According to the seller, this 1966 Buick Riviera is one rare machine due to the options and colors it sports. It’s a Wildcat with the 425 Nailhead engine, GS package, and “Shadow Turquoise” paint that apparently found very few takers in the years it was offered. Find this nicely preserved and equipped Riviera here on craigslist in San Diego with a $19,500 asking price.
According to the seller, this Riviera stands out in a crowded field of 1966 models: “Only 4,837 had the GS package (heavy-duty suspension, PY code performance axle 3.42 ratio with positive traction, sportier transmission, chrome air cleaner, aluminum valve covers, and GS badging). The L Code “Shadow Turquoise” is not only one of the years most excellent paint color, it is also extremely rare with only 1372 (3.03% of run) produced.” While some efforts to demonstrate rarity go overboard, these details do seem fair to mention as to why the Rivi is a standout.
Not only that, the condition appears excellent. The body looks quite tidy and the jet-black interior is holding together nicely. The seller notes they are the “Strato” bucket seats and the console features wood trim and the jet cockpit-inspired shifter handle. The wood steering wheel it has was also an optional feature that further sets this Riviera apart from others. Whoever the first owner was optioned this car to the hilt in 1966, likely becoming the envy of the neighborhood when he (or she) drove it home for the first time.
The Riviera has just under 100,000 miles on the Super Wildcat dual-quad-barrel motor, which likely provides some decent snort for this big-body coupe. Several good spares are included with the sale, such as: NOS hazard light flasher; BS Transmission; service manual / seller’s manual / owner’s manual; color and trim dealer set, and other literature. The asking price is high but so is the desirability factory, further enhanced by the lack of a vinyl roof on that pretty sloping backside. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Jack M. for the find.
Oh, I can just imagine the sound and acceleration from that Super Wildcat Dual Quad 4 barrel setup. This Seller should help his cause and take and post pics showing the entire left and right side profile of this magnificent beast.
I have a 1966 Buick Riviera, GS a 1 owner loaded with options but no Dual carbs black interior and it was repainted in 1969 and the change of color cost more than the car new. Baby blue in excellent condition always indoors for sale something like 65 Thousand miles or so 26500 Firm 918 915 1685
Awesome car , my first car was a 67 Riviera loved that car, love this monster
My first car was a 69 Riviera GS, very similarly equipped with every option. I bought it when I turned 16 in the early 80’s for $1500. I had saved since I was 14 for my first car. Mowing lawns, working at Burger King, etc. My friends thought it was an old man’s car, until they got a ride and felt that torque. This one’s a beauty!
You had me at sportier transmission…………
lmao!!! 😂😂😂👌👌👌👍👍👍
Sportier trans probably means that it had the 400 THM with a variable pitch torque converter. These had electrically controlled vanes in the converter, controlled by a kick-down switch on the carb/accelerator linkage. Raised the stall speed on hard acceleration. I bought a wrecked 65 Wildcat when I was in high school just to get the trans. Kenne-Bell (sp?) sold a bell housing that had pads to bolt to a 55-57 Chevy frame mount. I hand hacksawed the front off the THM case so I could bolt it into my 55 Delray. Also had to shorten and rebuild the driveshaft. Lots of work for a few seconds of hard acceleration thrills.
The variable pitch (commonly called switch-pitch) trans was a sneaky drag racing advantage for knowledgeable racers using 400 THMs. A switch could be put anywhere and you could control your stall speed as you wanted. Buick and a few Olds had it from the factory, but any 400 THM with the correct converter and matching front pump worked. Suspect a lot of Chevy and Pontiac stockers took advantage of this trick.
Yeah but worth every minute every time ya stomped on the skinny pedal.
Beautiful ride!!!
We had a blue 68 Buick Wildcat with a single quad. I use to joke I’d go into parts house and say give a 6 pack of water pumps for 68 Wildcat. It had plenty of torque and I’d tear one off about every 25,000 miles.
I loved the car, my mom left it to me when she passed. I changed the oil, tuned it, and yes of course changed out water pumps. Never gave us a problem otherwise. Miss both of them to this day.
Yes. Important to keep Moms lubed and tuned.
@ P.Melvin…..
