The Buick Riviera was one of the most important cars that GM dropped on the world in the 1960s. Released as a 1963 model year offering, the styling and attitude of the machine were more European inspired than anything the General (or anyone else from Detroit) had sold to the public likely ever. With Buick powered under the hood and the amazing styling of Bill Mitchell wrapping it all up, the car was a sensation and the first generation machines like the 1964 model you see below are still sought after and prices continue to rise on a near weekly basis as collectors and dreamers snap up those less fortunate examples on the bottom end of the market. This car is far different from a stocker in some subtle ways and then a couple that are as subtle as a two by four to the back of the head.
The suspension on this car has ben thoroughly reworked with a full system from RideTech including a four link out back. The car assumes a pro touring style stance but the big and little tires (despite their short sidewalls) have more of a drag racing feel to them. The interior was done in a completely custom manner with black leather dominating the look. The biggest surprise though? That’s under the hood. Skipping a LS engine, skipping a Buick Nailhead, hell, skipping the traditional Chevy small block and going straight a Chevrolet W engine, this car is powered by an (advertised) 590hp 409! Yeah, we did not expect to see that baby under the hood with it dual quads either. Some guys will love and many more will not but we have to give credit to a swap we have never even seen let alone considered before.
Obviously the work on the car has been completed at a high level and done by professionals. The metal working touches added to the hood and trunk lid are really something and we can only imagine the hours invested in making those two pieces essentially from scratch. If there is one thing we can say with confidence about this Buick is that you’d never run into another one like it at the cruise night or car show. We’d have a blast driving it and putting those big meats to the test.
What do you think? BangShifty? Got $69,000 to spend?
Check out the images and then hit the eBay link to see more details and photos
Them’s a lotta carbs for 59 HP LOL! Interior ruins an otherwise sweet build. Gotta love a W-head, I don’t care who you are!
Another beige car!
As I’ve said before, that is the colour associated with old age and decrepitude in the UK – but there’s nothing old and decrepit about this beauty.
It would look so much better in satin black with an FE under the hood….
Colorblind Geordie? The car is yellow not beige. Anyway the body and interior mods just should have been left alone otherwise this car would have been perfect.
I agree Body mods and interior were a waste of time and money..otherwise a cool ride..luv the W motor but a Stage 1 455 would have been my choice.
Got to agree with the others, Marra: your monitor/display must be out of whack, or your eyeballs need an oil-change. It’s very much yellow, albeit a very light one 😉
409? No way! Keep the nail head
I appreciate the work and craftsmanship but, I agree with jerry z, upgrade the suspension and add 4 wheel discs, but leave the rest stock including wheels, tire, engine, and interior. I do love the color.
You don’t tug on superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask off that old lone ranger
And you don’t mess around with the body of a first gen Riviera… you can’t improve on perfection.
At least it’s a thousand times better than the ugliest Riviera ever customized… that yellow thing that won the Ridler in 2014.
Not a fan of what they did with the hood, the wheels and steering wheel are pretty dated looking and the custom interior doesn’t really fit the car.
The Riviera X11 is way cooler than this thing
http://www.yourcovers.com/valve_covers_installations/11080-2_riviera_x11_car_lg.jpg
Oh, and what’s the deal with the chrome front bumper but the body-colored rear bumper. That’s just weird and half-assed looking.
When are people going to get past billet steering wheels? They have become the equivalent of fuzzy dice. Beautiful build regardless, I was hoping to see a nailhead/Tremec combination when you teased me with the headline……….
If you can’t say anything nice…. Screw it, I own a ’64 Riviera.
I think this has come up before and just like then I hate the hood, the tail panel, the trunk lid, most of the interior, and the grill (though adding the Buick emblem is nice).
Don’t mind the tubbing so much and of course I’d rather see the nailhead in there but its not TOO bad with a W motor. Looks like they had a plan but unfortunately for a car with such crisp lines to start with this looks like it has a ton of bondo in it… Color isn’t a bad choice overall but needs less shiney stuff with the lighter color.
Looks good and it’s different but the back end is a mess!