Update 9/17/2020 – Error, this Buick Wildcat is not a GS.
How cool is “Wildcat” as a name for a car? In a day when cars are named “Telluride” or “Palisade” or an automobile company is called “Sellantis”, which sounds like a pharmaceutical with weird side effects, “Wildcat” is a welcomed respite and a reassuring throw-back. In fact, every time I hear that name I think of Iggy Pop’s 1986 (Real Wild Child) “Wild One” song. So, with that for a lead-in, let’s check out a 1965 Buick Wildcat, located near Pine Hill, New Jersey, and available here on craigslist, for $3,900. Thanks to local_sheriff for this tip!
The Buick Wildcat was a performance version of Buick’s full-size “B” body platform and saw production between 1963 and 1970. Unlike the Pontiac Grand Prix, Chrysler 300 letter series, Chevrolet Impala SS or the Ford XL 500, the Wildcat was offered in both two and four-door body styles. And while cars like the poor Pontiac LeMans became reincarnated as a Daewoo and the Plymouth Road Runner somehow turned into a Volare, Buick had the good grace to know when to leave the party. As the early ’70s dawned, and size ballooned while power dissipated, the Wildcat was consigned to history, not to return again.
This Wildcat, unfortunately, has been catting around outside for a long spell as the body is showing the effects of New Jersey winters. The seller admits that this Buick, “Needs some bodywork”. It is stated as being a very solid car but that driver’s side quarter would make me want to take a good, long, look upside, downside, topside, and underside. The trim is typically worn looking and the finish is faded and shedding its clear coat. The color appears to be a more recent, non-original shade of blue. There are scrapes and scratches but the visible rust is the most obvious concern.
Upfront is a “Wildcat 465” engine which is actually a 340 gross HP, 425 CI V8, “nailhead” powerplant. Buick, in the early to mid-sixties, defined their engines by the torque rating thus the 465 for 465 pound-feet of torque. The seller claims, “Car runs very strong. Been sitting so it will need TLC”. It’s uncertain if he means the engine or the entire car will require the TLC. The valve covers, carburetor and air cleaner are non-OEM items; the rest of the engine looks original. Power to the limited-slip rear wheels is provided by a “Super Turbine” automatic transmission which is really a Turbo-Hydramatic unit. Super Turbine was just Buick’s name for GM’s Hydramatic Division’s newest three-speed automatic transmission.
OK, now the interior, check out that steering wheel! I’m thinking someone named either Cheech or Chong is responsible for that item – and I’ll let it go at that. While the door cards look pretty good the seats and instrument panel clearly have problems. This Wildcat does have power windows, and A/C too, or A/C parts anyway, but they’re in the trunk. Dang, no radio, original or otherwise.
Definitely a dignified, refined, big performance car for Buick so many years ago. Knowing how buttoned-down Buick was in the ’60s, “Wildcat” is a rather ouvert name for such a staid division. But they knew performance sold and offered the powerplants to back up the name. This example, on the surface, seems like a good foundation for a refurbishment to one of Buick’s iconic models. The devil is in the details though and I would look this one over pretty closely before taking the plunge. Would you agree?
When did Buick engines start moving their distributors to the front of the engine? That’s the way I determined engine manufacturer.
Its Hard to think of any Buick Modern V8 ever having the distributor anywhere else, I believe the nailheads came along about 1953
I read in the book “A Place Called Buick”, when the lead engineer was designing the new Buick V8 in the early 1950’s he wanted the new engine to move very heavy cars very fast! The nailhead was used from 1953 to 1966. My Dad was a Buick mechanic from 1951 to 1995. He always referred to this engine as the “401” even though it had other displacements.
Year of the ‘Cat! Keep ’em coming.
OK, through the years I’ve seen several ’65-’66 Wildcats but never a factory GS IRL – and I doubt there are many people alive today who have either. I always knew they were rare so it’s the only reason I submitted it. Really like the lines of these years.
It’s impossible to say exactly what it can sell for, being both a rare car but in such a condition. As it sits I’ll admit it looks like a POS, however I’m hoping someone will save it.
And you still haven’t. This isn’t a GS. The GS option for the ‘Cat was 1966 only.
What do you mean IRL?
I may be wrong, but I don’t think there was factory clear coat paint in 1965.
I am wondering what makes this a GS.
I don’t see any badges anywhere.
I did go look at a GS one time in Simi valley California and that car had a GS badge on the side. I don’t see anything here.
This car is not a GS. The GS package was only offered on the ‘Cat in 1966 and included a 3.42 ratio posi rear, variable rate suspension springs, quick ratio steering box, heavy duty sway bars, and a switch-pitch Turbo Hydra-matic 400 transmission (source: Wikipedia). They had “GS” badges on the rear quarter panel and trunk lid but beyond that looked like regular Wildcats.
Hah! Miguel’s comment had me check my literature and you guys are absolutely spot on. The ‘tuned car’ GS triplets were ’66 only.
I happen to have a copy of the ’66 Buick brochure; have a peek at page5 of the Wildcat and Skylark GS’s and observe just how similar they are in side view – even when the Wildcat rides on a massive 126inch WB
https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/1966-Buick-Intro.pdf
You’re correct! I used the same source and read the ’66 GS package as being offered in ’65.
Thx for the clarity, article updated.
