68 Riviera hood ornament

Howdy fellow Buick owners, just a quick question about the hood on a 68 Riviera GS seems I have a Riviera script on the front drivers side near grill but have noticed other 68's just have RIVIERA spelt along bottom edge of hood. I have seen a few with just the script cursive Riviera, was this only for GS Riviera's. Just wondering cheers Aussiebuick430.

 

. . . what Erik sez Steve !!
All the '66,'68, and '69 2nd gen cars shared seperate R-I-V-I-E-R-A 'block' letters across the hood, just above the lower front chrome hood moulding.
Only the '67 and '70s had the 'script' style emblem, located in the lower corner of the hood like yours, and it definetly is not a 'GS' specific application.
The chrome centre hood spear moulding was also 'distinctive' for each model year - a picture would certainly help to ID what you actually have. :TU:

(. . . that's not a 'raised' '68 centre hood spear in your '68 photo Erik - not sure what year it is - '69 would be my guess ? o No: )

 

Hey thanks Rivman hope ive got the signature thing worked out. Im pretty sure at some stage they have replaced the hood with a 70' s Riv hood as you suggested. I think its been in accident at some stage in Adelaide and that's all they could find, don't know the previous owner before my Dad purchased the car. Im after front suspensions parts for my 68 Riv whats a good supplier in the States you guys go to. I need tie rod ends, pitman arm etc. Can you get kits for these cars. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers Steve

 

Yeah finally worked it out. Im Steve from Australia hows it going? PS my last name isn't Riviera coz that would be ironic eh.

 

Need a 'side view' of that hood spear for a proper ID Steve, - notice how the '70 runs right down to the front edge, where yours does not.
The main difference '68 vs. '69 was that the '68 was raised at the front peak while the '69 was much flatter, but they are the same length.
Also noticed (...from Erik's photo), the side mirrors for your '68 are not 'stock' and appear to be from an earlier '66, or '67 2nd gen. Riv - they could also be 'after market' add ons, since they are not a matching set? o No:

 

It could very easily be a '70 hood.

I happen have a '68 hood on my '70.
I filled in the holes for the block letters that spell out RIVIERA across the front, and drilled holes in the appropriate place for the Riviera script on the left hand side.
I swapped out the front lip, and the center trim pieces that run the length of the hood will interchange with each other also. In fact, I have the taller '68 center trim on it for now because I like the look of it better. :bglasses: :TU:

 

Edits own post to read left side, instead of driver's side to be in compliance with international standards. :Comp: :laugh:
:beer

 

That's right!
I now remember the knock off hubs on an old right hand drive Jaguar my Dad owned read, "Right (Near) Side" and "Left (Far) Side"
And "Undo" with an arrow pointing the direction to remove them.

 

F-I-X-E-D ! ou:
I did forget that things are sorta 'reversed' across the pond, and down under lads !!
In any case, those fancy exterior mirrors certainly are different, along with those fancy hub caps Steve, and that centre hood spear is a '68, judging by the side profile you were kind enough to post Erik. :TU:

 

Cheers for all the info about the hood. We have strange laws where I live and cars from overseas usually the states needed to be converted to the right hand side. Cars 30 years and older like mine can remain left hand drive,(not modern cars though) it is different in others states our laws suck here in South Australia , someone changed it to right hand drive at some point. As for the mirrors they are just chrome cheapies I bought as it had only a drivers side mirror on the car when my dad bought it. As for the hubcaps they were originally painted black but I had them polished, seems to be a lot of diff types of hubcaps available for the 68 Riv these look pretty cool though. Here's a you tube vid I did in 2011 of my Riv on the dyno, is 225 rwhp a decent figure. Engine is stock except for pertronix ignition and 2.5 inch stainless steel twin system.[video=youtube_share;WMgUc9haL-k]http://youtu.be/WMgUc9haL-k[/video]cheers.

 

Its Steve. :TU:

---------- Post added at 12:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 AM ----------

What are mayonnaise era buicks? anyway.

 

Just **** stirring for now, you have to get used to that we Aussies don't take ourselves to seriously. So what did you think of the video?

 

That's my Dads car (Bert R.I.P) now mine, where were u living.

 

Hi Rivman:
I have a question regarding the hood spear. I have a '66 GS and would love to put the more streamlined spear from a '68 on the car.
Do you think it will fit? Is it made of pot metal like the '66/'67 or stainless as I believe is the case with the '69 and '70?
Thanks,

 

'66 - '69 are all cast pot metal, and not stainless - '70 only. As to fitting a '68 spear on a '66, I don't really know.
If the front slope on the '66 hood is the same side profile as a '68, then it might fit, assuming the mounting holes are positioned the same ? o No:

 

The '70 is actually a stainless piece.
The hoods used on '66 & '67 do differ in profile from the '68, '69, & '70, so doubt trim would interchange.
I am going from old memory here, but I seem to remember the hood spear on my '66 being very similar to the '68 & '69's.

 

. . . thanks for the update and correction Dale !! :TU:

 

Hi Gents. Now I know I have a '70 SS molding and its definitely longer than my '66 molding. I understand the '69 spear is very similar to '69 just a little shorter due to the R I V I E R A letters on the hood. The '68 spear is similar to '66/'67 just a lot closer to the hood (not as tall). Does anyone have a '68 spear they could measure, end to end, leading edge to the bend, width at the bend??Thanks!!!

 

I have a spare '68 I can measure for you, but right now it's -25C and my garage is not heated, so it may take a while !! :TU:

 

Wow! They complain down here in Tamopa when the temp hits 40 degrees!

Happy New Year. Thanks for your help. Paul