There’s nothing quite like a rare muscle car, right? This video plunks us square inside the passenger compartment of a good one. A 1964 Buick Wildcat powered by the king of the hill 425ci, dual quad topped Nailhead that’s backed by a four speed manual transmission. Adding to the fun with this car is the fact that it is a manual steering and a manual brake machine as well. Whoever bought this car in 1964 knew exactly what they were doing and really wanted something that would haul some ass. With something like 360hp and nearing 500 lb-ft of torque, this is an engine that had some serious chops, even sitting in a 4,200lb Wildcat.
In this video we take a pretty leisurely drive for the first three minutes and then things get good with a full throttle romp through the gears. We really like the look of the console and shifter in the car and you can’t help but love the sound of the T-10 whining away in the lower gears while the guy is causing through the neighborhood.
While there are lots faster cars out there, we’d argue that few are more interesting than this Buick when it comes to the muscle era machines. People typically did not order these cars with this equipment back then and the fact it did not trickle into the hands of a racer kid who pounded it into dust is either miraculous or because the owner refused to let that happen.
Lots of times the Parting Shift focuses a hardcore race car, hot rod or something really extreme. Today we’re just enjoying a cool manual transmission car that lots of people may not even know actually existed.
It threw me right back in my seat. Way cool.
He gets after it at 3:20
Saw a 1965 Buick Wildcat with the dual quad 425 engine in a salvage yard in TX back in the mid 80’s. It was all there, air cleaner to tailpipe. Gold paint with a black vinyl top, not sure why it was in the salvage yard.
When I was a kid, I worked as a lot steward at the Buick dealership. One of these came in on a trade. I exercised it frequently. White over red with red interior and all the options. Good power and classy looks!
I love the angle of the shifter.
I’ve told people about the hot rod Buick for many years.