Vehicle Description
1966 Buick Riviera Hardtop
The production Riviera was introduced on October 4, 1962, as a 1963
model, its distinctive body shell was unique to the marque, unusual
for a GM product. The design was substantially the same as the
original, less expensively hidden headlights concealed in the
fender grilles. The elegant ground-up styling sported the new "Coke
bottle look" introduced the year before on the arresting Studebaker
Avanti, with a tapered midsection surrounded by flaring fenders.
There was no trace of the "Sweep Spear" used on beltlines of
earlier Buicks with the Riviera package. The Riviera was redesigned
for the 1966 model year. It retained its cruciform X-frame,
powertrain, and brakes, but its curvaceous new body was longer,
wider, and 200 pounds heavier. Vent windows, a feature GM had
introduced in the 1930s, were absent. Headlamps remained concealed,
but now pivoted behind the grille when not in use, and they were
once again horizontally arranged. The car's added bulk slowed
acceleration with the unchanged 425 engine. The Gran Sport package
remained available as an option. Rear seat belts and AM/FM radio
were optional. Inside, the four-place cabin with front and rear
bucket seats and center console were replaced by a choice of bucket
seats or conventional bench seats as standard equipment, making the
Riviera a full six-passenger car for the first time. Optionally
available was a Strato-bench seat with armrest or Strato bucket
seats with either a short consolette or a full-length operating
console with a "horseshoe" shaped floor shifter and storage
compartment. Both the buckets and Strato-bench seat were available
with a reclining seat option for the passenger's side. Sales for
1966 rebounded to 45,308, a new record.
For the bosses and bankers, most muscle cars were for kids. If you
wanted performance and style, and you could pay the premium, you
could find yourself in the seat of this 1966 Buick Riviera. With
super fly styling, hidden headlights and angled in corners for the
front, and a sexy angled rear window, and Coke bottle design, along
with the luxury interior and high performance, you have
arrived!
Exterior
Inspired by Bill Mitchell's love of hand-built London coaches, the
second generation Riviera features a classy body shell that conveys
a sense of style and sophistication perfectly befitting its exotic
name. The incredible shell you see here, a stunning Riviera White
survivor, wears a repaint in the factory hue that has been
exceptionally maintained but shows with some orange peel as well as
a few stone chips. Consistently providing its various owners with
rock-solid reliability and a sense of custom-tailored comfort, the
car has never been separated from its chassis. Original chrome and
stainless, which exhibit minimal signs of wear, show almost as well
as the day they left the dealership. Presently, this Buick's
desirability as something that's as rare as it is unique is both
genuine and fitting. Gone is the boxy look that overtook most
comparable models of the era, and sleek sexy design overwhelms the
viewer. Standard Buick chrome wire spoke wheels covers with faux
knock offs are on all 4 corners, and chrome trimmings are
beautiful, definitely a shower and a goer.
Interior
Swinging the doors and we have a fine mix of smooth shiny blue
vinyl covering molded armrests and wide insets of chrome, polished
aluminum trimmings and dark blue carpeting on the lowers. Housed
here are the window cranks, door actuators, and mirror joystick.
Plenty of power conveniences befitting the luxury feel of the
exterior, but still maintaining its sporty styling. A low back
diamond blue vinyl bench seat with tuck and roll stitching with
smooth bolsters are noted for the front passengers. A few split
seams are noted in the front bench along with some age wrinkles.
The rear has a luxurious bench in matching style to the front bench
that stretches comfortably from door to door and includes a
centrally located speaker in the upper. The original angled dash is
in blue with a blue padded top. Some use of black for the inserts
around futuristic square gauges lined up around a barrel rolling
speedometer are noted along with the factory AM radio. Fronting the
dash is a lighter blue 3 spoke steering wheel with Buick lettering
in the center. Lightly soiled but fade free blue carpeting floods
the floors and above is a nice tight light blue headliner.
Drivetrain
Under-hood is the original 425ci V8, topped with a 4-barrel
carburetor. An automatic Super Turbine 400 3-speed transmission is
on back, and spins a 3.07 rear axle, and all is looking very
original with belts, hoses and a new battery in this bay.
Undercarriage
Let's use the word "spiffy" to describe the underside. All rust
free, black surfaces and solid outer frame construction with an
added X frame in the center. Independent coil spring front
suspension, and a 4 link with coil springs for the rear provide the
ride and power drum brakes provide the stopping power. A clean rust
free dual exhaust and no leaks seen on this super-fly.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter, and after a warm up it was off to the test track,
where me and my cohort both took turns driving, and looking like a
million bucks. Snappy acceleration, bias free panic braking and
adequate handling were noted during our time behind the wheel. A
good time was had on this test drive and we noted the horn wouldn't
toot and the AC was blowing warm.
This Riviera is a phenomenal classic. Its killer Nailhead V8 will
cruise effortlessly at will, and its slick body and first class
interior are ready to garner serious stares. With plenty of GS
models around, this standard trim car is a rare item now here in
our halls waiting for you...all you need to do is write the
check.
494876H903428
4-Buick
94-Riviera
87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
6-1966
H-Flint, MI Assy Plant
903428-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
09C-3rd Week September
ST 66 49487-1966 Riviera 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BODY EUC10345-Euclid Body #
TR 601A-Blue Vinyl
PAINT XX-Riviera White
ACC E-Soft Ray Tinted Glass
2K-Air Conditioning
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
