West Coast Classics are proud to present a great daily driving example of this mostly all original and stock 1965 Buick Riviera with the highly desirable 'Gran Sport' Performance Group with its original matching #'S 425/360HP 2 x 4V (LX Code) V8 Super Wildcat engine with it's original 'Champagne Mist' factory (color code T) paint and with its all original 'Fawn' factory cloth interior, original 'BS' code 'Super Turbine 400' 3 speed automatic transmission and loaded with original Gran Sport options of dual exhausts, Positraction rear end, performance gearing and factory options of bucket seats, center console with floor shifter, air conditioning (Cost $421), power steering, power driver seat (Cost $74), power brakes, power windows (Cost $110), power antenna, tilt steering wheel and original AM 'Sonomatic' Buick radio with rear speaker!
The car was repainted once in its very striking original factory 'Champagne Mist' color paint with it's original factory 'Fawn' (Trim code 613) bucket seats and its completely all original interior with center console and floor shifter and original styled steel wheels. The car has its original factory 'Fawn' cloth interior which is in excellent and mostly completely original condition throughout apart from the headliner and carpet. Everything under the hood is seemingly original apart from a new fuel filter and the battery with the dashboard woodwork, the dashboard itself, and all the seats are in good condition throughout! The trunk lining has been replaced with carpet with the original spare wheel and jack located in their rightful place in the trunk. Please note the air conditioning, heater and clam shell lights are not working and the car will therefore be needing some further work by its next owners.
The original matching # 425cid/360HP 2 x 4 barrel 'LX' code engine is strong and powerful and this particular car drives very well - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles. The car has it's original 425/360HP V8 engine and Carter AFB dual quad carbs (3645 front, 3925 rear), original BS code transmission, original Positraction rear end, and was sold with factory air conditioning, power windows, power driver seat, power steering, cruise control, all new correct GS dual exhausts and it's original 'Buick' AM/FM radio with a power antenna.
We acquired the car from it's long time previous owner, an elderly gentleman who had owned the car for many years and which had reportedly been sitting in his garage for some twenty + years previously. We completed over $15K in mechanics to get the car running including have restored the gas tank, replaced all window motors, replaced all wheel cylinders and master cylinder, replaced all brake hoses, repacked front wheel bearings & install new seals, remove & replace radiator & heater hoses, replace thermostat, most fuel lines, added a new fuel pump and sending unit, new rear springs/shocks, replaced voltage regulator, replaced fuse box & wiring, tuned up & replaced rotor caps, timing, plugs etc, all new door and roof rail seals, new battery, reconditioned the original brake drums, repair transmission cooler lines, and rebuilt the AFB carbs to have the car in good running condition prior to sale. The car has 4 new white wall BFG tires and the compression tested with positive average 160 psi on all 8 cylinders, we replaced all the plugs, adjusted the timing and points, and cleaned and further adjusted the original carbs to ensure as smooth and precise running as possible. Also obviously all fluids were changed including oil and filter.
A car for Buick's most affluent customers, known as the 'bankers' car, the 1963-65 Buick Riviera reflected the styling supremo of Bill Mitchell with a masterful blend of curves and razor-edges respected by an army of industrial designers as an architectural landmark of the U.S industry and which has high repute amongst collectors for both it's beautiful lines and smooth fast performance for a luxury coupe. "One of the most beautiful cars America ever built" as stated by none other than Sergio Pininfarina of Ferrari design fame at it's debut at the Paris auto show in 1963. This landmark design of 1963-64 would continue for only two years until 1964 before the hidden headlight change in 1965.
But it wasn't until the arrival of the 1965 Gran Sport that the truly sporty side of this sports car revealed itself. The 'GS' had the gorgeous looks of the Riviera combined with the heart of a true muscle car! Unlike other Buick's, including the youth orientated Wildcat, the Riviera GS came with just one engine and transmission combination. Powering the GS was a potent 425 cid V8 with a 10.25:1 compression ratio. The engine produced 360 HP at 4400 rpm and 465 lbs ft of torque at 200 rpm. It put out .84 hp per c.i., very close to the legendary 1:1 ratio of Chrysler 300's and Corvettes. Hooked up to the 425 was the latest GM three speed Hydra-Matic which in 1965 'Car & Driver' called "without question, the best automatic transmission in the world!"
The Riviera GS had dual four barrel Carter AFB carbs, a dual exhaust system with large diameter pipes and bright metal engine accents including a large chrome plated air cleaner with polished ribbed valve covers! Full wheel covers and Gran Sport lettering below the Riviera script on the deck lid and front fenders helped set the car apart visually. A true Grand Tourer, the GS had a top speed of 123mph and 'Car & Driver' reported a 7.2 second 0-60 time and an even better quarter mile run. In muscle car fashion the GS package also included a heavier front anti-roll bar than the standard Riviera, stiffer shock absorbers, stiffer springs at all four wheels, stiffer bushings in the rear suspension and a higher capacity exhaust system with a beautiful sounding V8 rumble.
This, therefore, is one very rare and highly desirable and collectible example of one of the outstanding GM designs of the sixties with the 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport being the most desirable of the 1963-65 Riviera series and the top-of-the-line Buick for its year! 1965 was the only year with the concealed ribbed 'Clamshell Headlights' and a restyled rear bumper with inserted tail lights and offered for the first time on a Rivera for $91.38, the popular chrome Buick road wheels with painted charcoal inserts first introduced on the '64 Wildcat. Contributing to the cleaner look was the removal of the non-functioning side scoops. The 1965 model also enjoys high repute amongst collectors for both it's beautiful lines and super smooth and fast performance for a luxury coupe and with this model's very rare and highly desirable options of bucket seats, center console with a floor shifter, power windows, power driver seat and air conditioning, this is indeed one extremely desirable example of a 1965 Buick Riviera with the rare Gran Sport option with the Super Wildcat 425/360HP engine!
In summary, this is one exceptionally rare surviving example of a very original and an increasingly desirable and collectible 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport with it's original matching #'s powerful 425/360HP V8 engine! The car will need some further work to bring it to the next level for sure but it remains a sure-fire investment that's sure to appreciate over the years for any classic American sixties car collector or simply any Buick enthusiast!
