For Sale: 1965 Buick Wildcat in Kentwood, Michigan

The Buick Wildcat only became its own model series in 1963, stepping out from under the Invicta nameplate to stand on its own. By 1965 it had settled into a complete redesign with a longer, sleeker body and a personality that split the difference between Buick's luxury reputation and genuine performance credentials. It was never as loud about it as the Pontiac GTO or the Chevelle SS, and that understated approach is exactly what makes finding a clean one so satisfying today. This example is finished in Bamboo Cream with a white power convertible top and black leather interior, a combination that is elegant, correct, and impossible to walk past without stopping.

Under the hood is the 401 cubic inch Nailhead V8 backed by the Super Turbine 400 three speed automatic. The Nailhead earned its nickname from the small, vertically mounted intake valves Buick designed to improve air velocity, a design choice that gave the engine a distinctive character and sound unlike anything else in the GM lineup. Buick badged it as the Wildcat 445, with the 445 referring not to cubic inches but to the 445 pound-feet of torque it produced, a number that made other manufacturers' torque ratings look modest by comparison. The Super Turbine 400 was one of the smoothest automatic transmissions GM built during this era, and it suits the character of the Wildcat perfectly.

Inside, the black leather interior is clean and well matched to the Bamboo Cream exterior. A wrapped steering wheel and Wildcat logo floor mats round out a cabin that feels precisely as upscale as the car was meant to be. The power convertible top works as it should, and the overall presentation is that of a car that has been looked after.

The Wildcat occupied a specific and largely forgotten corner of the mid-1960s performance market. It was more car than most Buick buyers wanted and more refined than most muscle car buyers expected, which put it in a category by itself. Today that combination is exactly what collectors appreciate about it, a full-size convertible with genuine torque, luxury appointments, and a visual presence that does not need to announce itself. Clean Bamboo Cream examples with the Nailhead and a power top are exactly the kind of thing that gets attention at shows and on the street from people who know what they are looking at.

Please call or email us today for more information.
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