Buick Wildcat
Buick Wildcat Sedan ( 1964)
The Buick Wildcat was an automobile of the upper middle class, which was produced by the fall of 1962 until the end of 1970 by the successor to the Buick Invicta.
In the first year the Wildcat was only a sub- series of Invicta, the (239 kW) equipped performance as a two-door hardtop with the high-performance version of the V8 engine with 6571 cc and 325 hp. This engine was because of its torque of 445 ft. lbs. known as the " Wildcat 445 ".
Compared with the normal Invicta Wildcat had also individual seats, a center console with tachometer and automatic gearshift lever (Turbine Drive automatic transmission ), special decorative stripes on the sides of the vehicle, a vinyl roof and a private Emblem: The stylized head of a wildcat at the two C-pillars. The Wildcat had the three vents on the front fenders like the Invicta and LeSabre, a design only for model year 1963.
From 1963, the Wildcat was its own series, set during the Invicta. The cars had the three vents of not more last year, but instead, chrome strips on the front fenders, just behind the wheel openings. As the Wildcat for their own series, was a four-door hardtop sedan arrived, a two-door convertible and five-door station wagon to one. On request, there was also in the four-and Fünftürern individual seats and center console.
1964 a four-door sedan with a B -pillar was introduced; the combination disappeared again after a year and there were two trim levels: Standard and Custom. Only in model year 1965, as average facilities of the Deluxe to do so.
From 1966 to 1969 there was again only the standard ( with the details of the 1965 Wildcat Deluxe generation) and custom equipment.
The 6.6 liter V8 was retained as standard equipment until 1966. From 1964 to 1966 there were on request also the larger engine with 6965 cc, with either 340 hp (250 kW) when using the standard quad carburetor or 360 hp (265 kW) when using two quad carburetors. Also in 1964 there was a standard three- speed automatic transmission with steering wheel shift lever, so that the buyer can choose between a manual four-speed transmission (only 1963-1965 ) or just those three speed automatic Super Turbine had 400. Interestingly, the engines were not named after the Displacement ( cu.in. in ) but according to the torque ( in ft.lbs. ). The Wildcat was a 445 engine with 401 cu.in. ( 6.6 L), a torque of 445 ft.lbs. brought forth during the Wildcat 465 425 cu.in. (7.0 l ) had displacement and ft.lbs of torque 465. The version of the 465 with two quad carburetors called Super Wildcat.
Only in model year 1966 you could order a Gran Sport Performance Group package ( option A8/Y48 ). There were two engines to choose from: a 7.0 -liter V8 with four -barrel carburetor and 340 hp ( 250 kW) was in the package price, but the 360 hp (265 kW) - engine with dual quad carburetors, there was an extra charge. There were originally 20 bhp in addition only as the merchants converted vehicles ( with engines with code MT), but soon the " Super Wildcats " were available as factory-made models with engine code MZ. Both versions (Standard and Super GS) had dual exhaust, reinforced suspension, Posi -Traction and new GS mark on the rear fenders at all Gran sport after 1965. Overall, 1244 Wildcat GS were built by Buick in that model year. Of these, 242 were convertibles, the rest were hardtops. Only 22 pieces were super Wildcats.
1967 there was an entirely new engine for the Wildcat series. As with the Riviera and the Electra 225 V8 with a 7,046 cc capacity with four -barrel carburetor and 360 hp ( 265 kW) was introduced, which had larger valves than the over-aged, first Buick V8 of 1953. The 7.05 -liter V8 was quite short-lived and was only offered until 1969. In 1970, he was replaced by the largest Buick V8 7456 cc, which was nothing more than a pre-drilled version of the previous engine with longer cranks basically, which also had the larger valves and 370 bhp developed (272 kW). The torque was over 500 ft.lbs.
The Wildcat, who was only as a custom on offer in the last year of production in 1970, was replaced by the Centurion from the beginning of 1971.
Rear view
Concept Cars
Buick has used the name " Wildcat " for five concept cars, three of them in the early 1950s, one in 1985 and one last 1997. Wildcat I ( 1953), Wildcat II (1954) and Wildcat III (1955 ) were designed under Harley Earl, I and II still exist today.
The 1985 Wildcat was a radical mid-engined sports car with four-wheel drive and had a high performance V6 engine with two overhead camshafts. The chassis was made of carbon fiber and vinyl ester fiber and the body had a retractable roof for entry and exit of the occupants. This futuristic vehicle belongs today Buick and is still operational.
1997 Buick built a concept car called Riviera Wildcat. This car had interior panels made of carbon fiber instead of imitation wood, blackened exterior chrome parts and the engine was changed.