Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional example of
this mostly all original (apart from a repaint in it's original
'Flame Red' color) 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 and with
original '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, cruise control
(Cost $63), tilt steering wheel and original AM/FM 'Sonomatic'
Buick radio (cost $268) with rear speaker!Repainted once and
professionally in it's original and very striking factory 'Flame
Red' (R Code) color paint with it's original factory 'Black' (Code
628) bucket seats and its completely original interior with center
console and floor shifter and original styled steel wheels. The car
has no signs of any accidents and looks extremely impressive with a
professional re-paint it's original factory and very striking
'Flame Red' color paint and the original 'Black' vinyl interior is
in excellent and mostly completely original condition throughout
apart from the headliner and carpet. Everything under the hood is
original apart from a new fuel filter and the battery and the car
will be sold with it's original owners manuals. The dashboard
woodwork, the dashboard itself, the carpets and all the seats are
in excellent condition with virtually no signs of wear and tear!
All the chrome-work has been re-chromed and the trunk lining has
been replaced with original spec materials with the original spare
wheel and jack located in their rightful place in the trunk.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 a rust free frame
and boasts 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, air conditioning, power windows,
power driver seat, power steering, cruise control, 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!This
car is reported to have some 80K original miles from it's previous
owners who themselves had recently purchased the car from it's long
time previous owner, an elderly gentleman who had owned the car for
many, many years and which had reportedly been sitting in his
garage for some twenty + years previously. The previous owners then
restored the gas tank, replaced the rear wheel cylinders and master
cylinder, replaced most fuel lines, added a new fuel pump and
sending unit, new shocks, reconditioned the original brake drums,
and rebuilt the AFB carbs to have the car in good running condition
before we purchased it from them.Upon purchasing the car we
ourselves had the paint and body professionally primed, block
sanded and sealed prior to applying the new two-stage paint with
all the bright-work and chrome having been completely and
professionally removed from the car. The paint supplier was the
renown TCP Global who mixed the paint according to the factory code
and they also supplied the clearcoat and all the solvents for the
most correct factory finish. The car was then color sanded and
buffed to its original lustrous finish. The internet pictures in
our opinion actually do not do the color finish its full justice.
Its a beautiful and professional refinish and as stated earlier we
welcome and encourage any inspection or viewing. We ourselves then
replaced the original exhaust system with a brand new and factory
correct '65 Gran Sport exhaust system with resonators, we
re-chromed the bumpers and all the chrome trim and refinished the
polished stainless steel, replaced all the weather stripping, added
new factory correct tires and newly re-chromed the wheels with
center caps. We ourselves have replaced the front wheel cylinders
and front brake hoses and brake shoes as well as the rear brake
shoes. We had the compression tested with positive average 150 psi
on all 8 cylinders, 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 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
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 am...for more information please contact the
seller.
