1968 · Buick · United States
1968 Buick Wildcat
73,561 Wildcats with the 430 V-8.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
The 430 V-8 continued as the Wildcat's sole engine for 1968, and the Standard Catalog lineage gives 73,561 built for the year, with no body, engine, or transmission breakdown found for that headline figure in an accessible documented source. Two of the six body-style rows are disputed between compilations: the four-door sedan at 14,579 (TeamBuick) against 15,201 (OldRide), and the four-door hardtop at 15,153 against 15,173. This record's own sourcing flags that TeamBuick's 14,579 sedan figure for 1968 is identical to the sedan figure that same source gives for 1967, which raises the possibility of a carried-over entry rather than a fresh 1968 count, though this is not confirmed either way. Neither compilation's full row set sums to the 73,561 series total, so that total is carried without reconciling it to either; the four remaining, undisputed body rows are the plain Wildcat's two-door hardtop at 10,708 and the Wildcat Custom's four-door hardtop, two-door hardtop, and convertible at 14,059, 11,276, and 3,572 respectively.1,2,3
The 430 four-barrel is rated 360 hp at 5,000 rpm and 475 lb-ft at 3,200 rpm at a 10.25:1 compression ratio, SAE gross. A shared engine-code table covering the Wildcat, Electra 225, and Riviera lists PD for that standard rating and PE for a low-compression 8.75:1 variant; no separate torque or rpm figure is given for the PE code, and no transmission listing at all was found for 1968 in an accessible documented source.1,2
Factory prices across the six bodies ran from $3,416 for the sedan to $3,896 for the Custom convertible, with the plain Wildcat's three priced bodies at $3,416-$3,576 and the Custom's three at $3,742-$3,896. Shipping weights ran 4,065-4,162 lb across the same six bodies, with the Custom four-door hardtop the heaviest at 4,162 lb and the plain Wildcat's two-door hardtop the lightest at 4,065 lb.3
Interior trim for the plain Wildcat is documented on a chart explicitly shared with the LeSabre Custom rather than printed for the Wildcat alone, covering nine color groups in Black, Blue, Green, Buckskin, Gold, Maroon, and Red, mostly vinyl or cloth-and-vinyl. The Wildcat Custom's own separate chart covers seven groups spanning Black, Blue, Green, White, and Red, with no shared-chart caveat attached to it, so this record treats the Custom's trim listing as more directly attributable to the Wildcat specifically than the plain Wildcat's own shared listing is.2
Fourteen exterior colors were charted, from Regal Black and Arctic White through Charcoal Metallic and Cameo Cream; five colors exclusive to the Riviera are excluded from this record since they are not stated to apply to the Wildcat. The VIN's plant-code digit named Doraville among its ten assembly locations, alongside Flint, South Gate, Fremont, Kansas City (both plants), Wilmington, Baltimore, Bloomfield, and Oshawa; OldRide's own Riviera page separately confirms this is the same Buick-wide 1968 VIN decoding rather than a Wildcat-specific scheme. No performance-test data and no options listing beyond the price and specification tables were found in an accessible documented source for 1968, so those sections carry nothing further in this record.2,3
Fact sheet · 1968 · United States
The numbers
1968 Buick Wildcat — 73,561 Wildcats with the 430 V-8.
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
- Wildcat production 73,561 (Standard Catalog lineage).1
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat, all bodies and trims1 Wildcat (all trims) · all bodies · not stated by source | 73,561 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat 4-door sedan (46469)2,3 Wildcat · 4-door sedan · not stated by source TeamBuick 14,579 (the same figure it gives for 1967); OldRide 15,201. | Unknown | built, model-year | Disputed |
| Wildcat 4-door hardtop (46439)2,3 Wildcat · 4-door hardtop · not stated by source TeamBuick 15,153; OldRide 15,173. | Unknown | built, model-year | Disputed |
| Wildcat 2-door hardtop (46487)2,3 Wildcat · 2-door hardtop · not stated by source | 10,708 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat Custom 4-door hardtop (46639)2,3 Wildcat Custom · 4-door hardtop · not stated by source | 14,059 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat Custom 2-door hardtop (46687)2,3 Wildcat Custom · 2-door hardtop · not stated by source | 11,276 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Wildcat Custom convertible (46667)2,3 Wildcat Custom · 2-door convertible · not stated by source | 3,572 | built, model-year | Reported |
Package rows are subsets of the total.
Neither row set sums to the 73,561 series total recorded from Wikipedia; rows are shown as printed.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Wildcat 4-door sedan (46469)3 | $3,416 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1968 |
| Wildcat 2-door hardtop (46487)3 | $3,521 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1968 |
| Wildcat 4-door hardtop (46439)3 | $3,576 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1968 |
| Wildcat Custom 2-door hardtop (46687)3 | $3,742 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1968 |
| Wildcat Custom 4-door hardtop (46639)3 | $3,791 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1968 |
| Wildcat Custom convertible (46667)3 | $3,896 | factory price as listed by secondary compilation (Standard Catalog lineage), basis not further stated, 1968 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 430 V-81 430 cu in · 4-barrel | 360 hp @ 5,000, 475 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE gross) | standard | 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.
