25186 Members
87 Forums
114367 Topics
506899 Posts
Max Online: 479 @ 03/26/08 04:18 PM
|
|
|
Lost your password? Can't remember your username? Having registration problems? Answers to many of these problems can be
FOUND HERE!
|
|
|
#395130 - 12/17/06 09:39 PM
1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
|
Pete Phillips
Member
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 699
|
Can't keep this off the net any longer--I'm about to burst with excitement over what I've found. Two BCA buddies and I went together and jumped on this '63 Wildcat convertible with factory 4-speed transmission, about 3 hours after it first appeared on Ebay a couple of weeks ago, with a reasonable "buy it now". I've researched it a bit, and have learned that there were 30 '63 Wildcats with 4-speed, of which 6 were convertibles. Can anyone else verify that? How many could be left?
The car arrived today from New England. The floors, rockers, and rear quarters are shockingly rusty, and my heart sank when I first saw it. But I started that 401 and eased it from the transport truck into my garage. Man, this thing runs nicely and sounds just like it should. 87,000 miles appear to be original. Transmission and clutch seem to be good. The next decision is whether to jump in and do the $5000 to $10,000 that this thing needs in body work, and how far to go on the interior which is original but somewhat faded. I only have 5-6 other projects waiting for my attention...! What's it worth when done...any guesses or experience? Should we just put a new top on it and fix the rusted brake lines so it can be driven as is? Anyone know of a rust-free '63 coupe body that I can get for body parts? Every panel on this convertible has some rust, with exception of the hood. Thank goodness the frame is solid and rust-free, and the cowl seems fine.
Pete Phillips, BCA #7338
Sherman, TX
Attachments
429808-63wildcatarrival.jpg (486 downloads)
Description:
Edited by Pete Phillips (12/17/06 09:43 PM)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395131 - 12/17/06 09:41 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
Pete Phillips
Member
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 699
|
Trying again on photo attachment.
Pete
Attachments
429810-63wildcat4-speed.jpg (486 downloads)
Description:
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395132 - 12/17/06 09:45 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
Pete Phillips
Member
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 699
|
One more photo, after car got cleaned up from its long haul.
Pete
Attachments
429812-63wildcatrtfront.jpg (491 downloads)
Description:
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395133 - 12/17/06 09:50 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
Pete Phillips
Member
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 699
|
Here is a photo of the passenger side floor. Previous owner stuck a red and white metal sign over the huge rust holes. Scary, isn't it? Left side floor is not quite this bad. I'll need all of the encouragement that I can get!
Pete Phillips
BCA #7338
Sherman, TX
Attachments
429815-63wildcatfloor.jpg (428 downloads)
Description:
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395134 - 12/17/06 10:38 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
Glassesguy
Member
Registered: 03/05/05
Posts: 172
Loc: Ohio
|
Pete:
What a find!! I say do the things you need to do to make it safe and drivable, then go have fun with it while you finish the other projects. Put some shine on the chrome and spray bomb the rust for cosmetics. You know darn well if you start going all the way on this one, unanticipated things will come up and push your other projects back even further. Take the car to some shows so the smart a-ses there can see Buick had the performance and power to rival any 409, 413, or 406 that was on the streets at that time. Keep us posted with pictures of your progress. Great work on the Bugle.
_________________________
Dave Rex BCA 1649
1939 Special 4 door
1965 LeSabre Conv
1997 Riviera
2007 Pacifica
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395135 - 12/17/06 11:01 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Glassesguy]
|
Thriller
Member
Registered: 09/06/03
Posts: 2202
Loc: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
|
Sweet find Pete. The body doesn't look that bad, compared to what my '66 'Cat was, although your floors are in tougher shape (I just had to get patches in the trunk).
You darn Texans are so spoiled for bodies... 
I'm not sure I'd want to drive it if it meant risking falling through the floor  Other than that, though, the car looks to be a decent driver. Have some fun with it while you whittle down the number of projects.
