The Story

This 2 owner 1964 Buick Riviera has spent its entire life in Los Angeles after heading west from the Flint, Michigan plant in July 1964. It still wears original California black and yellow license plates. The first owner was the seller's neighbor and fellow church member who drove it exclusively around town, complete with white gloves and seat covers protecting the interior. The seller purchased it from her in 1981 with what he reports as approximately 48,000 original miles showing on the odometer. He has primarily used it for car shows over the past 44 years, adding only 5,000 miles during his ownership. The car has been garaged 98% of its life, and the original interior shows the care both owners have given it. After not being driven for a couple of years, it required nothing more than a new battery and fresh fuel to fire up and drive.

The 1964 Riviera marked Buick's bold entry into the personal luxury car market, designed to compete with the Ford Thunderbird. Styled by Ned Jordan under Bill Mitchell's direction, the first-generation Riviera was a dramatic departure from Buick's conservative image. Its razor-edge styling and distinctive C-pillar created what many consider one of the most beautiful American cars of the 1960s. The 1964 model introduced Buick's new Wildcat 465 engine, a 425 cubic inch V8 producing 340 horsepower and a massive 465 lb-ft of torque, giving the elegant Riviera surprising performance to match its looks. Only in its second year of production, the 1964 Riviera remained relatively unchanged from the groundbreaking 1963 debut, with just 37,658 units produced that year.

The seller holds a clean California title. There is a reserve that must be met.

What You Get

Drivetrain & Chassis: This Riviera came from the factory with Buick's new-for-1964 Wildcat 465, a 425ci V8 making 465 lb-ft of torque and 340 horsepower. The seller reports that the entire drivetrain is original with 53,075 miles. The 425ci engine starts and idles smoothly and runs very well. The 3-speed Super Turbine 400 automatic transmission performs well, smoothly shifting through all gears. The chassis is solid with the factory suspension, power steering, and power brakes in place. The factory front drum brakes have been upgraded to disc brakes, while the rear drums remain original. A new battery was installed in September 2025. The original wheels and hubcaps are included. The original spare is mounted in the trunk with a triple white striped tire.

Body & Frame: The seller reports that the car has never been in an accident and had only a small dent on the driver door when he took ownership in 1981. The car was wearing its factory Marlin Blue paint when he took ownership. No bondo was detected using a magnet detector tool. The only visible rust appears on the lower rear rocker panel on the passenger side thanks to it's Southern California life. The car has been repainted twice under current ownership due to changes in color preference. The current non-original shade of blue is a ten-footer and not of show quality. A cut and buff would improve the appearance significantly. The original Marlin Blue paint can be seen in the trunk and other protected areas. If a color change is desired, very little bodywork will be needed, saving significant cost. The frame is rust-free with no issues.

Interior & Floors: The factory blue interior with four bucket seats is in beautiful original condition. The seats would benefit from a thorough cleaning. The dash pad is in excellent condition without any cracks, having been protected by a cover that was removed. The original Delco AM radio is in the dash. An aftermarket radio has been installed under the dash on the passenger side. All glass is original, with windows rolling up and down easily. The carpet appears to be in great condition, though it is unknown if it is original. The floors are rust free. The package tray cover is worn and has remnants of a blue fuzzy cover.

What You Need

Drivetrain & Chassis: The air conditioning is not functioning. The seller reports the compressor was already out when he purchased the car in 1981 and he never repaired it. The heater hoses are bypassed and not hooked up, so heater condition is unknown. The valve cover gaskets are weeping and should be replaced. Since the car sat for the past two years, all fluids should be changed, including brake fluid. The car pulls to the right when braking, so after bleeding the brake fluid, check for proper adjustment. The suspension feels soft and may need new shocks. The gas tank has dents on both sides and should be inspected and/or replaced. It is not leaking at all.

Body & Frame: The hood rubs on the center of the cowl and has chipped the paint in that area. A slight adjustment should resolve this. Rust bubbles are visible under the paint on the passenger side lower rear rocker panel. Some overspray and paint drips can be seen inside the wheel wells and on the side edges of the hood. All weather stripping needs replacement. An aftermarket alarm system has been installed with a keyhole on the taillight panel, which could be eliminated with metal work prior to repainting.

Interior & Floors: The rear package tray is worn and has remnants of a blue fuzzy cover. The back of the driver seat has a couple of small tears. The headliner appears original and has a small tear and some spotting. The driver side sun visor material is separating on the front edge.