A superb and rare photo of the very new 1959 Buick Electra Hard Top Car , as photographed in 1959 for it's introduction.

This is a gorgeous period image!

The Buick Electra was a full-size premium automobile built by the Buick division of General Motors. The Electra name (in various manners) was used by Buick between 1959 and 1990. Prior to 1959, the Roadmaster and the Limited constituted the upper echelon of Buick's lineup. For 1959, they were renamed the Electra and the Electra 225 respectively. The Electra 225 nameplate was a nod to the car's overall length of 225　in (5,715　mm), earning it the street name "deuce and a quarter." The Electra 225 Riviera was the top-line model and it shared its six window hardtop roofline with the Cadillac Fleetwood. Buick had been using the "Riviera" name to indicate a premium trimmed hardtop body style beginning with the 1949 model year. A standard four-door hardtop and a two-door convertible were available, along with a stripped chassis of which 144 were built in 1959 and 1960. For 1959, the Electra and Electra 225 both used the General Motors C-body shared with the Oldsmobile 98 and all Cadillac, riding on a longer 126-inch (3,200　mm) wheelbase than the B-body LeSabre and Invicta, both of which rode on 123 inches (3,100　mm). The standard and only available engine was the 401 cubic-inch Wildcat V8 with four-barrel carburetor, 10.25 to 1 compression ratio and 325 horsepower (242　kW) mated to a two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission, which was also standard equipment along with power steering and power brakes using Buick's unique 12-inch (300　mm) finned aluminum brake drums. Power windows and seat were standard on the Electra 225 convertible and optional on all other models. Front bucket seats were optional on the convertible. The Electra, along with all other 1959 Buicks, featured all new styling shared with other GM divisions that included slanted headlights in front along with a chromey square grille somewhat similar to the 1958 Buick and "Delta-wing" fins back along with round taillights. The 1960 Electra and Electra 225 received a minor facelift with a concave grille and horizontal headlights centered by Buick's then-new "Tri-Shield" logo, which is still in use today. Reintroduced to Electras and other Buicks for 1960 were the chrome portholes first introduced in 1949 and last seen in 1957. Electra and Electra 225 models featured four portholes on each front fender while lesser LeSabre and Invicta models had three portholes. Inside, a revised instrument panel featured a "Mirromatic" speedometer for which the lens could be adjusted to better visibility to suit the driver. A new two-spoke steering wheel with horn bars was introduced, replacing the time honored horn ring then still common to most automobiles. The bucket seat option introduced on Electra convertibles in 1959 was now available on Electra 225 coupes and included a center consolette with storage compartment. The Electra, along with the LeSabre, was redesigned for 1961 with drastically shrunken fins. Buick discontinued the Electra nameplate at the end of the 1961 model year, leaving only the Electra 225 starting in 1962. Buick also dropped the Riviera name as a body style designation after the 1962 model year, shifting the Riviera name to Buick's new personal luxury coupe introduced in 1963. Automatic transmissions were always standard. The 1959 to 1963 models had Twin Turbine Dynaflow 2-speed automatics (the Triple Turbine was available as an option in 1959) and starting in 1964, they were equipped with the Super Turbine 400 / THM 400 transmissions. All GM passenger vehicles received a major restyling in 1965 dominated by flowing "Coke bottle" lines and fastback roof profiles on its coupe models, and the 6 window-body style was eliminated as GM moved to place more emphasis on the luxury provided by its four-door hardtop bodies. For 1965, Buick changed its marketing strategy and offering the Electra 225 in two trim levels, base and Custom. Along with the new body came a new chassis with a full perimeter frame including side rails that replaced the previous "X" frame used since 1961. Engine offerings were unchanged from 1964 including the standard 325-horsepower 401 V8, and two versions of the larger 425 V8 that were rated at 340 horsepower (250　kW) with a four-barrel carburetor or 360 horsepower (270　kW) with two four barrels. The three-speed Super Turbine 400 automatic transmission was standard equipment. The 1966 Electra 225 saw only minor styling changes including a new grille and a revised full-width taillight and trunk led that included an "Electra 225" script rather than the "BUICK" nameplate spelled out in 1965. Engine offerings were unchanged from 1965 with the exception that the dual-quad 360-horsepower 425 was downgraded from a factory option to dealer-installed. Inside, a revised instrument panel featured a horizontal sweep speedometer, fuel gauge and warning lights. A moderate facelift highlighted the 1967 Electra 225 including a Pontiac/Oldsmobile-like divided split grille. Both base and Custom models were continued with a new "Limited" option package available Electra 225 Custom 4-door hardtop reviving a nameplate that graced Buick's ultra-luxury flagship in the late 1930s and again in 1958) which included an ultra-luxurious interior trim. Under the hood a new 430 cubic-inch V8 rated at 360 horsepower (270　kW) with four-barrel carburetor replaced the previous "nailhead" 401 and 425 V8s. Power front disc brakes were available as a new option along with a stereo 8-track tape player. The '68 Electra 225 got a revised grille and taillight trim along with concealed windshield wipers. Inside, there was a revised instrument panel with a square speedometer and other instruments, plus a new steering wheel. Base and Custom models were still offered, with the Limited trim option available on the Electra 225 Custom hardtop sedan. The year 1969 also brought a major restyling to the Electra 225 and other GM B- and C-body cars with somewhat crisper bodylines than 1965-68 models, but continued with the same chassis and inner body structure introduced with the 1965 model, along with the 126-inch (3,200　mm) wheelbase. The 1969s were also the first to offer headrests as standard equipment due to a federal safety mandate, and the steering column with ignition switch that also locked the steering wheel with the transmission in "Park", a feature found on all 1969 GM cars one year before it became a federal safety mandate in 1970. Also new was a variable-ratio power steering system combined with revised front suspension tuning called "Accu-Drive." Other changes included ventless front windows and the elimination of rear fender skirts. The same assortment of base and Custom models were offered in 1969 with the "Limited" trim package available on Custom sedans and coupes. A new option available with the Limited package was a split 60/40 bench seat with center armrest. Only a minor facelift with revised grille and taillight trim marked the 1970 Electra 225. The big news was under the hood, where a new 370-horsepower 455 cubic-inch V8 replaced the 430 V8 used from 1967 to 1969. This was the final year for the Electra convertible, finned aluminum brake drums and high compression engines. Wheelbase increased by one inch to 127 inches (3,200　mm). New this year was a concealed radio antenna, which amounted to two wires embedded in the windshield. New for 1970 was the Estate Wagon, which shared the Electra's 127-inch (3,200　mm) wheelbase and 455 V8, but was technically a B-body car like the LeSabre and Wildcat. This was Buick's first full-sized station wagon since 1964.

This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects a wonderful era of the Indianapolis 500 and Buick ‘s automotive history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own　this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of　ca. 8" x 10" (ca. 20 x 30 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.