Does anyone have anymore information on Zocchi's 64 Buick built for Tony hefner .I have only seen one pic of this car. Page 98 & 99 of Hot rods and customs of the 60's. I think this car is the kat's****, and would love to have more info on it, I really need to see more pics, can anyone help?
This pic is scanned out of "Classic Customs and Leadsleds" by Bo Bertilsson.The car was brand new when Bill Hines installed hydraulics.Info also says it just might have been the first West Coast Custom with that type of suspension.Paint was done by Gene Winfield.Green blended candy with murano pearl on top which made it flip-flop in different colors.Cool car !
i love that car, especially the use of wildcat(?) wheels. i'm sure one of you buick guys know what they're from...
thanks Frenz, thats the only pic I have ever seen of car. It seems as if it dropped off the plant. I read somewhere the wheels are riv's.
i had planned to build a clone of this car out of my '64. the info i found was the car was built for zocchi but sold to hefner as soon as it was finished. i've only seen that photo and one other that is from the same show but a different angle. it was supposedly featured in some lil' pages in late '64 or somewhere in '65 but i have not found it. supposedly in the feature it had been changed to white interior and was then on skylark wires. i want to see this as thats the things i had planned to change. while the riviera wheels look good on it and were era correct it just wasn't enough for me. i talked with gene years ago about the paint for the info. it seems the paint was probably a little more detailed than what that pic shows from what gene said. i've heard rumor that it was later resprayed in a candy burgundy fade but have never been able to confirm that as truth. i've tried email zocchi about the car and never got any kind of response. i've heard everything from it was destroyed within a few years of being built to it still survives in a storage building somewhere. i'd kill to know more. that car is the reason i will never sell my '64. if it doesn't get you blood pumpin'. YOUR DEAD. i ran a post about it years ago. didn't really find out much i didn't already know about the car. someone somewhere knows. it may be Zocchi that knows. i'm on the wrong coast and have never met him. if i ever do i will be talking to him about the car...ken....
Luckystiff, thanks for the info. If you ever findout the mag it was in, please pm. That's what I was wanting to do build a clone.
no problem man. i have been looking for that issue for over 5 years though. hahaha. i buy alot of mid 60s pubs looking for it. still no dice and no one knows the magazine or issue just that it was featured at some point somewhere. i guess i'd be building more of a semiclone. no hydros, different wheels and possibly changing the interior color. i do have a good head start though since this sits in my garage haha...ken....
Now I know what car you were talking about. It's one of my favorite Buick customs.....Those wheels are stock (factory upgrade) '64 Wildcat with the centers painted silver.I was 19 years old in 1964 and worked at "MORRIS BUICK,INC.", in Detroit. I was the prep manager. One of my friends has a beautiful black,4-speed '64 Wildcat with black rims and dogdish hubcaps..There weren't many 4-speed Wildcats built in 1964...Sorry, I didn't recognize it by the owner's name...
No prob, I dont really know who Hefner is either. Guess I will start looking through old mag myself,maybe working together, we can find info or the holy grail, the car it's self. If any of you magazine collectors can help, it would be appreciated.
I don't think Zocchi's ever built his own car, and I've never heard him try and take credit, either (unlike some). Seems like he's more comfortable with a cold Coors watching someone else get dirty. That, or he's off on a hunting trip. Anyway, that car was the basis for my ill-fated '64 Wildcat project. I got so far as lime HoK epoxy primer before some kid decided to end the progress with the rearend of his mom's '87 Buick (McPhail signed the dash with a 6-inch dent from his knee). That was probably the most solid car I ever started with, from drivetrain to suspension, even the interior was cherry. Oh, well...
I thought, one time I read you really liked this car. have you ever seen any other pics of it? whats the story behind this car?
Bumping in hopes to learn more about the Buick. Specifically, the paint work by Winfield. Would love to see more shot of the car.
Bump 2. Need to know. Never heard or seen a Zocchi's 64 buick, and i had a folder with all of his show cars...
Hugh's sister, it is spelled Toni. Nope haven't seen the car or any pics of the car that I know of. Maybe someone could bless us with a pic.
Is this the car that your talking about? The Earlier pictures posted are not showing up. Can anyone tell me if this is a 64 Le Sabre with Wildcat trim, or a Wildcat with the three vertical trim strips on the front fenders removed? Is the cowl vent filled? Other things that I have noticed. grille is custom, spear on hood removed, wipers removed, antenna relocated. What else has been done? I drool over this picture on a daily basis!
From that pic nosed shaved, pearl or opalescent paint. Roll and pleat rear shelf. no side mirrors. Dropped (probably bagged by the ride height and the angle of the front wheels).
Probably the one. Bad**** regardless. Its probably on hydraulics since it was built in the 60s btw Id love to see more, but i have a feelin theres very little pics of this car
I sent a PM to Rikster to see if he can dig up any info. Hopefully we can shed some light on this little known Custom!
All, The Chrome Mouldings at the bottom of the fender, door , and guarter panel are 64 Wildcat ! The wheels are 64 Wildcat ! The wheels first came out on the 64 Wildcat , not Riviera ! I put a set on a 57 Eldorado Brougham in 1964 ! I worked for a Buick Dealer ( Body Man ) from June 1959 until December 1992 ! Good Luck, Sonny
The Jalopy Journal
