Surprise! The Buick Riviera wasn’t really a Buick idea at the start. And what unique door structure trick did Riviera employ to become America’s first car with frameless door glass? Steve uses this 1964 Riviera to explain it all.
I had a chance to work on a friend's '65 Riviera, back in the mid-seventies. That car would practically leap off its feet when you hit the gas. It was so manouverable for a big car, easy to parallel park in one shot due to really fast steering. So much fun to drive!
That's perfect for style changes or a parking error. I wish the roads had less corrosive ice buster on there. Y'all eating up southern cars but I blame Cali more so it's a wash up. I occasionally see a Bel Aire or a 34 Ford coupe. Used to see falcons more. Started seeing Mavericks. All the fast and furious cars are sapped up by the college kids and I never see any rx-7 other than a mid 80's one maybe a convertible. Rust was bad bad on Japanese cars even outside the rust belt. Coating the inside of the body and doors should be done right after purchase.
Wow, a lot of information here that’s new to me. I was really impressed with the styling of the Riviera when it first came out. There were two in my block, both silver with red interior, and one was rolling on new five spoke American Racing torque thrust mags, it was stunning.
That Riviera, along with the '71-'72 Grand Prix, the '68-'70 Charger, and the '67-'68 Cougar are some of my absolute favorite cars, with their formal and elegant stateliness. Heck, I'll even throw the '68-'69 Skylark in that list too...
This car was the first, and by far the most worthy attempt to bring back the LaSalle nameplate in the postwar era. The other attempts would degrade further. The 2nd was to be a modified X-body (i.e. Nova) for 1977, but was named Seville instead. The 3rd was no more than a rebadged and tarted up J-body (Cavalier) in 1982 that went with the Cimarron name.
Whenever I see a Riviera at a car show I am blown away at the high quality of the interior components! All the little knobs and gadgetry are so finely designed and constructed of such high quality materials - and usually only for a one year production run! It’s hard to believe that so much time and engineering prowess was devoted to these details in a (relatively) high-volume production automobile……😮 And that “Silver Arrow” shown in Steve’s magazine? The first thing that hit me when I saw the lines and image of that car was “First Gen Monte Carlo”…….🤔
One of the first US cars admired around the world for the ground breaking styling. Even by the Italian designer stylists of the time. Me too but as a young kid in Australia all I could nearly afford was the Corgi model with the same paint scheme. Very rare in Australia but did see one for sale 25 years ago. Unfortunately someone had taken the roof off to make a convertible, but without any roof system you could put up.
I swear I saw Steve a few weeks ago standing outside of a fancy classic car dealership in auburn talking to someone, I started to lay on the air horn…I’m from SC but I’m always in that part of the country hauling plastics from a couple of big rail yards right around the corner. One of these days I’m going to stop in and buy one of those fancy restored rides to park beside my 71 sublime 340 Duster.
I own a 68 Riviera for the past 35 years, I like the 63-65. I love the 66-70 body style and ride. The Boattail Era 71-73 has its own group of fans, I believe the RIVIERA was best the first 10 years.
Just think how beautiful it was the day the original owner took it home,,they must have really loved it,, interior was all shiny and smelt good,beautiful car
We always used a Buick frame and suspension in my dirt track car because of its strength! A small weight penalty but worth it! It had a 66 Chevelle body that everyone was envious of but it was legal!!😁 A lot of wheels/hubs came off but not us!! When the body got beat up just weld another one on!! The frame was fine!! The drum brakes worked fine!! Also the differential and transmission were bullet proof!! We called it a Buvelle!!
I'm your age. When I was 5 I could name everything on the road. Dad got a kick out of it. But I was more a 70s expert. The 71? the last year of the Polara actually made a 5 year old cry.
