Buick Wildcat

Buick Wildcat: generations: what actually changed between 1 generation and 2 generation

If you want the 365 hp / 644 Nm combination with the fewest listed variants, 1 generation is two rows only. If you want a measured kerb weight, 4-speed Manual, or a 6.6-litre engine, that exists only in 2 generation.

1 generation (1963–1964), Cabrio, 2 versions. Both are 7.0 AT 365 hp and 7.0 MT 365 hp: 365 hp (268 kW) at 5000 rpm, 644 Nm at 3200 rpm, 7019 cm³, compression 10.3, bore and stroke 106.2 × 99.1. Gearbox is Automatic 3 or Manual 3. Kerb weight is not measured. Rear suspension is not measured. Rear brakes are not measured. Front brakes are Disc. Front suspension is Independent, spring.

2 generation (1965–1970), Cabrio, 12 versions in the data (the generation record states 25 modifications; this article uses the 12 rows supplied). The buyer’s choice widens: 6.6 MT, 6.6 AT, 7.0 MT, 7.0 AT, with 319, 330, 345, and 365 hp, displacements 6572, 6970, and 7041 cm³, and kerb weights 1810, 1890, 1930, 1970, 1995 kg. Peak power rpm is 4400 on most 2 generation rows and 5600 on the 7041 cm³ pair. Rear suspension is Dependent, spring. Rear brakes are Drum. Front brakes remain Disc.

Arithmetic between generations on the 365 hp cars. 1 generation 7.0 AT / 7.0 MT 365 hp use 7019 cm³ and 10.3 compression, power at 5000 rpm, 644 Nm at 3200 rpm. 2 generation 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970 cm³) and 7.0 AT 365 hp (6970 cm³) keep 365 hp (268 kW) but move peak power to 4400 rpm, drop torque to 631 Nm (−13 Nm), use 6970 cm³ (−49 cm³ versus 7019), and compression 10.25 (−0.05). 2 generation 7.0 MT 365 hp (7041 cm³) and 7.0 AT 365 hp (7041 cm³) restore 644 Nm at 3200 rpm, raise displacement to 7041 cm³ (+22 cm³ versus 7019), keep 10.25 compression, and move peak power to 5600 rpm. Specific output: 365 / 7.019 ≈ 52.0 hp/l (1 generation) versus 365 / 6.970 ≈ 52.4 hp/l (6970 cm³ 2 generation, the highest in the set) versus 365 / 7.041 ≈ 51.8 hp/l (7041 cm³).

If you want the 365 hp / 644 Nm combination with the fewest listed variants, 1 generation is two rows only. If you want a measured kerb weight, 4-speed Manual, or a 6.6-litre engine, that exists only in 2 generation.

Engines and specs: every listed version

Same names are distinguished by hp, gears, displacement, and kerb as in the data.

Bore × stroke: 6.6-litre rows 106.36 × 92.46; 6970 cm³ rows 109.54 × 92.46; 7041 cm³ rows 106.36 × 99.06; 1 generation 7019 cm³ rows 106.2 × 99.1.

Horsepower, specific output, and what the extra displacement buys

6.6 cluster (6572 cm³). 6.6 MT 319 hp at compression 8.75 makes 48.5 hp/l and 88.7 Nm/l. Raising compression to 10.25 (+1.50) on 6.6 MT 330 hp and 6.6 AT 330 hp adds 11 hp and 20 Nm (330 − 319; 603 − 583) at the same 4400 / 2800 rpm, 50.2 hp/l. That is the cheapest engine step in the data: same 6572 cm³, same bore, no extra litres.

7.0 cluster at 6970 cm³. Versus 6.6 MT 330 hp, 7.0 MT 345 hp / 7.0 AT 345 hp add 398 cm³, 15 hp, 28 Nm, still 10.25 compression, still 4400 / 2800 rpm. Specific output falls slightly: 49.5 hp/l versus 50.2 hp/l on the 330 hp 6.6. The extra 0.4 litre buys torque (631 vs 603) more clearly than specific power.

