Not a marauder, but...

[99SVT]

I thought I'd post this up as it might be of intrest.

Finally, the body work on my 1970 Buick Wildcat is done. Now I just have to pick it up and get it back to Edmonton somehow, the shop is in Edson BTW. (about 150kms away)

Background:
The car was purchased by my Dad new off the lot in Feb. 1970. He drove it daily until 1983, parked it in the grass and promptly forgot about it.
He refused quite a few offers to buy it over the years and there it sat until 2003 when I decided to pull it out of the weeds to see if I could resurrect it.

Surprisingly, the only things it needed to start up was a new battery and some gas in the tank after I fogged the cylinders. I spent a week of summer leave and ~$600 to get it roadworthy enough to drive it 400kms to Edmonton. It sat in my parking lot for a few years while I planned what I wanted to do to it and figure out a way to pay for the restoration. The opportunity to pay for the bodywork came with my tour in Afganistan, so I dropped the car off at a body shop in Edson that a friend of mine works at and went on tour.

Next step is the interior of the car.

Specs:
1970 Buick Wildcat 2 door sport coupe, fire red paint with white vinyl top.
455ci 370hp@4600rpm/510lb tq@2800rpm
TH400 3 speed auto
3.07:1 rear ratio

Production: 9447 units

Before pics:
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/265950.jpg
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/265951.jpg
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/265955.jpg

Progress pics:
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/265958.jpg
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/265959.jpg
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/265960.jpg

After pics to follow.....

[Motorhead350]

I think it looks a lot meaner already. If I was you I would keep the car one color and not a 2 tone. Whatever you do I wanna see it. Cool choice and best of luck! ;)

[SeaKingDriver]

Looks like a real nice project. Let me know when it's done, I'd like to come and see it.

Marvin, Edmonton

[jgc61sr2002]

Nice restoration.:D :up:

[bryanthomas]

Please keep us updated on this project! I love those classic Buicks with the stump pulling torque ratings!

:burnout:

[ckadiddle]

Wow. Love those 455s. I drove a three ton hearse with a "rocket 455" for a few years and that huge beast would move. Can't imagine what a 455 would do in a "smaller" car!

[99SVT]

I think it looks a lot meaner already. If I was you I would keep the car one color and not a 2 tone. Whatever you do I wanna see it. Cool choice and best of luck! ;)

Well, I'm going to put the vinyl top back on it. With 2 acres of sheet metal it needs something to break it up. I'm removing the bumper strips on the sides though, I think it masks the bodylines a little too much.


Looks like a real nice project. Let me know when it's done, I'd like to come and see it.

Marvin, Edmonton

Will do, once I get the vinyl top on and the seats/carpets done I'll be driving it around and taking it to the cruise nights at White Oaks and the Petro Can on Fort Road.

[mailman]

Great car ! My folks had either a 67 or 68. I wish I could get my hands on it.

[99SVT]

Well here's an update:
I drove down to the shop to pay for everything and to take a look/ pictures. Wow, what a transformation. It's hard to tell it was just a rusty old car a few months ago. The color is Torch Red, a little different than the original Fire Red, but you would have to have two cars side by side to tell. The original paint code would have added about $1000 to the bill (expensive paint) and I can spend that money elswhere. The top is painted white, but I'll eventually get a vinyl top for it. The only problem is that I didn't have any way to get it home, so It'll have to stay there a while longer.

Here's some pictures that I took:

http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/267593.jpg
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/267594.jpg
http://www.filehigh.com/serve/2912/267595.jpg

[endless]

wow, what a change!

looks nice. I prefer bigger modern rims, but i can respect some one keeping it stock

[99SVT]

wow, what a change!

looks nice. I prefer bigger modern rims, but i can respect some one keeping it stock

I was looking at getting 17" billet aluminum Buick rally wheels from Wheel Vintiques however they want $600+ a rim. So I found a set of Riviera rallies that I'll put on for much cheaper.
My goal for this car is a fun drivable car with some decent performance gains that won't break the bank. The Wildcat will never return the money I put into it so I'm trying not to sink all the money I have into it. I would love to be able to put some modern high performance rubber under it, but that will have to wait a while.

[de minimus]

Looks fantastic. When I was a kid a neighbour had one and I used to drool over that 455. Nice work.