45,675 original miles. Lifetime California car. One older repaint in original color, beautiful original bucket seat interior. Loaded with factory A/C, power windows, tilt column, power driver’s seat, and more. Lots of recent work. Sporty Buick luxury!
This handsome Wildcat Sport Coupe was built in California and spent almost the entirety of its life on the west coast. It has an older repaint in its original code S Bronze Mist, and thanks to ultra-straight sheetmetal, it almost looks factory-applied. There are, of course, a few signs of use including some very minor chips on the leading edge of the hood that have been touched up, but overall this is a very handsome car. Part of the Wildcat’s good looks come from the brushed stainless trim along the front fenders, which also house three traditional Buick venti-ports, all of which are in excellent condition. Out back there are vestigial fins that tie neatly into the chrome bumpers and taillight housings, all of which are in very good condition. A vinyl roof adds an upscale vibe, and that, too is in excellent shape with no signs of distress underneath.
The beautiful interior is almost entirely original, including the factory-installed code 699 Saddle vinyl upholstery. We believe the seat covers, door panels, and even the dash pad are original, but the carpets are almost too nice to be 57 years old. You’ll note this particular Wildcat is fairly loaded, including factory A/C, power windows, power driver’s seat, tilt steering column, and speed-minder. The A/C was recently serviced and works properly using that knob under the dash with the other aircraft-style switch gear. In fact, everything on this car works except the clock, including the factory Sonomatic AM radio and aftermarket FM converter that was probably installed sometime in the ‘80s. The trunk was just restored with correct cardboard side panels, new carpets, a reproduction mat, and includes a full-sized spare with jack assembly.
Buick’s 401 cubic inch “Nailhead” V8 belted out 325 horsepower and 445 pounds of torque, which explains the “Wildcat 445” decal on the air cleaner lid. The engine has not been rebuilt, but it has been detailed and shows recent gaskets on the valve covers and oil pan, so it has been maintained and freshened as needed. The original 4-barrel carburetor is properly tuned, so it starts easily, idles well, and has quick reflexes out on the road. There’s some evidence of use and the cast iron manifolds are raw so there’s some surface scale, but it shows no major issues. You’ll also note correct details like the heavy-duty fan clutch (included with A/C), correct decals throughout, and recent tune-up parts to make it run its best. There’s even a reproduction Delco battery topper that gives the engine bay a correct look.
Buick called the venerable Dynaflow the “Twin Turbine” automatic transmission in 1963, but whatever the name, it’s still impeccably smooth. There are some who regard the Dynaflow as the ultimate “slush box” but that’s only because they don’t understand it. In normal use, it simply accelerates the car effortlessly, without any shifts, which is ideal for Buick’s image. But if you don’t pay attention, you’ll quickly find yourself exceeding the speed limit, which is probably why the speed-minder is a good idea. This big ‘Cat gathers speed alarmingly fast. This car also has what we believe are 3.42 gears in back, which helps with off-the-line punch, yet cruises easily at about 2300 RPM at 60 MPH. A new dual exhaust system with a correct transverse muffler is suitably quiet for a Buick and there are new shocks all around. The floors are dirty but completely solid, as are the box-section rockers that add a lot of structural strength to the hardtop bodywork, so this Wildcat is ready to drive. Handsome Buick Road Wheels are always a great choice, and it wears brand new 235/75/15 whitewall radials.
If you haven’t driven a Buick like this, you’re really missing out. It delivers a great combination of luxury and performance, which was surely Buick’s intent when it was built. Add in a long list of options, the super clean California sheetmetal, and a handsome color combination, and you get a Wildcat that is easy to own and stands out in a field of ordinary cars. Call today!
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