tbenvie Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 I recently retired and am putting my history degrees and automotive background together into some interesting research projects. With some connections I have in the automotive business I have access to some information not usually available. I've researched the Indy 500 Pace Car Replicas for a number of years, just finishing the 93 Allante (used for the 92 race), 94 Cobra, and 93 Camaro. I've also compiled data for all Reatta convertibles, 1969 AMC Hurst AMX Super Stock AMXs, 1996 Diamond Anniversary Lincolns and many other cars. On a whim I saw a 99 Silver Arrow so thought I would research the 200 made, and found some discrepancies with common knowledge I would ask help with.1-The cars were definitely not the last 200 Rivieras made. There were 2156 Rivs made in 99, and VINs 2145-2156 were Silver Arrows, but 2144 was not. Nor was 2118, 2116, 2115, 2114, 2113, 2004, etc. I have the VINs of 195 of the Silver Arrows, and am missing the first five I need help finding.2-The numbers on the car were not in any sequence. For instance, there is a YouTube video of car #4 out of 200. The last four of the VIN is 2030 as shown on the title in the video. This is actually car #96. Car #124 out of 200 is actually the 84th car built. #171 out of 200 is actually the 11th car built. If anyone could send me the last 4 digits of the VIN along with their car # I would add it to the list. I know the parts came shipped to the dealer in a box in the trunk and had no order. Were the headrest covers part of this box?3-I saw an ebay ad with a sign on the last Riv stating production ended on Nov 11. There were 61 cars made that day. However, there were 31 cars made Nov 12, and 3 cars made Nov 16. The last car VIN 1G4GD2217X4702156 shows through CarFax as never been registered. I believe it is in the GM Heritage Collection. 4-The lowest VIN i have is 1G4GD2214X4701756, the only one I have made on Nov 4. I am pretty sure the five VINs I am missing are lower than 1756 and made on or before Nov 5. Anyone have a lower VIN?5-I've run a Carfax report on the last 75 cars thus far (will do the others soon). Three cars have been scrapped: 1G4GD2216X4702102, 1G4GD2218X4702103, 1G4GD2214X4702129. Three others have rebuilt titles, meaning they sustained damage at one time. Besides the last car, 1G4GD2218X4702120 shows no report of being registered. When I can find the last five VINs and finish the CarFax reports I will publish the results. I would like to have some good clean photos of specific Silver Arrow items: keychain, floormat logo, dash emblem, sticker price, etc. especially would like a opy of the installation instructions found in the box with the Silver Arrow items in the trunk. Any help would be great. Here is two Faceebook pages I did on the Allante and Cobra Pace Cars: Allante: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1810267675909744/ Cobra: https://www.facebook.com/groups/200776700706982/?hc_location=group 1969 AMC Hurst Super Stock AMX: www.superstockamx.com 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivman Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 (edited) There is a member of the ROA that has been compiling a Silver Arrow Registry for several years, you might contact him, he would have all the information you are looking for. I'll try and answer some of your questions ... 1- Of the 1956 Total production 200 of them were Silver Arrows, and Yes, they were NOT built in order at the beginning or the end of production, but at random throughout the production run. 2- Yes, the SA numbers were not in any particular order, the box of accessories was delivered in the trunk and dealer installed. Actually the company that made the accessories made a duplicate of at least one of the SA dash plaques, #142 if I remember correctly, no way to tell if any other errors were made also. Yes, the headrests were part of that package. 3- The information I have said Riviera production would end November 25, 1998. Yes, GM kept the last SA built, it was brought to the 2005 ROA meet in AR along with other Buicks, the hood liner was left off and everyone working the line at that time signed the underside of the hood, see picture below. 4- The two I have are 1872 #10, and 2085 #152, neither one lower than what you have, and as said, the SA # does not mean any kind of sequence produced. The pictures you are looking for are all on the Riviera Owners Association Photo Gallery website. If you go to the ROA website in my signature, click on the "Photo Gallery" link in the right column, look for the "Special Editions" category, then you can view the "1999 Silver Arrow" album. That album includes pictures of everything you mention you are looking for above. As I said, there is a long time ROA member already tracking the Silver Arrows, if you contact him I believe you would get any and all info you are looking for. Edited April 13, 2019 by Rivman (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 Here are a couple of more pictures of the "last built" 1999 Riviera Silver Arrow. Besides this "last built" 1999 Silver Arrow, GM also brought the following cars to the 2005 ROA event 1983 Riviera XX convertible Indy 500 pace car Bill Mitchell's personal 1963 Silver Arrow A last generation Riviera Convertible A last generation Riviera powered by a NorthStar system The "last built" GNX The "last built" 455 GSX and the Buick Black Hawk. