Buick WildcatThe Buick Wildcat started life as series of concept cars in the early 1950s. In 1953 Buick developed what at the time was a revolutionary prototype and called it the “Wildcat.” It was powered by a 322cu in V8 engine which could pump out 188 hp.
Leading the design for the Buick Wildcat 1 concept car was Harley Earl. The car was showcased at the 1953 GM Motorama. The body was made out of fibreglass and it believed Buick were testing the material for future production. Wildcat 1 was a two-seater, fitted with wraparound windscreen sloping at 60 degrees. The braking system included Roto-Static front wheel discs. Wildcat II was introduced a year later in 1954. The design included a new front fender style with the underside exposed as well as the front end suspension which was chrome-plated. The headlights were mounted on a cowl. The engine for Wildcat II was 322 C.I.D. V8, and with the four carburettors was capable of producing 220 hp.
The Wildcat III of 1955 had a more conservative design. It was a four-passenger convertible, and the fibre glass body was bright red while the interior was red leather. The grille was fabricated out of fine screen material and parking and signal lights were housed in the front bumper pods. The car was powered with a 280 hp V8 engines, incorporating four carburettors. Related Articles |
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