wonderful, wonderful car with the perfect wheel and tire choice..... sorry about your pal.... time heals all wounds, some take longer than others
I remember the day you posted about the wheel change and I remember when you sold it. Must have made you doubly sad. I don't think I've seen a cooler Riv. It's a timeless car. The only thing that makes it look even a little old are the door handles. But they are not a detractor.
I confess I'd not seen this car...what a beauty it was! And Ryan: Your remembrance of the car and of your buddy at this time is a fitting honor to him. Good on 'ya. Terry
I consider myself a card carrying Chevy guy, all the GM divisions had at least one standout offering but I consider the first generation Riviera to be the classiest of the lot.
certainly a mix of emotions in old car memories, or any for that matter. doubly sad to lose a friend and a special car with his hands work on it. very special to have those memories of it all when at it's best. forever young
Off topic, but an opportune time to wish you a Happy Bosses Day, Ryan. Visiting this place is always on my daily list of to dos. And agreed about Rivieras. GM knocked it outa the park on that one.
I recall both occasions well. And when the car was for sale I seriously considered digging into my meager retirement stash to pull it off and still regret not acting. But I trust that it's being well taken care of. One of the very few cars ever listed here on the H.A.M.B. - or anywhere else, for that matter - that if I owned it, I would absolutely not change one damn thing. Well done. Remembering good things is good therapy. All the best.
To my eyes, most of cars of this vintage just don't look right with chrome spoke wire wheels. Fortunately, a first generation Riviera is NOT one of those cars! Now about those tires . . . With mustard, but hold the mayonnaise. Very tasty. And tasteful.
As alluded so many a Hotrod/Custom carry spirit and memories of past connections along with the milestones, it's understandable to get emotional about some of them... Pictures help bring a tear and warm smile...a strange mix but it balances the memories in a way... I look at the Riv and without having an image of it handy I think of it as Buick's salute to the Green Hornet...without the bullets just the elegance...a LOT more Elegance...
Are the wheels still on it?...yeah there's those Threads about letting it go, do you pick and choose the buyers...storing is fine but that doesn't sound very secure... Almost as bad as tossing the wheels for Hotwheels and replacing the drivetrain with some new fan dangled hunk of plastic and dohickies... Many say not your car anymore but with your extended memories of it...yeah that can sting a little...
Really long story short - the car was bought from me by an x-CEO of a major oil company. He was a really nice guy when I dealt with him. A few years later, I got a call from the D/FW airport saying I owed them something like $3500 in storage fees and that I really needed to come pick up my car. Apparently, the title of the car was never transferred after I sold the car... and now D/FW was putting me on the line for the balance. So, I called a lawyer buddy and then the police. I was basically told that I could go pay the fee, pick up the car, and legally apply for a bonded title in my name. I thought long and hard about it... and then waited a week to see what happened after calling the parking people. Five days later, I guess the car was picked up. A few months after that, the car showed up at an auction in Arizona... looked a little beat up, but not terrible. A year or so after that and the car again showed up at an auction, but without the Borrani wheels... I have no idea where it is now.
Hard to like that but lets say my like is acknowledging I read your response which is very unfortunate...How many times has this played out over the years...being a survivor vehicle no matter what it's provenance in the Automotive Scene is no guarantee it will be a glorious survival...Hopefully it's been given some of its dignity back. Sometimes it's better not to know...in your case it was an irresponsible action that involved you years later...how not to know...again fingers crossed the spirit is revived again.
Wow...10 years ago? Time really flies. The 65 Riviera is one of the best designed cars ever. I would have never thought of putting Borranis on anything...but after seeing them on that deep green Riv....simply amazing.
Buick wires are just fake borranis… so it makes sense to put real borranis on the car that makes Cadillacs of the same era look gaudy and tasteless.. ‘joke.
Well my handle is BigRedRivi and I love all hot rods but the one that I had to sell was the '71 boat tail and I regret it to this day. If I could afford a '34 Ford like the picture that accompanies my handle that's what I'd have. I do love the early Rivi's and it's a shame that you gave up on this one and your friend passed as well. But as us Irish like to have a party for a wake because we're going to a better place, raise a glass and salute your lost friend and the memories of them and the car! Slainte
should have took money out of my 401K and bought it.. This is one Riviera I can't get out my mind and always thinking about it.. to this day regret not buying it.. car was killer and the borranis wheels just made it..
Old cars are often an emotional thing, particularly when they are tied to the memory of people who were important to us. You are a wuss if you don't go find another one. -Abone.
To steal a line from Simon and Garfunkle "Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph, preserve your memories, there all that's left you" Great car, great rememberences of when the car was true magic. The past is prolog, the car exist's to generate new magic hopefully for its new owner! That mental taste of " bittersweet " eventually fades !
I too wish I would have bought it when you had it for sale. It'd still be on the road (Lord willing) just exactly as you had it. Sorry to hear the subsequent owners haven't taken as good of care of it.
Used car dealer son has a 63 in storage. 401 auto typical east coast gray primer spots maybe rust in quarters. Ran when parked 1-2 years ago. What it worth? Wife had cherry 75 hit by drunk in a pickup, caved rear, up over trunk hit roof, fell on side & spun caved in front passenger fender. So sick did not even keep the 455.
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