In 1963 Buick introduced a whole new top model, which was to take up the stakes against Ford’s Thunderbird. Dubbed Riviera, the car was a large, two door hardtop model, designed by Bill Mitchell.
Engine choice ranged from a big V8 of 6,6 litre, to a very big V8 of 7,0 litre…corresponding horsepower in the order of 325-365 SAE hp, giving 180-190 kph respectively.
The car featured a very high level of standard equipment and became the most expensive in the Buick Range, (apart from the 225 Electra Cabriolet which was 30 dollars more expensive…).
The same base model stayed in production until 1965, at that time rather long when the habit was to at least outwardly change a model every year. Over three years production totaled 112244 units.
Shown here is an early 1963 car present during the American Car Show supporting the 2006 Concours d’Elegance at the Het Loo Palace. It came first to Holland in 1997. In order to compensate for the rather excessive fuel consumption, the car has been converted to the use of LPG.
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