1963 Buick Riviera

           

    

At its debut in 1963, the Buick Riviera turned heads. Far from the flabby and drab small coupe it would become later in its life, the Riviera was sharp. While the mechanicals were respectable, it was the looks that really made it special. The Riviera was at once clean yet aggressive, with its sharply creased lines conveying an avant-garde styling sportiness.

Crisp detailing on forward-raked egg-crate grille, combined with quad round headlights, set off the long side lines and the rakish thin-pillared greenhouse. As opposed to the bulbous cars slathered with chrome filigree that were so common in the early 1960s, the Riviera was angular and elegant in its understatement--one of Detroit's earliest attempts to capture European style for the American consumer.

Rivieras weren't muscle cars; they were stylish cruisers. Still, with two optional V-8s of 401 and 425 cubic inches, supplying 325 and 340 horsepower, respectively, the Riviera had enough power to move its bulk with alacrity.

As was typical of Detroit at the time, the Riviera changed substantially every year, so I'm sure we'll see some of the later Rivieras popping up in Car Lust over time.

Buick Street is a great place to see vintage Buicks proudly owned by enthusiasts--the photos here are of Jim's '63 Riviera from the site.

--Chris H.

Comments

[pops on January 27, 2008 at 04:53 PM]

Your comments regarding this car are right on the money. The 1963 Riviera was a beautiful car in its time. The car is still elegant and has a look that was not in the typical 60's mold. The interior was beautiful, the exterior was classy. What impressed me the most was how understated the design was with no goofy cladding clouding the look.

I had a ride in one back in 1963 on a hot summer day. What sticks in my mind was not only the beauty, but also the factory air conditioning which was somewhat rare in cars of that era.

[Jason Carpp on December 01, 2008 at 08:02 AM]

This is probably the best looking Riviera I've ever seen. The 1963 and 64 are the best looking I've ever seen; better looking than the 65, where they hid the headlights behind where the turn signals were. Why they did that, I'll never know.

[Bob Meadows on December 15, 2010 at 05:23 PM]

In my last year of high school ('63-'64) my friend's family had a 425 cubic inch Nailhead '63 Riviera with the dealer installed two-four barrel carbs. We used to race on a private airport. I got to look at his taillights a lot. My folks had a '62 Olds Starfire with a 345 hp 394 cubic inch engine. Both were beautiful cars. That 360 hp Riviera would simply fly away at over 80 mph; amazing vehicle. Both drank premium fuel by today's standards and neither did too well in the braking department. The stock bias ply tires were probably not too safe at 120 mph, but "those were the days."