The Buick Riviera has long been a puzzling vehicle for many General Motors fans. Its looks are continuously called into question. Dedicated fans will defend it, outsiders will scorn it for an odd design. No matter your take, there’s no denying the Riviera, especially this 1966 example, is a design statement.
And one custom build shop has kicked it up a notch. As you can see here, this is no normal 1966 Buick Riviera. It’s riding on air, features an expressive paint job and custom interior bits. Jay Leno had a go with the custom Riviera on one of the latest episodes of Jay Leno’s Garage and he found it tickled his fancy just right.
The 1966 Riviera strikes a delicate balance of just custom enough and retains plenty of stock cues. That’s especially true when popping the hood. While the paint (which cost $1,500 alone) and air ride suspension scream custom, the 425 ci V8 engine remains stock as can be.
When all was said and done, over 3,000 hours of work went into building this custom Riviera, and for that, we salute the build team. It’s a fine looking machine, no doubt. Grab a closer look at the vehicle right up above.
Comments
Always a huge fan of the pre-boattail Rivs. A stylist’s dream. Not so much the panel paint jobs, but this one isn’t too outlandish. Definitely a show winner. The pre airbag elegant looking steering wheels, yes. 45,000 built in ’66.
Like it stock even better. My dad bought a new 66 in June of 66. Got to drive it quite a bit in the mid to late 70’s. An awesome car!
Forwarding this to my dad. The 66′ Riviera I do believe was the model year he kind of inherited as a young adult in the mid 70s (his first car – paid very little from a sympathetic original owner husband and wife). I’m not that keen on this particular instance’s paint job though, but still classic car. My parents had to sell theirs about 10 years later in the early mid 80s when I was born because they needed money. (later to purchase a midnight blue brand new one in the 90s)