As an American car guy..you haven't lived..till you've enjoyed a 63-5 Riviera. Wonderful in every regard and maybe GM's finest automobile. I've owned a 63 and 4 Loved them both
Great looking car! Easily in my top 25 favorite car designs ever. So much style and beefy from any angle. My Mom had a ‘63 when I was a fifth grader. I sat in the driver seat and made engine noises, gettin slobber on the inside of the windshield. I would sometimes dream of driving it while I was drifting off to sleep. I’m an old guy now, nearing the end of my career and may buy myself a nice one as a retirement present. I prefer the hidden headlights of the ‘65 but the tail lights above the bumper on the ‘63….so guess either would be ok. Thanks for the look at this one Steve! 👍
The X frame deserves a vid. It was used by all gm divisions except olds from 55 to the mid 60s and was a big factor for the push for safety legislation due to its lack of side impact protection. Olds touted their parimeter frame for better safety in ads and the govt used that against gm. Ironic.
One of the finer touches on Buicks of that era, or at least the upper class ones was the fact the bumpers did not have bolt heads that showed on the outside of the bumper. Most cars of that era had something like a carriage bolt with a polished stainless steel cap on it The Buicks and Caddies had the brackets welded inside it bumper so it would not show on the outside.
A friend's mother had one of the boat-tail Rivs with a 455 (I think). It was a fun car to cruise around in. Love the 64 and 65 Rivs, too. Thanks for the info, Steve!
That one is a 401 Steve. The 425 was for the GS only. Ya can't remember every THING at every second! 🙂 Also I believe all Buicks were an X frame AND a perimeter frame all in one. I had a '65. It was the only car I ever saw that you could stand up in the MIDDLE of the roof panel and it wouldn't bend!!! Love Cads, but SO glad Buick got this as the 1st. Rivs were nicely understated.
check your facts Steve is right at least according to my 64 service manual, and research that i have done on my own 64 Riviera. For some reason the 63 & 65 had a 401, but the 64 had a 425
I've liked the 1st generation Riviera ever since I saw Patrick Swayze buy one at a used car lot in the movie Roadhouse. Those clamshell headlights on the 65s are just flat out cool!
Fascinating! Speaking of hot rodders of olde, I wonder when we're going to see the effort and love put into rescuing junkyard cars like this and building them anew, just like the T-buckets and Tudors were in the '50s. This one would be interesting to see some styling embellishment to bring out that forgotten LaSalle identity
Patrick Swayze drove a Riviera in Roadhouse. It got a stop sign through the windshield. This car has a hole in the windshield. Is that movie car missing?🤔
Someone I know did spot a 1st generation riviera in a wrecking yard with a 4 speed way back when, didn’t even think about it at the time. Either a custom piece, or a dealer owner special order kind of deal.
With GM's self-imposed 50% market share limitation, and with the divisions being autonomous from each other at this time, the competitive edge at GM was kept sharp at this time. Typically between Buick, Olds, and Pontiac one of them was in trouble, and they seemed to take it in turns. When Pontiac slumped enter Bunkie Knudsen. Then it was Buick's turn. The Riviera was just the image boost Buick needed.
The 65 is one of my all time favorites! I think in 64 the GS package was available as a special order offering a 1 inch lower suspension and the 425 ci engine. In 65 I think it became an official package.
My father was a huge Buick fan.He joked that he wanted to name my younger sister Riviera but got vetoed by my mom. Sadly he never got his Riviera but did get a 225.
I'd like to see the trim tags and VINs on these as that would add to the video tremendously in my belief, but we can figure some of it out: No VIN, can't win, but I figured it out, no doubt: 7 for Riviera, K for 1964 model year, 1 for Flint, MI assembly and the rest is the production sequence. No tag, can't brag, but it would be 64 for 1964 model year, 4747 for Riviera Sport Coupe, then a two digit month and A,B,C corresponding to the first, second third, etc. week of that month's production, FB for Flint, MI assembly, possible S-S for Bronze Mist upper and lower exterior paint, possible 608 or 628 for Black interior trim, and accessory option codes are unknown without the tag.
