The Rivera joined the Buick lineup in 1963 as a “personal luxury car” and remained a fixture there for the balance of the century (except for 1994). The car was treated to its first rework in 1966 and – unlike its GM companions the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado, it remained a rear-wheel drive automobile for most of its run. This ’66 edition looks to have been recently rescued from a barn and does not run. It was no doubt in captivity for years and Mother Nature and the passage of time may have taken their toll. A nod goes to Mitchell G. for another barn find tip.
When the new Riviera arrived in 1966, it kept its original frame and engine/transmission but the sheet metal took on a longer/lower stance. Not surprisingly, the cars were now 200 lbs. heavier than they had been in 1965. Vent windows disappeared, a GM fixture for some 30 years, and the headlights were still hidden away behind the grille. Seating continued to focus on four passengers rather than squeezing in six like the other big Buicks. After a soft sales year in 1965 for the largely unchanged Riviera, Buick pushed more than 45,000 of them out the door in 1966.
We assume this Buick has the 425 cubic inch “Nailhead” V8 under the hood, in its last outing in the Riviera. The seller tells us little about this car, with the photos suggesting it was found in a barn and pulled for loading on a trailer. The odometer has turned over to 111,000 miles and did it get parked because it quit running or did it end up being yet another forgotten family heirloom?
If you’d like to take a crack at restoring this Buick, contact the seller in Fords, New Jersey. It’s available for $5,000 here on craigslist. But you’re likely to have your work cut out for you, especially if any woodland creatures managed to chew away at the complicated wiring on these automobiles.
It will take 5grand just to get the rat nests and smells out. Some cars need to be crushed, recycled metals and plastics to serve humans again. Cars in barns for decades is a hazard to the environment and to one owns health. YES, it may be a classic model but who has 50k to restore it and a bigger question, is it truly worth being restored? jv smashpalace
If this car was local, I would be very tempted. I am starting to look for a winter project, and this would truly be “a project”. In the past I have started with (far) worse cars, and they turned out well. My heart is saying “Go for it!”, but my brain is saying that even with me doing all the labour, reviving this car to decent “driver” condition would cost at least double what it would be valued at. To make it really nice would likely cost 3-5 times what one could be bought for. With today’s prices for parts, supplies, interior, paint, and chrome cars like this are only suitable as resto-mod or parts donors.
Roger CAM W, I’m working on my 54, which has the 425 also , such a swell engine, too bad this has had such a fate. And again I’ll tell ya that Holley EFI 2 is a true wonder, 18 mpg and perfect running. You almosy LOOK at the key and it starts KINDA HAHAHA.
@ Russ
Hi Russ, big opinionated member here. I want to correct one point in your otherwise great writeup….. the headlights were not hidden behind the grill. Actually, when not in use they resided under the hood, facing upwards. When they were turned on they would swing down in front of the grill. Turned off they would retract up under the hood. Just a minor point.
Most hidden headlights were stationary and a door would flip up or down, but with Buick the entire headlight assembly moved
That is a very good point. I didnt even think about it reading the article ( which I second that its excellent) I always liked seeing the hood open on Rivieras and the headlights inside looking up. Always thought that was neat.