With out a doubt the 63 - 65 Rivs are still the best looking Buicks ever made! My favorite is the 64 because you get the improved 3 speed tranny and the tail lights are still in the trunk instead of the bumper like the 65s. They are all classy looking though. That's where the saying "Fast with Class" came from. Why don't I have one yet? Still looking. Someday.
I love Rivieras. My best friend's first car was a 69 Rivy GS, and I've been hooked ever since. Next to the 69, my next two favorites are the 65 and the 71...making this a tough poll for me. However, I'll pile on and vote for the 65. There's just something about that center console design - and the clamshells, too. It's just a beautiful car. Although, I will agree with the earlier post that said something about the rear of the car just not being right. It just doesn't have enough style to be on the same car as one with such an insanely stylish front end. I kinda wish it was more like the back of my 64 Skylark. Hhhmmmm.....maybe I'll build a hybrid!!!! MMMmm.....not bloody likely. uzzled:
everyone has brought up good points on both the 65 & 71 . i like both , the 65 is just classy ,while the 71 has great potential .like for instance it makes a great lowrider or a kool hot rod. not that the 65 would'nt but like i said its classy .the thing to rember is who is it for & who will be driven her, the car that is . whats gona make the wifey happy? @ least she wants a buick ,go with what you know.
Get HER what she wants ........first........ Buy the boatail bomber she wants.......color and all. THEN shop around for the 65 you want. Get it, fix it up, or get one that need little, depending on the type of Buick guy you are. Chances are she will come to prefer the 65 , if she can use it at her choice. Then sell the boat. YOU will be happier.......with a happy wife. and the car of choice.........J
rivs I have one 65GS.Between car and wife ,take the car.Boat tails are ok but 63-64-65 rivs are coming of age of design excellence. :TU:
In my opinion 71-73, there is no confusing this car with anything else, you can spot a boatail's profile at 1000 ft., you can't say the same about the 65. It's a tuff decision, I love both, All I can say is women LOVE boatail's, I have never had more compliments on a car then this one. Good luck either way.
My vote goes to the '65. That is truly a beautiful car. The interior is also really cool. The body styling on the '65 is amazing. The '71-'73 is also nice, but it's just not a '65 Riviera.
Blast, I hit the wrong button! I meant to vote 65, but ended up givin the boattail crowd some love instead...Oh well!:moonu:
Old thread! I love to see these old conversations hashed all over again. Did Dan ever even buy a Riv? If so, which one? Since this thread was started I myself bought a 71 and love it! My father had a 72 way back when this thread was new and I had driven it several hundred miles and that's why I voted Boattail. The 71 even looks better than the 72 IMO. It drives great and has a unique look that most people love. Everywhere I go people ask questions. I love Nailheads but my rebuilt 455 is very strong in my 71. I have several classics to drive but I usually end up in the 71. As for a 65, they have gone up in price even more since we tossed this poll around. We now have one here with the other Rivs. After looking at this 65 real close I have to say it's all in the headlights. Other than that I don't like it as well as a 64 or 63. It is rather bland in comparison to those 2. The headlights are cool but I still think the other 2 have a much prettier frontend. 3 years later and I stand behind my vote. Except now I would much rather have a 71.
Just get both! A '65 AND a '71-'73. The '65 is a great looking car. It is a thousand lbs lighter than a boattail. With a 401/ AFB 4 bbl and a 3.07 rear gear, are not bad on gas (15-18mpg)at all and still have plenty of go power. High compression engine means premium fuel. Mechanical parts are more money and harder to find. Unless you upgrade ,the brakes aren't as safe as the boattail years. But they do work well. The boattail Rivs have super styling,low compression engine,which means that you can run regular unleaded. Fuel mileage is not good,like 10-14 mpg. Much safer all around,though. Full frame,side impact beams in the doors,dual master brakes,collapsable steering column,massive bumpers,etc. Parts are easier to get. Nothing like looking out over that looong hood! It would be a hard choice for me,but I am more partial to the '65.
Oops! Did I vote 5 years too late? You might guess which I'd vote for... If you own a boattail you will learn to love it in ways you didn't know you could. I just got a cover for mine. It's the most amazing looking thing under that cover. It almost looks like a... It's really low... It's kinda like a... boat? a spaceship? Honestly. I would never guess what it was under that cover if it wasn't mine. The size, shape and height makes it look like there's some crazy GM prototype under there. Crazy = cool in my book.
I agree, that's why I voted for the (winner!!) 1965 model year Riviera. Boattails are like belly buttons, everybody has one here in the Netherlands.....
To satisfy the curiosity of whether I bought a 65 or a 71 Riv ...........the answer is............................. a 67 Skylark :shock: Dan
Can't believe I found another Burgundy Mist Poly car. I myself have a Burgundy Mist 65' with the LX-coded 425 and dual carb setup. Not a GS though. Such an amazing colour. Ontopic; By far a 65' Riviera in my opinion. 71 - 73' are very attractive, but the 65' has timeless lines, it's one of the most perfectly designed cars available, according to me.
I simply love the big Boats and would live to have one bone stock and clean. I used a 73 as a donor car for my 53 special build and it worked great. Very few mods needed on the frame and only one alternation needed on the 53 body. The Boats just cruise down the interstate so effortlessly. I can't wait to see how the 53 does on the 73 platform with the 455/400tb and factory posi. My vote is buy what you like and don't worry about what's popular with everyone else. If it's an investment you probably better stay with the 65 but as with most projects you're probabily going to invest more than you will see in return on either one unless you find either one that someone is willing to take a great loss on.
