Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional
example of this mostly all original (apart from a repaint in it's
original 'Verde Green Metallic' color) and stock 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 '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, power steering, power driver seat (Cost $74), power
brakes, power windows (Cost $110), power antenna, cruise control
(Cost $63), dual tone trumpet horns, tilt steering wheel and
original AM/FM 'Sonomatic' Buick radio (cost $268)!Repainted once
and professionally in it's original factory 'Verde Green Metallic'
(J Code) color paint with it's original factory 'Green' (Code 620)
bucket seats and its completely original interior with center
console and floor shifter and original styled steel wheels. The car
has obviously always been garaged and covered 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 car showing pride of ownership
since new!The car looks extremely impressive with a very
professional re-paint it's original factory and very striking
'Verde Green Metallic' color paint and the original and matching
'Green' interior is in exceptional and completely original
condition throughout including the headliner 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 wear
and tear! All the chrome-work is in exceptional condition as is the
trunk lining and the original spare wheel and jack is located in
it's 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 also boasts it's original Carter AFB dual quad
carbs (3645 front, 3925 rear), original BS code transmission,
original Positraction rear end, dual tone trumpet horns, power
windows, power driver seat, power steering, cruise control, dual
exhausts and it's original 'Buick' AM/FM radio with a power
antenna. All the options are working as they should including all 4
power windows and vent windows, power seat, original working radio,
power antenna and the legendary electrically operated clamshell
headlamps. The transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears,
there are no noticeable oil leaks and the temperature always
remains cool!This car was reportedly at the New York Auto show in
1964 from where it was transported to the Buick dealership in
Norfolk, VA where it was reportedly sold on 3/5/1965, the day of
it's arrival, to Norman L. Sothan, a highly decorated commander in
the US Navy, who traded in his 1961 Mercedes 220SE sedan and paid a
total of $4,200 for the car. The original owners manuals and
coveted 'Protecto Plate' and records from Mr. Sothan will be sold
with the car. For the next 42 years he owned the car until it was
sold to only it's second owner. It is of note, and maybe of
particular interest to some collectors, that the early ' Gran
Sports' built through December 1964, have smaller 'Gran Sport'
emblems placed on the right rear edge of the trunklid and fenders
such as this particular example, which enthusiasts refer to as an
'Early Gran Sport'. Throughout the years, Mr Sothan had overly
maintained and cared for the car, using only premium fuel amp;
'Quaker State' oil and reportedly changing the engine, transmission
and Positration rear end fluids at intervals shorter than required
and always treating the car in the same manner as he treated his
legendary fighter crews jets! Always garaged since new,
nevertheless with the passing of time Mr Sothan eventually had to
repaint the car as the affects of time were beginning to show so
the car was repainted in it's original factory color.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
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...for more
information please contact the seller.
