Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional
example of this original southern California owner and completely
rust free 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 and with original automatic
transmission and loaded with original Gran Sport options of dual
exhausts, performance gearing and factory options of bucket seats,
center console with floor shifter, air conditioning, power driver
seat (Cost $74), power brakes, power windows (Cost $110), power
antenna, tilt steering wheel and it's original AM/FM 'Sonomatic'
Buick radio (cost $268)!We purchased the car from it's original
family owner in 2018 and although the original paint was in very
fair condition and not cracking or checking due to the fact the car
had always been garaged and covered in southern California we had
the car professionally stripped of all its guttering, brightwork
and chrome for it's first ever repaint. The car was then block
sanded and repainted in two stage basecoat/clearcoat in it's
original factory 'Seafoam Green' color paint with it's brightwork
all cleaned and polished and the chrome being re-chromed before
being reinstalled along with all new weatherstripping after
painting. The car still boasts it's all original factory 'Green'
(Code 620) interior, carpets and bucket seats with center console
and floor shifter, with only the headliner and sun visors having
been replaced in correct original spec material. The car's original
styled steel wheels were re-chromed with new caps and centers and
mounted on 4 brand new correct original Whitewall Bias Polyglass
15" Radial tires.Purchased by original southern California owner on
12/15/1965 with original owner's manual and rare and highly
desirable Protecto-plate still available and to be included in the
sale of the car which has obviously always been garaged since new!
The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are
completely solid and rust-free and the car has no signs of any
accidents - obviously a garaged and cherished southern California
driver only.The car looks extremely impressive with a very
professional re-paint it's original factory and very striking
'Seafoam Green' color paint and the matching all original 'Green'
vinyl seats and carpets interior is in exceptional and mostly
completely original condition throughout apart from the replaced
headliner and with virtually no significant imperfections
noticeable anywhere! The dashboard woodwork, the dashboard itself,
the carpets and all the seats are in absolutely exceptional
condition with virtually no signs of significant wear and tear! All
the chrome-work was re-chromed at the time of the car's repaint and
the trunk was correctly reupholstered and the original spare wheel
and jack is located in it's rightful place in the trunk. There are
significant small details still intact on the car also such as the
car still boasting its original and very rare Gran Sport 'Acorn'
chrome air cleaner nut!The original matching # 425cid/360HP 2 x 4
barrel 'LX' code 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 car
has power windows, power driver seat, air conditioning, dual
exhausts and it's original 'Buick' AM/FM radio with a power
antenna. The transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears,
there are no noticeable oil leaks and the temperature always
remains cool! We had the car recently serviced and tuned and
installed new brakes. All the power options work as they should
including all 4 windows and the power drivers seat although please
note that the power antenna works slowly and the air conditioning
is the original R12 system and is not working. The engine was
reportedly resealed in 1999 under the original ownership with new
pistons and hardened valve seats installed in order to run on
premium unleaded fuel. Owned since new by only one original
southern California owner until we recently purchased the car -
never left ungaraged and never abused - babied all the way!A car
for Buick's most affluent customers, 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 amp; 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 amp; 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
original southern California 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 absolutely
exceptional and virtually all original apart from one repaint in
it's original fact...for more information please contact the
seller.