What year Wildcat is your favorite? The sequel

Thought I'd post a pic of my 25,000 mile original custom 4dr. hardtop-since I have pictures on this thread of my other three!

 

Yeah I like the look of the 63 as well...got the 4Dr Cat.

 

I like that story. I brought my first born son home 8 months ago in my 66 cat!

 

Well, even though I'm partial to '66, I had to vote for all of them. There's something to be said for the first and the last (especially since the last got a 455). Generally great styling...go fast with class in the banker's hot rod. I'm a little less fond of the curvier '67-'69, but still appreciate them.

Can't argue with that wisdom.

So many important things are more difficult to find in these parts...such a calendar would be on my wish list, although I'm certain I could never get The Boss to pose in a bikini.

I think I've shared some photos elsewhere, but this would seem to be the definitive Wildcat photo thread.





I see I don't seem to have decent engine bay shots or good interior shots uploaded since the seats got done. I guess that means I'll have to spend some time with Ellie and a camera.

I chatted with Topcat a little while ago...hopefully I'll be able to get some bits and pieces from him that will take the car up a notch. I recently got rally wheels that I need to get cleaned up and get center caps for. So much to do, so little time.

 

Here's mine in the process of being reassembled after the paint and body guys got finished. Gotta love them Cats.

 

Nice Car! I found on my 63 Cat putting on the trim was the hard part. Making sure you don't scratch it. Love that year.
Pat

 

Pat,
Thanks...that trim was a real challenge (insert creative cussing here). Yeah I love the '63's. All the trim went on really well and no scratches. Now it's time for the headliner (got any pics of yours? could use em) and just messin around with cleaning up the engine (more pics there please). Thanks...

Bruce

 

I don't have a picture of the headliner. I had a upholstery guy put in a new head liner. It's too big a job for me.

 

Sergeant Major, She is looking good! :TU: More pictures :kodak:

 

Don,
Thanks... still a long way to go though..headliner is next, if I can figure out what the material looks like (not going to use that foam stuff though) anyway.. heres a couple more..

 

I just installed chrome rims on my Wildcat.

I've been searching for these since I got the car 3 years ago. I got a deal at 100$ for a set of 4 as they are still in quite good condition for a driver!

 

Phil,
As usual your Cat looks great!! Even better with those rims. You got a steal for $100. :TU:

 

Now, It really needs a nice paint like yours!

 

I sure would like a set of those center caps! Any extras?

 

I do have one spare with a badly cracked lens... And I used one original center cap that I bought many years ago (before I had a '65!) which was in decent shape. And I fabricated 3 of those that are on my car with 1971 or newer "BUICK MOTOR DIVISION" center caps from which I kept the chrome rings and retaining springs and I made the plastic lenses from 1965 Wildcat wheelcovers (1965 is the only year for these center caps and the only year from which the plastic lens of the wheelcovers can be used to fabricate these center caps). The 1966 and 1967 wheelcovers have a similar medaillon in the center but they don't fit.
There are very minor differences between the original 1965 and the 1971-newer center caps but unless you compare both side by side, it's almost impossible to tell.

About the wheels, their webs are a bit too dark for a '65.
That's because they are 1966 and 1967 (drum brake) wheels that I modified so the 1965 center caps would fit them. I reduced size of the hole in the center from 2 1/8" to 2" with a piece of exhaust pipe that I welded in place. I was quite happy with the result as it was easier than expected!

 

That's my favourite design from GM's best year!

 

This may be a dumb thing to ask but what kind of mpg city/hwy do you get with your Cats? I've taken an interest in them lately as opposed to Skylarks. I like to be different and love driving a sleeper instead of a belly button car like everyone else..:TU:

 

City... probably around 10-12 Highway about 18, maybe 20.. all I know is that the gauge goes towards "E" pretty quickly..but dam I love driving it!!!!

 

I think the difference in mpg is slight between the mid size cars and the big ones.