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 1966 Buick Wildcat. It's one of those special
GM cars with unique features, and even though it's a 4-door, it's
just a fantastic piece of luxury muscle with all the right
features.
There were few more stylish sedans on the road than the Buick
Wildcat in 1966, with Buick's trademark sweeping body lines and
chiseled good looks. Thanks to a high-quality repaint in medium
blue, it looks spectacular with a sophisticated air to it that only
a Buick could wear. It's two-stage urethane, so the shine is deep
and clear and thanks to expert care since it was done, it shows
only a few signs of use. Buick was big on drama, so there's a
deeply recessed grille, cool gills on the front fenders, and a
surprisingly sleek roofline that you wouldn't expect on a sedan.
The chrome and stainless trim is original, and given that this car
has never left the warm, dry south, it's no surprise that it's in
great shape. 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 red cloth interior isn't exactly stock, but it's an awesome
contrast to the bright blue paint and it's all-day comfortable.
That's the original bench seat wearing fresh upholstery and the
door panels have been stitched to match. The carpets and headliner
were probably replaced at the same time, but again, nothing jumps
out as too new or too old. The wide dash has lots of jewelry,
including a wide band of bright metal trim to give the Wildcat a
sophisticated air, and the only part that doesn't seem up to snuff
is the steering wheel, which wears a leather wrap. And if it's road
trips you enjoy, then the massive back seat and trunk will be
assets, with the trunk carrying black carpet that looks clean and
tidy.
Buick's 401 cubic inch V8 was renowned for massive torque
production, and it's just beautifully detailed. A factory air
cleaner shows a reproduction decal advertising 'Wildcat 445' which,
in Buick tradition, is the torque figure, not the horsepower. A
4-barrel carburetor lives underneath, so power delivery is snappy,
even for such a big sedan. Correct turquoise paint makes the engine
look original and with power steering and power brakes, this car
feels luxurious and effortless in everything it does. The
transmission is a TH400 3-speed automatic, which by 1966 had
superseded the venerable Dynaflow, and it powers a set of 3.00
gears out back, making this a great highway cruiser that just loafs
along with the big block barely breaking a sweat. The single
exhaust burbles along happily at any speed and original wheels and
hubcaps are wrapped in right-sized 15-inch whitewall radials.
This is a beautifully finished car that is big, powerful, and easy
to get into, both literally and figuratively. An incredible value,
this big Wildcat will definitely surprise you. Call today!
