This 1960 Buick Electra 225 Convertible was custom-built by General Motors Styling, in an era when the design studio was more of a constant “skunk works,” cranking out not only design models and show cars, but any number of highly customized production automobiles for GM brass. Among the latter was this car.

In a 2016 article, former owner Richard Sills pointed to the taillights and tailfins as the most noticeable differences from the standard 1960 Buick. “The fins are pointed, without chrome surrounds, and the taillights are almost arrow-shaped. …Because of these differences, the rear quarter panels have a unique sculptured design leading up to the taillights. On the decklid, the car bears a one-of-a-kind Buick emblem, clearly of Buick heritage but not seen anywhere else. The ventiports on the front fenders are also of a different style—rectangular, rather than the ‘flattened C’ design used on the standard models."

Custom interior touches include unique pleated upholstery, stainless steel door hardware, and hidden storage compartments in both front armrests. The front doors feature a white warning light that illuminates and a red light that flashes when opened. “Chrome ‘GM Styling’ insignia adorns the bottom of each front fender, and a special data tag under the hood confirms the shop order number of this car within the GM Styling Studio,” the article says.

Mr. Sills believed that the car had been built for legendary GM executive and avid Buick partisan Harlow Curtice, following his retirement as President, and to have remained in his ownership until his death in 1962. According to Mr. Sills, the car was sold for $2,500 to a Flint resident, believed to have been a Buick employee, who traded in his 1959 Electra, paid an additional $500, and financed the balance at $80 per month. Its new owner retained the Buick for over two decades, then passed it to his grandson, who kept it for several years himself. Soon after he had sold it, Mr. Sills tracked it down and was able to acquire it for himself, decades after first seeing it when its original private owner displayed it at the 1972 Buick Club of America National Meet in Flint. Mr. Sills continued to display the car at BCA and concours events with considerable pride.

The current owner acquired the unique GM Styling Buick from Mr. Sills several years ago and has maintained it in his own distinguished collection. Still in very good overall condition, with its unique original features proudly intact, it stands as tribute to a marvelous era in American motoring history, when executives could order up anything that their heart wanted—in this case, a Buick for the “brass.”