1963-65 Buick Riviera: Strange Facts, Features, Quirks & Idiosyncrasies of Buick's 4-Place Coupe!

One of my teachers had a '63 Riviera. As a result, we decided she was the coolest teacher in the school.

One of the most beautiful automobile designs of all time.

Adam, At this point, any RWD Buick is a classic and a first generation Riviera can be considered a national treasure.🥇🥇

First generation Riviera was a groundbreaking car for General Motors. Classic good looks, well appointed.

You really couldn't go wrong with Bill Mitchell!

It's amazing that the difference between '58 GM models and the '63 Riv is only like 5 years.

One of the most beautiful designs ever - period. Both inside and out. Bill Mitchell refused to let anyone mess with it and he was right!

I think this era of Riviera is GM's contribution equal to FMC"s '61-65 Continental. Fabulously beautiful design, with a name that conjured up everything worldly and sophisticated at that time... "Riviera". I wanted one when I was 12 years old ! Brilliant.

I was 12 when the Riviera was introduced.....I wanted it SOOOOO bad! My dad's business was growing, but he was still into practical family cars so this car was not a consideration at all. A number of my parents' friends bought them which just stoked my envy. When my dad finally acknowledged to himself that he had 'arrived', he bought my mom and himself two loaded T-Birds in 1968. They were wonderful...but I wish he was in that mindset in '64 in time for the turbohydramatic transmission going into Riv's then. What a stunning, iconic body style.

Bill Mitchell's comment about being so happy with the Rivera that he could drink for a week cracked me up!!! They probably did drink like that back then...amongst other things!

My first 'car love' was for a 1965 Riviera GS owned by my Mom's best friend Candice! Silver with a black vinyl top and black interior with real wood. STUNNING!

That Bill Mitchell interview is priceless. So many of us remember the glory days of the Big Three before the draconian government regulations!

This channel is such a gem

I LOVED the interview with Bill. Unless you're a GM guy, most haven't even heard of him (he gets overshadowed by Earl, of course), but he was a major force behind some of the coolest cars GM ever made.

The first gen Riviera is beautiful and was kind of a unique and groundbreaking car at the time, especially in exterior design. GM and the rest of the Big 3 could almost do no wrong when it came to exterior styling in the 60s. So many beautiful works of automotive art to come out of that decade.

I was a devout Thunderbird guy into my 30s. My dad had a 1964 Riviera the same color as the thumbnail. Once I drove that car, and noted how much better it rode and handled over ANY 1956-1966 Thunderbird I have ever owned (12 in all). I switched to GM ever since. The Rivieras I have owned include a 63, 67 GS, 70, 71, three 96s and now I have a 92. I recently drove a 66 T-Bird, a very nice one. I was reminded of why I switched to GM. And speaking of LaSalle, my dad had a 1940 4 door convertible and a 1936 sedan.

Wow, that Bill Mitchell interview just a super treat on an already TOP NOTCH (perhaps one of my favorite of your vids so far, along with your interviews with some of the designers you've featured) video. You sir, are an absolute gentleman and scholar most literally Adam! THANK YOU for the great work you do for automotive history!

Among the successful 'retro' offerings (Mustang, Charger, Thunderbird, Challenger, et al) the Riviera leaves a glaring absence. Style, performance, comfort, safety, ROOM + VROOM.

My high school gym coach had a (used) 1963 Riviera in 1974. One day, he caught me admiring the car after school, and we talked about cars for almost an hour in the parking lot. That conversation began a friendship that lasted decades. It’s amazing how tacky and cheap the 80’s Firebird’s IP looks compared to the elegant Riv’s, a classic case of regressive design if ever there was one. Thanks, Adam!

A childhood friend owned a '65 Riviera GS. What a car! We were both into Oldsmobiles but I always liked the Riviera. He also owned a '67 Toronado. Both ground breaking designs for GM. He has since passed away. I still wish to find an example of one of these models to have in my collection. GM halcyon days designs. I don't think we will ever see this again.