Guest 54fins Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 well, I don't want to ruin a surprise but there is a fellow building a Wildcat II. Iunderstand there is only 1, but he was able to make molds off itNow that's cool!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Wow!!! What a craftsman... Hats off to this guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 54fins, will you please keep us updated on this project? This is fascinating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 54fins Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I will! I suspect it won't make Boston this year. He has to make a custom intake, as the corvette sized body doesn't have room for the carb on top. The craftsmanship on this is top notch. I would have just stuck with the stock vett body and added the Wildcat touches. He changed the wheelbase to match the wildcat and had to completely rework all the geometry. I would have stuck with the vette windshield, he had to have a custom windshield made to fit. Virtually everything is custom fabricated, so isn't your typical restoration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Guy Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 The original Wildcat ll runs 4 side draft Webbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhclark Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 fan-damn-tastic!My favorite Buick of all time...what a beauty this is going to be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthbob Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Great stuff...thanks for sharing Fins!Its nice to hear about the lengths he is going through to get it right. Does he plan on the same for the engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David_Temple Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 well, I don't want to ruin a surprise but there is a fellow building a Wildcat II. Iunderstand there is only 1, but he was able to make molds off itNow that's cool!:cool:Is there any update on the progress of the 1954 Buick Wildcat II replica? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 54fins Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 (edited) ABSOLUTELY! it is now a powder coated frame and a lot of parts. It's going to the nationals, finished or not. Buick leases the original one and it got a better offer, so it is not going to the nationals. I think that is a mistake, but what do I know. Why not have Peyton Manning driving it in a Buick commercial? imagine the publicity. This is the ultimate Buick, assuming your into Buicks. Every piece is custom made. I don't want to speak for the owner but I suspect he will have it done. But there are a few differences. It's a 425 nailhead- not a 322. It has fuel injection, and upgraded suspension and steering. A bit odd I thought, as he painstakingly replicated everything else. The windshield has the steeper rake, the wheelbase and track width were matched to the original. Every trim piece was custom machined. I suspect that not being the original, he didn't feel obligated to use a 54 drive train as long as it was a nailhead. It will be every bit as good as the original- and then some. Edited February 14, 2013 by 54fins (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhambulldog Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Very Nice !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Is a builder of fame doing the construction?Thanks,Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 54fins Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 hmm, It's a retired gentleman with a long GM history and he is quite talented at machine work. He doesn't have an auto shop, so his credentials are a bit more underground. He does have an incredible garage shop and reproduces some Skylark parts. I tend to be careful throwing out names, I'll see if he is OK with dropping his name on the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Understand, I wasn't prying, just wondered if it was a full time builder. You answered my question, THANK YOU.Dale Hello again, My brother last week reminded my that he rode in and had his picture taken in a Wildcat in the early 50'. He is looking for the picture, it was in a parade. Dad was Buick dealer in Bloomington, Il. We had both 53 & 54 Skylarks. I tore the door off the 54 when it was two weeks old. I was 17, backing up when my passenger friend opened the door, it caught on the front bumper of a parked bread truck in front of HS. Door fell to ground, we put in trunk and took it back to dealership. I still see the look on Dad's face. Buick flew a door in that afternoon, and it was repaired overnight, and Mon never knew. I had a very understanding Dad. May he rest in PEACE.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4 bufords Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 your'e a lucky guy,my dad would have beat the tar out of me,mom would have done worse,4 bufords from ct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gelinas (XP-300) Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Very nice indeed, pleae keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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