Why do people do this

[buickjunkie]

:Do No:
someone started restoration, ran out of steam, life get's in the road, it get's pushed outside and left there. 7 years go by.
I could just cry.

[my69buford]

Ah yes, many an old car just sits in the weeds with the owner implying 'Yup... I'm gonna fix 'er up here real soon.' Move up a decade later and there it still sits. :mad: Go figure.
Well at least this one didn't go to the crusher and maybe someone can get a few salvageable parts from it. :)

[Rivman]

S**t happens Bruce !! :Do No:

[1967GS340]

Human nature.
The heart and desire overpower the brain.

A guy loves the car and wants to fix it up so his obsession about driving it after it's looking good overpowers his brain's ability to tell him it aint going to happen.

[Golden Oldie 65]

They finally figure out how much it's gonna cost. That's why the swap meets are so full of project cars for sale. They do the easy part, tear them apart and that's where it usually ends.

[Briz]

At least they could have covered it up with a tarp or put the trunk lid back on. What a shame.

[buickjunkie]

At least they could have covered it up with a tarp or put the trunk lid back on. What a shame.

I agree!
Or buy one of those tarp sheds to put over it.
Bruce

[buickjunkie]

Hi
I had a window of opportunity this morning between 11:30 and 2:30 PM where is was not going to pour rain. The car was an hour away. Got it loaded without getting rained on , the drive home was not enjoyable, wet, cold, blowing wind.

The car has a 401, that's suppose to run, currently no spark
PS, PB, tilt, trunk release (still works) ,power windows (not vents), power drivers seat, no air, clock, power antenna.

Are these the proper hubcaps for it?
What's the switch at the top of the radio for?

thanks Bruce

[Aaron65]

Ugh...one of my favorite cars in my favorite color for it. Too bad.

[crazyjackcsa]

I saw that very car on Kijiji, not two weeks ago. Dude wanted what? $700? I would have taken it but couldn't get my hands on a trailer.

[buickjunkie]

I saw that very car on Kijiji, not two weeks ago. Dude wanted what? $700? I would have taken it but couldn't get my hands on a trailer.

Wow Chatham is a 5 hr drive for you. He wanted $750, said he could get $500 from the scrap yard ($205/ton), It's badly rusted, no floor, no trunk, frame rot.


Here it is, after a few hours hunting a poor ground in the distributor, it fired up.

http://www.streetfire.net/video/1963-riviera-401-cu-in-comes-to-life_2326011.htm

thanks Bruce

[Rivman]

Interesting video Bruce, at least it runs !!
Those hubcaps look like '67 or '68 Electra 225s, missing the plastic Tri-shield centres ? :Do No:

[bhambulldog]

Hi
I had a window of opportunity this morning between 11:30 and 2:30 PM where is was not going to pour rain. The car was an hour away. Got it loaded without getting rained on , the drive home was not enjoyable, wet, cold, blowing wind.

The car has a 401, that's suppose to run, currently no spark
PS, PB, tilt, trunk release (still works) ,power windows (not vents), power drivers seat, no air, clock, power antenna.

Are these the proper hubcaps for it?
What's the switch at the top of the radio for?

thanks Bruce
Signal seeking, maybe?

Interesting video Bruce, at least it runs !!
Those hubcaps look like '67 or '68 Electra 225s, missing the plastic Tri-shield centres ? :Do No:
It's what I thought, too. Not for a Riviera.

[buickjunkie]

Signal seeking, maybe?

It's what I thought, too. Not for a Riviera.

thanks for the replys.
I'm told its a wonder bar radio, don't know why the switch in the middle has three positions, currently don't know if it works or not. Power antenna still works. :grin:
The hub caps are off a 67 Electra from what I can find
Bruce

[bhambulldog]

thanks for the replys.
I'm told its a wonder bar radio, don't know why the switch in the middle has three positions, currently don't know if it works or not.
Bruce
Wonder bar that's it! I couldn't remember the marketing name.

This is my guess. Center position is at rest. The other positionstwo are strong signal seek and weak sign. (?)

