1963 Buick Riviera

Riviera is a hallowed name in Buick history, and while it was originally applied to GM's first hardtop version of the 1949 Roadmaster--a sister car to the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and Oldsmobile 98 Holiday--it came to prominence as its own model for the 1963 model year. This new car represented General Motors' design department at the top of its game; it was a clean-sheet re-imagination of a premium Buick coupe created by stylist Ned Nickles and his team of designers and modelers, under the careful direction of vice president of design Bill Mitchell.

For consignment THE Riviera to have with its hidden headlights, mind you these have been added from a later model but the original grille and headlamp assemblies come with the car, and styling swooping lines. The beneficiary of a recent respray and a slew of mechanical work including a completely new brake system, new AC system with R12, new shocks, and some new weather stripping just to begin the list. Read on to learn about America's new bid for a great new classic car.

Exterior
A luxury car combined with a sports car is the mantra for this 1963 Riviera. Dual headlights, relocated behind those cathedral horizontal ribbed side lights raked downward and rearward in each front corner, lets everyone know it is a Riviera. A clean egg crate grille sits in the center and gives a snarling demeanor to the front end. At the top of the car, the traditional tri-shield Buick logo fronts a sculpted hood which flows to like-new glass, bright stainless trim, satin finish wipers and two chrome trimmed cowl vents. At the sides of the car, rocker spears combine with wheel moldings to parallel stylish fender louvers, traditional door handles, new “Riviera” scripts and awesome Buick mirrors. All dents and dings from years of use were removed, then repainted in a nice coating of Marlin Blue. Some inclusions, rust bubbles and overall waviness is noted on the lower body panels. At the back of the car, a showroom fresh bumper hangs below the tail lamps with Buick's famous tri-shield branding and a block BUICK decklid lettering. The Buick sits on new tires that wrap factory original wire wheel covers. The gaps are well minded, and it's a turn the key and enjoy kind of car.

Interior
Showing in dark blue, the door panels make use of vinyl, carpet, and wood appliqué, and noted is a double door release on front and rear of the armrest to make egress easier for the rear passengers through the two doors. Power window and seat toggles are seen on this door as well. Sliding inside we arrived in midcentury modern design heaven. Wide blue vinyl bucket seats with some buttons and large tufts are near perfect. For the rear, a bench in bucket format in the rear (central speaker, flat area in center) is noted and is in excellent condition as well. An angled dash makes use of brushed aluminum, wood grain appliqué, and chrome bezels to emulate the midcentury modern motif on the dash. Starting top dead center of rear facing angle dash are various slides for airflow controls, power antenna, and courtesy lights. Just below we note the factory AM radio hovering just above knobs for the wipers and lighting. The center console is born out of the dash, and contains the center mounted automatic shift lever looking much like its inspiration, the Seattle Space Needle as well as the ash receptacle and a small storage compartment. Some padded dark blue vinyl tops the dash, and the bottom and the sides of the lighted center console. Black carpet, in pristine condition covers the floors and a light blue tight headliner is above all this 1960's menagerie.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is the numbers matching original but slightly restored and detailed 401ci Wildcat V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor on top. All the mechanicals are wonderfully clean and well preserved, and the use of a red color for the block valve coverings, intake and air cleaner assembly of this engine are nicely showing. Bolted to the back is a 2-speed automatic Dynaflow transmission with a new pan gasket and rear seal. Putting the power to the ground is a 3.23 geared rear axle. A tune up as well as fluid changes were recently done to this mill as well as having new hoses installed.

Undercarriage
Up on the Classic Auto Mall lift, this car shows well underneath with slight surface rust, and structurally sound undercarriage and frame. Independent coil springs are on the front and a 4 link with coil springs is on the rear. Power drum brakes are noted all around and have been treated to a full redux with new lines, hoses, wheel and master cylinders, shoes and hardware. The X frame shows slight surface rust but nothing out of the ordinary. We note new u-joints for the drive shaft and a stock style dual exhaust system.

Drive-Ability
A great experience and I felt like a million bucks behind this wheel. You are in a rolling piece of modern art with quick starting, smooth as silk idle, and driving that is a breeze with power steering and power brakes. A few frowns crept up during my drive, those being the heater blower wouldn't blow, the power antenna did not function, and although the power window mechanisms have been rebuilt, the passengers rear window only goes up from its dedicated seating position. Overall, it felt like a large sports car.

The Riviera is considered to be Bill Mitchell's finest works of art available on the collector market. Classic Auto Mall is very fortunate to have this well maintained and wonderfully driving car for sale here, for you to see and drive, and ultimately be impressed!

VIN DECODE
7J1040390
7-Riviera
J-1963
1-Flint, MI Assy Plant
040390-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.