1964 Buick Riviera

1964 Buick Riviera — Fully Restored, 425ci Nailhead V8, Red and White

The 1964 Buick Riviera occupies a very specific place in American automotive history. The result was one of the cleanest, most purposeful shapes to come out of Detroit in the 1960s.

By 1964, Buick made meaningful updates that collectors now recognize as improvements over the debut year. The front end received a revised grille with a more refined look, and the hidden headlights — one of the Riviera's most distinctive features — were refined for smoother operation. More importantly, 1964 was the first year Buick offered the larger 425 cubic inch Wildcat 465 Nailhead V8 as the standard engine in the Riviera, replacing the 401 that had powered the 1963 model. That displacement bump, combined with the Nailhead's unusually high torque output, gave the 1964 Buick Riviera a mechanical edge that the first-year car simply did not have.

Buick produced 37,658 Rivieras for the 1964 model year, up significantly from the 40,000-unit cap that had been placed on 1963 production. Every one of them came with the 425 Nailhead as standard equipment. This particular 1964 Buick Riviera has been fully restored and presents in white over a red vinyl interior, one of the most striking color combinations the car was offered in during the first-generation run.

Key details
Transmission: Super Turbine 400 Automatic
VIN / chassis: 7K1149861

Offered by Skyway Classics, 10420 Portal Crossing, Bradenton, FL 34212. Taxes, title and fees not included.

Photos courtesy of Skyway Classics.