Taking its name from a series of concept cars, the Buick Wildcat was sandwiched between the LeSabre and Electra for much of the 1960s. It was considered more of a performance-oriented full-size automobile, though it was available in a variety of body styles including sedans. The example from 1964 is rough cosmetically and has had parts pirated off its engine, but it could still make a great project. Located in Logan, Utah, this once-stately Buick is available here on eBay where $4,000 is the top bid so far.
The Wildcat had a relatively short lifespan, having been built from 1963 to 1970. It was replaced by the Centurion in 1971, but with sales of the Riviera personal luxury model on the rise, demand for the Wildcat and Centurion would taper off. The 1964 Wildcat is interesting in that it did not wear Buick’s customary “VentiPorts”, though it did in 1963. Like the Pontiac Grand Prix, bucket seats and a console were standard fare with the coupes and convertibles. Two engine sizes were available, either 401 or 425 cubic inches in displacement, and output varied by the amount of carburetion. Since the seller’s engine has been pilfered, we don’t know which it may have been.
Wildcat production peaked in 1964 with the extended range of body styles, at 84,000 copies that year vs. 35,000 the year before. This Buick may be rarer than other Wildcats as it was ordered with a 4-speed manual transmission (most were sold as automatics). What’s left of the engine is said to be matching numbers. When the car left the factory, it wore white over red paint with a black interior. The white is now non-existent, the red faded, and the black in need of restoration.
Rust seems to have been held to a minimum with this car. Oddly, both front and rear bumpers are bent up but that doesn’t seem to have impacted the sheet metal. If you could source the correct engine parts and get this car running again, it would be an interesting sight at Cars & Coffee. How often do you see a 1960s full-size Buick with a factory 4-speed?
Look what this fantastic car has been reduced to. You know, as a young man, a ’64 Wildcat was what dreams were made of. Look at it now, like an old man, headlights out( teeth missing) pale, no color, you’d never know THIS was our exotic, the best we had to offer. The 4 speed is indeed rare, as generally, the people attracted to these cars in the 1st place, didn’t want burning rubber or neck snapping starts. A car for a more civilized person, a “gentleman” as it was, sorry ladies, still relegated to the LeSabre, but this car made a statement as to who drove it. Today, I fear, the glitz of a ’64 Wildcat has fizzed and it’s just an old car. Kind of like old people, with fascinating lives, but you’d never know it.
So poetic!
Pontiac had the Grand Prix and 2+2, Oldsmobile the Starfire, Buick the Wildcat. Chevy of course with the Impala SS. These were all nice cars. I kind of lean towards the 65 and 66 model years being my favorite, but I like these as well. Even though there were GTOs and 442s and Grandsports, full size performance cars were still in demand. I always liked how Buick Olds and Pontiac were in competition with each other back then as as well. I cant help but wonder if this was a Dual Quad 425. That would explain the missing intake and carbs. Its such a shame that someone started parting this out. It would look fantastic restored. And especially if its a factory 4 speed. Very rare to see them.
Only in 1962 did the Wildcat compete with those other models. In 1964, it was the Riviera.
No 4 speed that I can see. It’s an automatic in the picture
I had to look at the ad and then you see 3 pedals and the 4 speed shift patern on the console. For some reason the angle of the stick made it look like an automatic at first to me too.
Nope- that’s a 4 speed from what I can see. Shift pattern on the console, clutch pedal. Looks like the real deal.
A neighbor back in the mid 1960s had a Wildcat with the 4-speed. His was a ’63 if I recall correctly. At first glance the angle of the shifter would make you think the car had an automatic but it was a four on the floor.
I had a chance to buy one of these in 1965 but went with a 58 Pontiac instead. It was a factory 4 speed dual quad car. Remember that forward leaning shifter. If I am correct the dual quads were part of a package that included the finned aluminium valve covers not on this car.
why bother.
What else are you going to throw money at? Just think – repair every panel, repair or replace any chrome, totally redo the interior, rebuild and replace the engine, brakes, and probably the transmission, probably the wiring harness, repaint, the tires, restore/replace the wheels, and might as well put in a new windshield. Then at the end of the day, you have something. Unless there is much rust…
Yep. Couple of weekends, a bottle of Marvel Mystery oil, and a can of spray wax. She’ll be shining like a diamond.
My uncle had one of these back in 1972. I think his was a 1964 model. It was an automatic and, for a big car, it really moved. My mom had borrowed it while her car was being fixed. I remember her saying “that car scares me” .. 😂 It was a beautiful car and I really thought the bucket seats were so cool.
Because it’s a 4 speed full size Buick. “Why bother”, what a dick.
Your paying for the 4 speed, which super rare on these. This car was likely the twin fours when it rolled off the line. A very unique car and most of the important stuff is there. Sheet metal crosses all the full size units so parts sourcing is still ok.
Just find a sixties nail head Buick motor rebuild and start on cosmetics and you will have a nice car to drive. Much nicer than the new Buick SUVs I see advertised on the TUBE?
https://youtu.be/fMFeLvlzBwc?si=iZmPbGOIwryf8mYl this is a “64” 4-spd. Shifter is angled forward in this “Wildcat also. Sounds like a “rock-crusher”
Was a nice car. The interior isn’t as bad as I pictured. Finding bumpers might not be fun…I’m not familiar with part availability for Buicks so how hard are old V-8’s to find?
Parts are definitely out there, but take more effort and patience to find, especially if you don’t want to pay a high premium from the dreamers. Availability of good usable original or decent repro parts is nothing like it is for Mustangs, Camaros, etc.
Restoring one of these well is never a profitable venture, regardless of your patience and parts connections. But the reward for anyone in it for the love of the car is tremendous.
The valve cover that’s still on the engine appears to sit straight up. The only engines that the valve cover sits like that is the nailhead which I believe would be the 401cid. I’m not that familiar with Buicks so if I’m wrong please enlighten me. Love these old Buicks they had everything style performance and comfort. GLWTA
The 401s and 425s were both nailheads. The 430s and 455s were the “big” Buick V8s with the more conventional heads.
It still bothers me people totally forgot about the Buick nailheads. Especially the the 400 special “401” and the 425 which were awesome! My dad had a 65 Buick Grand sport with the 401and put the motor and munsi 4speed in a 78chevy half ton truck to replace the 6cyl 250. I will tell ya, this thing would smoke the tires off doing 55 pulling the camper when he got it! Had 4 10 Posi in rear. Those old nailheads were great but no one talks about them. It blows my mind! He had the 400 special n I believe was factory rated at 320 hp?
I owned a 1963 Wildcat convertible factory 401 with 4 speed. Great car. Also owned a 1963 Lesabre 4 door with factory 401, 4 speed, pretty rare!