Many many years ago, my dad's first car was a lowered '53 Chev he bought off his brother. It has a LaSalle motor stuffed in it. I never thought I'd hear the name LaSalle again...thanks Steve! haha
Always informative Steve, I never knew about the LeSalle connection or the removable door skins. To me, the 65 Riviera will always be Patrick Swayze's car when he bounced at the Double Deuce in Rural Texas in Roadhouse.
Those big V-8's usually get removed very quickly once they are junked. Those Florida '63 -'64 Rivieras typically are missing engines when sold as project or parts cars on Copart. The sheet metal on this ones fenders looks rust free for Mass. standards. Would think it was garaged most of its life. Would think the floor pans disintegrate immediately once the terrarium lifestyle of sitting on a moist field floor without wheels and trimmed grass so there is no air evaporation of moisture under the car. Piece of cake to restore this one on a rotisserie. The thumbnail might entice some firm offers.
That Riviera was a pretty grand ride OUAT (Once Upon A Time). The gold and the other metallics like bronze and medium blue were perfect for this sharp styling but they also look good in the shade of white that was available. Not wrecked and you wonder the circumstances that led to it sitting on the ground rotting away in Massachusetts . This yard has great variety but too bad they didn't take care to keep vehicles from direct contact with the ground. Lots of good parts though. Steve, thanks again, for the good knowledge. Bolt on door skin?. Great idea. More cars should have that. Never before realized the Riv was the first with frameless glass. Surprised by the x-frame, had assumed perimeter frame because they seem so solid. The trunk bracing? DNK. I do miss that manufacturers once offered distinctly different engines from one another. Nailheads are fantastic torque monsters. With the small valves they also have unique camshaft profiles to help them breath better which gives them a particularly nice sounding exhaust note. I once raced my 65 442 with the 400 against a dual quad 425 Rivera. Before I was out of first gear he was just about a half city block ahead of me. Blew me into the weeds.
what a pitiful sight. It's crying shame it got to the point of no return. I see T-3 headlights so the mileage on the clock could be original. Great presentation, Steve, as per usual
saginaw steering gear or SSG. my dad and grandpa worked there. was renameed to delphi during a sale and then sold to the chiiinee and renamed nextsteer.
I'm working on a 1965 and just wrapped up filming of putting the door skin on, it will be posted Monday. It is worth noting that the 401" was the base engine in '64 and '65. The dual quads were the 425" version.
Only two engines were available in 1964......the base 425 4 barrel or the optional double 4 barrel 425. In 65 the base engine was again the 401, and the vast majority of them came with 401 engines. The next option up for 1965 was the 425 4 barrel 425. Top dog was the 425 with two 4 barrel carbs. You could buy a 65 Riviera with the two 4 barrel 425 without the Gran Sport package, but if you specified a Gran Sport 65 Riviera, the Super Wildcat two 4 barrel 425 engine was standard equipment. I am the proud owner of a mint condition unrestored 65 Riviera with the base 401 engine, in Seafoam Green with dark green custom interior. My Dad bought a new 65 Riviera back in 64 that I kept washed and waxed when I was a kid and learned to drive in it in 1967...... The 65 Riviera is the greatest GM car ever built in my opinion.
Never knew that Cadillac history about the Riviera. Neat video with all the other points too. $43 dollars isn't much for tilt steering wheel addon, but that comes to about $406 of today's moolah.
The 1964 Riv was the first year of the Buick Super Turbine 400/TH400/3l80 tranny. I had a 1963 Le Sabre sedan with that DynaFlo; knowing what I now compared to 40 years ago, I had access to a 1965 Le Sabre with its 401/ST400, I would've simply bolted the newer 401 into place then figured out the rear crossmember as well as shift linkage
Headlight buckets as per the 1965, GM Opel used a very similar design on that same era German market Diplomat, which received the Chevy 327 and possibly the TH400 starting around 1966