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbenvie Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 Did the last car from the heritage Collection have the #200 out of 200 plate? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 And I have 1874 and it's #12 there was another #12 for sale in TX sometime ago.. Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adoldfield Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 Hi My name is Alan Oldfield ROA #800 and I worked on the Silver Arrow registry for a number of years. I've collected a number of VINs, but it sounds like not as many as you have! I would be happy to help in any way I can. I purchased #105 new, and still have the box all the items came in. Perhaps I can help with some photos, etc It is exciting to learn more about the SAs. If I recall, I saw the GM owned SA at a show and it has an un-numbered dash plaque. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbenvie Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 Hi Alan-Do you have any VINs lower than ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivman Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 4 hours ago, tbenvie said: Did the last car from the heritage Collection have the #200 out of 200 plate? Thanks 3 hours ago, adoldfield said: Hi My name is Alan Oldfield ROA #800 and I worked on the Silver Arrow registry for a number of years. I've collected a number of VINs, but it sounds like not as many as you have! I would be happy to help in any way I can. I purchased #105 new, and still have the box all the items came in. Perhaps I can help with some photos, etc It is exciting to learn more about the SAs. If I recall, I saw the GM owned SA at a show and it has an un-numbered dash plaque. Alan Alan is correct, I found the first Silver Arrow Registry Alan had sent out and it included a picture of the dash plaque. Here is that picture and the caption that was below it on that first registry ... Numbered badge is blank on this final silver arrow owned by General motors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 Does this mean that they actually built 201 cars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbenvie Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 (edited) I have found all 200 VINs and have completed the Autocheck on all of them. Have the build info as well and will publish this weekend and post the link here. Alan, if you want to send me your email I will send you the database ahead of time. I'd also appreciate anything you have with the car numbers and the matching VINs. I only have 11 Car numbers matched to a VIN, plus the last one at the Heritage Collection. (I'm betting there is no number on it because GM realized too late plate number "200 of 200" was sent along with another car). My email is tbenvie@comcast.net. Does anyone know the name of the company that made the numbered plates? Where the Silver Arrow components put in the box by GM or outsourced to a company who then sent the filled box to GM? The first ten cars were made the beginning of Sept and titled to Buick Executives-and two of them did not have sunroofs! Here are the first eleven: A few other questions: Are GM parts departments still able to get original selling dealers in the computer? About ten years ago the local Buick dealer helped me out with Select 60 Reattas, but they are no longer in business. The 93 Camaro Pace Car had one car exported to Hawaii had the Hawaii required front bumper, code "VH3". What is special about bumper in Hawaii? Just absorbers, or cover, face bar etc? How did Buick decide only 200 would be built? If I look at a population map, I would find southern New England quite dense, yet one was sold in MA, zero in RI, two in CT. Six in NY, four in NJ, three in MD, zero in DE. Just wondering how dealers were selected. Here is the dealer breakdown: More when I publish the article. Thanks. Still looking for car #s matched to last 4 of the VIN. Edited April 16, 2019 by tbenvie (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 What you are doing is awesome! It's amazing what you have uncovered already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Knott Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 (edited) Thomas, We here at the ROA look forward to your article and ask that upon completion you