We can’t let a classic Riviera go by at the Cohort without paying our respects. Tim Finn shot this outside the One Moto Show in Portland; if you love motorcycles, you’ll dig his extensive coverage of that show here.
I can’t tell if this is a ’63 or ’64, as its missing its hood ornament, which is the only way to tell from the front, unless I’ve forgotten something. Don’t get me started on the original Riviera; it’s such a breakthrough car, stylistically; Bill Mitchell’s most important all-new car since taking over the reins at the GM Design Center.
This one’s sitting a bit tail-down, ready for flight. This is American design at its best: expressive, expansive, bold, but not derivative, Googie, Rocket/Jet homages, and just silly, like so much of what went down in the second half of the ’50s and the early ’60s. The ’61 Continental was the first to break that mold, and the ’63 Riviera took it to the next level. A mighty high level.
Gorgeous! Love, love, love these 63-65 Rivs
A clue is 64 spoked caps. I have a 63 with a 64 hood spear and ornament, 65 GS rocker panel covers ,64 spokes and 64 tail lights and Riviera on the trunk….that should confuse everyone
So you look inside and see a two speed tranny.
The first time I saw this vehicle I was 11 in 1963. It was a beautiful dark burgundy with a black interior. I was entranced for a good hour. It was parked near our house everyday. I get the same feeling to this day when I see one. Outstanding looking vehicle.
I often struck this same pose (picture stolen from a “Look” magazine ad) when admiring my ’64 Riv.
The first gen Riv was truly the American automotive “Venus Di Milo” of the 1960’s.
It was indeed!
Once Again, Paul and I agree on a car.
🙂
I remember these new, stunning then as now .
-Nate
Number two, after the ’53 Loewy Studebaker, as the most striking design to emerge from our shores post WWII era.
I’m a sucker for the gray or silver ones!! Remember seeing a dark green one at a show many years back too!
Wonder why this one dips so much in back?
Either a lot of stuff in the trunk or air suspension left town.
These Rivieras were a few years old by the time I started to notice them. The twin “grilles” flanking the headlights always caught my attention. My brother and I later had the Aurora slot car Riviera in pale beige.
Of the three years this body was produced, I like the ‘65 the best. The covered headlights are superb. The Buick rally wheels on a ‘65 GS is sheer perfection!
It’s a 63 by my eye. The hood emblem is in place and is a flat tri-shield emblem, as are the hubcap emblems. 64 had different emblems.
Get this!! I have (2) 63’s Rivi’s that are still in perfect condition. I’ve thought about selling them but every time I drive either of them I love them more and more. Fabulous automobiles.
Cheers!
Lucky you! Those are beautiful cars.
’63: BUICK on trunk lid, Buick shields in the tail lights (Round Shapes)
’64: RIVIERA in script on trunk lid, capital R in script in the tail lights (Ovals).
The only thing I don’t like about my 63 Riviera is the slide buttons for the heat, air conditioning and power windows they just seem cheep to me.
I love the first generation Rivieras, especially the ‘64’s with the factory dual quad engine, like mine.
The Look Magazine ad that Mark Reimer posted is intriguing. The cynic in me wants to ask, “What were they hiding ?” Not that there’s anything wrong with the middle of the Riviera–far from it. Maybe just a novel look-at-me gimmick ?
Architectural photographer Julius Shulman liked to shoot through or past foliage in the foreground of a building scene–as a framing device, mostly–even if he had to fudge reality to do it:
I prefer the ‘63. Something about a Dynaflow nailhead just exudes Buickness. I know the ST400 in the ‘64 is a far superior transmission, but it takes away a little bit of the unique qualities of a vintage Buick.
I was sort of old enough to remember these when they came out, but I don’t. 64.5 Mustang, definitely, but the Rivera no. But it wasn’t too long before they did hit my radar as something special, no Buick puns intended. Never a fan of the “big American car” genera of cars, but the first gen Rivera was something special. Styling of course but still, asking it about canyon carving, skidpan performance and braking was like asking a Supermodel about her cooking skills. You just don’t go there, it’s not what it’s about.
Unfortunately things went down from there, most notably the boattail that appeared around ’70. Jeez were they ugly. And big.
I would say it’s a 63 as the hood ornament on my 63 lays flat in the chrome trim on the hood, and for Gerard, the dash controls on the 63 are some of what makes the 63 way more stylish, the 64 & 5 lost a lot of that with the new style dash.