I've been blessed to become the next caretaker of a very cool car. 1968 Buick Wildcat custom coupe. GM company car. Purchased by the Frigidaire division of GM for their executives to drive. GM had an agreement with Frigidaire that they could borrow the car from time to time to do experiments with it and test it on the oval track. There is evidence of engine and transmission performance enhancements. The car was given a 3 digit code by GM, which is in the door jamb and on the original paperwork from 1968. One of the engineers from Frigidaire bought the car when it came off of the company car program in the fall of '68. The engineer had the car for 15 years and sold it to the guy I bought the car from in 1983. He has had the car 39 years! He wanted to find a suitable next caretaker for the car-I had to be interviewed for the chance to purchase it. '68 Wildcats are my passion and what I collect, so he agreed to sell me the car with the understanding that if I ever decided to sell it that he would get the first chance to buy it back. This is one of the most loaded '68 Wildcats I've ever seen. The car came with the build sheet, window sticker, protect o plate, warranty transfer from Frigidaire plus lots of receipts dating back to when the car was new. It came with three air cleaners-a stock one, stock one that was modified with dual snorkels, plus a Star Wars version. Beyond thrilled to have this car!
That’s freaking awesome. I had a ‘68 but sold it before I had time and money to fix it. I’m jealous! Patrick I see the obvious: buckets/console/tach, plus tilt, power windows, power locks, AM/FM, A/C, power antenna? Eight track, disc brakes..what else?
In addition to all of that, Am/Fm Stereo, power antenna, power driver's bucket seat, cruise, speed alert, clock, automatic climate control, cornering lights, chrome wheels, dual exhaust, vinyl top, remote control mirror, correct right side mirror, accessory tissue dispensers on door panels, door edge guards, courtesy lights, trunk light, tinted glass, custom seat and shoulder belts, floor mats. The window sticker total is just over $5900.
Great car and story. Talk about a head turner in the company parking lot in 68. Top of the food chain!
Hoping for more pics please! Does it have a posi? That the only last thing I could think off.. What little motor upgrades can you tell..
No, as loaded as this car is, there is no posi. I haven't driven the car any distance yet to get an idea of how it performs. The car has been sitting for a few years, so I need to finish draining off the bad gas. I sent the carb out for a rebuild and I'm waiting for that to come back. From what I've learned, the original engineer owner said that the 430 in this car performs differently from any Buick with a 430 he had ever driven. The trans on the car was rebuilt in the '80's and at that time, the shop that did the rebuild said that this was not a stock TH400. They could see a lot of custom work done internally that indicated the transmission had been set up to handle more torque out of the engine. The engine has never been apart, so it is a mystery as to what modifications GM may have made.
Hidden stroker maby!! Would have been cool or some first used stage 1 experimental cam!! The non posi is weird one, forgotten or for a reason. It has everything. Maby also the use of GM's oval track for testing had to do with the beefed up tranny. Please again keep us posted with what you come up with and pics Also wonder if member Devon. "DaWildcat" knows of these cars?
