1963 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe, Famous Previous Owner, Amazing Condition, Rare on 2040-cars

 Body Style: Sport  Coupe         Mileage: 46,000        Vin #:  7J1042266                   Condition: Excellent           Exterior: Black         Interior: Black  Leather.

Description:      1963 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe

Billed at its inception as “America’s Bid for a Great New International Classic Car,” this car certainly ranks among the finest surviving examples imaginable. This car is ready to show or go.

When the head of General Motors Styling, William Mitchell, first produced the Buick Riviera in 1963, the rumor was that he’d wanted to create an American Jaguar.

Buick’s 1963 Riviera was General Motor’s impressive response to the popular four-passenger Ford Thunderbird. The Riviera was originally conceived to be a Cadillac personal luxury coupe with a LaSalle nameplate.

Mitchell later said that the car he’d envisioned was inspired by classic Rolls Royce designs, with a healthy dose of Ferrari thrown in.

When GM decided to let Divisions other than Cadillac make a pitch to build Mitchell’s proposed personal coupe, it was Buick that landed the rights to build the new car. Produced as the Buick Riviera, the new car was announced as, “America’s Bid for a Great New International Classic Car.”

The boldly understated Riviera featured a crispy sculpted roofline, low profile, and frameless side glass. At 117 inches, its wheelbase was a full nine inches shorter than that of Buick’s flagship Electra. In addition to using a specially adapted version of the bigger Buick’s “X” frame design, the Riviera was also powered by the same 325 HP, 401 cubic inch nail head V8 found in the larger cars.

While successfully taking on Thunderbird, the Riviera also brightened Buick’s prestige image. Seeking to ensure exclusivity, then Buick general manager Edward D. Rollert limited first year production to exactly 40,000 cars.

The exceptional 1963 Riviera offered here was formerly owned by Mr. Dick Nesbitt who bought the car back in 1973 from the original owner.

Mr. Nesbitt is a senior writer for many classic car magazines; he is also an auto editor of consumer guide magazine. This particular car was shown and reviewed in the book “Great Cars of the Sixties” page 9.

The car was purchased from Mr. Nesbitt back in 2001; the car had only traveled 43,576 miles from new. For the past fourteen years, the car has been professionally maintained as part of a 30 plus car collection and has travelled only 2,500 miles since. Always kept indoors.

This is an awesome unmolested original 46,000 mile car. It is one of the best preserved  untouched  meticulously maintained original and unrestored cars you will ever find. It has a bone dry flawless body. Comes with power brakes. New beautiful original code #A 946 Regal Black paint. The all original black leather interior looks brand new, except for the driver’s seat which shows normal wear.  It is a matching numbers car in both engine and in its code # 497 super turbine drive automatic transmission.  Interior side trim including the wood veneer, dashboard, carpet and silver colored headliner are in excellent original condition.

Comes with very expensive and very hard to find optional Turbine type cast aluminum wheel covers with wheel spinners, It is about a $ 2,000 value. all in great condition. Also included in car are the 4 original hub caps. All glass is original in perfect condition, working original Sonomatic AM radio with rear seat speaker, working power antenna, original 1 inch white wall bias ply spare tire, original tire jack, original T3 headlamps, original speed alert warning in perfect working condition, All interior lights and courtesy lights work. New Bias-Ply white wall tires, all new rubber, original floor rubber mats front & rear with Buick logo in excellent condition, original set of keys with original key fob, original material on trunk area including spare tire cover, and much more.

Car comes with owner’s manual, chassis service manual and body service manual all original. 1963 Buick accessories booklet, a dealer publicity sales brochure, several original magazine articles and several magazine photo advertisements. Also included is an extra original sonomatic AM/FM radio.

The engine bay is professionally detailed; the car still stands tall on its suspension. Body fit is trim and tight.

The first generation Rivera is a Milestone design and is considered very collectable today. GM considered this car a “Styling Landmark” in 1963 and the same holds true today. Certainly ranking among the finest surviving examples imaginable, this spectacular first-year Riviera is ready to show or go. Combining its elegant and attractive color combination with originality that’s unlikely to be surpassed, here is a Riviera that will always stand out.

Call or text me at 309-287-7527

Inexpensive worldwide shipping available.