Oh yeah, go smoke a 409 for me 
_________________________
Derek Thille BCA #39416, CBC, MBCC #1984 66 Wildcat Custom Coupe - "Ellie" / 62 Special Convertible / 61 Invicta Convertible / 56 Special 4-door Sedan / 52 Roadmaster 4-door / 41 Special 41SE Sedan / 29 McLaughlin Buick Model 51 2006 Buick Rainier - "Ruby" / 2005 GMC Sierra K2500 - "Max" (the hauler) Thriller's Buick Page
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395136 - 12/18/06 12:31 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
MrEarl
Long Time Member
Registered: 07/14/03
Posts: 3521
Loc: NE Georgia
|
So you're the one that grabbed it. I saw it one night and thought this ain't gonna last long and sure'nuf it was gone the next day by noon. CONGRATULATIONS.That's an awesome car and one helluva find. A 63 Wildcat would have been nice but a convertible!!! I don't think you'll have any trouble doubling your money on this one. Glad to see it go to someone so deserving and worthy.
_________________________
Lamar in Athens, Georgia
BCA- 39474, 1959 BDBCA-0021, AACA-228846  1954 BUICK "The Beautiful Buy"1954 Roadmaster 76R, 2 DR HT - DoraB, (Irene,gone down under) 1954 Roadmaster 72R 4 DR - Buttercup, Dakota, Blue Belle, Virginia, Marietta, "High Society" (thank you Paul Meyer) 1954 Century 66R 2 DR HT- "54Muscle" w/3 speed stick(thank you Jim Schilf & Norm Kortus), Mary Jane Verkauft bis ein, wer 54 Buicks in Deutschland liebt, dankt Freund 1954 Special 41D 4 DR Deluxe Sedan 3 speed- Sugar Magnolia
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395137 - 12/18/06 03:40 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: MrEarl]
|
MrEarl
Long Time Member
Registered: 07/14/03
Posts: 3521
Loc: NE Georgia
|
Pete, Man I can't quit thinking about your getting this car and just what a rare icon of the EARLY muscle cars it is. The 63 409 Impala SS is about the only thing close to being in its class. As far as value, I don't think you will find much to compare it to thus you will basically be setting it's own worth. In my opinion, properly restored, it could be worth just as much as some of the 70's muscle cars that typically sell in the six digit figures. What this is saying though is that there is only one way to restore this car and that is to a #1 or concours condition. So maybe you should go ahead and drive it around and enjoy it a little now before you get started with the restoration.
BTW I notice it didn't take you long to get this one home did it? 
_________________________
Lamar in Athens, Georgia
BCA- 39474, 1959 BDBCA-0021, AACA-228846 1954 BUICK "The Beautiful Buy"1954 Roadmaster 76R, 2 DR HT - DoraB, (Irene,gone down under) 1954 Roadmaster 72R 4 DR - Buttercup, Dakota, Blue Belle, Virginia, Marietta, "High Society" (thank you Paul Meyer) 1954 Century 66R 2 DR HT- "54Muscle" w/3 speed stick(thank you Jim Schilf & Norm Kortus), Mary Jane Verkauft bis ein, wer 54 Buicks in Deutschland liebt, dankt Freund 1954 Special 41D 4 DR Deluxe Sedan 3 speed- Sugar Magnolia
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395139 - 12/18/06 08:05 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
4-Speed
Member
Registered: 03/08/05
Posts: 110
Loc: Wichita, Kansas
|
Welcome to the world of the 63-65 4-Speeds, Pete! Great car and great buy, no doubt. That one is an oddball too as it does not have the long console, rather the floor shift with buckets. Very strange. Best bet for the body is to find a decent but needing restoration coupe or conv., they usually don't break the banks in sales dollars. 63 Wildcats are extremely cool, but just don't bring what the Chevys bring, which is great for buyers like us. As far as how much to spend, how much do you like the car? The more you are around it the more you will like, trust me.
Enjoy the shifting!