send a copy to us so we can share it with our 2,900 members world-wide. Ray Knott Director / Editor ray@rivowners.org Edited May 10, 2018 by Ray_Knott (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivman Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 On 5/7/2018 at 11:03 AM, RivNut said: Besides this "last built" 1999 Silver Arrow, GM also brought the following cars to the 2005 ROA event 1983 Riviera XX convertible Indy 500 pace car Bill Mitchell's personal 1963 Silver Arrow A last generation Riviera Convertible A last generation Riviera powered by a NorthStar system The "last built" GNX The "last built" 455 GSX and the Buick Black Hawk. I was not going to list "the other Buicks" at that meet, didn't think it appropriate for this thread about the Silver Arrow, but, since you did I have a question for you. Just wondering, why you didn't include the white '63 or '64 that GM brought to the meet too? They brought nine cars that year and you only listed eight of them? I don't remember the significance of that one, or even for sure what year it was, but it was in the group they brought also. These are pictures of how they had them lined up at the meet ... The last one in the row in the second picture is the one I am talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 50 minutes ago, Rivman said: I was not going to list "the other Buicks" at that meet, didn't think it appropriate for this thread about the Silver Arrow, but, since you did I have a question for you. Just wondering, why you didn't include the white '63 or '64 that GM brought to the meet too? They brought nine cars that year and you only listed eight of them? I don't remember the significance of that one, or even for sure what year it was, but it was in the group they brought also. These are pictures of how they had them lined up at the meet ... The last one in the row in the second picture is the one I am talking about. I guess that at the time I didn't realize that it was one of the cars that Buick sent to Eureka Springs. I don't think I even have a picture of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jovanavichs Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 tbenvie My buddy bought a 1999. 181 of 200. Now....based on your state by state map, states, New Mexico did not sell any Silver Arrows. But Utah sold 1. Odd that Utah would have sold just one. But....Since the car was bought in Utah(used of course), would this vehicle be the original one bought in Utah? 1G4GD2217X47021142 Email: jovanavichs@yahoo.com with any and all info you have for this VIN. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 On 5/6/2018 at 9:06 PM, tbenvie said: I recently retired and am putting my history degrees and automotive background together into some interesting research projects. With some connections I have in the automotive business I have access to some information not usually available. I've researched the Indy 500 Pace Car Replicas for a number of years, just finishing the 93 Allante (used for the 92 race), 94 Cobra, and 93 Camaro. I've also compiled data for all Reatta convertibles, 1969 AMC Hurst AMX Super Stock AMXs, 1996 Diamond Anniversary Lincolns and many other cars. On a whim I saw a 99 Silver Arrow so thought I would research the 200 made, and found some discrepancies with common knowledge I would ask help with.1-The cars were definitely not the last 200 Rivieras made. There were 2156 Rivs made in 99, and VINs 2145-2156 were Silver Arrows, but 2144 was not. Nor was 2118, 2116, 2115, 2114, 2113, 2004, etc. I have the VINs of 195 of the Silver Arrows, and am missing the first five I need help finding.2-The numbers on the car were not in any sequence. For instance, there is a YouTube video of car #4 out of 200. The last four of the VIN is 2030 as shown on the title in the video. This is actually car #96. Car #124 out of 200 is actually the 84th car built. #171 out of 200 is actually the 11th car built. If anyone could send me the last 4 digits of the VIN along with their car # I would add it to the list. I know the parts came shipped to the dealer in a box in the trunk and had no order. Were the headrest covers part of this box?3-I saw an ebay ad with a sign on the last Riv stating production ended on Nov 11. There were 61 cars made that day. However, there were 31 cars made Nov 12, and 3 cars made Nov 16. The last car VIN 1G4GD2217X4702156 shows through CarFax as never been registered. I believe it is in the GM Heritage Collection. 