:shock: :Do No:

[nailheadnut]

Wonder Bar signal seeking AM Radio - usually came with an electric antenna.

Look on the floor under the brake pedal and you'll see a foot switch that looks similar to a dimmer switch. It will activate the search feature as well.

The little knob is for the strength of signal the radio will pull in, the longer bar along the top is the activation switch.

Most often when you see a Riviera with some of the options mentioned but lacking a/c, you'll find that it was a car that came from a northern state and most of the time those cars will also have a rear window defroster. You can't tell from the pictures posted but if it is so equipped there will be a rotary switch between the light switch and the wiper switch on the console.

The rear defroster assembly alone will bring a hefty price at a swap meet.

Chances are the car originally came with wire wheel covers. For the '63 Riviera, these wheel covers were a one year - one model only item. The other '63's had a red/wht/blu tri-shield, in '64 the wire wheel cover for the Riviera had the Riviera "R" on the center cap. The center picture in the attached link shows the '63 Riviera wire wheel cover.

http://www.chip.com/buick/techtips/wirewheels.html

[buickjunkie]

Wonder Bar signal seeking AM Radio - usually came with an electric antenna.

Look on the floor under the brake pedal and you'll see a foot switch that looks similar to a dimmer switch. It will activate the search feature as well.

The little knob is for the strength of signal the radio will pull in, the longer bar along the top is the activation switch.

Most often when you see a Riviera with some of the options mentioned but lacking a/c, you'll find that it was a car that came from a northern state and most of the time those cars will also have a rear window defroster. You can't tell from the pictures posted but if it is so equipped there will be a rotary switch between the light switch and the wiper switch on the console.

The rear defroster assembly alone will bring a hefty price at a swap meet.

Chances are the car originally came with wire wheel covers. For the '63 Riviera, these wheel covers were a one year - one model only item. The other '63's had a red/wht/blu tri-shield, in '64 the wire wheel cover for the Riviera had the Riviera "R" on the center cap. The center picture in the attached link shows the '63 Riviera wire wheel cover.

http://www.chip.com/buick/techtips/wirewheels.html

thanks for the reply, I'll have to look for the extra dimmer switch on the floor, there is a power antenna and it works :grin: , theres no knob for the rear defogger on the console.
There is pull switch on the lower left hand side of the dash , left of the drivers leg close to the fuse box, I don't know what its for, no knob on it
thanks Bruce

[2791 lark custo]

She may be on the operating table with a flat line, but I see hope. I have seen much worse brought back from the brink.

But a sad pic non-the-less:mad:

[SportWagonGS]

Bruce,
I'm just dumb enough to try to restore that car or at least save it, I guess it's good that we don't live close as I'd be explaining to my wife why I just bought her a 63 Riv instead if the 61-62 Skylark she wants

[68GS400Conv]

That's too bad that it got abandoned, but good for you because you got a decent deal. I'm glad to see there are other crazies out there that want to save these poor cars!:TU:

[buickjunkie]

Bruce,
I'm just dumb enough to try to restore that car or at least save it, I guess it's good that we don't live close as I'd be explaining to my wife why I just bought her a 63 Riv instead if the 61-62 Skylark she wants

Your money would be better spent on something like this. ;)

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1963-Buick-Riviera-Coupe-W0QQAdIdZ282313310

Bruce

[SportWagonGS]

Wow, that is a great deal....again, guess it's good I'm not closer......

[Roadmaster49]

Thanks for saving the car. You know by now that there is well over $1000 in rare parts. With a little labor, you will make money on parting it out.

I love 63-64 Rivieras. I owned 2. One, a 64, I drove from Spokane Washington to Columbia, Missouri. It was rough but what a ride.

I agree with others that had I found this car locally I would buy it and keep it as a restoration proejct. Most project 63-65 Rivieras have rusted floor pans. They are after all now about 50 years old.

I think every Buick nut should own a 63-64 Riviera and the 65's are pretty awesome too. Actually the 65 was supposed to be the 63. Bill Mitchell wanted hidden clamshells on the 63 but the engineers could not get it done in time.