Being the owner of a 1963 Riviera, I have a certain bias toward Buick’s fabulous halo car. If you’ve been watching the big auctions lately, you may have noticed that values of the 1965 Riviera GS in particular are through the roof; can the later GS based on the second-generation Riviera be far behind?
Car Life magazine raved about the looks of the second-generation Riviera, and rightfully so. The E-Body Triumvirate of the Riviera, Oldsmobile Toronado, and Cadillac Eldorado were all aesthetically different from each other yet beautiful in their own ways. The ’68 Riviera got a massive new front bumper, but the profile changed little from the ’66 and ’67 models.
The Riviera’s instrument panel was revised for 1968; unfortunately, the rotating-drum speedometer from the previous year was replaced by a more conventional unit. A buyer could still order bucket seats and a console, however, which was one of the original Riviera’s standard features.
The original owner of the featured car ordered them, and the wood-grained applique and floor shifter adds to the effect. The interior seems to be in very nice condition.
Under the hood of the ’68 Riviera was Buick’s 430 cubic-inch big block, which had been introduced for 1967. Replacing the long-running “Nailhead,” the new engine was smooth and torquey, pushing a heavy Riviera through the quarter mile in 16.5 seconds. Buick’s goal was always smoothness combined with effortless acceleration. The engine compartment looks fairly original, but the seller says that the air conditioning doesn’t work (does it ever?).
Interestingly, the Riviera retained its X-Frame through the 1970 model year, long after other automakers abandoned theirs. The fact that this car with its X-Frame shared significant portions of its body with the front-drive Toronado and Eldorado is fascinating, but it did. The seller claims that there is “no apparent rust” on this car, and the pictures seem to bear that out (surface rust notwithstanding).
The seller also claims that the Riviera has 41,000 miles, which would explain its generally excellent condition. It is, however, not perfect, and the seller has posted numerous detail photographs showing some lightly pitted chrome and signs of minor wear. Is the second-generation GS the next big thing in Rivieras? This one is for sale on eBay in South Dakota, and the current bid of $10,300 has not yet met the reserve.
I really like Riviera’s and if I was in the position to buy one, this one would certainly be a contender.
These are wonderful automobiles. This is a nice example. The carpet is newer, and a shade off. And the black floormats are good – not great. They do reproduce brown Buick rubber floormats for more continuity. Has the Stereo multiplex below the glovebox, and the four note horn. You can just barely see the third horn hanging from the inside of the hood in the only picture of the engine. The fourth horn is longer – see the picture above (Image credit BOPparts.com).
Very nice find and write up! I have a question about the E platform encompassing the Riviera, Tornado and Eldorado being the same. How does the engineering of the rear wheel drive Riviera fit that “mold”? Floorpan, firewall, etc…being different. The convergence of all three being front wheel drive didn’t happen until 1983/84. Please educate me.
Thank you! The E-Body was (from what I’ve read) designed to have a lot of flexibility, not in structural stiffness but in engineering options. For example, a lot of the inner panels and underbody sheetmetal was shared; however, the exterior sheetmetal was mostly unique among the three. They did a pretty good job, because few would know that the three share quite a bit of substructure (obviously not everything).
The Riv went to FWD in 1979 when the body size was reduced for all three.
Beautiful Riviera 😍 Power, style, comfort. Buick wins the blue ribbon for express cruisers.
My dad had one…I got to drive it some.
It was (and looks as is this one?) a very nice car. It seems worth buying for something unique that’s also very usable.
Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved the 1968-69 Buick Riviera. The body looks nicer than the undercarriage. The undercarriage looks rusty. Assuming it’s just surface rust and that it’s all solid and safe, and that the car has been carefully maintained, the car should be safe to drive. Given its original condition, I’d be willing to pay between $10k and $15k for the car.
My god I think I’m in love . I have a pro street Camaro with 1800 HP . As soon as it’s sold I’m going to have a riviera in the garage . My 35 year old son says it’s an old man’s car , I said I’m an old man . Well 66 isn’t that old . But this car is gorgeous .
66 isn’t old! Remind your son of that fact when he turns 66! This Riviera is a classic!
Very nice, although we prefer the earlier 66-67 versions… possibly the most beautiful car to ever come out of the GM design studio, in our opinion.
Gorgeous. Just have to wonder what lurks under that vinyl roof….
No way that vinyl top is original. It can be inspected and any issue would be obvious. Gotta have it on this model! It’s a beauty for sure!
Gentlemen’s hotrod. Great all around car and the GS gave away little regarding its sportier intentions. This one is a real plum.
The air conditioning is such an after thought, but if your from Texas or say like Florida it is essential.Good looking Riviera.
We had a 68 identical to this one, a family vehicle my grandfather first bought.
Same color (Fawn Beige), same interior, same robust 430-4.
We sold it on eBay some 12 years ago for much less.
An absolute blast to cruise in!
Whoever gets this baby will have fun.
Sweet !
i wonder why Toronado & Eldorado didn’t use/share this simpler more reliable RWD platform – espec in the 1960s!
Such inboard headlights might not been allowed in the 1970s & later – & i’m surprised they were even allowed in the 1960s. Trying to think of another car that has em.
Thunderbird
Many Jeeps have them, even today.
Gorgeous car! And I love that engine. Dropped a 430 out of a 69 225, into a 67 GS years ago, and it flies!
I think the GS package included a ~3:42 gearing which added a nice bit more zip to this Riviera. (? IIRC)