Imagine working in the Buick design department and being tasked with following up the first-generation Riviera. In the face of that nearly impossible task, Buick unveiled what Car Life magazine called “far and away the most handsome car of the current crop” as a 1966 model, and in doing so, cemented the Riviera’s reputation as a styling leader. It wouldn’t always achieve such heights, but it’s hard to go wrong with any 1960s Riviera. Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. found this 1967 model, which the seller claims is “100% original,” on craigslist in Fort Myers, Florida.
Some cars have all the luck. This California car made its way to Florida over the years; meanwhile, any number of Rivieras had to endure the salty quagmire of my home state of Michigan (or any other rust belt state). This is clearly not a restored car, but I like them better that way. An interesting thing about the second-generation Riviera is that it shared much of its substructure with the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado, both front-wheel-drive cars. Buick opted against using the “Unitized Power Package” and stuck with the old X-frame, and the second-generation Riviera was indeed the last GM car to use such a structure (the Boattail Riviera used a more conventional perimeter frame).
The Toronado and Riviera also shared the unique “rolling drum” speedometer. Although the first-generation Riviera was well-known for its bucket seats, deep console, and floor shifter, the second-generation car was available with a bench seat and column shifter, which we find on this car. The interior looks excellent.
In 1967, Buick said farewell to the classic Nailhead and introduced a brand-new big block with freer-breathing cylinder heads. Later to be immortalized as the “Stage 1” 455, the ’67 version displaced 430 cubic inches and produced 360 horsepower with the help of a Rochester Quadrajet under the air cleaner. This one has air conditioning, a nice option if you live in a climate where they don’t salt the road every day for five months a year.
As the owner of a ’63 Riviera, I’ll always be biased toward the spectacular original; it’s one of my favorite cars. But not too far down my list is its successor, and in some ways, its even swoopier lines are, to quote Car Life again, “frankly sensuous.” It even looks good with a vinyl top. This one comes with a build sheet and a packet of documentation for $29,800, or if you’re willing, the owner will trade for classic SUVs, Escalades, etc. In my opinion, the Riviera’s new owner is getting the better end of that deal.
Wow. Very, very nice Riv. Im with Aaron, I’m more of a fan of the styling of the first generation, but I sure wouldn’t kick one these out of my driveway either. Very nice solid Original Riv. Great find, and I enjoyed your write up Aaron. That underside is just amazing. For an original car, its extremely clean.
Thank you! It is a pretty nice one; I don’t think the price is too far out of line.
Is there a link for the sale? Not seeing one
Sorry ’bout that! I forgot to add it – fixed now.
Toth the Riviera is one of the finest ever offered from the General. A real keystone model for Buick.
The pinnacle of GM mid-century design, the 66-67 Riviera was a study of the art. What a great example. Too bad my CDN dollars won’t be nearly enough for this beauty.
Wow!
Beautiful … do not care for the glass packs instead of real mufflers on a classy ride like this but nice to see new pipes since that is much more costly than it used to be!
Stunner with docs, build sheet- looks worth the ask to me.
What a nice car. There is something about the sound of glass packs with long pipes.
Glass packs have their place and application for sports cars. But IMO not on luxury vehicles Cadillacs Lincolns etc . Cars of that era purposely had resonators on them to further “quiet” them down instead of amplifying the noise. I can’t imagine having to listen to the drone for long distance driving.
So I’m 16 and my dad buys my mom a 1969 Riv GS! My folks helped me buy my 1st car from my grandpa a 1970 307 2dr Nova. But for about 6 months the Riv was my driver!! 63 years old now. that Riv is still my favorite car. Fast and just oooh so cool!!
Pretty Riv. Too bad not the GS version with the coolest air cleaner ever put on a car from the factory, but still, a very nice second gen Riviera that looks exceptionally clean. Not entirely sold that it’s “100% original,” as I have doubts the paint is, but the price seems fair given its condition.
The 1958 Mercury Marauder would like a word about the coolest factory air cleaner
That’s a fun fact! I had no idea any car other than my beloved first-gen Toronados used the drum speedo (ironically, I was searching for a boat-tail Riv when I found my 70 Toro). That said, I vehemently disagree with the glass packs here. This is a personal luxury vehicle, not a muscle car. the gorgeous exhaust note (and it is absolutely gorgeous) should flow through something subtler (I opted for a Waldron Mild Imposter exhaust on my Toro’s 455. Just a touch louder and more menacing than the factory exhaust without being obnoxious).
Bill Mitchell deserves a place in the pantheon of design purely by his oversight of these Rivieras. Following Mr. Earl couldn’t have been easy. The two created the design language for automobiles in the 20th century. Beautiful car. Good luck to the seller.
This GEM is worth EVERY bit of the asking price! I think these & the Toros were called E bodies. CLASSIC!…from any angle! The Buick road wheels are a must, as well. Would prefer fabric upholstery but the even more desirable bucket seats weren’t available in cloth.
What, no working clock?? Undriveable!
Folks I’m in Fort Myers, if anyone has a bee in their bonnet for this one reach out, I’ll go lay eyes on it if it’s allowed.
What a beautiful car. If I only had cash and a garage.
I’ve owned many cars and loved (almost) all of them, but my ’66 Riveria was definitely the prettiest, with the same gold color and black top as this one. I didn’t have the “5 spoke mag” wheels like this one has (I bought it from a dealer in ’68), but I did have the super comfy black buckets and the console with the U-shaped shifter…ah, yes…
Dad had one like this a year old. Quite the car with 360 horse. It had bucket seats and the U shaped shifter. They hold up well in an accident. I pulled my father out of it.
My absolute favorite year for a Riv. This car was (and is) a work of art.
The ‘66/‘67 Riv was GMs handsomest Buick ever. The big chrome bumpers of the ‘68/‘69 were clunky by comparison, and the skirted ‘70s were just ugly.
I think some mid to late 50’s Studebakers also used drum speedometers.
Beautiful Buick.
Never knew it had the X frame…seriously deadly in a side crash but these cars at this age will probably be just weekend drivers. This one survived nicely and is a definite looker. Equipped with probably the nicest looking wheels Buick ever fitted to their cars. Nice car.
I owned a 1966, 1969 & 1971 Rivieras. The 1966 was definitely the niftiest.