1970 Buick

Convertible Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

466670X100660

Gasoline

Offered is a 1970 Buick Wildcat Convertible that I purchased in 2002. Since that time it has gone through a steady, but slow, quality restoration. It is not finished but all the hard work has been done, and done well. This car came to me from Illinois but I believe it was built and resided in California until 1996. I do not know the factory build code for assembly plants, but if you do, this is shown on the on the vehicle ID tag - see picture. The reason for the sale is that I stopped work being done on it about 18 months ago and now, truthfully, have lost interest and would like to pass it on to someone new who appreciates the relative rarity and performance this car offers. This is an original numbers matching car. Mechanically, the only thing I changed was I replaced the original non-posi rear end with a 3.08 posi unit that, coincidentally came from another 70 Wildcat convertible. The odometer shows 68,249 miles and I have no reason to believe those are not the correct miles. This is an air-conditioned car, automatic, power brakes and steering, manual windows and seat. Original color was Diplomat Blue, white interior, and white top. My objective from day one was to have a quality restoration and ultimately end up with one of the best examples in the country. To that extent, I believe the work that was done was top notch and the high bidder will have an opportunity to accomplish what was started and much of what is also included will help. What has been done - The bodywork has been done. The car came to me with a pretty solid body, but did need some work on the floor, rocker panels, bottoms of the front fenders, bottoms of the rear quarters. None of these areas were bad, but there were some holes and soft spots. The only area that still needs a little work is the trunk lid. You'll notice in the pictures there is a 2" hole where the lock assembly belongs. The car came to me with the trunk lock punched through and the chosen way to fix it was to cut a clean hole and replace the section with a good section. I have the good section but it needs to be welded in. Also, there were some soft spots on the underside back edge of the trunk lid that have not been finished yet (started but not finished). This would be a minor job. The body is in grey primer, needs a sanding and a final primer coat and should be ready for painting. Body panels are straight and true. The body was not removed from the frame however the underside of the car was thoroughly cleaned and primed. The frame was cleaned and painted (the frame was very straight and solid). The gas tank was cleaned inside and sealed, cleaned outside and painted. The brakes are all new. Shocks are new. Engine compartment - The engine has not been rebuilt. It ran fine when I got it, so I wasn't going to mess with it as I had good confidence in it. When it was pulled for cleaning and repainting, many of the gaskets, etc. were replaced. The carb was rebuilt, radiator boiled out, has new belts and hoses, but will need points, plugs, wires, etc. The engine has not run since 2002, but I would anticipate little or no problems. You'll see in the pictures the completeness of the engine compartment restoration. There are a few things yet to finish - but not much. Interior - all metal surfaces were cleaned, sanded, repaired if needed, and are now in primer. The dash and dash pad are good. The wiring harness has been reattached. The interior was originally white, and I have three sets of door panels, three sets of back seat panels, two sets of back seats (cushion and back). The high bidder will have their choice of any of these. In actuality, all of these pieces will need to be reupholstered though. I have only one front seat - a bench seat as that was all that was offered on this car in 1970. The seats and panels are all solid and have good metal trim on them. The top went up and down nicely when I got it. The convertible top pump, cylinders, hoses, wiring were not removed. I can only assume that they are still good. What else is included - The car was stripped completely after I got it. Everything was saved. Some of these pieces are real good, some not so good - some you would want to replace. Neither of the bumpers were very good when I got the car so included is an NOS front bumper (yes NOS, maybe the only one in existence), and a nicely rechromed rear bumper. Also includes a new set of correct chromed bumper bolts. For the most part, all the stainless trim - body and windshield surround are real good. Chrome pieces (other than the bumpers) are mostly fair and not up to par with everything else. They are all available though - nice pieces come up on ebay periodically. I would say all the convertible specific pieces are real good and would be retained and used by the new owner. They are the