I got this article from ebay which is from Motor trend, Feb. 1966. On it there is an options list, one of which shows a Tachometer.......$47.37 extra. I've never seen one of these, and never heard of one being offered on a Riv.......could this be a misprint?
The highest series Buick for which I see a tach for any year is 6000. I do not see where they were ever listed for an 8000 or 9000 series car. So I would have to ay that in the absence of an SCO no tach was offerred for a Riv. Group 9.750
Buick tachs In the 62 Wildcats (which only came in a coupe) and 63 Wildcats with buckets (coupe or 4 door hardtop) BUICK lettered tachs were standard equipment. 1962 is the only year Buick made a factory 7000 rpm tach, all the rest are 6000. Other than that, you could get a tach in other Buicks, but it was an option. So, yes, you could order a tach in a 66 Riv if one so desired. You could also have the dealer put one in wherever you wanted it mounted, too. These are all BUICK tachs I am referring to. Tachs in Rivs are rare, though. I don't know why, but I guess the buyers did not consider them sports cars that needed a tach. Matt I would like to add that I am not completely positive that they were SHIPPED from the factory with tachs (rather put on at the dealership prior to delivery), but I have a 1964 dealer-only priceing sheet listing every option and it does not state where tachs were NOT available from the factory in the 4700 (Riviera) series. I don't want to mislead you.
A Wildcat is a 6000 series car as I stated above so I see the reference to the part number for them including a '62. But I do not see any 8000 series (Electras) reference or 9000 series( Rivs). Sure not saying they did not make them but I suspect someone specially ordered one for a 6000 or less series and had it installed. Just to clarify I show a Riv was in 66 a 49487 series number but later became known as the 9000 series . So by 1970 all the part numbers were conformed to the 9000 series reference.
I have one in my 64 Riv and the 64 manual shows them in the 4600 & 4800 series mounted under the dash pad and the 4700, Riv, mounted on the dash pad in the same spot as the guidematic would be. Larry
Tachs Agreed, Jim. I am not completely sure (except for the 62s and 63s stated above) that in other years tachs were sent out, mounted in the cars, from Flint or any other plant in the Rivieras or Electras. I see that is the question posted originally, so I am not sure I helped in the slightest. Matt
We may have solved the mystery with Larry's comment . In 64 a Riv was a 4747 which does show up for a tach in 63 as #6411296--- the same part number as a 62 Wildcat..
I'd like to see a picture of one mounted on a '66 Riv..........they don't show it in the factory service manual. Talk about a truly rare option........maybe if I ask santa will bring me one for Christmas? LOL :laugh:
Tachs Cool, Jim. I have a 64 Parts book, but not one for 62, so I can't cross-reference the number. That is odd that the 63-64 tach part number would be the same as the 62 part number. I know that the chrome cup that holds the tach for 62-64 are the same, but 62 is the only 7000 rpm tach. Hmmm. As far as where they were mounted, factory or dealer, in 66 Rivieras, that would be interesting to see. I am sure someone out there has one in their car, maybe the'll shed some light on the location. Matt
I suppose it is the obvious but there is a note in the part line that says for bucket seats only so I suppose it means for the console.
Tachs (and automatic transmissions) were also standard in the 65 Wildcat coupes and convertibles that were built in Canada. It might have been possible to delete the standard Custom bucket seats/console/tach setup to get a notchback seat like in the U.S. Custom model but I have never seen a 65 that was built in Canada without a console and tach. A possible reason for the different equipment on the Canadian Wildcats is that it was the top of the line Canadian Buick and the Electra and Riviera models were imported from the U.S. and taxed before the auto pact. This is probably why the 65-66 Wildcat 2 doors that were made in Canada had similar standard equipment as the Riviera had and the Wildcat 4 doors had an interior that was very similar to the Electra 225 Custom's interior.
If it was available as a dealer accessory in 66, I'm wondering where was it supposed to be installed! I installed one (from a 64 Wildcat convertible) in my 67 Riv and the only place I found for it was there... I tried on the driver's side of the console but it was very hard to see. Now at least, it is visible!
I'm not being helpful here, just supportive. I've had several 66-67 Rivs almost continuously since 1965 (my dad's) and always checked them out along the way. Never saw or heard about one with a tach. Would really surprise me if the factory put them in the Rivieras. Otherwise I'd think that the 66GS Riv 2X4 I've got now that was ordered by a dealer for his son would have one. It has every other option I can think of.
I put mine on a magnet mount so I can take it out so I won't lose points on judging (gotta compete well against those chivvies :Brow: ) I like yours better...........where did you get yours? And did it come with the mounting bucket?
I got the tach itself about 8 years ago from a 64 Wildcat convertible. I bought the housing on Ebay (from a board member) two years ago.
What is that housing from.........I thought those were part of the Wildcat console itself......... I wonder if I could get a repro one?
The early Wildcat consoles had a similar tach housing mounted over them. I don't know where this one came from... I bought it from "64 Wildcat" and I think he told me it was from a 64 Wildcat, mounted under the dash of a car with no console. The 64 Wildcat consoles however didn't have a housing like that, they look similar to the 65-68 Wildcat consoles but they are completely different and the tachs are different too.
Actually, I thought of two accessories this car doesn't have. Cornering lights and four note horn. Oddly enough, those aren't on the accessory list above but they had them. GS option isn't shown either. Apparently that's not a complete list. No climate control, that's another one I didn't know they had in 66.
