1966 · Buick · United States
1966 Buick Wildcat
The one-year Wildcat Gran Sport: 1,244 built, 242 convertibles, 22 Super Wildcats.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
The 401 four-barrel remained standard for 1966, with the 425 optional at 340 or 360 hp, and total production is given as 68,584 by the Standard Catalog lineage; seven body-style rows, agreed between TeamBuick and OldRide, sum to that same total, though this record notes the agreement reflects one shared lineage rather than two independently confirmed counts. Those seven rows run from 2,690 standard convertibles up to 15,081 four-door hardtops, spread across the plain Wildcat's four bodies and the Wildcat Custom's three. A one-year-only Wildcat Gran Sport option arrived as well, with 1,244 built, 242 of them convertibles, and just 22 carrying the factory Super Wildcat dual-quad 425; that dual-quad started life as a dealer-installed kit, so the 22-car count may not capture every dealer conversion made after the fact.1,2,3
The Gran Sport option itself, coded A8/Y48, bundled the 425 four-barrel rated 340 hp with dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension, a Positraction axle, and GS badging; the dual-quad Super Wildcat 425 at 360 hp was available within the package at extra cost rather than included in the base Gran Sport price. This record's own scope note for the Super Wildcat installations leaves open whether that engine's body-style mix, hardtop versus convertible, is known; only the 22-unit total itself is sourced.1
The standard 401, engine code MT, is rated 325 hp, SAE gross, at a 10.25:1 compression ratio; a low-compression MV variant at 8.75:1 is listed separately. The optional 425 carries two codes: MW at 340 hp with a single four-barrel, and MZ at 360 hp with two, both also SAE gross figures without a separate rpm or torque reading found in an accessible documented source for this specific year. No transmission listing was found for 1966 beyond the general availability implied by the Gran Sport package's own equipment list.1,2
Factory prices ran from $3,233 for the standard sedan to $3,701 for the Custom convertible, with the plain Wildcat's four bodies priced $3,233-$3,480 and the Custom's three bodies $3,547-$3,701; shipping weights across all seven bodies ran a comparatively tight 4,003-4,176 lb, with the Custom four-door hardtop the heaviest of the range at 4,176 lb. The standard Wildcat's own interior trim codes are flagged in this record's own sourcing as identical to codes TeamBuick prints for the LeSabre Custom, and not independently confirmed as Wildcat-specific; the Wildcat Custom's five trim-code groups, spanning Aqua, Black, Blue, Light Fawn, and Red vinyl, carry no such caveat.3,2
Fourteen exterior colors were charted, from Regal Black and Arctic White through Saddle Mist and Cream, most marked as polychromatic finishes on the same chart; seven further colors named "Riviera ..." on the same source page are excluded from this record since they are not stated to apply to the Wildcat specifically. The VIN's plant-code digit covered ten assembly locations, including Oshawa, while its series-code pair distinguished the plain Wildcat (64) from the Wildcat Custom (66); the cowl body-number plate carried a matching set of style numbers, 6437/6439/6467/6469 for the Wildcat and 6637/6639/6667 for the Custom, followed by a plant letter, body number, trim code, and two-letter paint code. No performance-test data specific to the standard 1966 Wildcat, as opposed to the Gran Sport, was found in an accessible documented source.2
Fact sheet · 1966 · United States
The numbers
1966 Buick Wildcat — The one-year Wildcat Gran Sport: 1,244 built, 242 convertibles, 22 Super Wildcats.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat, all bodies and trims1 Wildcat (all trims) · all bodies · not stated by source | 68,584 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Gran Sport (A8/Y48 Gran Sport Performance Group)1 Wildcat Gran Sport · 2-door hardtop and convertible · 425 V-8 (340 hp; 360 hp Super Wildcat) · not stated by source | 1,244 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Gran Sport convertible1 Wildcat Gran Sport · 2-door convertible · not stated by source | 242 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat 4-door sedan (46469)2,3 Wildcat · 4-door sedan · not stated by source | 14,389 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat 4-door hardtop (46439)2,3 Wildcat · 4-door hardtop · not stated by source | 15,081 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat 2-door sport coupe (46437)2,3 Wildcat · 2-door hardtop · not stated by source | 9,774 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat convertible (46467)2,3 Wildcat · 2-door convertible · not stated by source | 2,690 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat Custom 4-door hardtop (46639)2,3 Wildcat Custom · 4-door hardtop · not stated by source | 13,060 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat Custom 2-door sport coupe (46637)2,3 Wildcat Custom · 2-door hardtop · not stated by source | 10,800 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat Custom convertible (46667)2,3 Wildcat Custom · 2-door convertible · not stated by source | 2,790 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Gran Sport with factory Super Wildcat (dual 4-bbl)1 Wildcat Gran Sport · hardtop or convertible (mix unknown) · 425 Super Wildcat 2x4 · not stated by source The dual-quad was initially a dealer-installed kit; this count may not include dealer conversions. | 22 | built, model-year | Reported |
Package rows are subsets of the total.
