Buick added a new product to its portfolio in 1963, a personal luxury car. Called the Riviera, it combined luxury with a nice jolt of performance (401 or 425 cubic inch “Nailhead” V8s). The car rolled into its second year largely unchanged, selling 38,000 copies vs. 40,000 (capped) in its first year. This ’64 edition needs some floor patches but seems to be otherwise solid, and it runs well. It’s a functional project that the seller is unable to finish. Located in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, the Buick is available here on craigslist for $14,000 OBO (USD or CDN?).
Except for Chevrolet, every auto division of General Motors had a personal luxury car by the end of the 1960s. Chevy joined the bandwagon in 1970 with the Monte Carlo. Unlike the Olds Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado, which used front-wheel drive, the others were typical rear-wheel-drive layouts. The Riviera was on the agenda every year through the rest of the Century except for 1994.
We don’t know the history of this 62-year-old-Riviera. The odometer reads 50,000 miles, which suggests it has either been gently used over the years or it flipped over at some point. The color of the paint looks either light blue or grey, depending on the angle, and doesn’t seem to have a lot of its luster left (maybe because all the photos are taken indoors?). Besides the 325 hp V8, the Buick has a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, and we’re told the vehicle runs with no leaks or smoke.
The leather interior presents well enough, but the floor beneath the driver’s feet is weak and needs a patch. So does the trunk. The Buick is registered in British Columbia but isn’t insured, implying it hasn’t been out on the streets in a while. The seller is throwing in some extra parts, though we don’t know what they are. Perhaps you can pick up where the seller left off. Our thanks to “Curvette” for yet another great tip!
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