Vehicle Description
If you were to ask any of us here at Streetside Classics which car
in our showroom is the biggest bang for the buck, more than a few
of us would say this 1968 Buick Wildcat Custom. It's one of those
special GM executive cars with unique features, and it's just a
fantastic piece of luxury muscle with all the right features.
There was nothing more dramatic on the road than the Buick Wildcat
in 1968, with Buick's trademark sweeping body lines and chiseled
good looks. Thanks to a high-quality color change from rather plain
Code W Silver Beige Mist to red-hot Sunburst Orange, this Wildcat
got a new lease on life, and it now garners all the head-turns it
always really deserved. No more overlooking this vintage rockstar.
The paint job was solid, as there aren't any signs of the original
color anywhere to be seen, and even though it's not a spectacular
show-car, this Wildcat is a killer-looking driver with
off-the-charts curb appeal. It's two-stage urethane, so the shine
is deep and clear and thanks to great care since it was done, the
imperfections can largely be forgiven for the 'Smiles Per Hour'
sure to gained. I know I'm grinning ear-to-ear just writing about
it. Buick was big on drama, so there's a deeply recessed grille,
cool gills on the front fenders, and an impossibly sleek roofline
that makes the 2-door hardtop design one of the coolest ever made.
The chrome and stainless trim is all likely original, adding a
nice, bright bling to the already shiny presentation. Sure, there's
a little patina to it, but there's no part that stands out as too
nice or too shabby to be on this car and since it's original, you
know it's crisp and authentic.
The Code 498 '3 seat' black interior is where the Buick executive
separated itself from the herd, offering a comfortable and
sophisticated cabin that feels more like a traveling cocktail
lounge than a means of conveyance. Many Wildcats used cloth seats,
but thankfully this one was born with custom Strato bucket seats
wrapped in black vinyl, and when it was restored they made the
smart choice to leave it exactly the same. Those are stock patterns
on the upholstery, including the seats and door panels, complete
with that super-cool aluminum trim work in the seat backs and door
panels. Plush black carpets and a matching headliner complete the
look, insulating the cabin nicely, and those Buick-badged vinyl
floor mats could very well be original to the car. The wide dash
has lots of jewelry, including a wide band of bright trim to give
the Wildcat a sophisticated air and yes, it's loaded with options
like factory A/C, power windows, and a tilt wheel. For
entertainment, there's a retro-style AM/FM/Cassette/AUX stereo
radio in the center of the beautiful dash, while the 3-spoke deluxe
steering wheel and gauge just ahead of it are all original to the
car. The backseat is virtually untouched, there are seatbelts fore
and aft, and the massive trunk out back is outfitted exactly like
it was in 1968, complete with its original carpet and spare tire
and jack set.
Buick's 430 cubic inch V8 was renowned for massive torque
production, and the block nestled inside the stock engine bay of
this '68 is running like a top. There are obvious signs of a
rebuild, although we're lacking any documentation to prove it, and
it's running so darn well we have to think it was attended to not
long ago. A stock-style Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor lives under
an updated chrome air cleaner, bright Chevrolet Orange paint makes
the engine and valve covers look fresh, and there are signs of
maintenance throughout. The transmission is a Super Turbine 3-speed
automatic, which combined with the tall gears inside the 10-bolt
rear end out back makes this an incredible highway cruiser that
just loafs along with the big block barely breaking a sweat at
supra-legal speeds. The original-style exhaust burbles along
happily at any speed and the handsome Buick road wheels are wrapped
in right-sized 225/75/15 whitewall radials.
Offered with its original factory window sticker, this Wildcat
Custom is one of the coolest of the 'forgotten' classics. An
incredible value, this beauty will definitely surprise you. Call
today!
This car has a clean Texas title with the Remarks: Rebuilt Salvage
- Issued by WI which was issued in 2001 and had to pass safety
inspections or other jurisdiction procedures, to ensure the vehicle
met required standards.
