1964 Buick Riviera

This particular 1st generation Buick Riviera was registered in the United States on the 1st January 1964. Little history comes with the car from its life in the US, but it was imported from Citrus Springs in Florida to the UK in 2018. 

Since its arrival in the UK the Riviera has had two owners and has been with its current custodian since September 2021.

If there is one word that describes the look of the 1st generation Riviera, class is probably the most fitting. With its black paint and coke bottle lines, this V8 powered luxury two door hardtop simply oozes class.

This example presents well with a nice deep shine to the gloss black paint. There are some blemishes in the paint which are detailed in the gallery below. There is some bubbling evident on the tops of the rear wing on the drivers side and around the base of the c-pillar area on the passengers side. Some paint is bubbling along the gutter rail above the passenger door. There is a rust hole in the centre of the bonnet and some rust showing on the left edge of the boot lid. The Riviera badge is missing from the boot.

Despite these imperfections the Riviera is a real head turned and its owner informs us he enjoys being able to jump in the car and go for a cruise. It is by no means perfect but it shines up well and wears its heart on its sleeve.
 

When the all new Riviera was first unveiled in 1963, its interior was unlike any seen in an American luxury coupe. The stylish dashboard had a hint of European influence, with clear and crisp gauges set against a clean and crisp mix of stainless and wood inlay.

This first generation Riviera was optioned with air conditioning and electric windows. Plus it retains its first owners name on the centre console which is nice to see.

The white bucket seats are in nice shape with no rips or tears present. They do need detailing but a weekend spent on these would be extremely rewarding.

Some of the wood trim is starting to show its age with some of the inlay starting to lift on the drivers door. The drivers side quarter light window hand crank is missing. Apart from that the rest of the interior looks to be all there.

This example is equipped with factory AC but the owner has not tried it. They go on to say that the right rear passenger window has recently stopped working and is currently in the down position. He is hoping to get an auto electrician to fix this prior to sale.
 

Under the hood resides a later 7.0 litre V8 Buick motor, which replaced the original 6.6 litre at some point in the cars life. This beast of an engine, which is mated to a 3 speed auto, has been updated to run a Holly Sniper EFI fuel injection system. This particular Holly 550-511K Sniper unit was refurbished in 2018. The owner confirms that this upgrade makes a huge difference to the performance of the 7.0 litre V8, describing it as potent and being well able to keep up with modern traffic. And thanks to the EFI control module on the dash the Holly can be tuned to suit the drivers needs. 

During the photoshoot the V8 idled very nicely with a fantastic burble from the twin exhaust system. We can imagine it must be a blast to drive.

In the Riviera’s history file is a copy of the cars title from its last American owner, who resided in Citrus Springs in Florida. Other documentation includes confirmation of the cars registration from the DVLA after its import to the UK in 2018.

Also included in the history file are a number of invoices from the previous UK owner. One from Gallic Automotive Ltd date to the 19th June 2018, shows an engine service, suspension improvements, fitting of new power steering hoses along with a pump seal kit, strip down and clean of the brakes, LED lights upgrade (both front and rear). These were all carried out to the tune of £674. 

Another invoice from the 15th April 2019 shows that the fuel tank was flushed out, a new fuel pump was fitted along with a new fuel swirl pot. Another invoice from 29th August 2018 notes a repair to the transmission which had developed a jammed governer. The invoice notes the governor was removed, cleaned and reinstalled successfully.

The current owner adds that the Riviera was last serviced in December by Just Historic Cars of St Leonards on Sea.
 

The Buick Riviera has often been referred to as the thinking mans muscle car. It was aimed at the well healed of US society who wanted a sleek, luxurious and powerful mode of transport. Its ground breaking design and generous specification set it apart from all its rivals. It really must have been quite something when it launched in 1963. 

This 1964 Riviera is regretfully for sale by its current owner due to a busy work and family life. To put it simply the Riviera is not getting used as it should. It is therefore time to pass it on to its next custodian, who can give it some TLC and the regular use it thoroughly deserves. 

This presents a unique opportunity to acquire a rare American automotive icon that can either be used and enjoyed or taken to the next level. 

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £16,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Hastings, East Sussex. To arrange an appointment to inspect this vehicle, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.