JO
P.S. I should add that I took the seller’s word too as he referred to it as a GS and that was before I researched the GS package. I assume a seller usually knows what they are selling and will accurately represent it. But more and more, I am finding that is not the case.
No reference to the GS package in the ’65 brochure…
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Buick/1965_Buick/1965_Buick_Full_Line_Brochure/dirindex.html
As a scholar of the Third Gen F-body, I’ve learned to be cynical of the guys who have an original 1986 350 IROC that escaped destruction by GM, or a special order by a guy who worked for GM of a 1989 1LE with T-Tops, power everything, and A/C. I think wishful thinking powers a lot of this type of thing honestly, as opposed to a desire to misrepresent to people.
I’m open to be proven wrong here as I’m no Buick Wildcat expert, LOL! But everything I’ve always understood about the GS Wildcat was it was 1966-only.
Compared to the other Wildcats that have shown up here lately this one is rusted out old bomb. Gotta love the cheesy steering wheel. Some teenage boy had a great time throwing this old girl around. Probably already upside down at 3900 bucks
the rust bubbling under the vinyl top at the back window is enough for me to say “no thanks”- If you had a 65′ Wildcat it be a great parts car though for a lot less scratch.
No factory a/c, no vents on the instrument panel or dashboard
It looks like you are right. There is no A/C vent on the right side of the dash.
Some idiot cut out the dash where the center vent would have been for a radio if it did have factory A/C.
Look at the heater box on the firewall. That tells the whole story. This is not an A/C car. It may have parts in the trunk, but they aren’t from this car. Also, the valve covers appear to be correct. What would be even better would be if it had the dual quad package.
The Wild One was first done by Johnny O’Keefe in 1958.
How does the author get this so wrong? I mean, from the headline to the description…there’s no such car. Why would you not, at the least, go back and edit it so as not to inform the masses who are unsuspecting and will believe you?
I love the old Buicks! Riv’s, Wildcats, Electras….My parents had them all and the Buick was considered the next best thing! Unfortunately my parents had lots of problems with them, it took them until 71 to stop buying them completely. However I would not mind getting a fine example of one of them, just for my personal enjoyment. I once saw a Electra with, I think, a factory 4 speed! I think it was a 63? It was the Square body one. The Wildcat style pictured would be so cool with a 4 speed also. I really like the “big dial” dash versions of them!!!!
In about ’74, a high school classmate’s family had a nice ’65 Wildcat. One of the older boys went off road and hit a field approach, bending the frame directly under the cowl. It was red with a black interior, 425 nailhead with the switch-pitch 400 turbo hydro. I bought it from the family – really only wanting the front seat for my ’55 Nomad and the trans for another ’55 Chevy. I gave the rest of the car (perfect rest of the interior and good running 425) to the junkyard just because I didn’t have room to keep it. This summer I recovered the Wildcat front seat with a repro cover set, has been in the Nomad now for 45 years.
My dad had one of these when I was 15 with a learners permit. I snuck it out more than once when my parents were out with friends. Had it up to 130 a couple of times. Yes, I’m fortunate not to be dead; neither from my driving, nor from my parents finding out.
Dad traded it in around 1970 as it had become unreliable. He really hated to part with that car.
Buick did have some pretty cool names for their cars over the years, not all of them of course, but Wildcat tops it for me then there’s the Electra 225, the Gran Sport, Riviera, those off the top of my head. Skylark sounds like a slow moving big bird and Regal rhymes with beagle too much. I figure Wildcat went bye bye for slightly similar reasons Dodge had to drop the Demon name? I dont know.
A real cruiser in its day.
GTL,
Same here. Was able to drive our 66 “445”/401 2 door after I got my permit. It would snap your neck if you stomped on it.
The good old days.
445/425…. not 401.
IMO 65 was a banner year for GM, damn near every car they manufactured was a looker, some of the best.
Regretfully, 65 is the worst year for the Wildcat.
There was a guy back in the 80’s that had a Wildcat setup for drag racing at the local track that was called The Warcat. Had a BBC in it, looked real ratty but would pull the front wheels about a foot in the air, don’t ever judge a book by its cover lol.
Had a 65 Super Wildcat. Factory 4 speed and reverb radio. Ran 13.0 all day long. Wish I still had it.
My God Parents always had big Buick’s, they were also an aunt an uncle that only had 4 daughters, but my Uncle did love performance cars. So he bought any Buick as long as it had the biggest V8 he could get. He always bought new, special ordered in maroon with black leather. When I was 10, they took me out on my birthday, I was kinda like the son he never had. But this one time they brought me out we had some real fun, especially when he would “kick it down into passing gear”! My Dad always had big Chrysler’s or Imperials, that uncles Wildcat just could not catch!
Holy Smokes… I grew up in S. Jersey, and this was my neighbor’s car. He was the orig. owner of this car. In the early 80’s it wasn’t running. He was going to sell it to me for $500. My friend & I got it running then the owner changed his mind about selling it, once he realized the car wasn’t “dead.” I moved away years later, and when I returned to visit NJ, I found out the owner passed away, and the car was sold off…. Now I see it located here in Pine Hill (neighboring town). I recognized this car as soon as I saw it. I didn’t have that stupid chain steering wheel then. Funny thing is, that I was recently thinking of this car, and here I see it. Thanks for the memories.
Hey Joey. I’m the current owner of this wildcat Id love to chat! You can send me a direct message on Instagram @ the65wildcat