Guest Posted October 16, 2000 Share Posted October 16, 2000 Does anyone know how many 1965 wildcats came with floor mounted 4-speeds??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted October 17, 2000 Share Posted October 17, 2000 I am loolking for this information as well.<BR>Who can help here!<P>------------------<BR>Ted Nagel<BR>65 WildcatConvSuperWcat<BR>65 WildcatAutoSuperWcat<BR>65 Wildcat4spdSuperWcat<BR>65 Riviera Wildcat 445<BR>65 Special Wagon 455<BR>70 GS Stage1 4speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2000 Share Posted October 17, 2000 I had a 65 Wildcat 2 Dr HT with a 4 speed back in the 80's. I found out back then that a total of 211 4 speeds were built in ALL Wildcats for 1965. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted October 17, 2000 Share Posted October 17, 2000 I used to own a '65 Wildcat Custom (6667) Convertible with factory 4-spd. I wrote to Buick Motor Division in 1978, and they replied that no production figures for a 4-spd Wildcat exist. UNOFFICIALLY, people I have spoken to at BCA shows in the past have reported that about (24) '65 Wildcat Convertibles left the factory with 4-spd, and about (12) 1965 Wildcats were equipped with both 4-spd and the "Super Wildcat" dual 4- bbl engine. These numbers varied from different people, but were consistently between 12-26 cars total. They never mentioned other body styles. Their figures were derived from working at, or owning a Buick dealer back in 1965, not from BMD documents. Including my car, I knew of three 1965 Wildcat Convertibles factory equipped with 4-spd, in the Chicago area back in the late '70's-early '80's.<BR>There was only one design of the 4-spd shifter and console in a '65 Wildcat, and NO tachometer was available from the factory, yet a tach WAS available on a car with automatic transmission/long center console. In 1963-1964, the Wildcats equipped with 4-spd used two different shifter handles and consoles. One used a short shift handle which came out of the long center console, while the other type used a long shift handle coming from the floor. The level of interior trim, and which center console was ordered probably dictated which shifter handle the car got<BR>Two different bell-housing styles were used in Buicks equipped with 4-spd (1) Fully-enclosed bell housing with no inspection cover, (2) Partially-enclosed bell housing using a stamped-steel inspection cover. My car had the fully enclosed bell housing. I used to have an open design bell housing that came from another '65 Wildcat. Possible 1st and 2nd design????<BR>AK Buickman.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2000 Share Posted October 17, 2000 AK,<BR>Great info. I figure there are also no exact figures for the 64, just approximates. What other info on the 63-65 4-speeds do you know? Both my 64s are the open bellhousing type. I never knew that there was one with a closed unit (or was this just for 65?). These cars are quite intriguing. There is no real printed info to find about them.<P>Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted October 18, 2000 Share Posted October 18, 2000 An interesting item on my 4-spd '65 Wildcat Custom convertible;<BR>The accelerator, brake, and clutch pedal did not have the usual thin stainless steel or aluminum appearance strips on them, like most other upper series Buicks in that year. I recall '65 Le Sabres lacking these shiny strips of metal on the pedals. Did all standard transmission Wildcats share these plain pedals with a Le Sabre?<BR>I installed new reproduction clutch and brake pedals on my Wildcat, from another GM full-size stick shift car that used the metal strips. Then, I swapped the gas pedal with an Electra 225 or Riviera. It looked so much more "Buick-like" after the pedals had the trim strips on them!<BR>The amount of wear on my original pedals when I purchased my car in 1978 was right for the cars use & mileage, so the pedals were probably original.<BR>Any other owners of 4-spd Wildcats check your pedals.<BR>AK Buickman............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2000 Share Posted October 18, 2000 AK, non-power brake cars did not have the stainless strips on the brake, clutch, or parking brake pedals. My 4 speed (64, non-p/b) has no stainess pieces except for the gas pedal. Also, power brake and non-power brake gas pedals were different, with pb pedals being wider and longer. I, though, have not seen any gas pedals without the stainless piece. Just info from my observations. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 20, 2000 Share Posted October 20, 2000 I own an unrestored '65 Wildcat 4dr.Deluxe HT with a 425, 4 spd. posi, radio and power steering. How many do you think of this model with these options? I met the guy that ordered it this way....his wife told him he had to buy a family car instead of a GS.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe thompson Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 This is a message for the guest with the four door hardtop 4 speed car. Do you still have this car if so would you like to sell it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) Well this is an oldie! 17 years old thread dug up. I know of 1 4-door 4-speed project somewhere in the midwest... Wild Bill had one but it was totaled in a trailer towing accident. The parts from that created his 66 Super Wildcat GS 4-speed. Edited March 18, 2017 by Wildcat65 delete pics (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 There is an interesting thread in the Oldsmobile forum about Delta88-type Oldsmobiles with the factory 4-speed option. Data plate info, too. I believe some production numbers, too. Related question while we're here, "How many Wildcats (of any year) were factory-equipped with the base 3-speed manual transmission"? Take care, NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 (edited) NTX - I have researched all this and will report later. (I have data on work computer, somehow the home one has been up/downgraded so it is missing here!) I think it is about 75 3-speeds... Here is mine http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f376/Wildcat65/DSC00074.jpg[/IMG] Edited March 19, 2017 by Wildcat65 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 I guess these old posts do not automatically load pictures linked to PHotobucket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 I can relate to Ted's car -- my '64 GP is a 3-speed manual car. The previous owner (#2) installed a 4-speed, but I have all of the original pieces. Additionally, it has no PS and no PB. It also has to be one of only a few... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 It could be urban legend, but I remember Pontiac wouldn't sell power brakes on the mid-'60's performance cars due to concern about losing the assist if a driver blew the engine. I had a standard bell housing from a ;66 GTO 4 speed, standard brakes, hanging on the garage wall for a few decades. The owner "Squeak" blew the engine, think the corporate guys anticipated it? Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 The only thing I remember manufacturers NOT selling with highest performance engines (and/or 4-speed manual transmissions) was air conditioning. Something about compressors not liking higher rpms for any length of time? Possibly fewer belts to replace, too. The harder-core drag racers didn't want any of that "power stuff" as it took horsepower away from the flywheel. That was before "bracket racing" became popular AND there were still enough "deserted venues" where acceleration tests could happen. I didn't hear of any body losing "a race" due to power steering or power brakes. "No traction" or "missing a shift", but not power accessories. NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I just checked my Sloan Documents for the 3-speed- 169 all body styles. For the one I have there were only 18 standard interior coupes with the 3- speed. I think I can back figure to how many would have been no PB and no PS. It is goofy steering without power, but the brakes are excellent. When this post from 2000 first appeared (old website, etc) my personal goal was to have the production numbers for these oddball Wildcats. Thanks to the Sloan Museum, I now know...that was fun learning and drove my passion. CHeers! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrlforfun Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 (edited) OK Ted: Yeah, I remember the burgundy 65 Wildcat. I forgot that it was a 3 on the tree. BTW, who would order a 65 Wildcat with a 3 on the tree and no power steering? I mean, maybe a lost leader for a very high volume Buick dealer perhaps? You got the burgundy, which is a spectacular color and a silver interior, which doesn't look poverty. Just a theory.... Besides music and heat what other options did this thing have? Mitch Edited March 25, 2017 by lrlforfun (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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