Rare Dual Quads: 1964 Buick Riviera

Buick launched the Riviera as a personal luxury coupe in 1963, and it would remain a company staple through the balance of the 20^th Century. The seller’s 1964 edition has the optional “Super Wildcat” version of the 425 cubic inch V8, which would be standard in the Gran Sport model when it debuted the following year. Production numbers were small relative to the total in ’64 (2,122 vs. 37,658), so the seller’s car is rarer and likely more desirable to collectors. Located in Valley, Washington, this running Buick needs some cosmetic TLC and is available here on eBay. The opening is $10,000, but there have been no takers, and the reserve is somewhere between there and a $15,000 Buy It Now selection.

The difference between the “standard” 425 and the optional one was 20 horsepower (340 vs. 360), achieved by the latter using twin 4-barrel carburetors instead of a single. The seller refers to this setup as a prototype, though I’m not sure if Buick referred to it as such. The 1963 Riviera was a sales hit, so Buick tinkered little with it for 1964. Leather upholstery became routine fare, and the automatic transmission was new (“Super Turbine 400”, aka Turbo-Hydramatic).

We’re told this big Buick is 95% original, which includes the numbers-matching under-the-hood hardware and the white paint. Though the car has 93,000 miles, it runs and drives well, so the mileage hasn’t tired it at all. New parts include the brakes and shocks, and all the fluids have been refreshed.

Rust is minimal with the usual surface variety, except for one smaller hole. There likely wasn’t much that the original buyer didn’t check on the order form, as the auto is fully equipped. Aftermarket gauges have replaced the ashtray lid, and a tachometer resides where the clock once lived. This should be one cool cat to cruise around in, with or without any restoration.