West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional example of this 1967 Buick Riviera GS (Gran Sport) 430/360HP V8 2 Door Hardtop in its original 'Sapphire Blue' (Code D) factory color paint with a matching Hardtop and original 'Ivory' (Trim code 612) vinyl interior and with it's original steel wheels and with believed to be 31K original miles!
A completely unmolested all original and stock rust free survivor example loaded with factory options including:
Y49 A9 Riviera Gran Sport Option of:
430 cu in High Performance V8 engine with 4 BBL Carburetor with Dual Inlet Air Cleaner, Heavy Duty Suspension, Performance Axle with Positive Traction Differential, Wide Oval White Wall Tires & Specific Ornamentation.
Air Conditioner
AM/FM Radio with Electric Antenna
Rear Seat Speaker
Cornering Lights
Soft-Ray Tinted Glass
Six-Way Power Seat
Power Windows
Chrome Plated Wheels
Custom Trim Strato Bench Seats in Vinyl
Tilt Steering Wheel
Carpeting
Custom Padded Cushions
Super Turbine Transmission
Power Steering
Power Brakes
Electric Clock
Trunk Light
Dual Exhausts
Seat Belts
This is a previously one owner true survivor from the 1960s, an all original pristine luxury muscle car. Never smoked in, always garaged, no rust. This car was ordered through Graham Buick in Omaha, NE and that is where it resided until sold recently to California. Car has never been damaged and is believed to be 100% original with no signs of any paint work. The car has been photographed wearing all 4 of it's original chrome plated wheels as well a set of striking 1953 Buick Skylark chrome wire wheels which will also be included in the sale. The car had been stored for many years prior to being sold to California and it is in excellent running condition. Likely the finest original unmolested example of it's kind.
It is a superbly striking example in original 'Sapphire Blue' color factory paint with it's original factory 'Ivory' color bucket seats interior. Obviously always garaged with no accidents or rust whatsoever! The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and rust-free - obviously an always garaged and cherished car since new!
The car looks extremely impressive and both the car's original paint and the interior are in quite exceptional and extraordinary condition throughout! All the chrome-work is also in exceptional condition and the original spare wheel and jack are located in their rightful compartment undisturbed in the trunk.
The original and matching # legendary 430/360HP with 465 lb ft of torque Wildcat 'Nailhead' V8 engine is extremely strong and powerful and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be believed - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day sports car a run for it's money! The transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears, there are no noticeable oil leaks and the temperature always remains cool!
It is rare that Detroit followed one design triumph with another but such was the case with the second generation (1966-70) Buick Riviera in 1966! Larger than the original 1963-65 series, it was nevertheless beautifully designed with flowing lines that managed to also incorporate the traditional 'razor edge' look exemplified by Hooper bodied Rolls Royce's and was shared by the Oldsmobile Toronado and used by Cadillac for the Eldorado the following year! A new 425 cid V8 was added under the hood to further enhance the cars reputation as a high end powerhouse. The dual headlights reverted to a horizontal arrangement and now retracted above the grille when not in use and the rear styling featured full width tail lamps. The body's clean lines were enhanced by the lack of vent windows and inside a new instrument panel was to be found. It incorporated a unique vertical drum type speedometer and a full compliment of gauges. A design that has since received the coveted certified 'Milestone Car' status recognition by the 'Milestone Car Society' of post war cars (1945-72) who judged their cars in five catagories; styling, engineering, roadability, performance and innovation and craftsmanship. A Milestone car had to be superior to its contemporaries in at least two of these catagories. Definitely one very rare and highly desirable and collectible original example of one of the outstanding GM designs of the sixties, which has high repute amongst collectors for both it's beautiful lines and smooth and high power performance for a luxury coupe. In 1968 the model had larger reshaped front and rear loop-type bumpers that encased both the grille and tail lamps.
The original Riviera was marketed and aimed at being the ultimate gentleman's muscle car, an executive express that offered luxury, high style, room for four, and power enough to embarrass many a performance car. The second-generation Rivieras that arrived in 1966 are considered by many to be the ultimate expression of the design theme even though their values have until recently generally lagged behind those of the first-generation 1963-'65 cars. GM's design staff sure surpassed themselves in the creation of this personal luxury coupe. Bill Mitchell wanted something like a cross between a Rolls-Royce and a Ferrari; what he got was one of the best-looking cars of post-war America. The question was, which division would produce it? Cadillac wanted no part of the new car--its production lines were already humming at full capacity. Chevrolet, too, said thanks, but no thanks. GM's management decided to stage a contest among Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac, giving the divisions 60 days to make their pitches. Oldsmobile and Pontiac both wanted to make the car more sports-oriented, while Buick saw the car's potential for adding prestige and performance to its lineup, and promised to produce it unchanged. That was just what Mitchell wanted to hear.