The next 6970 step is 7.0 MT 365 hp and 7.0 AT 365 hp: +20 hp versus 345 hp at the same 631 Nm, same 6970 cm³, same 10.25, same 4400 rpm. That is 52.4 hp/l — the highest specific output in the catalogue — and +35 hp / +28 Nm versus 6.6 MT 330 hp without changing kerb (1930 kg on these 2 generation 1930 kg rows).

7.0 cluster at 7041 cm³. 7.0 MT 365 hp (7041) and 7.0 AT 365 hp (7041) keep 365 hp but add 71 cm³ versus 6970, +13 Nm (644 vs 631), peak power at 5600 instead of 4400, torque peak at 3200 instead of 2800. You do not gain horsepower versus the 6970 365 hp cars; you gain 13 Nm and a different rpm map, at +40 kg (1970 vs 1930) on the Manual and +65 kg (1995 vs 1930) on the Automatic.

1 generation 7019 cm³. Same 365 hp and 644 Nm as the 7041 pair, −22 cm³, compression 10.3 instead of 10.25, power at 5000 rpm. Specific output 52.0 hp/l sits between 52.4 (6970/365) and 51.8 (7041/365).

Weight and kg per horsepower

Measured kerb exists only in 2 generation.

• Lightest: 6.6 MT 319 hp at 1810 kg → 5.67 kg/hp.
• Same engine, heavier shell: 6.6 MT 319 hp at 1890 kg → 5.92 kg/hp (worst kg/hp in the set; +80 kg, same 319 hp).
• 6.6 AT 330 hp at 1890 kg → 5.73 kg/hp; 6.6 AT 330 hp at 1930 kg → 5.85 kg/hp. The 1890 kg Automatic is 40 kg lighter than the 1930 kg Automatic at the same 330 hp / 603 Nm.
• 6.6 MT 330 hp (3- or 4-speed) at 1930 kg → 5.85 kg/hp.
• 7.0 MT / 7.0 AT 345 hp at 1930 kg → 5.59 kg/hp.
• Best kg/hp: 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970) and 7.0 AT 365 hp (6970) at 1930 kg → 5.29 kg/hp.
• 7.0 MT 365 hp (7041) 1970 kg → 5.40 kg/hp; 7.0 AT 365 hp (7041) 1995 kg → 5.47 kg/hp. The Automatic is 25 kg heavier than its Manual twin on this displacement.

Spread of measured kerb: 1995 − 1810 = 185 kg. The lightest car is not the strongest: 6.6 MT 319 hp / 1810 kg is 120 kg lighter than the 1930 kg 365 hp cars but 46 hp down. Mass-to-power still favours the 1930 kg 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970): 5.29 versus 5.67 kg/hp.

1 generation kerb is not measured, so kg/hp cannot be compared across generations.

Tank is 95 l on every version. Gross weight, ground clearance, and wheels: not measured.

Gearbox: Manual 3, Manual 4, Automatic 3

4-speed Manual appears only in 2 generation, and only on:

• 6.6 MT 330 hp (4 gears),
• 7.0 MT 345 hp,
• 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970 cm³).

Those three share 1930 kg. Versus the 3-speed 6.6 MT 330 hp at the same 330 hp / 603 Nm / 1930 kg, the 4-speed adds one gear and zero engine change. Versus 7.0 AT 345 hp or 7.0 AT 365 hp (6970), the matching 4-speed Manual keeps the same hp, Nm, and 1930 kg; the Automatic is 3 gears.

All Automatics in both generations are 3-speed. 1 generation 7.0 MT 365 hp is Manual 3, not 4. The 7041 cm³ 7.0 MT 365 hp is also Manual 3.

If the buying rule is “most gears at a given engine,” pick 6.6 MT 330 hp (4 gears) among 6.6-litre cars, and 7.0 MT 345 hp or 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970) among 7.0-litre cars.