The seven body rows agree between TeamBuick and OldRide and sum to 68,584, the series total recorded from Wikipedia; all three follow the Standard Catalog lineage, so the agreement is one lineage, not independent confirmation.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Wildcat 4-door sedan (46469)3 | $3,233 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1966 |
| Wildcat 4-door hardtop (46439)3 | $3,391 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1966 |
| Wildcat 2-door sport coupe (46437)3 | $3,326 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1966 |
| Wildcat convertible (46467)3 | $3,480 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1966 |
| Wildcat Custom 4-door hardtop (46639)3 | $3,606 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1966 |
| Wildcat Custom 2-door sport coupe (46637)3 | $3,547 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1966 |
| Wildcat Custom convertible (46667)3 | $3,701 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1966 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401 V-81 401 cu in · 4-barrel | 325 hp (SAE gross) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| 425 V-8, one or two 4-barrels1 425 cu in · 4-barrel or two 4-barrels | 340 hp (SAE gross); 360 hp (SAE gross (dual 4-bbl)) | optional | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
A8/Y48RPO |
Gran Sport Performance Group (425/340, dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension, Positraction, GS badges); dual-quad 360 hp at extra cost1 | — | 1,2441 Reported |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A |
Regal Black2 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Arctic White2 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Astro Blue (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
E |
Midnight Blue (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
F |
Blue Mist (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
H |
Seafoam Green (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
J |
Verde Green (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
K |
Turquoise Mist (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Shadow Turquoise (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
N |
Burgundy Mist (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Flame Red2 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Saddle Mist (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Shell Beige2 | Not yet sourced |
W |
Silver Mist (poly)2 | Not yet sourced |
Y |
Cream2 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
416 |
Wildcat: Aqua, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
426 |
Wildcat: Aqua, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
428, 478 |
Wildcat: Black, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
411 |
Wildcat: Blue, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
421 |
Wildcat: Blue, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
423 |
Wildcat: Light Fawn, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
413 |
Wildcat: Fawn, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
417 |
Wildcat: Red, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
427 |
Wildcat: Red, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
429 |
Wildcat: Saddle, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
456 |
Wildcat Custom: Aqua, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
458, 498 |
Wildcat Custom: Black, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
451 |
Wildcat Custom: Blue, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
453, 493 |
Wildcat Custom: Light Fawn, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
457 |
Wildcat Custom: Red, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping weight range3 | 4,003-4,176 lb | all 1966 Wildcat bodies |
Identification
- VIN
- E.g. 444076H101555. Digit 1 = 4 (Buick); 2-3 = series (Wildcat 64, Wildcat Custom 66); 4-5 = body (37 2-door hardtop, 39 4-door hardtop, 67 convertible, 69 4-door sedan); 6 = model year (6); 7 = plant (H Flint, C South Gate, Z Fremont, X Kansas City KS, Y Wilmington, D Atlanta, B Baltimore, K Kansas City MO, V Bloomfield, I Oshawa); last six = production number.2
- Body number plate (cowl tag)
- Style 66-46xx: Wildcat 6437, 6439, 6467, 6469; Wildcat Custom 6637, 6639, 6667; followed by plant letter and body number, trim code and two-letter paint code (lower, upper).2
- Engine codes (Wildcat)
- MT: 401, 325 hp, 10.25:1, 4-barrel; MV: 401, low compression 8.75:1; MW: 425, 340 hp, 10.25:1, 4-barrel; MZ: 425, 360 hp, two 4-barrels.2
Identification
Read a 1966 Buick VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1966
- Buick Riviera A longer, heavier new body on the same X-frame; 5,718 of 45,348 carried the GS option, and the dual-quad Super Wildcat went from dealer add-on to factory MZ engine in March 1966.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The Gran Sport became its own Skylark series (44600) on the restyled body, still with the 401 at 325 hp; 13,816 are tabulated.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The first full year of the SS 396 as its own series, with a 396 V8 in every car: 66,843 sport coupes and 5,429 convertibles.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova The source engine table lists the 327 L79 at 350 gross hp. Enthusiast-compiled production: 172,485 cars; Super Sport 20,986.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS No factory Super Sport El Camino is documented for this year; the record carries the host El Camino production as context.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Impala SS falls to 119,314 as the 427 arrives; 3,247 full-size Chevrolets got the 390-hp L36.
- Dodge Charger Dodge's first Charger, a fastback on the Coronet platform introduced on 1 January 1966, built 37,344 times, 468 of them with the new Street Hemi.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The first year the 426 Hemi was sold as a street engine; in the Coronet it was an option on ordinary sedans, hardtops and convertibles, before any R/T package existed.
- Ford Fairlane A new, wider Fairlane could take the 390 big-block for the first time, bringing the Fairlane 500 GT and GTA, and a small run of R-code 427 hardtops was built for Super Stock racing.
- Ford Galaxie The 428 became the big-car performance engine and gave its name to the Galaxie 500 7-Litre hardtop and convertible, with the 427 still available.
- Ford Thunderbird A 345-hp 428 became a $64.77 option, and the Town Landau outsold every other body combined.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Comet moved to the larger Fairlane-based body, and the Cyclone GT brought the 335-hp 390 with twin hood scoops, bucket seats and a heavy-duty suspension.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The S-55 returned as its own line, a hardtop and convertible with the 345 hp 428 'Super Marauder' V8.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 package gained the L69 three-two-barrel 'Tri-Carb' option at 360 hp, and a handful of factory W-30 forced-air cars were built for drag racing.
- Oldsmobile Starfire The last Starfire of the 1960s: coupe only, moved downmarket, 13,019 sold.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The last glassback-era year: one fastback body, the 273 Commando as the top engine, and production that fell to 38,029.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The 426 Street Hemi reached showrooms in the Belvedere and Satellite, and 1,546 were built into Plymouth intermediates.
- Pontiac Catalina 2+2 and Super Duty The 2+2 was listed as its own model for the only time, and production fell to 6,383.
- Pontiac GTO The GTO becomes its own Pontiac series and has its biggest year: 96,946 built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Production fell to 36,757 as the GTO and 2+2 drew performance buyers.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans Pontiac's overhead-cam six and the Sprint package arrive beside the 326 HO.
- Rambler and AMC Marlin The Marlin's second year: production fell to 4,547, less than half the 1965 figure.