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After being forced into early retirement in 2011 because of a heart condition, I decided to take my 401(k), buy a classic car with part of it and start a road-building business with the rest. I looked on my computer for classic cars for sale, but my wife didn’t like most of them – until I found this 1964 Buick Riviera not too far from us in northeast Texas. My wife’s father sold new Buicks for more than 25 years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then was a service writer at a Cadillac dealer in Florida. I showed her the picture of the Riviera and she was impressed, saying her dad had owned one that she really liked. I called the seller and made an appointment.
It was about a 60-mile drive. The seller, Darryl, said the car had been in his family since day one; his uncle bought the car new in Gardena, California, but died the following year. His aunt didn’t drive, so it was parked in the family garage until his cousins were old enough to get behind the wheel. They did some maintenance and drove the car to school in the early ’90s, putting just 20,000 miles on it. Then Darryl bought the car from his aunt and brought it to Texas. He had the engine and transmission rebuilt and installed a new headliner and carpeting. He also changed the exhaust system to straight pipes with round glass packs. The original color was Code NN, which is Coral Mist, top and bottom. Darryl had it painted in its current color of blue in 1999.
When I looked at the car in person, I liked the 425ci V8 with its single-barrel carburetor, 340 horsepower and 465 ft/lbs of torque. It had factory air conditioning, as well as electric windows and seat, all which worked. The interior was Code 603 black vinyl and was in perfect condition. I bought the car for $7,500 cash and brought it home on a trailer. I immediately put new tires on it and started driving it around town. I didn’t like the way the brakes felt, so I bought all new brakes and changed them out myself. It also pulled to the right if you let go of the steering wheel, so I removed one caster shim and that solved the problem.
I keep it parked in my locked garage when not in use. I love taking it to shows and always get lots of waves and thumbs-up. Buicks always have the torque rating on the air filter top, so I always have to tell people it’s 425 cubic inches.
My wife passed away 3½ years ago, so I just drive the Buick occasionally now. I hope to pass it on to my grandson one day.
– John L., Texas
Source: www.classiccars.com