Buick Riviera mk1
Produced as a 1963 model through 1965. 2-door hardtop with either the 401 or 426 Nailhead V8. I have no qualms about naming the 1963 Buick Riviera one of the most beautiful Amcars of the 60s. One of GM's own car designers was responsible for the design. Bill Mitchell designed for, among other things, Cadillac. He also led the design of none other than the 1963 Corvette Stingray Coupé – you know the one with the distinctive split rear window. In my eyes, the 1963 Buick Riviera and Chevy Corvette Stingray are the most beautiful cars of this era.
Certain things stick well in a boy's mind. I got to sit in a 1963 Buick Riviera on the way between Tønsberg and Larvik - and back. Imagine a green-black Riviera in the late 60s. Over 5 meters long and almost 2 meters wide, it made a formidable impression in the car fleet of the time. The trip took three quarters of an hour each way.
Fifth man in the car
As the last passenger to arrive, I got to sit in the middle of the back seat. The Riviera only has 4 seats. The back seat was more than wide enough for 2 girls and a boy in between, but there was no seat cushion in the middle - nor for the back. Just a shiny sheet of metal. Whenever I come across an early Buick Riviera, I always look into the back seat and take note – yes, there is the sheet metal 🙂
About the pictures
The main photo was taken at the London Classic Car Show 2020. It belongs to a private person. The other, customized Riviera, was photographed at the Blakertreffen near Motangen. The interior picture was taken of a car that was on display at a car meet at Nøstetangen in Drammen. The white car was photographed on the occasion of a car crash on Nebbenes by the E6 through Eidsvoll.
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