In 1962, Buick came up with an entirely new idea in driving pleasure that combined the verve of sports-car styling, handling characteristics, and power with the comfortable roominess of a full-size family car. Designed strictly for American driving, the Invicta subseries was built in a limited edition of 2,000 units. The nameplate was given the model status in 1963 and lasted until 1970; throughout its production run, it amassed 371,571 units (if we count the 2,000 examples of ‘62).
We’ve seen it happen before – a trim becomes a model, and General Motors aced it: the Bel Air, the Impala, the GTO – they all started as high-end variants of another nameplate before breaking free. The Wildcat was a fast and powerful Invicta, thanks to its four-barrel Wildcat 445 V8 that was standard on the Electra 225.
Yes, the car and its engine shared a common name – but the eight-cylinder unit was the first to sport it in mass-produced form. The Wildcat name was made famous with Buick’s ‘dream cars’ (that’s what they called concept cars back then) of the 50s. The eponymous powerplants were differentiated by their torque ratings – so the 445 was credited with 445 lb-ft of crank-twisting force (603 Nm).
Horsepower-wise, the 401-cubic-inch (6.6 liters) Nailhead V8 fired a stout 325 ponies (328 PS), more than enough to give the Wildcat its cat-like reflexes Buick was so proud of. Tested by a car magazine, the sporty full-sized hardtop scored 8.1 seconds in the 0-60 mph (97 kph) sprint and topped out at 115 mph (185 kph).
A full-size Buick in its own right, the (Invicta) Wildcat sat on a generous 123-inch / 3,124-mm wheelbase – shared with the LeSabre, with an overall length stretching 214.1 /5,438 inches. The two-door hardtop was a hefty hunk of metal at 4,150 pounds (almost 1.9 tons), with a base price of $3,927, the priciest in the Invicta line – roughly $200 above the hardtop, non-Wildcat Invicta two-door sibling.
To boast its sporty tenure, the 1962 Wildcat had several design cues to set it apart from the rest of the Invicta family: a distinctive vinyl top, a gnarling wildcat profile etched on the C-pillars, stainless-steel side and rocker panel trim, and vinyl bucket seats. Three staple VentiPorts adorned the front fenders – the Wildcat was a “three-holer;” only the range-topping Electra was granted the complete package of four.
One of the most striking features of the athletic Buick Wildcat of 1962 was its console-mounted shift lever that sat in close vicinity to the tachometer. The illuminated 7,000-RPM indicator was a small, round dial tucked under the dashboard, far from the driver’s direct line of sight. Check its oddly chosen position in the photo gallery of a very beautifully preserved example of the first line of sporty Wildcats.
The example is located in Canada – it has been its entire life – and presents in great condition for a survivor with 89,000 miles on the clock (143,200 km). Assembled on May 7, 1962, at the GM Oshawa plant, this example is number 1,724 out of the 2,000-batch Wildcat lot for the inaugural year.
The 401-cube ‘Nailhead’ Wildcat 445 V8 has been professionally rebuilt and detailed, according to the owner, and the car runs and drives beautifully (if it’s anything as it looks, the driving is drop-dead gorgeous, then). The rare first-year Wildcat has power appointments – windows, steering, brakes – and a Positive Traction rear end. Apart from the carpet and the headliner, the interior is factory-original.
The car is for sale, and the starting bid is US $12,999.00 – but no interested classics fan has placed an offer so far, with three days left. The seller notes that the car needs a couple of interior lights in the console (or just their corresponding fuse) and a driver’s side muffler (the old one bottomed out on something and got perforated). Naturally, before a road shake-down, the brakes will have to be tuned up, and some minor aesthetic defects are visible on a couple of trim elements.
The eBay seller warns that the car is not in concours condition – hence the relatively affordability for ‘a beautiful, honest car at a fair price requiring some detailing and light maintenance while you cruise and show her off.’ Although it carries many factory options, this 1962 Buick Wildcat doesn’t have the $430 air conditioning that many of its siblings came with