1966 Buick Riviera Hardtop

The production Riviera was introduced on October 4, 1962, as a 1963 model, its distinctive body shell was unique to the marque, unusual for a GM product.  The design was substantially the same as the original, less expensively hidden headlights concealed in the fender grilles.  The elegant ground-up styling sported the new "Coke bottle look" introduced the year before on the arresting Studebaker Avanti, with a tapered midsection surrounded by flaring fenders.  There was no trace of the "Sweep Spear" used on beltlines of earlier Buicks with the Riviera package. The Riviera was redesigned for the 1966 model year.  It retained its cruciform X-frame, powertrain, and brakes, but its curvaceous new body was longer, wider, and 200 pounds heavier.  Vent windows, a feature GM had introduced in the 1930s, were absent.  Headlamps remained concealed, but now pivoted behind the grille when not in use, and they were once again horizontally arranged.  The car's added bulk slowed acceleration with the unchanged 425 engine.  The Gran Sport package remained available as an option.  Rear seat belts and AM/FM radio were optional.  Inside, the four-place cabin with front and rear bucket seats and center console were replaced by a choice of bucket seats or conventional bench seats as standard equipment, making the Riviera a full six-passenger car for the first time.  Optionally available was a Strato-bench seat with armrest or Strato bucket seats with either a short consolette or a full-length operating console with a "horseshoe" shaped floor shifter and storage compartment.  Both the buckets and Strato-bench seat were available with a reclining seat option for the passenger's side.  Sales for 1966 rebounded to 45,308, a new record.

For the bosses and bankers, most muscle cars were for kids.  If you wanted performance and style, and you could pay the premium, you could find yourself in the seat of this 1966 Buick Riviera.  With super fly styling, hidden headlights and angled in corners for the front, and a sexy angled rear window, and Coke bottle design, along with the luxury interior and high performance, you have arrived!

Exterior
Inspired by Bill Mitchell's love of hand-built London coaches, the second generation Riviera features a classy body shell that conveys a sense of style and sophistication perfectly befitting its exotic name.  The incredible shell you see here, a stunning Riviera White survivor, wears a repaint in the factory hue that has been exceptionally maintained but shows with some orange peel as well as a few stone chips.  Consistently providing its various owners with rock-solid reliability and a sense of custom-tailored comfort, the car has never been separated from its chassis.  Original chrome and stainless, which exhibit minimal signs of wear, show almost as well as the day they left the dealership.  Presently, this Buick's desirability as something that's as rare as it is unique is both genuine and fitting.  Gone is the boxy look that overtook most comparable models of the era, and sleek sexy design overwhelms the viewer.  Standard Buick chrome wire spoke wheels covers with faux knock offs are on all 4 corners, and chrome trimmings are beautiful, definitely a shower and a goer.

Interior
Swinging the doors and we have a fine mix of smooth shiny blue vinyl covering molded armrests and wide insets of chrome, polished aluminum trimmings and dark blue carpeting on the lowers.  Housed here are the window cranks, door actuators, and mirror joystick.  Plenty of power conveniences befitting the luxury feel of the exterior, but still maintaining its sporty styling.  A low back diamond blue vinyl bench seat with tuck and roll stitching with smooth bolsters are noted for the front passengers.  A few split seams are noted in the front bench along with some age wrinkles.  The rear has a luxurious bench in matching style to the front bench that stretches comfortably from door to door and includes a centrally located speaker in the upper.  The original angled dash is in blue with a blue padded top.  Some use of black for the inserts around futuristic square gauges lined up around a barrel rolling speedometer are noted along with the factory AM radio.  Fronting the dash is a lighter blue 3 spoke steering wheel with Buick lettering in the center.  Lightly soiled but fade free blue carpeting floods the floors and above is a nice tight light blue headliner. 

Drivetrain
Under-hood is the original 425ci V8, topped with a 4-barrel carburetor.  An automatic Super Turbine 400 3-speed transmission is on back, and spins a 3.07 rear axle, and all is looking very original with belts, hoses and a new battery in this bay.

Undercarriage
Let's use the word “spiffy” to describe the underside.  All rust free, black surfaces and solid outer frame construction with an added X frame in the center.  Independent coil spring front suspension, and a 4 link with coil springs for the rear provide the ride and power drum brakes provide the stopping power.  A clean rust free dual exhaust and no leaks seen on this super-fly.

Drive-Ability
A quick starter, and after a warm up it was off to the test track, where me and my cohort both took turns driving, and looking like a million bucks.  Snappy acceleration, bias free panic braking and adequate handling were noted during our time behind the wheel.  A good time was had on this test drive and we noted the horn wouldn't toot and the AC was blowing warm.

This Riviera is a phenomenal classic.  Its killer Nailhead V8 will cruise effortlessly at will, and its slick body and first class interior are ready to garner serious stares.  With plenty of GS models around, this standard trim car is a rare item now here in our halls waiting for you...all you need to do is write the check.

494876H903428

4-Buick
94-Riviera
87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
6-1966
H-Flint, MI Assy Plant
903428-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

09C-3rd Week September
ST 66 49487-1966 Riviera 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BODY EUC10345-Euclid Body #
TR 601A-Blue Vinyl
PAINT XX-Riviera White
ACC E-Soft Ray Tinted Glass
       2K-Air Conditioning

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.