Im getting ready for paint in the next few weeks. Im considering putting GS or even GSX badges on my Riv. I had thought about the regular cast ones, the stickers or even getting a local air brush artist I know to paint it on before the clear coat goes on the car. With the hood mods and in the future a air dam comming I thought it might be OK. I would never try to pass the car off as a real Riv. GSX when most of us know better. theres still many people at the car shows that dont have a clue. Nice GTO!
I think your Riviera is BEAUTIFUL. the hood scoops make it unique. Leave the GSX badges to the gsx"s.I wish I had the meens to put the scoops on my 73. Good luck whatever way you go.
I'd say if it isn't a GS than don't badge it like one. And I'm not familiar with a Riviera GSX so I'd say once you do all the upgrades the original gsx got than that could be badged as a Riviera GSX. I like badging cars as what they become as long as it's not using a designation that it could have had but didn't. Like you could put in a turbo 3.8 and call it a Riviera Grand National, but calling a Turbo Regal a Grand National isn't right. I think it all comes down to cloning vs creating. I'm not a fan of cloning, but am a big fan of creating. Like saying this is what Buick should have done and then doing it.
If you like the look of the GS badge then go for it. I would also be inclined to do that because it goes well with the other modifications you've made. I used to be totally against badging a standard Riv to a GS but over the years I've changed my point of view and here is why. I think its OK in my book as long as you have no immoral intentions behind the reason for doing it. Theres enough information available today if someone was buying a Riv and wanted to educate themsleves to confirm it was an original GS, they could. Dirt bags who rebadge/clone to intentionally scam an uneducated buyer are immoral and they will answer to a higher power. My experience has been that people who rebadge/clone "with intent to deceive" typically aren't too smart and do a poor job dotting all the Is and crossing Ts. The car is easily uncovered as an imposter by a knowledgeable buyer. The other old concern is: OK so you have no immoral intentions but what if you sell the car and the new buyer in turn trys sell and pass it off as a real GS. Back to my comment about available information to reveal a clone. If a buyer doesn't care to educate themsleves when buying a special model designation that may demand a higher price, then they don't care too much if its legit or not. I think this topic will always be debated and not sure if one view is better than the other. I'm simply stating my point of view after 30 years of dealing with Rivs.
here is a car i saw at the hot rod power tour it was different and i loved it so i say do what you want with it .......as its your car scott
Since there was never any such animal as a Riviera GSX I thought it would very unique and different. There would be no way a future owner(if I ever sold) could try to pass it off as orig.I think I will go with the cast grill badge and sticker or air brush under he clear coat.I wont have to risk miss dilling the holes in my perfectly straight fenders and trunk lid.
It may come down to the paint job on the car. If the paint scheme is similar to the GSX paint scheme by all means blow the uninformed away with this car. Those in the know will either snub their noses at you for attempting to pass something off that it isn't or they'll say "Now that is cool"! I'm thinking the later will occur more than the former. Either way that is one very nice car and the pictures of the car (assume that's up[ there in your neck of the woods) reminds me how much I miss North Florida. Scott
Briz: It's a car, and it's YOUR car. Do it how ever you like. But with the hood scoups and all I say go for it. Getting the hood to look just so is a LOT of work, or at least it was for me. Hell, I might badge my 350 as a 455 just because it looks cooler at a car show and MOST people can't tell the diference. What color have you chosen. Of all the work I am doing on my skylark/GS the color choice is the hardest choice to make. Looking forward to a finished pic:3gears: :3gears: :3gears:
Can you get a GSX wing to fit? Put the stripe on it. The hood looks great. Why not mess with some heads?
Briz do it!:beers2: man those wheel look great on your rivi... makes me wish I never sold them. I think if you place the badges the right spots it will look great, so just take time and think about the perfect location for each badge.:beers2:
the term everyone is forgetting is "phantom" a car that never existed in that body style, my SportWagon GS 455 was a perfect example as is my friends 70 GSX convertible. A Riviera GSX would be a phantom and like I would tell people about my SportWagon "it's one of none"
I'm with Chuck. It's your car, do what makes you happy. Never worry about the category that someone else puts it in. Clone, copy, concept, hot rod. It's just a car that you did the way you want it. Nothing more and nothing less. As long as a guy doesn't try and pass it off as what it's not, who cares what someone else thinks is right or not? Badge up and enjoy the car. I like the idea of the air brushed badging if the guy is good. The air brush work can look very nice and it's different than what anyone else has.
I talked to the guy yesterday and gave him some GSX pics and asked for a proof. He is very good. I dont really like the wing. Should have done the scoops. Otherwise, Very sharp car. Im glad you did sell them. I get complements all the time on the wheels. I had a set like these when I was a kid and also regret ever selling them. There was a picture of a car posted yesterday of a Lark or GS painted in my same color, Atomic Orange. Im doing a ghost accent stripe along the body line that runs just below the windows front to back. Sat. there is a big show in my town and Im doing that then Sunday after church I pull the bumpers off again and the few remaining pieces of trim then its off to the shop for 10 days.