4-The lowest VIN i have is 1G4GD2214X4701756, the only one I have made on Nov 4. I am pretty sure the five VINs I am missing are lower than 1756 and made on or before Nov 5. Anyone have a lower VIN?5-I've run a Carfax report on the last 75 cars thus far (will do the others soon). Three cars have been scrapped: 1G4GD2216X4702102, 1G4GD2218X4702103, 1G4GD2214X4702129. Three others have rebuilt titles, meaning they sustained damage at one time. Besides the last car, 1G4GD2218X4702120 shows no report of being registered. When I can find the last five VINs and finish the CarFax reports I will publish the results. I would like to have some good clean photos of specific Silver Arrow items: keychain, floormat logo, dash emblem, sticker price, etc. especially would like a opy of the installation instructions found in the box with the Silver Arrow items in the trunk. Any help would be great. Here is two Faceebook pages I did on the Allante and Cobra Pace Cars: Allante: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1810267675909744/ Cobra: https://www.facebook.com/groups/200776700706982/?hc_location=group 1969 AMC Hurst Super Stock AMX: www.superstockamx.com I recently bought #97 out of 200 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Here are a couple of close up pictures of the "last built" 1999 RIviera. Taken at Eureka Springs in '05. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Here are the only two pictures that I took of the '63 that was sent down. The only thing that I notice about this picture is the breather hose going into the breather housing. California? Otherwise, I don't know why it was included with the other eight. (someone has the battery cables reversed. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, RivNut said: (someone has the battery cables reversed. . An archivist will do that, federal requirement for maintaining a collection. Last Thursday, on a ride southeast of us, my Wife recognized the corner where my '64 Riviera battery welded to the hood and blew up. Hot summer day and our 37 year old son was a week old on her lap. Edited April 10, 2019 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 I recently bought #97 of 200 Missing dash plague, never looks like it was on there. Sure wish I could find one. I verified through the vin I believe it's #97 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivman Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 6 hours ago, Sealthedeal said: I recently bought #97 of 200 Missing dash plague, never looks like it was on there. Sure wish I could find one. I verified through the vin I believe it's #97 Congrats on your purchase. Hopefully it will give you several years of service and enjoyment. Just as an FYI, I'm not sure how you would be able to match the Silver Arrow number up to a VIN since there was no sequential matching of the VIN to the SA number? If you are using the VIN, and comparing it to the spreadsheet that the original poster of this thread built, I believe your VIN could be on "LINE #97" on that spreadsheet? However, just because it is on that line on the spreadsheet, it is not an indication of the Silver Arrow number. The only way to tell the SA number is what is on the badge on the dash, if there is not a badge, there isn't really any way to tell the SA number. Just wanted to clarify a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 I would be 3rd owner. 2nd owner told me it was #97 and that original owner kept the dash plague. Very disappointed. Happy with car and it's in good condition really wish I had dash plague. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967 - 1997 Riviera Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 I own the "James Bond" 1999 Silver Arrow: number 007 out of 200. It was one of the six sold in New York state, but was not sold to any Buick executive and it has the power sunroof. The car was sold in March of 1999. This all would lend credence to the observation that they were not made in any kind of chronological or VIN number order. When I get a chance, I will have to get back to you with my car's VIN number as well as the name of the original dealer that sold it in New York. I have all the original "stuff" that came with it - key ring and special floor mats already mentioned - and including the original exterior cover that is still it its box, never used. I was a $38,000.00+ car when sold new. Oh, one more thing. I have special vanity license plates for it. They read "LASTRIV." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 2 hours ago, 1967 - 1997 Riviera said: Oh, one more thing. I have special vanity license plates for it. They read "LASTRIV." As in the last one built or the last one I'll ever own? 