That’s just sick…w/John C having just said he missed them both. Don’t imagine you’d appreciate a crack like that said upon YOUR Mom’s passing, huh?!
I would buy this all day long. Nothing beats a 60’s Buick…
All of that and no air.
What a shame.
A beautiful car though.
I wonder if AC was available on that package. I know a lot of high HP options on Vettes of that era did not offer AC.
Now this would turn heads at a car show. Well worth entry price. I mean dual quads. Throw some 3 inch exhaust on, get it breathing better and I would bet there wouldn’t be a gas station in the neighborhood that didn’t know you. It got a 460 a/c.
Heck with the sportier transmission, I love the Strato bucket seats.
Wait, weren’t all bucket seats at that time “Strato”?
Regardless of the seller the car speaks for itself – and it’s saying, “Drive me. Show me off. Let the rest of the world know that cars don’t have to look exactly alike, and that some can actually be beautiful.”
Nice car. Nice that it will probably go to someone who really “understands” it.
Cool car, these haul the mail and quite refined and comfortably. This car is worth restoring, but in serious need of paint. I find it interesting that the seller does not show us the entire right side. Obviously it is sun burned so the garage kept claim is suspect. I need to see the entire car. So the paint is shot, what about panel gaps and dents and what not. At least he didn’t wet the car to mask the defevts.
Looks to have been repainted at one point the clear coat is failing
A gorgeous car! I can’t believe it was ordered without air conditioning. That really is a deal breaker
That’s why they make Vintage Air, for this car it would e well worth it !
This and the Allard are starting an unusual trend, many photos but none of the entire car. That being said I’d like to have both of them in my garage
Absolutely my favorite car body of all time. The lines on the side profile are just gorgeous and there’s only curvy thing I like better.
Unfortunately I’ve run out of good excuses to buy another vehicle, and the wife says the “it keeps the driveway from getting sun damaged” I used last time was pretty sketchy.
Never marry a woman smarter than you.
I’m too far away and i have to have air conditioning where I live based on climate conditions so I’d either have to pass reluctantly or call Vintage Air to see if they can do anything with it……….somebody give this a good home. The price is high but so is the joy of driving it.
she’s looks like she’s been ridden hard and put away wet …. better have a ‘ few ‘ bucks to freshen her up !
Base coat clear coat in 1966….hmmmm don’t think so.
The BS code transmission had a valve body that provided firmer upshifts and upshifts at a higher RPM. What is not stated is if this car was one of the 179 to come from the factory the (MZ code) dual four barrel carbs or whether it was the dealer installed dual four barrel set up. The ride and handling package was not part of the Gran Sport option but a stand alone option (H2)
Spare BS transmission ?
this & toranado R just incredible cars (all models but near end of their ‘run’). Imagine seein either on the streets of Europe when they were new. If I was a local my jaw would have been on the ground.
Nice color, nice equipment !
Does anyone know if AC was available on this car with this engine package? I looked on some Buick sites and could not find out. If it was, I agree it seems out of place for any Buick not to have AC.
From what I know, it was an option at base model and included in upgraded packages. This particular car (not mine) has a/c, and I see a new compressor in the engine bay with an R142 sticker on it. So it would appear that someone had it converted. Don’t know if all the plumbing is there and if it works or not.
Where do you see that? I see a new alternator, a PS pump, and a water pump but no AC compressor.
Tom, you’re totally right! I had been looking at the pictures on my phone, and thought I saw something different. Checked it on my laptop and whoops 😬 I’m totally wrong. But adding Vintage Air should be fairly straightforward. I’m kinda surprised it doesn’t already have it. Mine was a 69 Riviera GS, and it had great factory a/c.
The hood doesn’t fit too well and the left front fender looks awfully shiny. The right site may complete the story. Hard to say.
No doubt when the dual quads open up you will actually see the needle to the fuel gauge dropping precipitously as the numbers on the drum speedometer start flying past and you might need a backyard refinery to keep running it, but what a glorious way to go bankrupt!! The ’66-’67 Riv is one of the most beautiful automobiles ever put on planet Earth. What they did to it in ’68 with those horrendous bumpers should have been a capital crime.