1966 Buick Wildcat Convertible
In 1962 the Wildcat featured buck seats and a center console enclosing a tachometer and transmission shifter. Under the hood was a powerful 401 cubic-inch V8 Nailhead engine that produced 325 horsepower and 445 foot-pounds of torque. The exterior featured its own emblems and a vinyl-covered roof. There were portholes located on the front fenders, a design that it shared with the Invicta and LeSabre. Buick developed a prototype vehicle called the Wildcat in 1953. This model came with a 322 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 188 horsepower. For its time, this v ehicle was considered to be revolutionary. The body was fiberglass, and the front wheel hubs remained stationary as the wheels spun.Considered to be Buick's first performance vehicle, the Buick Wildcat, officially named the Wildcat Sport Coupe was finally produced for the public in 1962. A full-size automobile, more closely related to a luxury sports coupe than all out performance, the introduction of the Wildcat set the stage for Buick's quest for power and even made its name available to several Buick engines of the mid sixties.
Featured as a ‘sub model' within the Buick Invicta line, and intended to compete with the Ford Thunderbird, the original Wildcat was both attractive and classy an included a rear floor lamp, a console, front bucket seats, and a tachometer. The handling of the Wildcat was improved by Buick engineers with the adjustment of the suspension. Sporty, the Wildcat included a frame which held boxed cross-members with heavy side rails, coil springs on all four corners, along with oversized 10 inch drum brakes. Weighing a massive 4,150 pounds, the Wildcat featured standard power with the Buick LT401 cid V8 which was rated at 325 bhp. This engine was also available in the regular Invicta line, but the Wildcat came with a standard 3.42:1 rear end. Nearly a total of 2,000 of these ‘family-sized sports cars' were sold in 1962. Those who wished for more drag strip performance were able to option for a 4.45:1 rear end.Considered to be ‘the next best thing to owning a Riviera', the Wildcat was greatly supported by Buick. In 1964 two optional engines were included to the lineup which continued to include the standard 401 cid V8 rated at 325 bhp, these were a 425 cid V8 rated at 340 bhp and the 425 cid rated at 360 bhp. Increasing its weight to 4,500lbs, the Wildcat received extra performance. Upgraded even more, the suspension received a link stabilizer bar and a semi-floating rear axle that used a three-bar link with a track bar. An additional option was a posi-track rear axle. A new fourth model was added to the lineup, the four-door sedan Model 4669. Unfortunately the image of the Wildcat as a performance vehicle was becoming slightly diluted though sales continued to increase. A total of 20,144 four-door sedans were sold in '64 along with 33,358 of the four-door hardtops.
In 1965 the engine continued to be carried over, though all new styling was updated on the Wildcat for this year. Sharing the same sheetmetal body as the LeSabre, the Wildcat continued to keep its same unique badging and grille. The Wildcat lineup was expanded to include a total of ten models, five coupes and five sedans.
1966 Buick Wildcat convertible
TheBuick Wildcat began life in 1962 as an option of the Buick Invicta. From 1963 through 1970 the Buick Wildcatwas its own series.In 1962 the Wildcat featured buck seats and a center console enclosing a tachometer and transmission shifter. Under the hood was a powerful 401 cubic-inch V8 Nailhead engine that produced 325 horsepower and 445 foot-pounds of torque. The exterior featured its own emblems and a vinyl-covered roof. There were portholes located on the front fenders, a design that it shared with the Invicta and LeSabre.
When the Wildcat became its own series, a convertible and four-door hardtop sedan was added to the model lineup, which included the original two-door hardtop coupe from the prior year. Bucket seats were standard in the coupe and convertible; a bench seat was standard in the four-door version. Under the hood was the 401 cubic-inch V8 engine which stayed as standard equipment until 1966. In 1967 it was replaced with a 430 cubic-inch V8 which produced 360 horsepower. From 1964 through 1966 a 425 cubic-inch V8 was offered as optional equipment which raised horsepower to 340. A dual-quad version, meaning two four-barrel carburetors, raised the horsepower to 360. In 1966 Buick offered the GS, or Gran Sport, option which included the 425 cubic-inch V8 engine and a heavy-duty suspension. 'GS' emblems could be found throughout the vehicle; the rear axle was a performance unit.
In 1970 the Buick Wildcat was offered only in custom trim.
