Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics present a rare 1963 Buick Riviera coupe with
its original and highly desirable matching #'s 401/325HP 4 barrel
'JT' code 'Wildcat' engine. The car has an older repaint in a 'Dark
Gray' color and has a 'Black' vinyl front and rear bucket seats
interior with a center console and console mounted transmission
with a twin turbine Dynaflow automatic transmission, heater and
defroster, power steering, power brakes, electric clock, map light,
automatic trunk light, lined luggage compartment, deep pile
carpeting, dual exhausts, dual speed wipers with washers, deluxe
steering wheel, deluxe wheel covers, backup lights and loaded with
virtually every conceivable factory option apart from cruise
control; with air conditioning, soft-ray tinted glass, tilt wheel,
power windows, very rare factory AM radio with power antenna and
the very desirable optional hubcaps! This is one mighty rare
example with virtually every possible factory available options
except power vent windows, cruise control amp; the rear window
defroster!This should be considered a good project car with
definite needs but which drives and runs fairly well. It has a very
average quality repaint in a 'Dark Gray' color paint and please
note that there will be some definite cosmetic and possibly some
mechanical issues needing attention. For example the car drives
well and the original matching #'s engine is strong but the AC and
one of the power windows are not working. We have had the
carburetor rebuilt and adjusted to specs, we have drained the fuel
tank and replaced it and the car has new front brake pads but the
car does have pitted chrome and all the weather stripping will need
replacing. Overall the car should be considered as a project
needing restoring and a car which will definitely need some TLC. As
previously stated, this particular example boasts its original
matching numbers 401/325HP JT code engine and transmission. The
floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are
seemingly solid and mainly rust-free and the car has no signs of
any major accidents. This was one of the outstanding GM designs of
the sixties, reflecting the styling supremo of Bill Mitchell with a
masterful blend of curves and razor-edges, dubbed the
anti-Thunderbird and 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 would continue for only two
years until 1964 before a hidden headlight change in 1965, making
these two particular years of 1963/4 the most collectible and
desirable and with the original early '63 models holding the lead
in collector preference amongst most enthusiasts, but with all
these 63-65 model cars boasting 'Milestone Car' status. All 1963
models were unique being the only year that the heater/defroster
and optional air conditioning controls would be suspended under the
center of the instrument panel pad. The design created a somewhat
confusing array of push and pull control levers to direct air flow
where desired and a simpler design appeared for 1964/5. Also it is
of note that Buick pioneered another industry first with the
Riviera in 1963 - flush glass! This was a unique new design in
which the windscreen and rear window were sealed directly to the
body allowing the glass to fit flush and thereby eliminating the
bulky metal and rubber framework required on other
automobiles!Performance was an important consideration in the
personal luxury car market in the early sixties and the Riviera's
power source was the 401 cubic inch 'Wildcat 445' V8 engine with
325 horsepower at 4400 rpm. It developed 445 lbs of torque at 2800
rpm, hence the '455' Wildcat script on the air cleaner. An optional
engine bored out 425 cubic inch 'Wildcat 465' produced an
impressive 340 horses at 4400 rpm and 465 lbs ft of torque at 2800
rpm. The 1963 engines were painted silver, the only time this color
would be used by Buick and they featured an over sized air cleaner
painted in 'Wrinkle Red'!