Out with the old, in with the old

[twintubdexter]

I finally sold that awful 1957 Thunderbird that sat in my garage for 12 years. I knew I didn't like it from day one after driving it home from the house up the street where I bought it. I wanted to get another "classic" car and participate in the local collector's club, Great Autos of Yesteryear (GAY). My across-the-street neighbor's friend was selling this car and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it parked in their driveway. I decided to buy it today. We went cruising yesterday and it reminded me of my very first car, a 1962 Buick Electra. This 65 Buick Wildcat is amazing. It looks like it just came off the showroom floor. The owner spent a great deal more restoring it than he sold it for. Classic cars can really be a money pit. Since many members have very wonderful vintage autos I'm curious what they think about this car. Everything works perfectly including the clock.

 

PS...I'm just excited, please don't take this as bragging

 

[ea56]

Joe this 65 Buick is absolutely beautiful! Buicks are my personal favorite classic cars. I owned a 67 Buick Skylark from 76 to 81 and it was the best car I ever owned. I know that you will really enjoy driving this beauty. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[petek]

Love it...  My wish list classic car is the 73 boat tail Riviera.  Perhaps when my biking days are over OR the husband really wants to make my 60th birthday next April really memorable.. Like that's gonna happen but I have enlisted the neighbors to keep putting a bug in his ear  LOL   For now though I don't think I could give up the m/c 

 

[ptcruiser51]

Great Cruise!

Are those stock wheels or after-market?

Do I see factory air?

I worked for a Buick dealer 1972-1974, not their highest point in auto history. Bought a '72 Skylark 350 for my 21st birthday. A lemon from the day I got it. Off-loaded it in '74 for a Ford and never looked back. Also never bought GM again!

Many happy miles of smiles ahead!

 

[twintubdexter]

They are original stock wheels. Do you see that Wildcat emblem in the center of the steering wheel? This car has the optional "wood" sport tilt wheel which came with the standard Buick tri-shield emblem. The owner paid $800 for that Wildcat center piece. Yikes!

 

and yes, it has factory air conditioning that works perfectly

 

[rp2813]

Joe, that is a major improvement over the '57 T-Bird.  I've always considered the '55 -'57 T-Bird a wives' car.

 

[supersuds]

I believe Phil in Montreal has a '65, too?

Those nailhead V-8s have gobs of torque.

I love it. The desert air must be great for cars. Just about impossible to keep them that clean here.

 

[midcentnurse]

That is gorgeous! Congratulations

 

[norgeway]

Beautiful....

Dynaflow, "Ron" will have a fit, I also am a GM hater though, Don't get me wrong, I think they are beautiful, but if I drive one you can bet something will break or tear up within a month..LOL, My last one was a 2001 LeSabre, bought it new and after it left me stranded in traffic on a 100 degree day...it was GONE!!

 

[toploader55]

THAT... is a Beautiful Automobile.

 

Congratulations. And as Esso used to say... "Happy Motoring".

 

[dynaflow]

WOW

is right how I miss my 66

 

[gansky1]

Brag all you want, you did well buying this beautiful Buick! Amazing condition - and you can see the previous owner's love for it. Why did they sell it?

Your lucky day for sure, congrats!

 

[countryguy]

Beautiful looking car! Congrats.

Gary

 

[arbilab]

How can a 57 T-bird be 'awful'? Unless it was like, beat to poop.

The Buick is bitchen. Buick then was GM's style and performance leader. It's still the most reliable US car (Consumer's survey just released). I was busy eating but I think they said Buick was the ONLY US car in the 'reliable' rating. Ford/Chevy/Chrysler were in the 'not' ratings along with most German cars. Consumer's surveys are entirely owner sourced. Their editorial staff long since moved to Argentina.

Olds Starfire and Cutlass had their days and Impala had its novelty (big engine/light platform) while Cadillac was always the bloated genetically-deformed symbol of 'I have so much money I can throw it away and not miss it'.

Wildcat and Riverarea were without peers. THE AC STILL WORKS?? They SERIOUSLY don't make them like that anymore. GM never got the vacuum headlight actuators right. My 30yo Toyota headlights still go up/down upon command. The windshield washers quit 4 years ago, possibly a freeze. And DFW atmospheric sand ate the last of the alternator brushes a month ago at 95,000.

I'm genetically bound to respectfully acknowledge engineering solutions which not only grab attention at the time but also last for generations.

 

[mayken4now]

Enjoy your new Car. That Wildcat is very nice! Love the color.

 

[pulltostart]

"When Better Automobiles Are Built...

Buick Will Build Them."

 

THAT is a fabulous automobile.  Love the color!  Congratulations on your new ride.  Now, get out there and turn some heads.

 

lawrence

 

[turquoisedude]

Phil in Montreal will faint when he sees this!!  He has a '65 Wildcat, but I think that's his favourite car in his collection.

 

Congratulations on finding a real beauty!!

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I am such a sucker for mid-60's design.....

.... I got twitches down below when I saw the dash.

-Exterior body colour carried over into the interior.
-The 'fighter jet' influence on the dash design with the deep-set gauges, cowling, etc.
-The chrome.
-The design of the gas gauge --- vertical needle swinging/sliding, not pivoting
-The temp and mode sliders of the heat/ac controls
-Even the pedal design.....

Oh, yeah ... This stuff sends the blood rushing south!

Ok, geek-out time:

-Gas pedal hinged to floor?
-Reading lamps still work? Are bulbs even available?
-No domelight, right?
-Center fold-down arm-rest?
-Gas cap hidden behind license plate? or did that start a year or two later?...
-"Super Turbine" transmission??? What, 'Hydra-Matic' sounded too stodgy to the advertisers?
-No seat belts in back and no locks on the seatbacks, right?
-Power steering and brakes were options but I think PS was included with a/c because of the "extra weight" of the compressor. Brake pedal makes no mention of power assist or discs so I'm betting no PB and drums all around?

I've been told Palm Springs is 'Key West for grown-ups'; is it also a classic car haven?

To answer your question... I highly approve!

 

[ken]

I can see why you're excited and understandable if you do brag. Beautiful car. Love the lines. Sorry but nothing today compares IMO. The styling, appointments and details inside and out make the cars from that era standouts. The interior color combination is beautiful and matches the exterior two-toning. Im not a fan of black interiors and today if you want something other than black you're just about S.O.O.L. Hope you enjoy many years of trouble free cruising in her.