If you dig in the vault of project cars that have graced the forums at BangShift, you will find many unique and interesting cars. You will see short-term projects, mild builds, full-on race cars, projects that didn’t go too far for one reason or another, and long-term builds. Take note of that, because as far as I can tell, CTX-SLPR’s 1964 Buick Riviera just might one of the oldest build threads in the forum, having kicked off on March 8th, 2008. That isn’t even the starting point of this project: the car was purchased in 2006 and was driven around on it’s original Nailhead engine for a bit, even on Power Tours, before getting taken down for a radical build: the Nailhead was removed and in it’s place is a .030 over 4.1L Buick Turbo V6 that is hooked up to a 4L80E automatic.
If you think jamming all of that into a 1960s personal coupe is a bit of a chore, you’d be right. This isn’t a swap for the faint of heart, and when you realize that CTX-SLPR has many different irons in the fire, including a young family, you’ll be amazed that any of this was achieved. The guy is a tech genius, an excellent fabricator and is dedicated to his vision for the car, even when things like another re-wire, fixing door hinges or even hacking up new turbochargers pop up.
Top marks for originality – I would have expected to see a cursed LS under the hood. That GN motor looks a little lost and even though its been bored out slightly I wonder if its up to hauling up that weight around.
I’ll keep a close watch on this one as I love Buick Rivieras and cars that dare to be different!
I’ve been following this build from Day One and it’s amongst the coolest projects on the Forum. I love the car – and CTX is always one of the kind and thoughtful.
Great project – great guy! I’m pleased they’ve made it to what we Forum Folks call “the front page”.
Dan
Mad props CTX – such a cool car.
Buick’s prettiest car + their most powerful (hp per cube) engine = win!
Nice! My hats off to the owner/builder. I like the combination of turbo Buick motor/classic body style. I know lots of folks have a hate on for the LS…but personally I could stomach seeing an LS under the hood.
Thanks for the kind comments and support for what has been a far longer project that I ever thought it would be. I have been richly bless through the project as in some ways it helped me get my dream job (I’m an experimental physicist) thanks to the hands on experience and more mechanical details that doing fabrication on this car has taught me.
HOPEFULLY I’m very close to enjoying the car vs. working on it in spurts then getting caught by moving, a fabrication snag, or yes letting the project scope get too large and end up spending too much time thinking/working on something that is beyond what I can or should do for the car.
In response to the last line about hacking up a new turbo… yeah, I’ll be taking a sawzall to my new-to-me turbo sometime soon then finishing it off with a mill.
Bubba, search Tim and Carrie Strange’s 63, an LS swap back when LS swaps were still a new thing.
This is a great ca/project. Good for you for following through on it!
I too have been following and enjoying this build for a long time…look forward to CTX finishing strong!
For some reason, the old Rivieras don’t command much $$$ at auctions.
E Bay has a few nice ones ready to go.
In a world filled with senseless camaros, mustangs, and vettes, it’s nice to see that someone created something unique.