Question

[Blake Noble]

If you had the chance to buy a 1970 Buick Wildcat Custom for one-thousand, five-hundred dollars in solid condition, would you do it?

Or would you rather buy a(nother) 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme for the about the same price in about the same condition?

Edited January 25, 2009 by YellowJacket894

[Camino LS6]

Probably the Cutlass.

[Blake Noble]

A brief list of what the Wildcat needs:

• Mild bodywork: the rear passenger quarter panel has a little bit of rust that can be patched up no problem. The rivets that use to hold some brightwork on the sweepspear need to be grinded away and the holes filled in. Of course, it needs paint as well.
• The engine, although it does run, doesn't look too pretty.
• Here-and-there stuff for the interior: carpet needs to be replaced if steam cleaning doesn't help. The headliner is a lost cause and the seats need to be reupholstered.

Other than that, the Wildcat is pretty solid. The floorpans and trunkpan are good, due to this car's Arizona origins. It's mostly mechanically sound and could be driven while it is being repaired. It's also numbers-matching; the 455 big-block and transmission are original to the car. I'm going back for a test drive on Monday and I'll have photos around that time.

Here's the Cutlass, located about two hours to two and a half hours away in Jeffersontown, on Craigslist:

http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/989634903.html

Visually, it seems to be in the same shape as the Wildcat. It needs a transmission seal and new brakes to be able to move under its own power again. However, I question if the engine in the car is original due to the engine block being painted red. According to the description, it has solid floorpans and a solid trunkpan, but judging by the photos, it will need just as much bodywork as the Wildcat, if not more (the vinyl top concerns me). The interior could use about the same amount of work as well, if not more. I haven't made the trip to look at this one yet (the Wildcat is local), but I'm thinking I might do that Friday of this week.

I'm thinking $1000 dollars cash could bring home either one of these cars.

Also, I found this gem tonight:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks...%3A1|240%3A1318

Sadly, it's in Dayton, OH.

[knightfan26917]

Sadly, it's in Dayton, OH.

Sounds similar to what I've found ... every car I'd be interesting in getting is too far away to even consider it. Very frustrating.

As to your query, YJ, I'd go with the Cutlass.

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 drive = Sept '09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"When we make choices we gotta live with them" ... Darius Rucker ... 'Don't Think I Don't Think About It'

[balthazar]

Depends on what you are looking for, no? And: keeper or flipper?

You're a Cutlass guy, is the Wildcat a diversion or an 'also-love'?

I'm not an olds guy or a conformist, so the Wildcat would hold more interest for me,

but I don't like WCs after -say- '66, and '70 is way off my list.

Looking forward to the WC pics, anyway.

[ocnblu]

Cutlass. It will give you more knowledge about your first Cutlass to have a second one. Easier to maintain two birds of a feather.

[Camino LS6]

Cutlass. It will give you more knowledge about your first Cutlass to have a second one. Easier to maintain two birds of a feather.

This was the rationale behind my opinion as well, having done exactly that many times in the past to good result.

The devil is in the details though...

[cletus8269]

im with balth on this. the wildcat would be sweet but they sort of "let themselves go" after about 66. that 455 is tempting though.

[Intrepidation]

I would finish the one you have first.

[Blake Noble]

Well, the guy who has the Wildcat still hasn't found the keys. I'm going to give him about one more week to find them, then I'm moving on.

I did get photos, though.

When the weather finally clears up a bit (an ice storm hit my area late last night and inclement weather is going to continue into tomorrow), I'm going to head up to Jeffersontown to look at the Cutlass from Craigslist.

Dodgefan: I actually am almost finished with the Cutlass. The new carb is on the car, the valve pan gaskets are being replaced right now, and the bad wheel cylinder has been replaced. The only items I need are the bumpers, grilles, a headliner, wheels (these can wait) and tires, and an audio system (this can wait as well). I only have a few more weeks to wait until the paint is finished.

Edited January 27, 2009 by YellowJacket894

[Intrepidation]

So just curious...are you planning to flip one or the other or are just into car collecting now?

[Blake Noble]

So just curious...are you planning to flip one or the other or are just into car collecting now?

I've thought about buying the Wildcat, fixing what's wrong with it, then selling it to buy another Cutlass or maybe a Chevelle that virtually needs nothing. Then again, that all depends on how much I actually like the car after its finished. The Cutlass I have now is here to stay; it's not going to be for sale at any point in time within the near or distant future.

As for being a collector, well, I'm not sure if I could actually call myself one because I know I won't absolutely baby the Cutlass after it's done as most collectors do their classic cars; it will probably be driven in a similar manner as I drive my Sonoma (that's another reason why I'm looking for another car; that truck is due to be replaced in my opinion). And I can't really afford to have a Jay Leno-style airplane hangar full of them either. I guess I just like to buy and drive old cars versus newer ones, if I make any sense here.

[Robert Hall]

That Wildcat is interesting... what I'd like to have in a fullsize Buick if I ever got into vintage GMs would be a '71 Centurion 2dr ht or convertible, or a '71 Riviera. I just love those '71-72s with the heavily sculpted bodies, and before the federal bumpers came in '73-74.

Edited January 27, 2009 by moltar

[Blake Noble]

Suddenly, a challenger appears ...

http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/1008763453.html

http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/1008767868.html

[NOS2006]

Even better than that:

http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/1009112128.html

And even better than that:

http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/998030729.html

[Blake Noble]

Well, the Sonoma is officially for sale: http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/1013493160.html

If anyone here is interested, don't hesitate to buy it.

I'm actually leaning towards one of the two Trans Ams I posted earlier. I still am going to check out the other Cutlass, possibly Saturday. I'm having a little trouble getting a hold of the seller.

NOS: I actually might look into the first posting you linked. It's just a 20 minute drive away and the black Trans Am could make a nice parts car for the red T/A. :AH-HA_wink:

[Blake Noble]

Someone, please, get me a towel ASAP: http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/1003264876.html

[Blake Noble]

Okay, forget the towel. I need a mop and bucket now.

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1001025281.html

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1000227756.html

[knightfan26917]

And I can't really afford to have a Jay Leno-style airplane hangar full of them either. I guess I just like to buy and drive old cars versus newer ones, if I make any sense here.

Making perfect sense! he he

Sure wish I could afford that Jay Leno-style airplane hangar ... that'd make things a bit easier.

I like that Wildcat ... a little rough around the edges, it appears, but still a coolness factor to it. Did you decide on anything then?

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 drive = Sept '09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Finding out the hard way what freedom means" ... Baillie and the Boys ... 'Wilder Days'

[Blake Noble]

I like that Wildcat ... a little rough around the edges, it appears, but still a coolness factor to it. Did you decide on anything then?

Ah, I've decided not to buy the Wildcat and try to find a 1977 - 1981 Trans Am (or another Cutlass) instead.

[knightfan26917]

Ah, cool.

Good luck in your search! Do you have a certain mileage radius in which you are looking ... or does distance matter?

Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...W Grill meal = 02/28/09

WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Sometimes it feels like its all moving way too fast" ... Pat Benatar ... 'Shadows Of The Night'

[Blake Noble]

Ah, cool.

Good luck in your search! Do you have a certain mileage radius in which you are looking ... or does distance matter?

Thanks.

I'm trying to keep things within a 100 mile distance or so, but if something really intriguing pops up a state or two away, I could try to find a way out there.