1965 BUICK RIVIERA - ORIGINAL - FAMILY OWNED - 80K ORIGINAL MILES - GREAT 65

1965 Buick Riviera Description

Offered here is an all original 1965 Buick Riviera, that's been a one-family car since 1978, when it was purchased from the original owner.
It has 80K original miles, and was running, consistently registered/insured/inspected up through 2015, with no mechanical problems whatsoever. In fact, I drove this Riv from New York City to it's current location in Chicago at that time. In 2015 I stopped driving this car due to high gas prices and the intention of performing cosmetic restoration, but never got around to it, as life got in the way. The Riv does need need some minor body work to clean up from exposure from the UN-garaged Chicago winters since then, as well as some interior work, but all the major mechanical systems (engine, transmission/drive train/brakes) were/are in fine shape with never any issues.
Since the car has been sitting this long, it will need the following in order to turn over: Battery, battery cables, prime the carb, fresh gas in the tank, but that's about all and anyone who knows what they're doing can get her turned over in about an hour. The tires will need attention as well due to sitting so long, but as I've said, the car is fine mechanically other than having sat for a few years - it was driven consistently/regularly with no mechanical issues up to the day that I pulled her into the parking spot pictured about 4 years ago, and Nailheads run forever.
This car is intended for someone who is prepared to have a relatively minor cosmetic (bodywork/paint/interior) restoration provided, along with whatever small repairs may be needed to get her looking pretty again - but otherwise this car is/was a trouble free, excellent driver throughout all the decades that my family and I have owned her, and with a bit of TLC will continue to be so for the next owner.
Here's your chance to own one of these Bill Mitchell designed 1st Generation Buick Rivera classics. Known as the "Banker's Hot Rod" at the time, because of its fierce torque and acceleration, four bucket seat interior - it was - like the T-Bird - one of the first personal sport coupes ever produced, the Lexus of the era. Sleek, expensive (the $5,500 sticker price was the cost of TWO Ford Mustangs in 1965) and produced in very small numbers (roughly 20k ever made). The innovative design by Bill Mitchell's team is simply one of the best Detroit ever produced, along with Mitchell's other classic - the 1963 Corvette Stingray - and was originally intended by GM for Cadillac (to be called the LaSalle) but Buick won the bid to be the division to produce GM's 1st luxury personal sport coupe!
Clean Title - $1,000 down payment due via PayPal within 48 hours of the end of auction, the balance via certified bank check within seven days. The car will be available for transport/pick up any time after the balance of payment clears, and the area where the car is parked is accessible to trucks/trailers. Any questions, just ask.
Thanks for looking!

On Feb-23-20 at 06:20:10 PST, seller added the following information:

RUST ISSUES: I've had several inquiries regarding rust issues, areas of bodywork that will need to be addressed. Obviously there are a few areas of minor rust in the typical spots for these cars where moisture normally accumulates: mostly at the trunk/rear bumper seam, right rear quarter panel, spots under the front fender lips, the hood lip, windshield top channel. This again is fairly typical for this era of cars, and most of this type of minor rust can be fixed once ground down, without welding, just a careful application of POR-15 epoxy putty, POR-15 reinforcing mesh, bondo, etc.
From underneath, the floor pans seem pretty solid, as do the rockers and inner fender skins. I did not detect any major issues of rust through - no large openings, holes, scale, or soft spots that I can see. The right rear rocker edge into the quarter panel does have some rust, but otherwise seems OK. There will always be some work to do, areas to address once you pull the interior, carpet, but it looks as though there's nothing major going on underneath - nothing that I can see that would require replacement panels or major surgery - but always expect some work, along the lines I outlined above - grinder - POR15 putty, prime, paint.
Areas such as hood hinges, door pillars, chassis, all seem fine, no creaking, loose scale, or obvious structural issues, just the typical bodywork one would expect to have to preform on a car this age in the general condition shown in the pics.
Additionally, I did notice while I was under there that the gas tank will need to be sealed. Something I would have done anyway, and not a big deal. Drain the tank with a siphon/tube, pour in a good tank sealer.
Hope this helps prospective buyers make their determinations - if there are any other questions, I'll be happy to address as best as I can.

On Feb-23-20 at 06:34:39 PST, seller added the following information:

EXHAUST SYSTEM: additionally, while I was under there, the exhaust system looked fine from visual inspection, No surface rust on the pipes/resonators/muffler, no holes or rust through that I could spot visually.