Buick Park Avenue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Buick Park Avenue | |
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| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Production | 1991–2005 |
| Assembly | Hamtramck, Michigan Lake Orion, Michigan |
| Predecessor | Buick Electra |
| Successor | Buick Lucerne |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Similar | Chrysler 300M Toyota Avalon |
| First generation | |
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| Production | 1991-1996 |
| Platform | C-body |
| Engine | 3.8 L Buick V6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed 4T60-E automatic |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in |
| Length | 205.9 in |
| Width | 74.1 in |
| Height | 55.1 in |
| Related | Cadillac Deville Cadillac Fleetwood/Sixty Special Oldsmobile 98 |
| Second generation | |
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| Production | 1997–2005 |
| Platform | G-body |
| Engine | 3.8 L Buick V6 (Series II) |
| Transmission | 4-speed 4T65-E automatic |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 in |
| Length | 206.8 in |
| Width | 74.7 in |
| Height | 57.4 in |
| Related | Buick LeSabre Buick Riviera Oldsmobile Aurora Pontiac Bonneville |
The Park Avenue was Buick's flagship sedan from 1975 to 1990 as a trim level on the fullsize Electra and as a distinct model from 1991 to 2005, succeeding the Electra entirely. Its name pays homage to the affluent New York City boulevard of the same name.
A luxury trim level, the Ultra, was available throughout the Park Avenue's run. The Park Avenue Ultra luxury sedan featured a more powerful 205-240 hp supercharged V6 that became standard in 1992 versus the regular 170-205 hp V6.
[edit] 1991-1996
The 1991 Park Avenue utilitzed GM's GM C platform until the C-body was dropped in 1997. The Park Avenue was normally powered by the 3.8 L 3800 Series I V6, with a special Ultra model using a supercharged version starting in 1992 (a very limited number of 1991 Ultras had the supercharged engine as an option).
Inspired in great part by the 1989 Park Avenue Essence show car, the Park Avenue set the pace for Buick's styling in the 1990s. Its elegant, graceful lines lead many to describe it as the 'American Jaguar' and many of its styling cues, including a large 'dollar-grin' grille mounted to the hood, rounded lines, and full-width taillamps made their way to other restyled Buick models.
The base Park Avenue was available in Europe from 1991 until 1996 and varied from the North American version by featuring revised taillights with amber lenses and larger license plate opening, amber parking lights, front side marker lights relocated from below the cornering lights to behind the front wheels on the front fenders, larger outside mirrors and a flat hood ornament to meet contemporary European regulatory and safety standards.
[edit] 1997-2005
An updated Park Avenue was released in 1997. Riding on the Buick Riviera's G-body, it was stronger and more substantial than its predecessor. This generation was powered by updated Series II variants of the indomitable 3800 V6 engine. As before, only Ultra models were supercharged. The base trim featured a hood ornament while the Ultra had a less conspicuous tri-shield inset in on the upper edge of the grille. It should be noted that the 2004 Park Avenue base was the last US-market Buick to carry a factory hood ornament.
The Park Avenue went largely unchanged until 2003. Trademark Buick ventiports returned that year along with a bolder grille that carried a larger monochromatic tri-shield badge in the center.
For 2005 - its final model year - base Park Avenues received the new grille, and previously Ultra-exclusive ventiports. Also, the rear fascia was redone across the line with a prominent chrome bar above the license plate holder with an embossed PARK AVENUE script and amber turn signal flashers. The last 3000 Park Avenues carried Special Edition badging that featured those words underneath a silhouette of the New York City skyline. 300 of these were painted with a special two-tone black-on-platinum finish.
The Park Avenue was discontinuted after 2005 and in 2006 was replaced by the Buick Lucerne. The Lucerne also replaces higher-volume LeSabre.
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