The second Wildcat was far more radical and sports car-like than the first model from only a year earlier. The "II" rode on a 100-inch (Corvette platform?) wheelbase chassis. The little two seater sat super low at just over 40 inches high with top up... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
I'm not going to lie, that thing is ugly....however in the best possible way! The back half looks like they cut a back end off a 53-54 Corvette and the front looks like it's missing front fenders. However, if you look at it from when it was unveiled it's pretty cutting edge! This thing wouldn't have been built by hot rodders/customizers for another 5-7 years! I like those wheel covers and the color.....it kinda gives me a "TELSTAR" feel.
Just last week a guy in the shop, who's not really a "car guy", mentioned this car. I was just wondering where you got the inspiration for this article?
Wild styling, a little over the top in a few areas but nailhead powered! It would have spanked the pants off the Corvette. Thanks for the history lesson.
First time I've seen Buick's 2 seater version on a Corvette platform. I've seen Olds and Pontiac versions. Olds was the best looking of them all.
Here are two more GM "One offs." The Pontiac has a straight eight flat head with four side draft Carters' and a high compression head with a performance cam. The Buick is a rear engine straight eight OHV with some performance options too. Normbc9
I think this car is up at the Buick Museum in Flint - may be the only one of the B-O-P triplets that GM still owns. Personal taste, but I like this one BEST !! I haven't found the real story, but must have been a GM design contest to see who got the Corvette chassis (before or after Corvette?? Anyone know the story ??)
I'm not sure if Harley Earl was directly responsible for this design,but he certainly was in charge at the time.Looks part Corvette,part Roadmaster,and part dune buggy.Interesting...
even the dog can't look at it the guy is saying.. it looked real good when i spotted it with the binoculars.... saying that i'll take it in whatever condition its now in..
Looks like it was designed by committee...."Harley,you and some engineers design the rear half....Leroy, you and some of the other drunken janitors design the front..."
I always thought it was kind of neat........First pic I've seen with those wheels..........Here's a pic with the wire wheels.....
There were actually 2 Pontiac's "Bonnevilles"...........The one most often seen is metallic maroon......Joe Bortz found the other one that is metallic green..... Two of my favorite Motorama cars were the Cadillac XP-38 and the El Camino............
The whole "lack of fender deal" looks better here with the extra front lights to balance it out and hide the "messy bits". I also prefer the wheels and paint.