1964 Buick Riviera

Description

You're seeing it happen right now, in real time: the early Buick Rivieras are no longer $10,000 beaters, but genuine collector's items that are in high demand. And there aren't many that will attract as much attention as this 1964 Riv and its sinister black-on-gray wardrobe. Add in the 401 inch torque factory under the hood and you have a car that drives as awesome as it looks.

Don't let the oversized rolling stock fool you, this is a mostly stock 1964 Riv. No major element of that ground-breaking Bill Mitchell design has been altered and the 2-year-old black paint and straight bodywork mean that this is a car that you'll show proudly. Each of the three years, 1963, 64, and 65, have their notable features and everyone has a favorite, mostly coming down to whether you like the exposed headlights or the clamshells of the '65s. Regardless, nobody will ever argue that this isn't a great-looking car from any angle. The crisp sheetmetal looks formal and well-tailored, cleverly masking what is otherwise a very large car. The detailing is exquisite, from the forward-canted fenders to the subtly sunken hood to the faux vents on the quarter panels, there's eye candy everywhere you look. The trim is in good order, and it really stands out against the black paint, further accentuating the clean design that was arguably the best of the '60s.

The luxurious interior has a few custom touches, but the factory really nailed it on their first try. Individual buckets flanking a full-length console give the Riv a sporty feel, but the upholstery patterns and matching pillow-tufted door panels suggest quiet luxury. A small-diameter steering wheel is easy to grab and the leather wrapper matches the upholstery quite well, so it looks right. Factory instrumentation covers only the basics, but the big dials have a clean, elegant look that's like a precision mantle clock, and there are auxiliary gauges underneath to monitor the engine. A factory Sonomatic AM radio remains in the dash and it does have factory A/C and power windows, both of which were optional on the Riviera, surprisingly enough. The rear seats are also buckets, making this a true 4-seater, and it's the kind of car where you'll marvel at the detailing as you drive simply because everything is so beautifully sculpted. In back, the trunk is neatly upholstered in black with gray side cards as well as a full-sized spare tire with cover.

Buick's 401 cubic inch "Nailhead" V8 was all about torque, so much so that they advertised it on the air cleaner (included in the trunk). That's 445 pounds of torque, and it makes this Riv surprisingly fast around town. The engine was rebuilt not too long ago and it retains a very stock look under the hood. It isn't detailed but it runs and drives superbly with a great V8 growl that's unique to the Nailhead and with power steering and power brakes, it seems to shrink as you drive it because it's so easy to handle. The DynaFlow slushbox was gone, replaced by a TH400 3-speed automatic in 1964, and it makes the big engine even more effective out on the streets. The undercarriage is in excellent condition and clearly hasn't spent much time in the elements, and like I said, the stance comes exclusively from the rolling stock, which consists of 20-inch chrome wheels and low-profile performance radials.

These cars will not be getting more affordable than they are today, so if you've been admiring them from afar, this might be your opportunity to get a good one before everyone else figures out how awesome they are. Call today!