Somehow This Post Makes Me Feel Just A Little Bit Dirty

By now I'm sure everyone has seen or heard of the "789" which refers to the model year of the Chevrolet vehicles that have inspired the aftermarket creation of N2a. You can spot the influences fairly easily... The “hooded eyes” and the grille of the 1957 Chevy, the middle section of the 1958 Impala, and the rear, a 1959 Impala with those monster tailfins.

Now before you start thinking I've been turned by the dark side relax... I'm still a die-hard Ford guy. I will admit my very first car was a 57 Impala complete with 409 and a four-speed and from what few Corvettes I have owned my 57 was my favorite so for what it's worth this car does have some sentimental value.



Then last night I found something and even though it's a GM product it really got my interest. At first glance I assumed someone had photo-shopped this wild creation and my second thought was it was just another attempt to produce another Frankenstein creation like the "789" that seems to have the interest of an awful lot of bow-tie fans.

But check this out... This is the real deal and it is NOT an aftermarket kits car and this car came out light years before the "789". This is the Buick Wildcat II and was recognized as the sportiest Buick build in the 1950s. Chief Designer Ned Nichols described the wildcat II as an “American adventure in tomorrow’s design”.

Enamored by two-seater fiberglass cars, Ned Nichols and Harley Earl originally created the 1954 Buick Wildcat II with two spotlights. Re-interpreting tradition, the Wildcat displays Buick‘s trademark porthole design is uniquely placed on the top of the hood. Originally displayed in blue and later refinished in gold, this dream car featured expanded front wheel wells with polished metal inner fenders finished off with wide white wall tires. The Wildcat II continues to travel and evade the rumored fate of the 1955 Wildcat III assumed to have been destroyed in a wrecking equipment test.

Check out these beautiful photos taken at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.





This is a 1953 Buick Wildcat also at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.



Later this evening I nstumbled onto this rare beauty... A 1954 Oldsmobile F-88, yet another factory car. By the way, this car recently sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction for $3,240,000!!!





Here is a 1957 Oldsmobile F-88 Mark II.



This is a very rare 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama



Now if you thought you have seen big fins hold that thought until you check out this 1951 Buick LeSabre concept car.





Just think.... Toss in a roll cage, some seat belts, a fuel cell and that would make an awesome La Carrera Panamericana car.