Thanks for posting that Mark, I'm not usually a fan of big wheels on classic cars but those look right at home.:TU:
Dan, I had a 1963 Riv and loved it to death. Of all the cars I've had, it recieved the most thumbs-up! I ended up selling it because it was my daily driver and I had a real hard time finding parts for it--most any kind of part. I also had a hard time parking it anywhere as I was afraid something would happen to it. That was in the late 80's to early 90's. My suggestion would be to think about what you want from the car. If it's going to be a weekend cruiser that you only take out occasionally for fun, then get the '65--BEAUTIFUL car! If you're gonna have to rely on it for transportation, get a '71-73--also very nice cars. The later Rivs are probably a bit easier to find parts for. My last suggestion is, if you chose a '65, find one with working motors for the hide-away headlights. From what I gather, that's the holy grail of the '65s Good luck and let us see what you decide on when you get it!
You really should consider the 63 and 64 also. The 64 came standard with the 425 and a 140 mph speedometer. The 63 and 65 only had the 401 standard, with 425 as an option. I think 64 was also the only year for the 140 speedo, others were only 120. There are plenty of upholstery, interior, and sheetmetal parts repro'd for the first generation, nada for the Boattail. People either love or hate the boattail, there's no middle ground. EVERYONE loves the 63-65 styling!:laugh:
You guys are missing th real issue -- you got a wife that wants a big old buick, and your gonna argue with her over which model?:eek2: Yeeesh, some people don't know how good they got it. And hey, a nice black / dark boatail is one hell of a sweet ride. So are the 65s. Either way you don't lose. I'd rather have a 71 / 72 than a 73, though. Buy her the boattail, and be glad she doesn't want a Lexus. -- Steve
Boattail.... Find a clean one and buy it. There may not be any sheet metal for this car, but you can make it fast:Brow:
I would suggest to both you and your wife to testdrive both of these cars if the feel of a car is important to you. As for the looks, I like the boattail very much but it attracts too much attention for my taste. Maybe I'm a bit shy but I don't like when everybody looks at me! About the 65, I think it looks good but I don't like it's formal roofline. Thats why I went between both with my 1967. While the 65 is an almost undiscussed winner as far as styling goes, the 71-73 have some interesting safety features that the 65's don't. For me, the dual master cylinder and disc brakes are important as I drive my cars often and hard in heavy traffic conditions.
65 is the choice Of course I am biased, but the 65 is the choice. One of the best looking cars to come out ever. The 65 will definitely cost more, but I think it will only go up in value, whereas the boattail will not go up as much. Do not be afraid of the nailhead, it is a very good engine. A dual quad GS will be the highest cost and best performance. The headlight motor is the hardest part to get for the 65's. Working used ones typically go for $300 range.
When i was a teen in the mid-70's i "dated" a doctor's daughter - they were....you know....rich and he drove a brand new 72 GS Riv. We'd spend hours talking in her driveway leaning against the Riv and looking at her.....and the car behind her. I've ALWAYS loved the boattails since then.....and always thought what a unique and bold body style the Boattails are. ....not to mention Stock '455 power !!!
I have a personal attraction to the boattail. In '72 I finally could afford a car payment, but not both that and repairs. Tried to get a BB GS, but the run for that year was over and the used STG 1's around Austin were burned up. Settled on a 455 Olds Cutlass Supreme, as even the 442's were gone. Later I was dating a gal that had a 71 445 Riv that would blow the doors off the Olds. Man, I was stunned and more than a little embarassed. Still have a warm spot for that model- great memories. :laugh:
Ever thought about a '66 or a '67? In my own personal unbiased opinion:Brow: they are the best looking years and don't go for the money that a nice '65 does.
I had to vote for the boat-tail. Only because i already have a 65 GS. When i was in Batavia for the National, Boat tails were a dime a-dozen. I had the only 74 style Riv there. I was looking for a 73 when i found the 74,glad i bought the 74 now. Tom
I love the 65's, but I would rather have a Boattail of any year over the '65. Why you may ask? I love the size, when it comes to cars, in my honest opinion, the bigger-the better! Same goes for the engine compartment, 455 in the boattails came standard, then throw in some stage 1 heads and you've got a real sleeper riv! :3gears:
my 71 riv here is the pic you decide.you want nice ride you need 71 but don,t go 72 or 73 because the have not much power,71 is the way to go,just make sure you put 3.42 posi at any cost, well worth money,
Wake up..... :sleep: Ever heard about GROSS HP vs SAE HP ? I bet you're just staring at the HP figures for the 71 compared to the other years. All three years had the same low 8.5:1 compression ratio. The real power is in the high compression 1970 Riviera...... :3gears:
As the owner of 3 65 Rivieras, 2 of them being Gran Sports, I'm a little bias. The 65 is a classic. The boat tail, sorry guys, to me is more of a novelty car. It's one of those ugly but can't help but dig cars. Hands down, The 65!!!!! Keith
