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Buick Wildcat 401 cubic inch V8 1965

General description : The name “Wildcat” may seem anachonous when attached to a Buick, but it was Buick’s muscle car before muscle cars were a thing. A sportier LeSabre, it was designed to appeal to a younger buyer who wanted some performance and style to go with his luxury, and in that regard, the Wildcat exceeded all expectations. And although it seems like an immense car to us today, it was Buick’s mid-sized car in 1965 and the torque factory Nailhead V8 under the hood pretty much ignores the mass attached to it. The Wildcat is indeed quick. Add in Buick’s unmatched build quality in the ‘60s, a fantastic restoration to factory specs, and some appealing options, and this gorgeous blue ragtop becomes a fast favorite for anyone who is weary of the ordinary.

Code D Astro Blue is the car’s original color, and it’s pretty close the color GM would use for the balance of the ‘60s on muscle cars from Chevrolet and Pontiac. Not too dark, not too light, it’s a wonderful misty medium blue with a hint of metallic in it that makes the bodywork on this Wildcat simply glow. The car hails from a warm climate, so the sheetmetal is in fantastic condition everywhere you look, from the crisp character line that stretches from nose to tail to the giant quarter panels that are probably six feet long. There’s a great deal of time invested in getting it to fit right, and even for a convertible the doors latch easily and nothing’s out of alignment. As a Buick, there’s still plenty of chrome, and it, too, is in fantastic shape, with restored bumpers and stainless fender trim, and nice original details like the Buick shield emblems which are a little faded but still quite presentable. Of note, the fluted taillight insert on the tail of the car is extremely well detailed, and that speaks to the quality of the car, since it’s not available as a reproduction and costs thousands of dollars to restore. There are a few minor signs of use such as a few chips on the extreme tips of the rear quarters (obviously a car this long barely fits in modern garages), but for the most part this was a very clean car with a big investment in the restoration work. It’s even carrying correct T3 headlight bulbs!

The gorgeous blue bucket seat interior is likewise correct (code 671) and it’s neat to see buckets in a full-sized Buick convertible. The dark blue works quite well with the lighter blue bodywork, and everything inside was restored with the rest of the car. The seats look exactly right, there are fresh carpets on the floor, and the beautifully detailed door panels accentuate the Buick’s sporting intentions. You’ll note that this car includes options like the console-mounted tachometer, power windows, speed minder, and the all-new TH400 3-speed automatic transmission (yes, you could get a 4-speed in your Buick Wildcat). Everything works, including the Sonomatic AM radio, and it’s hard not to feel like a movie star when you’re behind the wheel of this handsome machine. There are very few signs of use inside and with Buick-logo floor mats, it has a nice, finished look. The white power convertible top fits neatly and powers up and down without issues. A glass rear window is a nice feature and it comes with a matching blue boot to make it look finished. The trunk is expertly tailored with a proper tan mat and matching blue cardboard bulkheads, as well as a full-sized spare with jack assembly.

The standard engine in the Wildcat was the Buick 401 cubic inch “Nailhead” V8, which was rated at 325 horsepower and a monstrous 445 pounds of torque (hence the ‘445’ designation on the air cleaner lid). Beautifully detailed with Buick Turquoise paint the engine bay is in near show-quality condition and quite accurately done. You’ll note proper tower hose clamps, an insulated sleeve on the stove pipe for the carburetor, and original decals and markings throughout. The distinctive Nailhead valve covers are easy to spot, and the finishes used on the various parts are correct. Power steering and power brakes were standard equipment, and that’s probably a good idea on something this large, but it doesn’t act like a giant car when you’re going down the road. With all that torque on tap, the Nailhead acts like the car weighs 800 pounds less than it does and it never acts up. It’s turbine-smooth on the roll, but has a bit of a lope at idle and exhales through a dual exhaust system that gives it a bit of a muscle car burble—not too much, mind you. Just enough. It starts quickly, idles easily after a few moments of warming up, and there’s power on tap no matter how fast you’re going. You’ll find that you quickly fall in love with that big wave of Nailhead torque that’s available with only light pressure from your right foot. It’s addicting!

The Dynaflow was replaced in 1965 with GM’s indestructible TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, arguably the most durable and reliable automatic ever invented. It’s a good partner to the Nailhead, delivering a crisp downshift when you prod the throttle but otherwise simply staying out of the way and doing its job without any fuss. Out back there are 3.07 gears, so this convertible just eats up pavement like it’s starving, although you should probably expect to feed it a fairly steady diet of premium fuel. The chassis was fully restored with the rest of the car, and while it shows some minor signs of use today, there’s nothing at all to be concerned about, both from a rust and a maintenance standpoint. Original floors, quarters, and trunk pans are all indicative of this car’s lifetime in a warm climate and you’ll note that every seam and every weld remains laser-sharp, not blunted by corrosion. The exhaust system is recent, as is the gas tank, so it’s ready for a road trip, and please take a moment to admire Buick’s gigantic aluminum brake drums, whose fins use the chrome road wheels as a heat sink. Very clever. The rear end is big enough to live under a dually pickup and the suspension is Buick supple but not sloppy, making for a car you can drive anywhere without feeling weary. Proper Buick road wheels look fantastic and carry fresh 215/75/15 radials with whitewalls that are exactly the right size for 1965 Buicks. Nice!

The car also includes a full set of service and body manuals and an ultra-rare (and valuable!) salesman’s fact book with upholstery and paint samples. Restored fender skirts and hardware come with the car and are easy to install if you like the look.

We’re blown away by the quality of this car and it represents one of the biggest bargains in our showroom today. It isn’t the cheapest car, but if it were one of the more popular models like an Impala or a Grand Prix, it would be considerably more expensive. Take advantage of Buick’s bargain status to pick up not only a gorgeous car, but one of the most road-worthy luxury cars of the mid-60s. You’ll never regret owning this Wildcat. Call today!

http://www.harwoodmotors.com/vehicles/inventory_details.php?id=941

1965 Buick Wildcat 401 cubic inch V8 is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Macedonia by for $36900.

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