Prospective Buyer

Have admired 60's Buick Riviera's for years and have finally located one that I am likely to buy. Need to get smarter about these cars and was hoping someone could tell me what to look for that will help me determine if the one I'm considering is a good car. I would also like to research the VIN to determine history and whether it is numbers-matching. Any recommendations would be much appreciated.

 

Go to "Boatload of Fun on this forum:

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?forums/a-boatload-of-fun.42/

Here's a couple of other sites you can go to for Riviera specific info. Welcome to V8 Buick.

https://www.rivowners.org/

http://www.buick-riviera.com/index.html

 

Which year/body style?

I would recommend checking out / joining the Riviera Owners Association. www.rivowners.org.

Also, you can post questions / for help on their forum. http://forums.aaca.org/forum/73-buick-riviera-riviera-owners-association/

hemmings did a buyers guide for 63-65"s. https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2013/08/1963-1965-Buick-Riviera/3728391.html

Another article here: http://www.automobilemag.com/news/1963-1965-buick-riviera-collectible-classic/

 

Thanks Ray and Chris. It is a 1964 coupe with the Wildcat 465 425CI 340HP engine. Red with white interior.

 

Have learned much about the 1964 Riviera thanks to the forums and websites you sent. I'm still coming up short, however, on where to go to research my specific VIN. Any suggestions?

 

When you say "research your VIN", what are you trying to find out? You won't be able to find a Carfax on it that shows previous ownership. And all the VIN will tell you is the Make and model and year (which you already know - 1964 Buick Riviera) and the production number, which really doesn't matter for much.

 

Thanks for your response. I have an old BMW 2002 and there are historians that, if you send the VIN, will provide details about the car. (where built, date built, original color, etc.) Does that not exist for Riviera's? Also, how do you determine if car is numbers-matching? Do you know where, on block, engine number appears?

 

I can email to you a picture of where to check the vin on the engine, can't post it here as it is a bitmap file, which is not allowed.

The data tag has most of the information you are talking about, if you post a picture of it we can decipher for you. It looks like this and is on the firewall.

 

Thank you. The car is offsite now - I will send ASAP.