1963 Buick Riviera - Rat Pack Cool

With the exception of the 1977-1978's and of course the 1986-1993 models, I love all Buick Riviera's with these Rat Pack cool '63-'65's my favorite of them all. 

Our black on red beauty here is a '63 and is for sale in bucolic Akron, Ohio with an asking price of (he gulps) $15,000. Yikes. And that's with a price reduction of $5,000 too. 

New price is fair, I guess, based on its condition but it's certainly no bargain seeing the interior needs to be redone and the engine bay detailed. Who knows what else it needs. I'd think that kind of money for this better spent on something for sale way south of the I-70. Make that way, way south. 

Legend has it these cars were GM's swipe at Ford and their seminal four-passenger Thunderbird. Well, it wasn't their only attempt but it was their best effort; GM finally get the "Thunderbird recipe" down pat after learning the hard way that folks who appreciated the Thunderbird wanted more out of a "personal-luxury car" than bucket seats and a floor-shifter nestled in a fancy console. 

Oldsmobile's half-baked 1961 Starfire and Pontiac's 1962 Grand Prix were little more than, allegedly, sporty versions of existing models as opposed to a unique, clean sheet design like the four-passenger Thunderbird was or what became known as the Buick Rivera come 1963. Hey, I wouldn't kick either the Olds or Pontiac out of my garage but given the choice between a Starfire, Grand Prix or one of these you already know my answer. 

Originally a design exercise shepherded by GM VP of Design William Mitchell, what would become known as the Buick Riviera, was first pitched to Cadillac to be sold as the "LaSalle II" hearkening back to Cadillac's companion model that GM discontinued in 1940. Cadillac rejected it, Chevrolet did too under the auspice they both had too many models at the time and didn't need another one. 

Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick were far more interested with Buick winning an internal contest for the privilege of marketing and selling it. The "Riviera" moniker one Buick had used on a series of convertibles going to back to 1949. 

What's in a name? Some say Buick's recycling an established nameplate hindered the Riviera's chances of beating the Thunderbird at the box office. Despite being less expensive than the then current Thunderbird and better reviews of it, Riviera never outsold Thunderbird. Perhaps the more restrained styling of the Riviera wasn't to buyers fancy back then as well. That we'll never know. 

I happen to be a fan of the "Bullet 'Bird's" and can't tell you honestly if I'd choose this over one if I was alive and of the means to afford one back then. Anyone got a time machine I can borrow so I can find out? 

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