Beautiful frame-off restoration to original specs. Buckets, console, tach, power windows, speed minder. Smooth, torquey 401 Nailhead. Fresh tires, gas tank, dual exhaust. Runs and drives like new. Fantastic car for the money!
Code D Astro Blue is the car’s original color, and it’s pretty close the color GM would use for the balance of the ‘60s on muscle cars from Chevrolet and Pontiac. The car hails from a warm climate, so the sheetmetal is in fantastic condition everywhere you look, from the crisp character line that stretches from nose to tail to the giant quarter panels that are probably six feet long. There’s a great deal of time invested in getting it to fit right, and even for a convertible the doors latch easily and nothing’s out of alignment. As a Buick, there’s still plenty of chrome, and it, too, is in fantastic shape, with restored bumpers and stainless fender trim, and nice original details like the Buick shield emblems which are a little faded but still quite presentable. There are a few minor signs of use such as a few chips on the extreme tips of the rear quarters (obviously a car this long barely fits in modern garages), but for the most part this was a very clean car with a big investment in the restoration work. It’s even carrying correct T3 headlight bulbs!
The gorgeous blue bucket seat interior is likewise correct (code 671) and it’s neat to see buckets in a full-sized Buick convertible. The seats look exactly right, there are fresh carpets on the floor, and the beautifully detailed door panels accentuate the Buick’s sporting intentions. You’ll note that this car includes options like the console-mounted tachometer, power windows, speed minder, and the all-new TH400 3-speed automatic transmission. Everything works, including the Sonomatic AM radio, and it’s hard not to feel like a movie star when you’re behind the wheel of this handsome machine. The white power convertible top fits neatly and it comes with a matching blue boot to make it look finished. The trunk is expertly tailored with a proper tan mat and matching blue cardboard bulkheads, as well as a full-sized spare with jack assembly.
The engine is the legendary Buick 401 cubic inch “Nailhead” V8, which was rated at 325 horsepower and a monstrous 445 pounds of torque (hence the ‘445’ designation on the air cleaner lid). Beautifully detailed with Buick Turquoise paint the engine bay is in near show-quality condition and quite accurately done. You’ll note proper tower hose clamps, an insulated sleeve on the stove pipe for the carburetor, and original decals and markings throughout. With all that torque on tap, the Nailhead acts like the car weighs 800 pounds less than it does and it never acts up. It’s turbine-smooth on the roll, but has a bit of a lope at idle and exhales through a dual exhaust system that gives it a bit of a muscle car burble—not too much, mind you, just enough. It starts quickly, idles easily after a few moments of warming up, and there’s power on tap no matter how fast you’re going.
The Dynaflow was replaced in 1965 with GM’s indestructible TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, arguably the most durable and reliable automatic ever invented. It’s a good partner to the Nailhead, delivering a crisp downshift when you prod the throttle but otherwise simply staying out of the way and doing its job without any fuss. Out back there are 3.07 gears, so this convertible just eats up pavement like it’s starving. Original floors, quarters, and trunk pans are all indicative of this car’s lifetime in a warm climate and you’ll note that every seam and every weld remains laser-sharp, not blunted by corrosion. The rear end is big enough to live under a dually pickup and the suspension is Buick supple but not sloppy, making for a car you can drive anywhere without feeling weary. Proper Buick road wheels look fantastic and carry fresh 215/75/15 radials with whitewalls that are exactly the right size for 1965 Buicks. Nice!
The car also includes a full set of service and body manuals and an ultra-rare (and valuable!) salesman’s fact book with upholstery and paint samples. Restored fender skirts and hardware come with the car and are easy to install if you like the look.
We’re blown away by the quality of this car and it represents one of the biggest bargains in our showroom today. It isn’t the cheapest car, but if it were one of the more popular models like an Impala or a Grand Prix, it would be considerably more expensive. Take advantage of Buick’s bargain status to pick up not only a gorgeous car, but one of the most road-worthy luxury cars of the mid-60s. You’ll never regret owning this Wildcat. Call today!
For more details and more than 100 pictures of this awesome Buick, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
