Buick Riviera 1st Generation
The 1963 Buick Riviera is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful American automobiles ever designed, a personal luxury coupe that broke new ground in American automotive styling. Designed by Bill Mitchell's team at GM, the Riviera combined European-influenced clean lines with American scale and presence, creating a car that was unlike anything else on the road.
The Riviera's design was inspired by a 1958 LaSalle II concept car and refined by Ned Nickles within Mitchell's design studio. The car's defining characteristics included a razor-edge roofline, minimal chrome ornamentation, sculpted body sides, and a distinctive front end with vertically stacked headlights behind a subtle chrome frame. The design was a deliberate departure from the chrome-laden excess that characterized American cars of the late 1950s, pointing toward a more refined and European-influenced design direction.
Under the elegant body sat Buick's 401 cubic-inch (6.6-liter) Nailhead V8 producing 325 horsepower. The engine was smooth and powerful, well-suited to the Riviera's grand touring character. A 425 cubic-inch Nailhead V8 producing 340 horsepower was also available, providing even more effortless performance. Both engines were paired with the Super Turbine 400 three-speed automatic, the only transmission available.
The Riviera was positioned as a personal luxury coupe, competing in a segment that included the Ford Thunderbird. However, the Riviera's clean design and sporting character distinguished it from the more chromatic Thunderbird. The interior featured bucket seats, a center console, and a level of craftsmanship that was exceptional for an American car of the early 1960s.
Driving a 1963 Riviera is an experience of effortless motoring. The Nailhead V8 provides smooth, muscular power, the ride quality is superbly comfortable, and the overall sensation is of a car that covers distance with ease and style. The Riviera is not a sports car -- it is something more refined, a car for people who appreciate design and engineering quality.
The 1963 Riviera was an immediate critical and commercial success, with 40,000 units produced in its first model year. Today, it is recognized as one of the most significant American automotive designs and a turning point in American car styling. Well-preserved examples command strong prices, and the car's elegant design continues to inspire automotive designers.
Check for rust in the floor pans, rocker panels, and trunk floor. The Nailhead V8 is generally reliable but parts are becoming scarce for some items. Verify the correct engine (401 or 425) through casting numbers. The body should be checked for filler and prior repair quality. The power accessories (windows, seats, antenna) should all be tested. Chrome and trim parts are increasingly difficult to source.
Built at Buick's Flint, Michigan assembly plant. Approximately 40,000 first-generation Rivieras were produced for the 1963 model year.