When the Wildcat became its own series, a convertible and four-door hardtop sedan was added to the model lineup, which included the original two-door hardtop coupe from the prior year. Bucket seats were standard in the coupe and convertible; a bench seat was standard in the four-door version. Under the hood was the 401 cubic-inch V8 engine which stayed as standard equipment until 1966. In 1967 it was replaced with a 430 cubic-inch V8 which produced 360 horsepower. From 1964 through 1966 a 425 cubic-inch V8 was offered as optional equipment which raised horsepower to 340. A dual-quad version, meaning two four-barrel carburetors, raised the horsepower to 360. In 1966 Buick offered the GS, or Gran Sport, option which included the 425 cubic-inch V8 engine and a heavy-duty suspension. 'GS' emblems could be found throughout the vehicle; the rear axle was a performance unit.
In 1970 the Buick Wildcat was offered only in custom trim.
Buick developed a prototype vehicle called the Wildcat in 1953. This model came with a 322 cubic inch V8 engine that was rated at 188 horsepower. For its time, this v ehicle was considered to be revolutionary. The body was fiberglass, and the front wheel hubs remained stationary as the wheels spun.Considered to be Buick's first performance vehicle, the Buick Wildcat, officially named the Wildcat Sport Coupe was finally produced for the public in 1962. A full-size automobile, more closely related to a luxury sports coupe than all out performance, the introduction of the Wildcat set the stage for Buick's quest for power and even made its name available to several Buick engines of the mid sixties.
Featured as a ‘sub model' within the Buick Invicta line, and intended to compete with the Ford Thunderbird, the original Wildcat was both attractive and classy an included a rear floor lamp, a console, front bucket seats, and a tachometer. The handling of the Wildcat was improved by Buick engineers with the adjustment of the suspension. Sporty, the Wildcat included a frame which held boxed cross-members with heavy side rails, coil springs on all four corners, along with oversized 10 inch drum brakes. Weighing a massive 4,150 pounds, the Wildcat featured standard power with the Buick LT401 cid V8 which was rated at 325 bhp. This engine was also available in the regular Invicta line, but the Wildcat came with a standard 3.42:1 rear end. Nearly a total of 2,000 of these ‘family-sized sports cars' were sold in 1962. Those who wished for more drag strip performance were able to option for a 4.45:1 rear end.
Receiving various new styling update for 1963, the Buick Wildcat received the name scripted on the rear fenders, within the rear cove and also across the front of the hood. The front also received a custom grille on the front. Both bucket seats and console were standard for the coupe. The same 401 cid V8 rated at 325 was brought over for this year. The model lineup was expanded to include three models, the four-door hardtop Model 4639, the two-door sport coupe Model 4647, the two door convertible Model 4667. The four-door model ended up outselling the other two by a very wide margin, despite Buick attempting to play up the sport performance image of the Wildcat. A total of 17,519 four-door models were sold in '63, compared to 12,185 of the two-door hardtop, and 6,021 of the two-door convertible.
Featured as a ‘sub model' within the Buick Invicta line, and intended to compete with the Ford Thunderbird, the original Wildcat was both attractive and classy an included a rear floor lamp, a console, front bucket seats, and a tachometer. The handling of the Wildcat was improved by Buick engineers with the adjustment of the suspension. Sporty, the Wildcat included a frame which held boxed cross-members with heavy side rails, coil springs on all four corners, along with oversized 10 inch drum brakes. Weighing a massive 4,150 pounds, the Wildcat featured standard power with the Buick LT401 cid V8 which was rated at 325 bhp. This engine was also available in the regular Invicta line, but the Wildcat came with a standard 3.42:1 rear end. Nearly a total of 2,000 of these ‘family-sized sports cars' were sold in 1962. Those who wished for more drag strip performance were able to option for a 4.45:1 rear end.
Receiving various new styling update for 1963, the Buick Wildcat received the name scripted on the rear fenders, within the rear cove and also across the front of the hood. The front also received a custom grille on the front. Both bucket seats and console were standard for the coupe. The same 401 cid V8 rated at 325 was brought over for this year. The model lineup was expanded to include three models, the four-door hardtop Model 4639, the two-door sport coupe Model 4647, the two door convertible Model 4667. The four-door model ended up outselling the other two by a very wide margin, despite Buick attempting to play up the sport performance image of the Wildcat. A total of 17,519 four-door models were sold in '63, compared to 12,185 of the two-door hardtop, and 6,021 of the two-door convertible.