Barn Finds’ prolific car spotter T.J. has come up with another gem for my Buick-loving heart to covet, this 1-of-2,690 1966 Wildcat Convertible. The seller is presenting it as a one-owner car that was purchased from the original owner’s estate, and with a recent paint job in its original “Flame Red” and working air conditioning, it will make anyone in the Carol Stream, Illinois, area wish that next summer would come early. It’s being offered for sale on craigslist for $34,000.

Choosing Buick’s flagship nameplate would have been a tall task in 1966, as they offered not only the Wildcat and the Electra 225, but also the glamorous new second-generation Riviera with its swoopy styling. All three came with the same standard engine, the proven and powerful 401-cubic-inch “Wildcat 445,” which had held steady for years with its traditional 325 horsepower and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. Based on the “Nailhead” architecture that had been around since 1953, this engine was in its final year of production in 1966. Most Wildcats had the “Super Turbine” 400 automatic, as does this one.

The seller mentions that the air conditioning system on this Wildcat “works and [is] updated,” so you’ll be able to enjoy this Wildcat on any warm summer day. Although the Wildcat was available with bucket seats, this one was ordered with the vinyl bench. The 1966 model’s dashboard was updated from its 1965 predecessor, which had round gauges that were awkwardly placed below the centerline of the dashboard, and were thus fairly hard to read. This Wildcat has the more traditional GM oblong speedometer, which was undoubtedly much preferred by new Buick buyers.

A common problem area for GM B-body cars was the trunk; many of them succumbed to leaks from rear windows, bad weatherstripping, and leaky taillight housings. This one appears to have been well-preserved, and while the seller makes no outlandish mileage claims, there are also no comments on any rust repairs that might have taken place when the car was repainted. With that being said, if there have been repairs, they were clearly done well, although you should perform an inspection on any craigslist car.

The original owner apparently bought this Wildcat as a gift for his wife in 1966, and she must have thought enough of it (who wouldn’t?) to hang onto it for years. Now it’s time for someone else to get a chance to enjoy this beautiful red-on-red convertible, even if you will have to wait a few months to truly enjoy it. In the meantime, you can stare at it in your garage; it’s a great-looking car.