80500 Miles 425/360HP Dual Quads V8 AutomaticCoupe

1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport 425/360HP Dual Quads V8 Gran Sport Description

West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional example of this mostly all original (apart from a repaint in it's original 'Flame Red' color) and stock 1965 Buick Riviera with the highly desirable 'Gran Sport' Performance Group with its original matching #'S 425/360HP 2 x 4V (LX Code) V8 Super Wildcat engine and with original 'Super Turbine 400' 3 speed automatic transmission and loaded with original Gran Sport options of dual exhausts, Positraction rear end, performance gearing and factory options of bucket seats, center console with floor shifter, air conditioning (Cost $421), power steering, power driver seat (Cost $74), power brakes, power windows (Cost $110), power antenna, cruise control (Cost $63), tilt steering wheel and original AM/FM 'Sonomatic' Buick radio (cost $268) with rear speaker!
Repainted once and professionally in it's original and very striking factory 'Flame Red' (R Code) color paint with it's original factory 'Black' (Code 628) bucket seats and its completely original interior with center console and floor shifter and original styled steel wheels. The car has no signs of any accidents and looks extremely impressive with a professional re-paint it's original factory and very striking 'Flame Red' color paint and the original 'Black' vinyl interior is in excellent and mostly completely original condition throughout apart from the headliner and carpet. Everything under the hood is original apart from a new fuel filter and the battery and the car will be sold with it's original owners manuals. The dashboard woodwork, the dashboard itself, the carpets and all the seats are in excellent condition with virtually no signs of wear and tear! All the chrome-work has been re-chromed and the trunk lining has been replaced with original spec materials with the original spare wheel and jack located in their rightful place in the trunk.
The original matching # 425cid/360HP 2 x 4 barrel 'LX' code engine is extremely strong and powerful and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be believed - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day sports car a run for it's money! The car has a rust free frame and boasts it's original 425/360HP V8 engine and Carter AFB dual quad carbs (3645 front, 3925 rear), original BS code transmission, original Positraction rear end, air conditioning, power windows, power driver seat, power steering, cruise control, dual exhausts and it's original 'Buick' AM/FM radio with a power antenna. The transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears, there are no noticeable oil leaks and the temperature always remains cool!
This car is reported to have some 80K original miles from it's previous owners who themselves had recently purchased the car from it's long time previous owner, an elderly gentleman who had owned the car for many, many years and which had reportedly been sitting in his garage for some twenty + years previously. The previous owners then restored the gas tank, replaced the rear wheel cylinders and master cylinder, replaced most fuel lines, added a new fuel pump and sending unit, new shocks, reconditioned the original brake drums, and rebuilt the AFB carbs to have the car in good running condition before we purchased it from them.
Upon purchasing the car we ourselves had the paint and body professionally primed, block sanded and sealed prior to applying the new two-stage paint with all the bright-work and chrome having been completely and professionally removed from the car. The paint supplier was the renown TCP Global who mixed the paint according to the factory code and they also supplied the clearcoat and all the solvents for the most correct factory finish. The car was then color sanded and buffed to its original lustrous finish. The internet pictures in our opinion actually do not do the color finish its full justice. Its a beautiful and professional refinish and as stated earlier we welcome and encourage any inspection or viewing.
We ourselves then replaced the original exhaust system with a brand new and factory correct '65 Gran Sport exhaust system with resonators, we re-chromed the bumpers and all the chrome trim and refinished the polished stainless steel, replaced all the weather stripping, added new factory correct tires and newly re-chromed the wheels with center caps. We ourselves have replaced the front wheel cylinders and front brake hoses and brake shoes as well as the rear brake shoes. We had the compression tested with positive average 150 psi on all 8 cylinders, replaced all the plugs, adjusted the timing and points, and cleaned and further adjusted the original carbs to ensure as smooth and precise running as possible. Also obviously all fluids were changed including oil and filter.
A car for Buick's most affluent customers, known as the 'bankers' car, the 1963-65 Buick Riviera reflected the styling supremo of Bill Mitchell with a masterful blend of curves and razor-edges respected by an army of industrial designers as an architectural landmark of the U.S industry and which has high repute amongst collectors for both it's beautiful lines and smooth fast performance for a luxury coupe. "One of the most beautiful cars America ever built" as stated by none other than Sergio Pininfarina of Ferrari design fame at it's debut at the Paris auto show in 1963. This landmark design of 1963-64 would continue for only two years until 1964 before the hidden headlight change in 1965.
But it wasn't until the arrival of the 1965 Gran Sport that the truly sporty side of this sports car revealed itself. The 'GS' had the gorgeous looks of the Riviera combined with the heart of a true muscle car! Unlike other Buick's, including the youth orientated Wildcat, the Riviera GS came with just one engine and transmission combination. Powering the GS was a potent 425 cid V8 with a 10.25:1 compression ratio. The engine produced 360 HP at 4400 rpm and 465 lbs ft of torque at 200 rpm. It put out .84 hp per c.i., very close to the legendary 1:1 ratio of Chrysler 300's and Corvettes. Hooked up to the 425 was the latest GM three speed Hydra-Matic which in 1965 'Car & Driver' called "without question, the best automatic transmission in the world!"
The Riviera GS had dual four barrel Carter AFB carbs, a dual exhaust system with large diameter pipes and bright metal engine accents including a large chrome plated air cleaner with polished ribbed valve covers! Full wheel covers and Gran Sport lettering below the Riviera script on the deck lid and front fenders helped set the car apart visually. A true Grand Tourer, the GS had a top speed of 123mph and 'Car & Driver' reported a 7.2 second 0-60 time and an even better quarter mile run. In muscle car fashion the GS package also included a heavier front anti-roll bar than the standard Riviera, stiffer shock absorbers, stiffer springs at all four wheels, stiffer bushings in the rear suspension and a higher capacity exhaust system with a beautiful sounding V8 rumble.
This, therefore, is one very rare and highly desirable and collectible example of one of the outstanding GM designs of the sixties with the 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport being the most desirable of the 1963-65 Riviera series and the top-of-the-line Buick for its year! 1965 was the only year with the concealed ribbed 'Clamshell Headlights' and a restyled rear bumper with inserted tail lights and offered for the first time on a Rivera for $91.38, the popular chrome Buick road wheels with painted charcoal inserts first introduced on the '64 Wildcat. Contributing to the cleaner look was the removal of