Nailhead V8 Project: 1964 Buick Wildcat

The Wildcat was a mid-range full-size car sold by Buick from 1963 to 1970. Its name, taken from some 1950s concept cars, implied performance, and nothing smaller than a 401 cubic inch V8 was offered. The seller’s ’64 coupe has been off the road for 20 years, but has been enabled to run agai,n though more work is needed to become roadworthy. Complete with a variety of surface and bleed-through rust, this GM project must go, and the seller has reduced the price from $5,000 to $4,200 and now $3,800 (how low will he go?). Located in Pacific Junction, Iowa, this Buick is available here on Facebook Marketplace.

Buick’s Wildcat sort of replaced the Invicta and was itself replaced in the 1970s for a short time by the Centurion nameplate. It rode on the LeSabre platform and was, thus, smaller than the Electra big boy. The 1964 lineup included an expanded cadre of body styles, so sales increased from 35,000 to 84,000 units in a single year. We assume the seller’s ‘Cat has the base version of the 401 “Nailhead” V8 that produced 325 horses. With extra carburetion, that engine could be upgraded to 340 or 360 hp. The seller’s car has the optional 3-speed Super Turbine 400 automatic transmission.

We’re told this Buick has been off the road for two decades. The seller has gotten it to run, so the photos provided on the back of a trailer must be from when said seller found the car and brought it home with 91,000 miles on the odometer. While functional mechanically, it will surely need the rubber bits replaced, such as the tires, hoses, and belts. The seller found the Buick in an abandoned storage shed, so there is no title, and he has applied for one to transfer to the next owner.

Rust is present where a bunch of the white paint has peeled away, and there is corrosion in the rear quarter panels and trunk. The glass is all good, and the interior is mostly okay, though there is at least one split in the driver’s side of the front bench seat (I thought bucket seats were standard). The seller will entertain making a delivery, but that likely depends on how far away you are. You seldom see one of these Buicks anymore, so perhaps this will be a great project for someone. Thanks for the tip, “NW Iowa Kevin”.