I was raised in a household where the majority of our family cars wore the blue oval badge, and I do admit that I will always have a soft spot for Ford products. However, from the moment that I first laid my eyes on a 1963 Buick Riviera, I just wanted one. There is something about its exterior styling, its interior appointments, and what hides under the hood that makes me want to park one in my garage. Sadly, I’m not in a position to do that right now. That’s a shame because I actually find this particular 1963 Riviera to be a pretty tempting proposition. It is located in Spokane, Washington, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. Simply hand the owner $6,000 and you will be the proud owner of a car that I really want…quite badly. I also need to take the opportunity to say thank you to Barn Finder David R for referring the Riviera through to us.

The Regal Black Riviera would have been a pretty stunning car when new, and there is no reason why it couldn’t be once again. The body wears a few dings and dents, but all of these appear to be quite repairable. The owner admits that there is some rust in the Buick that will need addressing. However, he doesn’t elaborate on where the rust is, or just how extensive it is. The Riviera is pretty typical of the vast majority of American cars of this era, with areas such as the lower rear quarter panels, the rockers, bottom corners of the doors, the lower fenders, the floors, and the trunk pan all places where the dreaded tin worm is capable of grabbing hold. I’m not saying that all of these areas have been impacted, but they are the sorts of areas that should potentially be checked. It appears as though all of the external trim and chrome is present, and while some pieces will require restoration, it all looks like it would be a reasonable point from which to start. As befits a luxury car of this era, the Riviera is fitted with tinted glass, and this also appears to be in good condition.

At 4,211lbs, the 1963 Riviera wasn’t the lightest car on the block, but thanks to the fact that it was equipped with a 401ci “Nailhead” V8 pumping out 325hp, performance figures were pretty respectable. From that perspective, apart from weight, the ’63 Riviera was also hampered by an automatic transmission that didn’t lend itself to high performance. The “Twin Turbine” 2-speed automatic transmission was bolted behind the 401, and this combination could send the Riviera through the ¼ mile in 16.9 seconds. There was nothing really “wrong” with the 2-speed transmission or the way that it operated. It’s just interesting to see what a difference an extra ratio in the transmission can make. For the following year, the Riviera found itself equipped with a 3-speed automatic transmission, but even with marginally lower power output from the base engine and identical vehicle weight, the 1964 Riviera knocked nearly a full second off the previous year’s ¼ mile time. Standard equipment on the Riviera also included power steering, and power brakes featuring enormous aluminum finned drums. The owner purchased the Riviera last fall with the intention of undertaking a restoration. It would appear that he has lost the motivation and desire to undertake the work, so he has decided to part with the car. He is a bit vague on how well this old classic drives, but he does say that it runs fairly well.

Climbing into a Riviera in 1963 was an experience that was designed to make you feel special. With bucket seats in the front and bucket-style seats in the rear, the Riviera was very much a 4-seat luxury car. The way that the console sweeps down from the dash is an interesting touch because it actually has quite a modern feel to it, and was designed to make the vehicle’s occupants feel safe and cocooned inside the car. I would be inclined to describe the interior condition as being tidy and serviceable, but in need of some work if the car is going to be returned to its former glory. None of the work required is going to be hugely difficult or expensive, but it is more a case of what I have referred to in the past as “the one-percenter jobs” that make the difference between a good interior, and a truly great one. Some of them are obvious, like the fact that the carpet is showing plenty of wear, and could stand to be replaced. Other items are less obvious, like the discolored timber insert on the passenger side door, the lifting metal trim on the glove compartment door that needs to be glued back into place, and the cracks in the steering wheel that need to be addressed. As I said, none of it is major, and none of it will cost a lot of money. However, addressing these issues will make quite a difference to interior presentation. As far as equipment levels are concerned, the Riviera comes with leather upholstery on the seats, air conditioning, power windows, a power driver’s seat, a tilt wheel, and a remote driver’s side exterior mirror.

In 1963, Buick introduced the Riviera, and in a bid to inject an air of exclusivity into the model, they deliberately capped production at 40,000 cars. The reality was that Buick had a hit on their hands, and had they built considerably more Riveras, they would have had absolutely no trouble selling them. This was in spite of the fact that with a starting price of $4,333 in 1963, the Riviera was not a cheap car. Today, a 1963 Riviera has the potential to be more affordable, but these are a classic where the overall condition can have a massive impact upon value. They are also a classic that has taken a hit in the value stakes over the past 2-years or so. It is possible to find some reasonable examples for around the $13,000 mark. From there it is also possible to find nicely presented and original cars for between $18,000 and $24,000. Of course, a pristine and highly-optioned car can still sell for figures over $30,000, so there is still good money in the market for the right car. How this one stacks up is going to be very dependent on the extent of the rust that the owner briefly mentions in the listing. If it is minor, then there is a chance that someone could be onto a winner. This is one of those classics where an inspection would be very advisable. The good news here is that the owner seems to be very open to that idea, and I always find that to be an encouraging sign from a seller. Quick, somebody buy this Riviera and save me from myself!