Out running around today I find a 65 Wildcat, 2dr ht, 401/445, 3 sp switch pitch, buckets, console, pw,ps,pb. Sitting on someones front lawn, close enough to the road to look for sale but no sign, been sitting some time, the tires had gone flat but it was up on blocks. From the dealer sticker on the trunk it's a westren car (Alberta). Frame looked solid, needs a trunk lid lower rear quarters and lower front fenders, and a windshield. All there except one rim and the radio. There was know one home. Can any one tell me what body panels are avaible for the car? Will the trunk pan from a full size Chev fit. Looked like it was an awesome ride. Thanks Bruce
I'm only telling you what I know about 64s, but I do not believe panels will fit from another car line into that Wildcat. I have been told however, that sheet metal from full size Buicks from 61-64 will all fit in a 64, so that will probably be the case with the 65; possibly metal from 65-67 would fit? I don't know, so I will leave that to the 65 experts. It is indeed an awesome ride.
Body panels have to be fabricated, unless you find NOS or good used ones.. You'll have to find rear body panels from another 1965 Wildcat or a 1965 LeSabre. The hood is the same as the Electra's hood and front fenders are the same lenght as the Electra's fenders but have different holes for the side trim. I doubt that the trunk pan from a Chevy will fit because the Buick's "W" shaped rear... Maybe there's a part that's the same. All Canadian-built 65 Wildcats have Custom trim and automatic transmission, all two doors have a center console with a tach.
'65 cat- I have one of these and the trunk floors were starting to go. I ended up cutting out the bad and fabbed up my own with some 18 gauge steel and body panel adhesive-worked out pretty well. Phil is that right on the Canada built consoles? My '65 Cat is Kansas City built with buckets-'ironing board' console and column shift. My '66 Southgate built is as you mention-
Hi Dan, In 65, there were only 4 Wildcat models built in Canada:46637-Custom two door hardtop and 46667-Custom convertible and both had standard buckets (and consoles with shifters and tachs). They had the same interior as the US Custom models but had buckets in standard equipment instead of a notchback seat. The 4 door models were the 46639-Custom 4 door hardtop that could be ordered with a vinyl notchback front seat with a center armrest and individual backrests (exactly like the like the US Custom model) or with a cloth bench seats, center armrests and door panels similar to those found in the Electra 225. The model 46669-Custom 4 door sedan was available only with the Custom cloth interior. This model wasn't available in the US as the sedan was available only in base and Deluxe trim. 1966 was the last year that full size Buicks were built in Canada, the models were the same as in 1965 but the two doors now had a standard notchback seat instead of buckets with a console, just like the US Custom model did.
Thanks for the great reply. I was mistaken this is a 66, bucket , console, no tach, this has something I have not seen in any pictures, side marker lights in the front fenders, these are large, look like they belong, in later models they used to come not on (not flash) to illuminate the corner or curb. I'm going back to take another look and see if I can find someone home. Bruce
Side marker lights arrived in 1968 (front and rear) and didn't flash before 1976. They stayed on when the parking lights or headlights were turned on. The lights you are talking about are cornering lights. They were available as an option since 1963 on full-size Buicks and changed model almost every year. They come on when the flasher switch is used in the direction you turn when the parking lights or headlights are on. Lenses and bezels for these are hard to get in good condition but 1966 LeSabres and Electras have the same. I had a hard time locating good ones for my 67 Riv, it took 3 pairs to make two good ones. And I believe that the 66-67 Riviera cornering lights are much easier to find than 66 full size Buick cornering lights.
