The Buick Riviera was one of General Motors’ first personal luxury cars, hitting the scene in 1963. It would be a fixture for the balance of the century (except for 1994). The automobile got its first redesign in 1966 and was sleeker than before (and heavier, too). This ’66 edition has recently been pulled from a barn where it had been sitting for an indeterminate period. It will likely need everything, though we’re told that rust isn’t noticeable. Located in Fords, New Jersey, this Buick is ready for restoration here on craigslist where it can be purchased for $7,000.
Buick’s Riviera would be quickly followed within GM. The Pontiac Grand Prix became a series of its own in 1963, the Oldsmobile Toronado arrived in 1966, and the Cadillac Eldorado in 1967. The latter duo used the same platform as the Riviera but employed front wheel drive instead of the then-customary rear wheel drive. The Riviera would go on to become one of Buick’s most-produced vehicles at more than 1.1 million units spread out over eight generations. Buyers scooped up 45,000 Rivers in 1966 alone, the car’s best sale year to date.
The 425 cubic-inch “Nailhead” V8 was used in the 1966 Riviera, the last time that would happen (another design came out in ’67). We don’t know much about this long-lost Buick. The exterior finish appears to be green complimented by a black vinyl top and the bucket seat interior is also black. The odometer flipped over just before the car was parked, presumably due to mechanical issues.
We’re told the condition of the vehicle is “fair” and that may be a good assessment as corrosion doesn’t seem to be an issue. The car may be complete as the trunk is full of items like the air cleaner. The Riveria’s title didn’t disappear over the years, so you should be able to register it in your name once you get it running again. Then the effort and cost of a full restoration must be considered. Our thanks go to Mitchell G. for another great tip!
To let it get in this condition in the first place and then do nothing to clean it up tells me if I were interested I’d go look somewhere else for one.
This car isn’t too far off condition-wise from my ’63 Riv. If you could buy it for, say, $5500, then put another 5K into it, you could have a decent, comfortable, powerful driver.
Hopefully the paint might “come back around”, or just go with the patina look.
I don’t get it, clean it up! Don’t have to detail it just throw out the dirty rags, grab a shop vac and a power washer, geez.
Agree. Take the trash out. 66 n 67 best yrs. for the RiV. “China-flu” stole ambition.
That’s OK, leave it dirty. But, if you do, drop the price SIGNIFICANTLY!
Yeah, as is, I’d offer $3500
“Corrosion doesn’t seem to be an issue” How can you tell? This is a New Jersey car. I doubt that any NJ car of this vintage, with the obvious lack of care, has no corrosion issues. It comes with the territory.
How sad.
Wish I hadn’t looked! Ugh!
My 66 Riv parts car (same color) looks better than this.
No corrosion? And it was in a barn? On maybe a dirt floor? No corrosion would be a miracle.
It appears to have a bench seat not buckets.
Is that what it is? It’s kind of hard to tell. I guess you could call it a bucket bench (for lack of the actual name)? If you look at the Craigslist pics, image 5 of 9 shows the hard shell back of a bucket seat. Image 7 of 9 shows either a bench seat or a folded up arm rest. Some BF reader must have owned one just like this?
I am pretty sure it is a bench as the one I had had buckets with a console shifter on the floor instead of on the column like this one appears to have. Lousy pictures for that price in my opinion.
Overpriced by at least four grand…good luck!
Dirt floors breed rot and mice. The interior is likely full of mice. Most useless animal ever. Sad. 66 Rivs are beautiful.