pieces that are hard to find. The convertible top frame is good and straight. The car came to me with a cracked windshield but I have a good used one. The other windows are good. Includes correct jack. The car presently rides on a matched set of Michelin 235-70 15 tires. They are fine for now but will need to be replaced when the car is finished. As mentioned, the car was originally painted Diplomat Blue and I wanted to keep it that way. Included are all the paint supplies - one gallon of R-M Diamont Z Suffix Basecoat (in Diplomat Blue), one gallon R-M LC4000 Clearcoat, one gallon R-M UR40 Universal Low Temp Reducer, and one quart R-M LH410 Normal Clear Hardener - total cost $520. The parts car - a second 1970 Buick Wildcat convertible - I have a second 70 Wildcat conv that I purchased about a year after I bought the first one. It was purchased to be used as a parts car. It had a BAD frame but was otherwise in fairly decent condition. It is missing the engine - I sold it to a fellow who was making an original GS350 into a GS455. Also missing the front seat and the tail lights. Otherwise pretty much everything is there (except has a 2" hole in the trunk lid). In reality, very little else has been removed. This was a running, everything working car (including the top), when I got it. The floor is not good, body panels are still usable but will need work (some more than others). All glass is good. Dash is good. Rear bumper is real good. The front bumper could be real good but the center, lower section has been pushed back. It could be straightened. This would have been a restorable car when I got it except for the frame. It has spent some of the last eight years outside - which didn't do the floor any favors. THIS CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION, BUT IF THE HIGH BIDDER WANTS IT, IT IS AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $500. I realize that the high bidder may or may not want the parts car. If they do not want it I will list it on eBay shortly after the sale of the listed car. I have included a picture of the parts car. What does the car need - Painting and reassembly, upholstery, carpeting, top, exhaust, tires. That is pretty much it. Some of the chrome, trim, etc. pieces are only fair - good and most likely would not end up on the finished car. But as I mentioned - these pieces come up every now and then on eBay. They are not the convertible specific pieces and many of them were used on Electras and Lesabres and often on 69's as well as 70's. The parts car has better examples of some of the marginal pieces but only some. I think the real benefit of the parts car is you would see how everything goes back together. When you're finished you would have no problem selling the parts car. I have a clean Illinois title and bill of sale from the previous owner so registering this car should not be a problem. I am listing this car with no reserve - it will sell to the highest bidder. Car is sold as is. Car is located in Eaton, NY - a rural area about 40 miles southeast of Syracuse. Or, about 30 miles east of Interstate 81 and 20 miles south of the NYS Thruway. Car can be seen (I would encourage this) simply by calling me and making an appointment. I am retired so I am usually here. I can be reached at 315 569-9330. I must receive a $1,000 deposit (could be PayPal) within two days of sale with the balance in cash (preferred) or certified bank check at time of pickup. Pickup must occur within 10 days of sale. Other payment and/or pickup arrangements may possibly be considered but must be approved prior to sale. Please note: The car as it sits is a work in progress, some areas will have to be cleaned up and/or touched up prior to finishing, panels realigned, etc. I know I will be taking a hit on this financially but I've been a Buick guy my whole life (my father was a Buick salesman) and I've always considered the 70 Wildcat as the premier big body muscle car/cruiser and the fact that they didn't make very many convertibles makes them special. Check out the many pictures and ask your questions. My only desire is that the car ends up being a nice one. On Apr-26-11 at 09:23:13 PDT, seller added the following information: I should add that in addition to the NOS front bumper, included is an NOS trim piece that stretches across the front edge of the hood and a VERY nice pair of the stainless pieces that run along the bottom edge of the body, between the wheel wells. These pieces are difficult to find and equally difficult to ship (because of their length) if you were to find them. Actually included are two nice pair of the long stainless side pieces. The pair on the parts car are not nice. On Apr-27-11 at 13:47:17 PDT, seller added the following information: 1970 was the last year for the Wildcat, first year for the Buick 455 engine, 370 hp and 510 lb-ft torque. There were 1244 convertibles built in 1970.