I’m always somewhat partial to vehicles from 1962 since that’s also when I was put together in a factory by union workers.. This 1962 Buick Invicta looks like a winner and you can check it out on this Craigslist post. The seller is asking $11,700 and they say “This is an absolute steal for this car.” It’s located in Owego, New York. Thanks to Adam C. for sending in this find!
Being a Northeast car I’m always worried about rust first and foremost. The seller doesn’t mention the condition of the body at all other than to say “The car is in original condition with a paint work done some time ago.” They say that “This car is a real live barn find and spent most of it’s life in PA.” And, “The car spent the last 10 years in a storage bay on the side of a barn with a cement floor.” With 69,557 miles I’m hoping that none of those miles were put on in the winter, at least in the salted-roads era.
This is the second and last-generation Buick Invicta, if a person doesn’t count the concept car from 2008 which eventually got watered down a bit and evolved into the LaCrosse. The 1961-1963 cars were quite a change from the 1959 and 1960 Invictas. It was revolution more than evolution, they don’t even look like they’re from the same planet let alone the same division of GM to me. They’re quite reserved and conservatively-styled, but most cars were compared to the first-gen Invictas. Hagerty is at $9,900 for a #3 good condition car and $16,400 for a #2 excellent condition car.
The interior looks nice but I can’t quite tell what’s happening with the carpet under the driver’s floor mat? There are a few photos showing the great looking dash and glove box with the power trunk release and a close-up of the steering wheel. You can probably see some surface rust in a few areas which usually happens with vehicles that have been in storage for years or decades, especially in areas where this car has been stored. The back seat looks great other than one area having some sort of spill on it, but I don’t see any rips or major damage inside at all.
Speaking of spill, as in money spilling out of your monthly gas allowance, here’s the monster Nailhead 401 cubic-inch V8 that was standard issue in the Invicta. This pavement-pounder puts out a very healthy 325 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. Power steering and power brakes are there and the seller mentions that this car “starts and runs and can drive. It does need a tuneup and brakes all the way around.” They go on to say that “If you are looking for a really nice car to do a light restoration on over the winter, this is it.” I would agree, this would be a fantastic car to restore, it sure doesn’t look like it needs much. Have any of you owned a Buick Invicta?
Nice cars. Tell you what, it would have been a tough choice between this and the ’62 Olds ( my favorite)
If you mean the 62 Olds Starfire Howard, I totally agree! One of my favorite GM cars of all time. The 61 Invicta has the front spear shaped fenders which I like better than the 62. But this is a great car for the money, as long as it’s not hiding a bunch of rust underneath. It has the Wildcat engine, but not the full Wildcat package. Otherwise it’d have a full length center console with a tach, I believe, along with some other goodies. Great find 👍
Wow! This is a beauty and those taillights are so awesome. It’s amazing to me that the GM factory trunk release hangtag is still in place 56 years later.
Very nice car, but for the price I’d want to be able to drive it away and also stop.
Gorgeous car, but I agree with you on the maintenance. Seems that new brakes and a tuneup would justify a premium asking price.
Very Nice Car.
Can anyone tell–are those buckets with the Buick padded center console? I know `61 Invictas had that option. Fairly clean for what it is. Me, I’m more partial tot eh `61 Invictas, with the two-tone paint scheme they came with; a guy in the Buick club I know owns two hardtops; both show winners.
Yes, bucket seats and the console with storage bin in the center–rare option on an Invicta, and I once had a ’63 Electra 225 with the same option. This is a nice car.
Very neat old car in great condition BUT if it were an absolute steal; it would have been gone in a few hours at most. Worth 85 to 10, tops, ”for me”. Still should be worth the 11 to 12 to someone wanting a cool old ride not needing a lot of work.
Now this is more like it. I had a ’62 Electra 225 (with four ventiports), and it was the best car I’ve ever owned. That engine is a torque machine. Doing 80-85 on the freeway felt like floating on air. I had to replace the water pump; otherwise it was trouble-free.
Had a ’62 Invicta ragtop in the early ’70’s.
Mine was dark red with a white top and
interior. Since I am sight impaired, my
older sister used to drive me from
Bloomington to Champaign twice a week
to work as a guitarist on the Marvin Lee
Show on channel 3. You’re right Ken,
when my Buick stretched her legs, it
seemed as though we were floating
down the road! Felt good to drop the
top on nice days and feel the wind in
your face and the sun on your back.
Seeing this car brings it all back again.
Great times, great car!
This is an Invicta Custom which came with the optional Bucket seats. I have a ’62 Invicta convertible non Custom with the bench seats. I’ve owned mine for 30 years…………..Beautiful riding cars.
While I like the car, I do think it’s somewhat over priced. Maybe the seller did that intentionally knowing everyone would try to negotiate the price lower. I think the color may hold this back some. I agree $8500 would be a good price.
So, you were put together in a factory by union workers, eh? Sorry, I just couldn’t let that slip by. If so, you must be a beauty too!!
Buick lover.
In 1971 I bought a 62 Invicta Estate Wagon as my first car. It was black with a red interior. It had the bucket seat option (only 267 built) and had all the power accessories. I was a senior in high school and while at the time, it was not a “cool” car, I was just glad to have a car! I parked the car in 73 in favor of a 69 Cad convert. In 2011, I told a friend of mine that it would be cool to drive it to my 40th class reunion so after 3 weeks of “waking” it back up, I drove it to our class picnic. I still have the car and plan on driving it to my 50th reunion. Awesome car!
Robert, you sure know how to hurt a guy!
Wish I had mine back. Your car is as nice
as mine was and is a pleasure to see.
Though I didn’t know Buick offered these
in powder blue. Great story Wayne. Did
you restore the car fully, or just wake it up
and drive it? Do you still have your Caddy
too?
Thanks Ken! I did everything to make the care safe and driveable. Once I retire, I will do complete restoration. Regrettably, I don’t have the Cad. I had been working late and I fell asleep at the wheel doing 70 mph and hit the back end of a Greyhound bus. I managed to get away with a scratch on the forehead and 2 broken teeth. I had always been a seat belt user and that night, they saved my life. I’ve been a big car advocate ever since.
OK guys, I want your opinions here.
The headlights always looked like an optical illusion to me.
Are the high beams just a little bit lower than the low beams?
It has always looked like that to me on these cars.
Does this have the PNDSLR Hydramatic?
Twin Turbine Dynaflow. PNDLR.
Oh yeah, it’s a Buick. Thank you, my mistake.
Hey Miguel, I see what you mean, now that you mentioned it. Looking at a picture straight on at the front, I think they are even. That’s just my opinion.
I should have measured one when I had the chance.
I think the designers made the high beams a little lower just to screw with us.