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11/30/2015 at #6849V8 StaffKeymaster
We saw this cool 1962 Buick Invicta Wagon on eBay. The bid starts at $16,000, and it features new paint and interior and is advertised with 69,000 miles. It’s a very cool car…. we thought it would be fun to lay out what WE would do to this car.
It’s a really clean car, painted in its original red / white color scheme. We really dig the interior, which has been re-skinned in the original pattern and the black / red carpet.
Attachments:Kevin Oeste
11/30/2015 at #6853V8 StaffKeymasterIt’s powered by a Buick 401 “Nailhead” V8 that demonstrates the same level of detail as the rest of the car.
And being a big American wagon, the “way back” folds flat to hold all kinds of stuff!
Attachments:Kevin Oeste
11/30/2015 at #6854V8 StaffKeymasterThis thing is just begging to be driven on some big cross-country adventures. If it were ours, we’d do the following mods to make it new-car reliable without ruining the cool vintage ’62 vibe.
Front Disc Brakes
Drum brakes work, but they tend to fade and react differently than the disc brakes we are used to in newer cars. Scarebird Mechanical offers a retrofit kit to allow later model GM brakes on these older Buicks.
Air Conditioning
It would be hard to imagine a long trip in the hot summer without A/C, and while it would be possible to retro-fit a stock Buick A/C system from a donor car, it would be easier and more functional to install a universal kit from Vintage Air. Their Gen IV systems also offer temperature specific climate control and a smooth, servo control using the stock dash controller. A beefed-up fan and radiator would probably be wise along with the A/C.
Fuel Injection
Holley Terminator EFI systems can be installed on virtually any V8 engine, and their throttle body hides under the original air cleaner unit, so they are virtually invisible when in stalled but offer reliable starting and improved performance over carburetors.
We usually recommend an overdrive transmission for cars like this, but this wagon probably already has a highway gear in the rear end from the factory.
Other items that would be nice upgrades would be an improved audio system, tilt steering column, and better headlights.
What would YOU do to a car like this?
Kevin Oeste
11/30/2015 at #6856V8 StaffKeymasterBy the way, we don’t know the seller, but here’s the eBay listing:
[ebay]141839970716[/ebay]
Kevin Oeste
12/01/2015 at #6868Mike ClarkeKeymasterThat’s a gorgeous wagon! Okay, I’m with you all the way on disc brakes, A/C. Not super sure I would fuel inject it. I kind of like carburetors. I would, for sure, add electronic ignition. Also, I would want to have some quick ratio steering and stiffer springs and really good shocks to take it around a corner without falling all over itself.
One thing I dig on wagons is a really wide wheel with a deep dish on it. This Invicta would look sweet with that setup.
The next thing I would do is drive the jeepers out of it!
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12/01/2015 at #6873V8 StaffKeymasterGood plan!
And yes, electronic ignition is key.
Kevin Oeste
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