I had a 'Don Draper' moment last night...

[turquoisedude]

Picture this - a fairly rural setting, roads glistening from a recent thundershower, and out of nowhere a gleaming 1960s Buick appears. It really was like a scene out of "Mad Men" except I was the one driving! I was visiting PhilR's place (he did some welding for me - that's a thread for Imperial, though) and when we were done, he asked if I'd like to take a spin in one of his classic Buicks. I was drooling over the 1966 Riviera and he handed me the keys! I was happy enough at the thought of just being a passenger!
It was something else. The handling and power of these 'land yachts' brought back soooo many memories!
I am now bitten by the vintage car bug...

 

[swestoyz]

Very, Very jealous. A '66 Riv is a special Buick indeed.

Ben

 

[danmantn]

I'd like to go for a ride in any classic Buick - up to the early 1990s.  I have a thing for the classic comfort of Buicks and Cadillacs and have owned several (not common for someone in their 30s).  Since Cadillac is out of the luxury game and more into performance, I guess China-designed Buicks are all we can look forward to for comfort (and skinny seats), or just yearn for the past.    

 

[philr]

Paul,

My Riviera is a '67! A good friend of mine has a '66. Both models are very similar but their engines (and a few other details) are different. (The dark blue one is the 1966).

 

[danmantn]

Beautiful!

 

[yogitunes]

I am by no means a GM person, I lean more towards a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep, and then Ford......but of all GM vehicles, BUICK has to be one of the best machines they put out.....my aunt had a Roadmaster wagon from the 70's, like riding on air!

 

[philr]

Martin,

I am not a fan of post-1980 GM products either. If I could buy a new car today, I'd also like products from Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep (I had two Jeeps that I really liked). And I'd take a Ford before any new GM!

 

[supersuds]

Did Buick bring out a new engine in '67? I now they did at some point in the late '60s.

 

Gorgeous cars, Phil!

 

[philr]

Yes they did. For the 1967 model year, the 401/425 Nailhead engines were replaced by 400 and 430 engines which were similar in design to the small block Buick engines that were introduced in the early sixties (215 aluminium V8, 198 and 225 V6 and 300/340 V8 engines).

I have to say that I prefer the older Nailhead V8 engines to the newer ones. I have a 401 in my '65 Wildcat and it's one of my favourite engines.

 

[supersuds]

You're very lucky. I've always thought the first two Riviera designs were the bomb.

 

How does the Riv compare with other Sixties cars in body rigidity? The x frame without side rails seems to have numerous detractors, but I've never ridden in one.

 

[philr]

I've never noticed any body flexing. I think that perimeter frames might be better when new (mainly for the rear suspension configuration) but they have more rusting issues (at least in the area where I live). I have never seen a second generation Riviera with a bad frame while many GM "B" bodies have issues with theirs. And for those who have seen the NHTSA video of a '59 Chevy (with an X frame) having a front end collision, I had two front end collisions with my Riviera that required $10,000$ of repairs each time and neither damaged the frame (but the hood, radiator support and passenger side fender had to be replaced).

And while other GM "E" body vehicles from the same model year (Toronado, Eldorado) were riding on a perimeter frame, neither handled as well as a Riviera GS (but that might be more related to their FWD vs Riviera's RWD configuration).