Buick entered the personal luxury car market in 1963 with the Riviera. It became instantly popular and would remain a GM fixture throughout the rest of the century. The first generation ran through 1965, with the biggest change that year perhaps being the addition of stacked, vertical headlights. The seller has a non-running ’65 project that wore burgundy paint at one time. It’s largely complete and ready to be restored in Edinburg, Texas. The once-stoic car is available here on eBay, where the starting bid of $4,500 awaits a taker.
The new Riviera rode on an E-body platform with rear-wheel drive, typical of the day. It would later be modified for the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado, but using front-wheel drive. “Nailhead” V8s were used with the 425 cubic inch version being in the seller’s car (it produced 340 hp back in the day). It should be paired with a TH-400 automatic transmission. Neither unit currently operates as the car appears to have been sitting for a long time.
Rivieras were potent machines because they used the same engines found in larger, heavier Buicks. 16-second quarter-mile runs were typical, but they did it by guzzling gasoline at the rate of 13 mpg. A Gran Sport version of the Riviera arrived in 1965 with twin carburetors, but the seller’s example is not one of them. Sales were somewhat consistent at 34,500 units in 1965 (down from 40,000 two years earlier).
Few details are provided about this vehicle. Such as how long and why it has been sitting? And where are the front bucket seats, as they’re removed in at least one photo? With one or more flat tires and a close proximity to the ground, what condition is the undercarriage in? It would be a shame to buy this car to restore only to find out it’s rotting from the inside. Thanks for another bigger-than-life tip, “Curvette”!
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