I’m trying to think what the modern American car equivalent would be for a car like this 1966 Buick Riviera GS, or Gran Sport? There aren’t many two-door personal luxury cars anymore, maybe the Cadillac CTS Coupe, which unfortunately isn’t made anymore. Most likely, it would be a BMW or something like that. Apparently, there isn’t a market for a two-door personal luxury coupe in the US by a US automaker anymore. This project car can be found here on craigslist in the Lake Stevens, Washington area and the seller is asking $3,000. Thanks to local_sheriff for sending in this tip!
The first thing that you’ll notice is that the listing is very short on description and very short on photos. There are only six photos even though craigslist lets you post a couple of dozen photos. Why not show more of the car?! We will achieve world peace before I will ever understand that. These are the only two exterior photos and they’re both showing the same side. (pulling hair out!) As I’ve mentioned before, in my world of buying cars online, that’s a huge red flag for me but at least the one side that they show looks good. I would hope that the seller would send any interested parties more photos. You can see the red GS badge on the left front fender after the Riveria script in the first photo.
This is the only interior photo and oddly, it looks great. But, in their description, they say, “car needs full interior” so I really have no clue what’s going on here. It sure doesn’t look like it needs a full interior from this photo, does it? The GS, or Gran Sport, was a trim package that first appeared for the 1965 Riviera and it doesn’t look like this car has the optional power windows.
In one of the most unusual turns of events in the history of craigslist ads where sellers rarely show engine photos, three of the six photos are engine photos! The engine is Buick’s 465 Nailhead which is actually a 425 cubic-inch V8 with 340 hp. Unfortunately, this one is seized up. I know. Hagerty is at $15,200 for a #3 good condition car so the next owner will be doing most of the work him/herself on this project GS. Have any of you owned one?
It is a LONG road to the ’66 featured last week: https://barnfinds.com/1-of-179-1966-buick-riviera-gs-super-wildcat/
But it would be a wonderful journey. The Rivieras are really neat cars!
The upper radiator hose looks nice.
Looks like a scam ad to me.
What an odd ad. The interior doesnt look bad from the angle its taken, the exterior doesnt look rusty. Geez, Id be tempted to go see this one in person, and hope that it’s the grumpy wife who posted the ad and she’s wrong about the motor being seized too.
When restored I think this year of Riv is the best body GM ever designed. Super attractive side profile.
IMO the best looking cars GM EVER did, ’63 GP, ’63-’67 Riviera, ’63/’67 Corvette, ’69 Olds Cutlass 2-door HT. Not a wasted line on any nof them.
Absolutely one of GM’s best designs. And i too, don’t know what’s going on here. I’m wondering if someone wants it out of their projected garden space, or house expansion, something. If I had the room I’d buy it. Once restored, it’s rolling award winning architecture. Thank you Scotty and local sheriff. Well done.
Classified ads on Craigslist: I follow musical instruments (mostly guitars) on CL and it continues to amaze me the never-ending poorly created ads.
Too few pics here on BF?
How about NO pictures at all followed by a description simply stating “Guitar”. Seems like many people just don’t care or don’t want to bother to sell something – smart.
It says 63 in the headline, then 66 in the story. It’s obviously a 66 but I reckon someone hit the wrong key and it wasn’t caught in the editing. I personally prefer the 63-65 version as I happen to own a 64. A cousin once owned a 67 with the 430 and printed circuit wiring which gave him constant headaches. I do believe this would be a nice car to use as a daily driver. They get terrible gas mileage, but the ride is very comfortable.
God bless America
Thanks for catching that, sir.
yes amazing cars (along w/the toranado). I all ways think of lookin at the faces of the europeans as either drove by them in the early 60s…
Seems like it was all down hill after those 2, and even same models in only a few yrs. ’63, 4, 5 OK…’66/70 questionable…’71/3 only the rear deck acceptable. Toranado – ’65/70, the rest forget it… But hey, who can rationalize fashion?
No market for a 2 door personal lux coupe? How bout 1 like this also with crank windows, no a/c, & no cruise control!
The “cars” looks so bad today, that this Riviera looks even more futuristic now then it did 54 years ago! No vents windows was revolutionary for ’66.
A low content Riv?
No A/C, no power windows, no Cruise, probably no power seat… Maybe my dad had a doppleganger somewhere. He ordered a silver ’69 Riv, A/C but crank windows, bench seat, wheel covers, BVT. Pretty car but disappointing inside.
3 grand looks like a steel for this car!! It’s got to be a scam!!
One wonders if “seized” can be fixed with some mystery oil and big ol breaker bar on the crank.
I mix marvel mystery oil with automatic transmission fluid let it sit with the plugs out (of coarse) for a few days put a battery in the car and let the starter free it up!! I did it on a Ford 289 that sat for 30 years and when I saw the rust in there with my scope I thought no way!! A week later it turned the motor over and made a mess on the shop floor!! It was a good moment!!!
This looks like a very restorable unit to me. I would drop in a newer engine (probably a 455, but really whatever Buick V-8 I could find) and send the original engine out for rebuild/repair and detailing. I would fix up the interior, which really doesn’t look that bad in the pictures anyhow. I would then just drive and enjoy it.
Once whatever engine I put in it starts going bad (burns oil, makes bad noises, whatever), I would tear that engine out, detail the engine compartment and install the rebuilt original engine. Then off for body work and paint.
It might sound like my plan would take a few years to happen. It would. That is the idea. I would want to hold on to this one and enjoy it. For $3,000.00, why not? Can’t go wrong at that price!