The success of the GTO in 1964 ignited the horsepower race, prompting Buick to offer a Gran Sport option in 1965. "The Riviera with muscles on its muscles," Buick called it. In 1965 included in the package were a 360hp, 425-cu.in. Super Wildcat V-8, a Super Turbine 400 transmission recalibrated for higher shift speeds and a 3.42:1 axle ratio; available was a handling package that included stiffer, heavy-duty springs and shocks and faster steering. The second-generation Riviera that debuted in 1966 was completely restyled, even cleaner and more chrome-free than the original. The elimination of front vent windows and the reshaping of the roofline into a graceful fastback produced a pure hardtop look. The headlamps were tucked up under the overhanging hood, descending when needed, eliminating the previous car's troublesome power-operated fender-front grilles that had concealed the headlamps. Delicately framed bumpers fitted nearly flush. Its length and width grew, and there was now room for three passengers in the back seat. Car Life magazine chose it as "Handsomest Car of 1966," against a field that included the new Oldsmobile Toronado. Car and Driver voted it "Best Full-Sized Sport Sedan" for 1966. The Gran Sport option, now badged as a GS, continued with a dressed-up version of the 425-cu.in. V-8, now the only engine choice across the line.
Buick knew it had a winner, and left the styling alone for 1967, satisfying itself with some minor changes to the grille and front bumper. The real news appeared under the hood, where a new 430-cu.in. V-8 replaced the 425. All Rivieras got the 430 in 1967, but the GS option consisted of a special suspension, Posi-Traction differential, and red-line or white stripe tires. In 1967, the nailhead had been put out to pasture, replaced in all Riveras by the all-new 430-cu.in. V-8 introduced that year, coded MD. These engines have angled rocker arm covers and front-mounted distributors. A 400-cu.in. version of the engine, similar in all but bore, was used in the Skylark/Special body GS series. The 430 made 360hp at 5,000 rpm and 475-lbs.ft. of torque at 3,200 rpm, with a compression ratio of 10.25:1. It featured larger crank bearing journals, an exceptionally strong nodular iron crankshaft, and heads similar to those introduced on the small-block 300- and 340-cu.in. V-8s introduced in 1961. These engines were equipped with a single Quadrajet, and there was no dual-carburetor option. Cloaking the Quadrajet on GS models was the wild, red fiberglass Star Wars air cleaner, so called because of its resemblance to something Han Solo might use to get from Tatooine to Dagobah.
The Riviera GS was equipped with the three-speed Super Turbine 400 automatic transmission, Buick's name for the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, which came with a variable pitch torque converter for quicker launches. Recalibrated to allow shifts at higher rpm and featuring a reinforced valve body, the GS transmission wore a BS code on its identification tag. The variable-pitch stator, known by the name Switch-Pitch, was used by Cadillac and Oldsmobile as well between 1965 and 1967, and developed a following in the drag racing community. Like the regular Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, the Super Turbine 400 has a reputation for being bulletproof. Car and Driver, in a road test, referred to the Super Turbine as "without question, the best automatic transmission in the world."
Rivieras used 10-bolt differentials of a design shared by Buick and Oldsmobile. These are strong units, and can withstand a lot of abuse. In 1966 and '67, the Riviera Gran Sport was equipped with a limited-slip differential with a 3.42:1 ratio, with options up to 3.91:1. The code can be found on the bottom of the right axle tube, three inches from the housing, 1966 cars should bear an "x" in a circle for the locking axle, and a 3 over a 42 for the ratio. For 1967, there should be a PY code, again denoting the 3.42:1 ratio and locking axle. The limited-slip unit did its job well: "Acceleration is quiet with no excessive wheelspin, no indication of power--suddenly you're gone without effort, " Cars magazine said. "Handling in the Riviera takes the driver by surprise, " Cars magazine reported. "It is probably the best handling of any large, full-sized American luxury car and is far above any comparable European car."
In January of 1967, 225 R-15 whitewall radials became an extra-cost option on all full-sized Buicks. Besides the standard hubcap, buyers could opt for chrome road wheels, or wire-wheel hubcaps with spinners. Unlike its 1965 counterpart, the motor that lowers and raises the headlamps was not particularly trouble-prone. In 1967 models, the headlamps could be operated with the jack handle if the motor failed.
In 1966, for the first time, buyers could opt for a bench seat in the Riviera, or choose buckets as a no-cost option. Headrests were optional. The Strato-Bench, with a folding armrest and seat backs similar to the bucket seat, was available at extra cost, and could be had with vinyl or vinyl and cloth upholstery. The two years of production were similar, with changes only to the seat patterns and the look of the standard door panels.The vinyl used in Riviera interiors was of high quality and tends to last, which is a good thing because seat kits are not available.
In summary, this particular example is one extraordinarily rare find of an all original 1967 Buick Rivira GS in striking colors and with believed to be only 31K original miles and in great daily driving and turn-key ready to enjoy today condition! Obviously an always garaged car and an increasingly desirable and collectible example for the serious Buick enthusiast or collector!