Matt
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395140 - 12/19/06 07:38 AM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
70Wildcat
Member
Registered: 07/04/05
Posts: 71
Loc: Framingham Ma.
|
Good luck on that,will really be something when it's finished. Just to show you what a small world it is.....I met a gentleman last summer at a gas station I hang out at. He's a parts salesman,really a Ford guy,but we got to talking and he told me that he had picked up a 64 Wildcat convertible but really didn't drive it much,said his sons weren't into it etc. I think he was thinking of selling it but hadn't made up his mind. Hadn't seen him since. So yesterday for some reason I thought of him and was talking to a friend about him and the car. Went to get gas and there he was on a sales call. We got to talking and I asked him about the Wildcat. He told me that he still had it and thought he was going to keep it. Now being a Ford guy he doesn't much about Buicks. I then found out that it's a 63 Wildcat convertible not a 64. We talked about an hour....he's forgotten more about cars than I'll never know,but he wanted me to tell him all about Wildcats. Also found out he lives about 15 minutes from my house and he wants me to see the car. He had it out last week. Burgundy with a tan top,chrome wheels,buckets and console with an odd option of a two barrel carb. Sounds like a strong condition 3 car. Just missing a few interior pieces. So after New Years will hook up with him(hard to wait that long). My buddy who owns the gas station told me last summer that he thought that someday I would end up it. I think he might be thinking about selling...told me that he was thinking about a Shelby,but I'm not pushy,hope he enjoys it and if he gets bored with it....I'm in the neighborhood. Of course my girlfriend always says...."You don't have room for another car"...probably could hide it under cover on the patio and tell her I bought new lawn furniture.
Mark Lewis
BCA#41402
65&70 Wildcats.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395141 - 12/21/06 11:21 AM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
old-tank
Member
Registered: 12/29/99
Posts: 967
Loc: Seguin, TX, USA
|
Quote:
Here is a photo of the passenger side floor. Previous owner stuck a red and white metal sign over the huge rust holes. Scary, isn't it? Left side floor is not quite this bad. I'll need all of the encouragement that I can get!
Pete, that is a painfully familiar site(like this)...at least you might be able to haul watermelons in this one...Willie
_________________________
55 Centurys 63; 63; 66C People who use tools bleed a lot! Keep your mouth open so it doesn't hit you in the face! BuickRestorer
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395142 - 12/21/06 09:02 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
JohnD1956
Member
Registered: 03/29/03
Posts: 2207
Loc: New York
|
Oh Boy! A 63 Cat with a convertible and a 4 speed. Mr. Earl is right. The car has to have a top quality restoration. But before that, you can still get some nice driving time in that baby!!! I love that thing!
Was this car advertised in the Bugle back in October? I had asked my Brother to look at one advertised in RI since he moved there this year. And he agreed, but then I called him off. I just don't have room for another Ragtop without kicking the 56 outside. These stupid Northeast winters really take a toll on the cars. But that one looks salvageable and like a lot of fun besides.
Good Luck with it Pete. Maybe you can do a feature on it in the Bugle with some more pictures while it gets pieced back together over time?
JD
_________________________
John C. De Fiore BCA # 3757 56 Super 56R 69 GS 400 Convertible 69 Electra Limited 2 dr.( well, no longer limited although still unique) 95 Riviera Supercharged (sold) 06 Lacrosse CXL Doing my part to stimulate the economy! Member of the UPSTATE NY CHAPTER check it out at http://unybca.skyphix.com/
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395143 - 12/27/06 10:59 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: Pete Phillips]
|
4-Speed
Member
Registered: 03/08/05
Posts: 110
Loc: Wichita, Kansas
|
Pete, is that a 59 Parklane Cruiser with flesh colored interior I see right next to the 63? If so, I have that same exact Merc (color and all) parked next to my black 63 4-speed coupe. Very good taste in cars!
Have fun with the stick shift!
Matt
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#395144 - 12/28/06 06:08 PM
Re: 1963 Wildcat conv. 4-speed
[Re: JohnD1956]
|
Pete Phillips
Member
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 699
|
Thanks, guys, for all of the advice--it is greatly appreciated as we try to decide what to do with this car--definitely leaning towards a full restoration if we can swing it. No, I don't think this car was not advertised in the Bugle recently. And, yes, that is my 1959 Mercury Park Lane 4-dr. hardtop parked next to it, black-on-black car with original paint. Man, you guys have good eyes!
Pete Phillips
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: BUICK RACER, R W Burgess, 24T42, Peter J.Heizmann, Steve Moskowitz, Brenda Shore, gagliaj
|
