By the late 1950’s, GM was developing an appetite for a car which could compete in the still-burgeoning Personal Luxury Car segment, a market at that point dominated by the hugely successful Ford Thunderbird.
The design concept for the Riviera drew initial inspiration from Styling Chief Bill Mitchell’s glimpse of a custom-bodied Rolls Royce in the London fog while traveling in the British Isles. He later reflected that he wanted that knife-edged styling, though with a lower profile and with a bit of Ferrari performance thrown in for good measure.
With GM’s Cadillac busy with its own success at the time, in what was an uncharacteristic gesture, the Riviera project was cast open for competition within the label, and it was Buick, compelled by its faltering sales, which ultimately provided the winning corporate pitch.
This handsome and well cared for 1964 Buick Riviera is a 3-owner Southern car with a solid, rust-free body. The Teal over Black is well equipped with: power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats, Dynaflow automatic transmission, power windows, A/C, T-3 headlights and more. This Riviera is equipped with the original 465 Wildcat 425 CI power plant with 340 HP and a whopping 465 lbs ft of torque.
This outstanding classic of the early 1960’s is responsible for resurrecting Buick, as well as, influencing the character of the Personal Luxury market to this day with its combination of high-output, solid handling, and dramatic design. For apprenticing investors seeking to choose the right model at the right point in its appreciation arc-there will be few cars which can be had so affordably, and which have such a long way to go as these early Rivieras.
