[BJM]

I originally posted this on the AACA forum by accident. It was late and my fingers were faster then my computer.

Buick:eBay Motors (item 220500638190 end time Nov-01-09 20:20:56 PST)

[Thriller]

I'd hardly list it as a barn find.

Nice car overall...I'd love to have it, but a "reasonable" reserve with a $50k Buy It Now? I could be wrong, but that seems a bit pricey to me, especially for a car that needs an engine repaint.

[ewing]

So I guess I will be picky ( maybe because I am jealous and wish I could have it, but can't).... See why there are no pictures of the headliner and no mention of its condition... look in the visor mirror , it seems to show a ratty headliner. It also shows ratty to the back in the reflections in the chrome front seat back frames.
I'd love to see this posted with full representation of the car including the flaws.
I wonder what the rest of the chassis looks like and condition after it was likely run hard by a 'high school senior' .
Stlll, a Nice car!

[Thriller]

Ratty? Shredded may be more like it. It's not a huge flaw, although it would cost some money to replace.

I agree that it would be nice to see the entire car properly represented. As soon as you see something like that, what else is there? Sounds like it may have been a back yard rebuild (perhaps due to the teenager driving it?), which may be high quality, but may not.

June 2009 Old Cars Price Guide puts a #1 at $21000.
NADA's high retail is $28,400.
Even without a premium for a 4 speed, $20k bid not meeting reserve and BiN price of $50k seems leaning toward the outrageous.

[BJM]

Well.. price guides sort of go out the window if it is one of single digits.

It's like the swiss cheese Pontiacs. You'd have a group of potential buyers pointing to price guides and claiming little interest then wham! it'd be like yelling fire in a crowded theatre watching the collectors try and buy them.

I really don't personally like sellers who advertise the way this fellow has. I believe I remember Pete's 63 Convertible ad where the seller was sort of honest and straight forward.

But when sellers state "if you are already looking at this auction, then you know what we have" just sort of drips with condescendingness.

I think the bottom line is this car requires a thorough restoration. Motor is the wrong color, so needs pulled anyway and if it is what it is, then I want to rebuild the motor anyway.

[4-Speed]

Headliner may be in sad shape, but it is the original Starlite foam-covered cardboard headliner, and to have all 4 cardboard panels and the bows is something most do not have. These usually went bad in the first few years, and were replaced with regular fabric headliners as in the LeSabres.

He was asking $75,000 for it a year or so ago, but is now down to a BIN of $50,000. Maybe next year he'll be down to $25,000 and someone will bite.

We'll see...

[Pete Phillips]

I was under the impression that there were a few dozen 4-speed Wildcats (of all body styles) produced for 1963. Matt or anyone else, do you have those figures handy? I thought there were more than what was quoted in the ebay listing.
Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

[BJM]

But what is it's value?

Would non Buick ( i.e. swiss cheese / 409 / 427 Ford) guys be interested in it because of the rare manual shift feature?

[4-Speed]

Pete, according to the daily production sheets, 346 A7 series 4600 Wildcats in all bodystyles for 63 (344 A7 series 4400 LeSabres). So, in my honest opinion, the one of nine doesn't hold water. For some reason I did not get the body style production sheets, rather just the model, so I don't have the specific numbers yet for coupes, convertibles, 4-doors, etc.

BJM, yes the car is rare, but will never bring the dollars a SD Catalina, R-code Galaxie, 409 Chevy will. One reason is Buick never raced them, they were never produced with the sole purpose of going faster than the other cars. Why Buick even offered a 4-speed in their full-size car is a wonder to me. The car was bid up to $20K, which is about tops on its value (IMO). As much as I like these cars, they I just don't think they will ever be big dollar cars in line with the SDs and R-Codes - which is OK with me because even though very unique and rare, they are still affordable. Well, affordable except this particular one...

[Smartin]

Originally Posted by 4-Speed

As much as I like these cars, they I just don't think they will ever be big dollar cars in line with the SDs and R-Codes - which is OK with me because even though very unique and rare, they are still affordable. ...

Thank God for that!