Performance, mpg, reliability

0–100 km/h: not measured on all 14 versions. Top speed: not measured. City, highway, mixed consumption: not measured. CO2 and eco class: not measured. The data do not contain failure rates, so reliability is not a number here; every version uses Carburetor, boost No, the same cylinder count and layout, Independent, spring front suspension, and (in 2 generation) Dependent, spring rear with Disc front / Drum rear. 1 generation rear brakes and rear suspension: not measured.

Fuel grade in the English labels is 76 throughout — there is no higher-octane option in the table to “buy up” to.

Which version to choose

Want the lightest listed Cabrio. 6.6 MT 319 hp, 1810 kg, compression 8.75, Manual 3. You give up 11–46 hp versus the rest of 2 generation and accept the lowest specific output (48.5 hp/l). Do not confuse it with 6.6 MT 319 hp at 1890 kg: same 319 hp / 583 Nm, +80 kg, worse kg/hp (5.92).

Want 6.6 litres but not the 8.75 compression tune. Choose among the 330 hp cars: 6.6 MT 330 hp (4 gears), 6.6 MT 330 hp (3 gears), 6.6 AT 330 hp (1930 kg), 6.6 AT 330 hp (1890 kg). Engine figures match (330 hp, 603 Nm, 10.25, 6572 cm³). The 4-speed Manual is the gearbox outlier. The 1890 kg 6.6 AT 330 hp is the lightest Automatic 6.6.

Want more torque without jumping to 365 hp. 7.0 MT 345 hp or 7.0 AT 345 hp: 631 Nm, 345 hp, 1930 kg. Versus 330 hp 6.6 at 1930 kg that is +15 hp, +28 Nm, +398 cm³, same kerb.

Want the best hp per litre and best kg/hp in the file. 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970 cm³, 4 gears) or 7.0 AT 365 hp (6970 cm³): 52.4 hp/l, 5.29 kg/hp, 365 hp, 631 Nm, 1930 kg. Versus the 345 hp twins you gain 20 hp at the same 631 Nm and same weight. Versus 6.6 MT 319 hp (1810 kg) you gain 46 hp and 48 Nm at +120 kg.

Want 365 hp with 644 Nm (the torque peak of 1 generation). Three pairs: 1 generation 7.0 AT / 7.0 MT (7019 cm³, 5000 rpm, kerb not measured); 2 generation 7.0 MT 365 hp (7041) at 1970 kg and 7.0 AT 365 hp (7041) at 1995 kg, power at 5600 rpm. The 6970 cm³ 365 hp cars do not have 644 Nm.

Want Automatic only. 1 generation: 7.0 AT 365 hp. 2 generation: 6.6 AT 330 hp (1890 or 1930 kg), 7.0 AT 345 hp, 7.0 AT 365 hp (6970), 7.0 AT 365 hp (7041). All Automatic 3, RWD.

Want 4-speed Manual only. Three 2 generation rows: 6.6 MT 330 hp (4 gears), 7.0 MT 345 hp, 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970). There is no 4-speed on 319 hp, on 7041 cm³, or in 1 generation.

Want 1 generation specifically (1963–1964). Only 7.0 AT 365 hp and 7.0 MT 365 hp. No 6.6, no 4-speed, kerb not measured. You get 365 hp / 644 Nm / 7019 cm³ / 10.3 compression in a two-row choice.

Practical shortlist from the numbers. Lightest: 6.6 MT 319 hp (1810 kg). Lightest Automatic 6.6: 6.6 AT 330 hp (1890 kg). Most gears on 6.6: 6.6 MT 330 hp (4 gears). Strongest specific output and strongest mass-to-power: 7.0 MT 365 hp (6970) or 7.0 AT 365 hp (6970). Strongest torque among measured-weight cars: 7.0 MT 365 hp (7041) and 7.0 AT 365 hp (7041) at 644 Nm. Same torque without a measured weight: 1 generation 7.0 AT 365 hp and 7.0 MT 365 hp.