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 My vin is 1G4GD2216X4702097 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 On 5/6/2018 at 9:06 PM, tbenvie said: I recently retired and am putting my history degrees and automotive background together into some interesting research projects. With some connections I have in the automotive business I have access to some information not usually available. I've researched the Indy 500 Pace Car Replicas for a number of years, just finishing the 93 Allante (used for the 92 race), 94 Cobra, and 93 Camaro. I've also compiled data for all Reatta convertibles, 1969 AMC Hurst AMX Super Stock AMXs, 1996 Diamond Anniversary Lincolns and many other cars. On a whim I saw a 99 Silver Arrow so thought I would research the 200 made, and found some discrepancies with common knowledge I would ask help with.1-The cars were definitely not the last 200 Rivieras made. There were 2156 Rivs made in 99, and VINs 2145-2156 were Silver Arrows, but 2144 was not. Nor was 2118, 2116, 2115, 2114, 2113, 2004, etc. I have the VINs of 195 of the Silver Arrows, and am missing the first five I need help finding.2-The numbers on the car were not in any sequence. For instance, there is a YouTube video of car #4 out of 200. The last four of the VIN is 2030 as shown on the title in the video. This is actually car #96. Car #124 out of 200 is actually the 84th car built. #171 out of 200 is actually the 11th car built. If anyone could send me the last 4 digits of the VIN along with their car # I would add it to the list. I know the parts came shipped to the dealer in a box in the trunk and had no order. Were the headrest covers part of this box?3-I saw an ebay ad with a sign on the last Riv stating production ended on Nov 11. There were 61 cars made that day. However, there were 31 cars made Nov 12, and 3 cars made Nov 16. The last car VIN 1G4GD2217X4702156 shows through CarFax as never been registered. I believe it is in the GM Heritage Collection. 4-The lowest VIN i have is 1G4GD2214X4701756, the only one I have made on Nov 4. I am pretty sure the five VINs I am missing are lower than 1756 and made on or before Nov 5. Anyone have a lower VIN?5-I've run a Carfax report on the last 75 cars thus far (will do the others soon). Three cars have been scrapped: 1G4GD2216X4702102, 1G4GD2218X4702103, 1G4GD2214X4702129. Three others have rebuilt titles, meaning they sustained damage at one time. Besides the last car, 1G4GD2218X4702120 shows no report of being registered. When I can find the last five VINs and finish the CarFax reports I will publish the results. I would like to have some good clean photos of specific Silver Arrow items: keychain, floormat logo, dash emblem, sticker price, etc. especially would like a opy of the installation instructions found in the box with the Silver Arrow items in the trunk. Any help would be great. Here is two Faceebook pages I did on the Allante and Cobra Pace Cars: Allante: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1810267675909744/ Cobra: https://www.facebook.com/groups/200776700706982/?hc_location=group 1969 AMC Hurst Super Stock AMX: www.superstockamx.com My silver arrow vin is 1G4GD2216X4702097.....suppost be #97 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 29 minutes ago, Sealthedeal said: My vin is 1G4GD2216X4702097 You say you think that you have #97, and your VIN ends in 97. That has to be an odd coincidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, RivNut said: You say you think that you have #97, and your VIN ends in 97. That has to be an odd coincidence. I was told it's #97 by previous owner but seeing they made 2156 and my vin ends in 2097. I would believe it's actually #141? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Sealthedeal said: I was told it's #97 by previous owner but seeing they made 2156 and my vin ends in 2097. I would believe it's actually #141? It was made in November 1998 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbenvie Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share Posted April 16, 2019 The numbers were nit assigned to a car in specific orders. Check the spreadsheet of all 200 cars here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1810363455669185/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Could find the spread sheet on the fb page? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbenvie Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share Posted April 16, 2019 You have to expand the conversation by clicking on the picture and "previous comments" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 Thanks for all your info and help! After contacting both previous owners and your spread sheets. I found out mine is #123. Makes sense noticed couple other Illinois cars were in 120-135 range. Makes me feel better knowing the #. Original owner took the badge and lost it in storage unit years later.... SMH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sealthedeal Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 Can anybody tell me why my dash and other I see have silver dashes and other pictures I see have a wood grain dash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 Someone installed an aftermarket kit. They're quite popular, in my opinion, very attractive. Post a picture. Some kits had more pieces than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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