1965 Buick LeSabre

wildcat Sedan

Automatic

Gasoline

1965 Buick Wildcat 455 with 401 cubic inch / 6.6 liter Nail Head motor. I purchased this car in November 2007. I purchased the car from 2nd owner who hardly used it. This was a car from the North West, and had almost no rust at all. The one single place there was rust was below the rear window. The car did not come with factory air conditioning. I added an A/C system with R134 and all new components. I am going to list all of the work that was done during my ownership. New Windshield. New dual exhaust 2 ¼ inch aluminized piping with stainless steel Magnaflows. This is real v-8 music, I love it. There are dual 18 inch stainless steel exhaust tips. New piping starts right after factory manifold. New water pump, fuel pump, cam, timing chain, battery, alternator, motor mounts, hoses, belts, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, intake manifold gaskets, oil pan gasket, shocks (Monroe sensortrac), springs w new rubber isolators, good year American made tires, hood insulation, passenger door mirror, wash fluid tank. Fully tinted windows with metallic American made material. Replaced drive shaft and all brackets, hangers, couplings regarding driveline. This alone cost $1000.00 to solve a vibration I inherited. The air conditioning system cost $3000.00 I have close to $5000.00 invested in the paint. Seller will receive an authentic GM shop manual, specifically for this car. This book is invaluable to the new owner. I installed a lighted set of gauges. These are fully functional and accurate. I left the factory idiot lamps untouched. I also kept the original dashboard trim and drilled holes into a junkyard replacement. If ever you want to go original you can. For the A/C system I sourced all the original Buick bracketry and used an A-6 compressor. This preserves the look of period and most car people know the A-6 is indestructible. I did replace the lifters, push rods as well as the cam. This was not necessary, as this car has less than 40,000 miles on it since new. Upon opening the motor we were amazed. This was evident on my purchase paperwork and in the condition of the car. Many parts I encountered were new, from factory. All the weather stripping on the car is new, doors trunk etcetera. Car comes with a custom dash cover. I installed 3 rear seat lap belts. The interior is original. The steering wheel and dash have zero cracks or deformations. The rear seats are great, the front ones are not ripped anywhere but are not 100% there are some stains on them. The headliner is good, the carpet is good. The rear dash area could use some attention. The original AM radio still works, as is the case with all switches buttons etcetera, every lamp and light works all is 100%. All door locks and windows operate perfectly. For the body work. I started by just focusing on the rear window area where I found the only rust. The rear window was removed body work done. I then went to another body shop and fully primed and painted the car. Most all the trim was removed so there is zero over spray. This included removal of door panels to access door handles and so on. The car was painted in DuPont Chroma base in the original metallic blue. The paint color is stunning, like no other, I catch the sun’s reflection in awe sometimes. I then covered the car in two complete coats of DuPont clear. I know what materials were used because I supplied them and I was present enough to see them be used on my car. After this I hired a professional buffer who spent an entire day doing what most people do not know, that is a paint job is not complete until it is professionally buffed. Here is the thin and skinny about the paint. The materials are top notch, the paint is very, very nice however when you live with the car and wash her you start to see the imperfections. I am not selling the paint job as perfect, it is close but not. 99% of people will think it is superior. Driving dynamics: My goal for this car was for it to be totally reliable. By this I mean get in and start it, go anywhere. Well after 2 + years I got her there. Car will not overheat, ever. The idle and motor performance is perfect. Transmission is perfect. Brakes are perfect and have the aluminum drums up front billed as “Good as discs” of its period.