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A |
Regal Black2 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Arctic White2 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Blue Mist2 | Not yet sourced |
E |
Deep Blue Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
F |
Teal Blue Mist2 | Not yet sourced |
G |
Ivory Gold Mist2 | Not yet sourced |
K |
Aqua Mist2 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Medium Teal Blue Mist2 | Not yet sourced |
M |
Burnished Saddle2 | Not yet sourced |
N |
Maroon Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Tarpon Green Mist2 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Scarlet Red2 | Not yet sourced |
T |
Desert Beige2 | Not yet sourced |
V |
Charcoal Metallic2 | Not yet sourced |
Y |
Cameo 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 |
|---|---|---|
428, 478 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Black, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
411 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Blue, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
421 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Blue, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
410 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Green, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
420 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Green, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
423 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Buckskin, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
413 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Gold, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
417 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Maroon, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
427 |
LeSabre Custom/Wildcat: Red, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
468 |
Wildcat Custom: Black, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
458, 498 |
Wildcat Custom: Black, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
461 |
Wildcat Custom: Blue, cloth and vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
451 |
Wildcat Custom: Blue, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
450 |
Wildcat Custom: Green, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
452 |
Wildcat Custom: White, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
457 |
Wildcat Custom: Red, vinyl2 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping weight range3 | 4,065-4,162 lb | 1968 Wildcat bodies |
Identification
- VIN
- E.g. 444377H101555 (example as printed). Digit 1 = 4 (Buick); 2-3 = series (Wildcat 64, Wildcat Custom 66); 4-5 = body (39 4-door hardtop, 67 convertible, 69 4-door sedan, 87 2-door hardtop); 6 = year (8); 7 = plant (H Flint, C South Gate, Z Fremont, X Kansas City KS, Y Wilmington, D Doraville, B Baltimore, K Kansas City MO, V Bloomfield, I Oshawa); last six = production number.2,3
- Engine codes (Wildcat, Electra 225, Riviera)
- PD: 430, 360 hp, 10.25:1, 4-barrel; PE: 430, low compression 8.75:1.2
Where the sources disagree
Identification
Read a 1968 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 1968
- AMC AMX AMC's two-seat AMX arrived mid-year on a 97-inch wheelbase. The enthusiast production table counts 6,725 cars, two-thirds of them with the 390.
- AMC Javelin AMC's first pony car, launched in September 1967 as base and SST hardtops. Production of the two combined was about 55,000.
- AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine Now badged AMC, the Rebel came in 550, 770 and SST trims and could be ordered with the 315-hp 390. It is host-car context for the 1970 Machine.
- Buick Riviera Record Riviera sales of 49,284, including 5,337 with the GS handling option.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new 112 in two-door body the GS 400 was joined by a GS 350 hardtop, and a dealer-installed Stage 1 package arrived for the 400.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The restyled Chevelle kept SS 396 as its own series and added an SS 396 El Camino: 62,785 SS 396s in three bodies.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova SS engines per the source: L48 350, L34 396 and L78 396. Enthusiast-compiled production: 183,552 cars; Super Sport 5,571.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The first factory Super Sport El Camino: a separate SS 396 model, 13880, built 5,190 times.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Super Sport becomes an option again (RPO Z03): 36,432, plus 1,778 SS427 (RPO Z24).
- Dodge Charger The redesigned 'Coke bottle' Charger and the new R/T multiplied sales roughly sixfold over 1967.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The redesigned Coronet kept the 440-powered R/T and added the budget Super Bee coupe, a 383 car with an optional Hemi.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The new Dart GTS brought a 275 hp 340 or a 300 hp 383, and in February Dodge released 80 Hurst-completed LO23 Hemi Darts for Super Stock drag racing; GTS production was not reported separately.
- Ford Fairlane The restyled intermediate split into Fairlane, Fairlane 500 and the new Torino series; the Fairlane 500 fastback shared the Torino GT body and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived on April 1, 1968.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT carried Torino GT trim; 1,669 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird The new 429 Thunder Jet V-8 arrived as the Thunderbird's optional engine at 360 hp.
- Ford Torino Torino arrived as the new top series of the restyled Fairlane line, the Torino GT fastback became its volume performance car, and the 428 Cobra Jet was added on April 1, 1968.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Cyclone moved to the new Montego-based intermediate; the fastback outsold the notchback hardtop by about ten to one, and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived mid-year.
- Mercury Cougar The year of the 427 GT-E, the mid-year 428 Cobra Jet, and the XR7-G, with production down to 113,741.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 Neither the S-55 nor the Marauder model appears in the sources for 1968; no performance full-size Mercury production figure was found.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The restyled 4-4-2 became its own series, the W-31 small-block arrived, and Hurst built the first 455 Hurst/Olds: 515 cars in the tabulation.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The new 340 arrived in the Formula S alongside the 383, and Plymouth issued a competition-only Hemi Barracuda under order code BO29.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The GTX became its own model on the restyled 1968 intermediate body, still with the 375-hp 440 standard and the Hemi at $605, and outsold its first year.
- Plymouth Road Runner Plymouth added a stripped Belvedere-based coupe and hardtop with a special 335-hp 383 as standard and the 426 Hemi as the only engine option, and sold 44,599 of them.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The first full season: the six grew to 250 cu in, the 326 gave way to a 350, and output rose to 107,112.
- Pontiac GTO A new 112-inch-wheelbase body with an Endura nose, the sport coupe dropped, and 87,684 built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The last full-size Grand Prix: 31,711 hardtops, with a 390 hp 428 HO at the top.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The new two-door body arrives, and a 350 HO replaces the 326 HO.