Ford’s Thunderbird kicked off the personal luxury car craze, also known as the Grand Tourer. Buick jumped on the bandwagon with the Riviera in 1963. Named after the picturesque French Riviera, the nameplate would see a run until 1993, with a short resurrection from 1995 to 1999. The first-generation Riviera has also been the subject of the 2008 Croatian film Buick Riviera, about a Bosnian man and his connection with his Riviera. If you’re after a first-generation Riviera, this 1964 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe is a fine choice, as it appears to be in great condition inside and out.
Exterior and Interior
Penned by GM’s Bill Mitchell, Buick’s personal luxury car had to stand out, and stand out it did. Coke bottle styling, flowing lines, white-striped tires, and chrome wire-wheel style hubcaps all add to its timeless allure. The pale blue color further accentuates its stateliness, and for a Sixties car, the Riviera packs less chrome than you’d expect. Up front, quad headlamps are framed by buttress-esque front wings, and the Riviera emblem stands tall on the long hood. The emblem is also visible on the wheel centers, as well as in the tail lamp lenses. A plaque on the side sill informs that the coachwork, or body was done by Fisher, one of the renown names of the Sixties for coachbuilding. The interior of this 1964 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe features low-back seats for four occupants trimmed in white leather, wood trim and a metal-effect dash. The two-spoke steering wheel features the Riviera emblem on it, and it is present across other areas of the interior as well. A plaque on the center console informs that the first owner of this car was a Mr. E. Walton. The Riviera comes with period luxury features such as climate control, cruise control and a push-button radio.
Engine
Although the Riviera was nearly 4,000lbs in weight, it was 10% lighter than the competition, hence the 465ci (7.0L) Nailhead V8 under the hood of this 1964 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe was sufficient for some sprightly performance when new. With a reported 340hp of power, the performance figures were an impressive 8 seconds to sixty from rest, and a top speed of 115mph as tested by Motor Trend. Automatic transmission, power steering and power drum brakes were standard equipment.
The 1984 Buick Riviera Coupe comes from an era when personal luxury cars were all about presence, comfort, and a sense of occasion, and this example delivers that character in a particularly period-correct package. Showing 41,329 miles, it is finished in Light Sand Gray over a Burgundy velour interior and powered by a 307ci V8 paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The padded Burgundy vinyl roof, burl woodgrain trim, split front bench seat, column-mounted shifter, and Riviera hood ornament give it the unmistakable look and feel of an upscale 1980s Buick, while air conditioning, power accessories, and the Concert Sound audio system add the comfort expected from the nameplate. It is the kind of Riviera that appeals less through outright performance and more through its relaxed cruising character, distinctive styling, and richly finished cabin.
The 1963 Buick Riviera marked the debut of one of Buick’s most distinctive designs, bringing a clean, pillarless personal-luxury coupe shape penned under GM styling chief Bill Mitchell and a body shell not shared with other GM models. Showing 78,406 miles, this first-year Riviera is finished in Bamboo Cream over a Saddle vinyl interior and is powered by Buick’s 401ci Nailhead V8. The car has been personalized with 15-inch chrome Riviera GS Rally wheels, aftermarket mufflers, and a custom paint job, while its cabin retains hallmark period details such as front bucket seats, a full-length center console, factory Sonomatic radio, and model-year-1963-only HVAC controls. According to the current owner, the car was originally finished in Arctic White.
For many enthusiasts, the 1967 Buick Riviera represents the pinnacle of Buick's personal luxury era. Widely regarded as one of Bill Mitchell's finest designs, the second-generation Riviera combined razor-sharp styling with effortless V8 performance, creating a grand touring coupe that could comfortably compete with the Ford Thunderbird while maintaining a character all its own. Beneath its sculpted sheet metal lies Buick's legendary 430ci Nailhead successor, an engine celebrated for its immense torque delivery and smooth highway manners. Showing 19,594 miles, this Riviera is finished in elegant Goldmist Metallic over a Black interior with a Black vinyl roof, presenting a timeless combination on one of GM's most iconic personal luxury cars.
This 1957 Buick Roadmaster Riviera 2-Door Hardtop is pure late-1950s American excess in the best possible way, combining dramatic Harley Earl-era styling with the torque-rich character of Buick’s Nailhead V8. Showing approximately 14,574 miles, this example was refurbished in the late 2000s and is finished in Dover White and Bittersweet Red over a Rust and Ivory interior. The car was later upgraded with an Air Lift Performance air suspension system. Add in power steering, power brakes, power windows, a power front bench seat, Hot Rod Air climate control, and wide whitewalls, and this Roadmaster delivers the extravagant look of a flagship ’50s Buick with a few thoughtful upgrades that make it even more enjoyable today.
The 1972 Buick Gran Sport is a great example of why Buick’s muscle cars have always had their own following. Where some competitors leaned almost entirely into aggression, the GS mixed real V8 performance with a more polished, upscale feel, and this 60,979-mile example captures that balance nicely. Finished in Burnished Copper with a Black vinyl roof over a Black interior, it pairs a 350ci V8 and 4-barrel carburetor with a TH350 3-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. The equipment list is especially appealing for an enthusiast cruiser, with power disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning, a full-length console, Rallye steering wheel, tinted glass, chrome-plated wheels, and period stereo equipment all part of the package. It has the visual presence of a proper early-1970s muscle car, but with the comfort and restraint that made Buick’s Gran Sport line feel a little more grown-up than the average stoplight bruiser.
The 1984 Buick Riviera Coupe comes from an era when personal luxury cars were all about presence, comfort, and a sense of occasion, and this example delivers that character in a particularly period-correct package. Showing 41,329 miles, it is finished in Light Sand Gray over a Burgundy velour interior and powered by a 307ci V8 paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The padded Burgundy vinyl roof, burl woodgrain trim, split front bench seat, column-mounted shifter, and Riviera hood ornament give it the unmistakable look and feel of an upscale 1980s Buick, while air conditioning, power accessories, and the Concert Sound audio system add the comfort expected from the nameplate. It is the kind of Riviera that appeals less through outright performance and more through its relaxed cruising character, distinctive styling, and richly finished cabin.
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