1962 Buick Invicta Series 4600

The 1962 Buick Invicta was positioned above the entry-level Special and Special Deluxe, the compact Skylark, and the LeSabre, but below the top-of-the-line Electra 225. The Special, Special Deluxe, and Skylark shared a wheelbase of 112.1-inches, the LeSabre and Invicta had a 123-inch platform, and the range-topping Electra 225 measured 126-inches.

The 1961 model year was the last year for the 364 cubic-inch 'Nailhead' V8, with the 1962 models employing a 198 CID OHV V6 rated at 135 horsepower, a 215 CID V8 with 155 hp with the two-barrel carburetor and 190 with a four-barrel carb, and a 401 CID V8 with 280 horsepower for the two-barrel carburetor and 325 with a four-barrel carburetor. The Special, Special Deluxe, and Skylark were equipped with a three-speed manual transmission (Turbine drive and four-speed optional), and the other models were equipped with Turbine drive as standard.

The 1962 Buick Invicta was offered as a two- and four-door hardtop (the two-door hardtop was known as the Wildcat, a new debut for the 1962 model year), a four-door station wagon with seating for either 6 or 9 passengers, and a convertible. The wagons were the most expensive, with the 6-passenger version having a factory base price of $3,840 and the 9-passenger version at $3,920. A total of 4,617 of the eight-passenger and 9,131 of the six-passenger version were built in 1962. The convertible accounted for 13,471 sales and had a base price of $3,620. A total of 12,355 of the two-door hardtop coupe and 16,443 of the four-door version were built.

The Invicta was powered by the same engine powering the LeSabre, the 401 CID V8, but used a four-barrel (instead of two) carburetor and produced 325 horsepower. It had hydraulic valve lifters, 10.25:1 compression, five main bearings, and a cast-iron block.

Standard features were the same found on the LeSabre, including a Deluxe steering wheel, Step-On parking brake, Turbine drive transmission, dual armrests, electric windshield wipers, a padded dashboard, heater and defroster, full-flow oil filter, direction signals, and glovebox light. Additional features not found on the LeSabre, but on the Invicta, included Deluxe wheel covers and the four-barrel induction system (known as the 'Power Pak'). The hardtops also added padded cushions and the Code 06 Accessory Group package that included license plate frames, an electric clock, and a trunk light. The nine-passenger station wagon had a power tailgate and the convertible was equipped with an outside rearview mirror.

The Wildcat two-door hardtop had a long console with a tachometer and a shift lever, standard bucket seats, and upgraded door panels. It wore special badging and exterior trim, a vinyl top, and taillights similar to the Electra 225.

The Invicta and LeSabre shared the same body shell, distinguished by a higher level of accouterments, a more potent engine, and a nicer interior. Visual differences included signature badges on the front fender and minor trim differences.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

The Invicta series in 1962 had all of the features of the LaSabre plus Deluxe wheel covers and a four-barrel carburetor. 13,471 convertibles were produced at a factory price of $3,617.

The Invicta name was derived from a Latin word that signifies unconquerable, invincible and unbeatable. The Invicta line was introduced in 1959 and is a mating of the LeSabre models with the 401 Nailhead V8, DeLuxe wheel covers, and an engine 'Power-Pak' (four-barrel induction system). The factory price was $4,366. The engine is a 401 cubic-inch V8 that develops 325 horsepower. Production was 7,894 units.

The Invicta name was revived by Buick with a concept car being shown at the April 2008 Beijing China Auto Show.

Advertising slogan: 'Something to believe in. Wouldn't You Really Rather Have a Buick?'

This Invicta has an optional Aqua top available by special order from the factory. It has received Multiple Preservation awards at BCA and AACA. It is a National Award Winner (Best Buick) at BCA and AACA. It was Awarded Best of Show - GM at the Willestead Classic. The car has been restored only as necessary. The interior is original and the exterior has been repainted in the original color.

The Buick Invicta was produced from 1959 through 1963. The name Invicta was Latin which refers to invincibility. They were full-sized vehicles offered in multiple body styles including a 2-door hardtop and convertible, and 4-door hardtop and station wagon. In 1960, Buick introduced a custom trim package called the Series 4600 Invicta which featured bucket seats and a 'consolette'. Sales were modest.

The Buick Invicta was powered by Buick's big-block 401 cubic-inch V8 engine which gave the car the nickname 'banker's hotrod.'

In 1962, Buick introduced the Wildcat 2-door hardtop within the Invicta series which featured bucket seats, vinyl top, special badging and trim, and a full console.

Sales for the 1963 Invicta station wagons were 3,495. This was the final year for the Invicta brand name. It was replaced by the Wildcat.

by Dan Vaughan

A full-sized automobile produced by General Motors, the Buick Invicta had very short model run from 1959 until 1963. Introduced as a full line of body styles for 1959, the Invicta was a continuation of the Buick Century concept that joined the standard size Buick LeSabre body with Buick's larger 401 in³ Nailhead V8 engine, which was dubbed 'the banker's hot rod' which delivered 325 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and 445 pound feet of torque at 2,800 mm.. The model run was short enough that only one engine was used throughout its lifetime, but it was still a significant model in Buick's performance history.

In 1958 Buick introduced the final Century, and Buick then adopted the idea of a big engine and small chassis to create the Invicta. The Invicta name only lasted five years before the Invicta Wildcat of 1962 broke away and became a family of its own of cars that would last until 1970. For 1959 Motor Trend named the Invicta four-door hardtop the 'Best Look-ing Car Overall' and also named the Invicta Estate Wagon 'Best Looking Wagon.' Jim Whipple, Car Life, commented that 'the '59 Buicks are beautifully styled and finished cars, well-built and powerful.' The Invicta name was derived from Latin and meant ‘unconquerable, unbeatable and invincible'. The Invicta line included multiple body styles that included a 2-door hardtop, convertible, 4-door hardtop and a station wagon. Though sales never reached that of the Electra or LeSabre models, they were still consistent with the traditional sales penetration of Buick's sporty mid-priced models. During this time Buick lost market share and dropped from fifth to seventh place among auto manufacturers.

In 1960 an Invicta Custom 4600 trim package was introduced which featured bucket seats and a ‘console' in the hardtop coupe, wagon and convertible. The wagon had a leather bench seat with a center armrest on some 4-door hardtops. The 1960 Invicta was a step back from the excessive change of the 1959 models. The headlights were placed side by side and the hood was lowed, while the front grille was made of blocks that became concave vertical slats. On the inside of the 1960 Invicta the instrument panel was all new with lights from coolant temperature, oil pressure and the generator function. During the endurance test at Daytona the new model performed well. Unfortunately even few Invictas were sold, despite its excellent performance and Buick dropped to ninth place in overall sales. The Invicta came in six models; four-door hardtops, two-door hardtops, sedan, convertible, and the estate wagon which came in two models.

In 1962 the Buick Wildcat 2-door hardtop was introduced within the Invicta series. Featuring more of the interior trim of the Invicta Custom, the Buick Wildcat came with standard bucket seats and upgraded door panels. The Wildcat did feature a long console with a tachometer and a shift lever instead of the Invicta Custom's shorter console. Other features included unique badging and exterior trim, and taillights and a vinyl top that was utilized on the Electra 225 instead of those of the LeSabre/Invicta.

The Wildcat replaced the Invicta in 1963, taking over the two-door coupe, four-door hardtop and convertible body styles. As its sole model the Invicta series had a 6-passenger station wagon and only 3,495 were ever built in 1963 before the name disappeared completely.

by Jessican Donaldson