1966 Wildcat convertible

Email Tony

Sydney NSW Australia

Tony's 66 Wildcat Convertible SOLD April 2015

Topless Arizona Cat Moves Downunder
After owning the 66 Riviera for 3 years I had grown to love Buicks and started dreaming about a Wildcat Convertible after seeing Rick Chincarini's in Melbourne. I thought a 66 would be perfect to match the Riv and the worldwide hunt began.

This exercise made me realise how scarce these cars are getting, with less than 6,000 made as compared to 45,000 Rivieras in 1966, it wasn't going to be easy but I felt confident with the Internet and the wonderful Buick community at my disposal.

The ROA and BCA membership paid off and I had no less than a total of six cars checked out, all in the USA except one in Queensland.

I would like to thank all those people for helping out and have dedicated a page to them with pics of each car inspected. click here

A Brief History on the 66 Wildcats
Buick's middle-priced, full sized car again pursued a performance image. A specific grille with vertical texturing was used. There was a Wildcat hood ornament above it. Wildcat lettering appeared across the trunk lid an rear quarter panels. (Early 1966 Wildcats had Wildcat" spelled out in script on the rear quarter panels) Only 2,690 convertibles of this series were made and 2,790 custom series.

At last, after six months the hunt was over, a rust-free, straight Arizona car for sale.

Looked a bit sunburnt but that's to be expected in the Arizona heat. The main concern was rust and there was only a little in the rear quarter. Thanks to Mike Ordway and his mate Eddy for checking it out and taking these pics for me.

On April 12th, 2004, I got an email from a BCA member who saw my WANTED AD in the magazine and said he might have one for sale.

On April 29th, 2004 the seller accepted my offer and Mike kindly picked it up for me and kept it at his place for a month gradually collected parts I wanted and filling every part of the car before it's long journey to Australia.

May 27th, 2004 Mike Ordway wrote in his email headed Wildcat Adios - Phoenix

OK, it left tonight at 7:21 PM Arizona time.
I took a bunch of pictures of it, before and as it was leaving on the truck, so it will be good for a photo album.

The Arizona licence plate is on the back. The parts are in the car. Hope we got everything, but check it when it gets there, and let me know. If it's something I missed, I'll ship it at no cost to you. Good experience working with you.
Take care, Tony, and stay in touch.

Your friend, Mike Ordway

July 29th, 2004 I collected the Wildcat from the Customs holding yard in Sydney.

It was quite weird driving a lefthand drive car in Australia for the first time but I soon got used to it.

The very next Saturday it got it's first wash in Aussie water. I scrubbed the roof clean and the seats came up reasonably well. Cut and polish and it was in a Buick Club display a week later.

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catGall04

Interior Resto: Fellow member, Paul Camilleri helped me convert the windows to electric and I made new door panels from marine ply and had them trimmed locally. Fellow Queensland Buick enthusiast Paul Benignio did a great job of recovering the seats. They have been changed to a cross between standard and Custom Trim design with the cat's head buttons I found on eBay. view here

Engine Bay Resto: The engine was not a pretty site when I got the car and degreasing and steam cleaning it did help but I like to feel proud when I open the hood so in November 2005 started bit-by-bit to remove everything from the windscreen forward. The inner gards and any black brackets were sent to the sand blasters and then powder-coated in gloss black. Hood hinges and other brackets were either zinc plated or cad plated. The whole job took three weeks and only cost $500 so I think very worthwhile.view here

I have learned a lot about Buicks in the last 5 years and also that the Buick community is a wonderful, friendly bunch all over the world, with everyone eager to help each other.