• Seller: Ray G ober (Contact)
• Location: Meadow, Texas
• Mileage: 94,000 Shown
• Chassis #: 634747FB22875
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: Nailhead V8
• Transmission: Automatic

Here’s some trivia for Buick lovers: Did you know that the most popular color on 1963 Rivieras was Arctic White? Yes, 7,735 out of 40,000 buyers thought that white best accentuated the Riviera’s beautiful lines (Silver Cloud was a distant second with 5,729 units). Even General Motors’ personal 1963 Riviera, housed in their Heritage Center, is Arctic White, and who knows what’s what better than the manufacturer who built the car itself? If you agree with General Motors and a good percentage of the buying public in 1963, you might want to consider this Riviera, which is being offered as a Barn Finds Exclusive located in Meadow, Texas. The owner says that it’s not a show car but rather a nice driver that is mostly original, and he’s asking $20,000.

Under the hoods of all Rivieras in 1963 was Buick’s torquey Nailhead V8, in either 401- or 425-cubic-inch flavors (325 and 340 horsepower, respectively). The seller says that the engine in this car is “brand new,” but he didn’t mention which displacement it is. It doesn’t really matter much; in real-world driving, they are very similar (and 401s greatly outnumber 425s). The Buick Green engine paint suggests that the engine is out of something other than a ’63 Riviera (all of their engines were painted silver for that year only), or perhaps the engine builder simply liked the color better. Some of you may question the open-air cleaner. The Riviera’s stock air filter is backordered, probably forever, so owners are forced to get creative. My personal ’63 has an open air cleaner as well, and one benefit is that the Nailhead sounds like a 4,500-pound vacuum cleaner when you stomp on it. It doesn’t help gas mileage.

This Riviera also has an aluminum radiator, which probably helps in the Texas heat. The seller reports that the air conditioning is not currently working.

This Riviera has the Custom interior package, which includes wood accents on the door panels, in addition to a more rakish armrest (with an extra door release for the back seat passenger, just in case). This one has power windows and a power seat, and the dash pad appears to have been recovered in black vinyl, a nice touch considering that they are often cracked and are unavailable in the aftermarket. The gear selector operates Buick’s “Turbine Drive” transmission (which is a Dynaflow), so it never shifts as would a traditional automatic. It transmits power through a two-piece driveshaft (with a center bearing) back to a 3.23:1 axle ratio. When combined with the Riviera’s tallish tires, it’s absolutely a breeze to keep up with modern traffic.

Another nice touch is the wheel choice: 15″ Buick Rallys. These were not available on the ’63 Riviera, but they’re a common upgrade these days, and few will complain when any Buick is equipped with them; they’re one of the greatest wheels of the ’60s. The first-generation Riviera is a spectacular collector car with great looks, effortless power, and an excellent club presence in the Riviera Owners Association. The seller says that this is a well-cared-for car with 94,000 miles on the odometer, so if you want to get in on the fun, make an offer!