transverse, FWD subcompacts around these days, even if they're not quite as charming as the Issigonis Mini. Full-size, long/low personal luxury coupes are a little harder to come by, sadly.
I'm sorry, but in my book anyone who didn't choose the Mini just can't be all that interested in the joy of driving. Seriously, the Buick is basically just a badge-engineered lump of generic iron designed to make some middle-aged orthodontist feel just a little superior to his suburban neighbour (whose car was a shameful 6" shorter). The Mini was designed by a guy who seriously loved driving, and frankly it shows.
Just joined this forum today. I'd choose the 225, and I'm a bit partial. I have a mint 73 4-door in my garage, and a 72 Limited under a car cover. Both project cars with identical 455 V-8 4bbl. Great cars to drive!