J3Studio

That's the other thing—what does actually show up is almost completely unpredictable.

Words to live by.

Yep. Just-in-time turns into just late. At work, I've spent since February 2020 warning folks about supply chain issues and then having them believe those issues somehow don't apply to them.

@RivNut I totally agree, but that wasn't quite what I was asking. My question was this: if someone wanted a correct/perfect 1965 Riviera Gran Sport restoration, how many restoration shops out there could execute on that? In my other world, I can name seven restoration shops that could do a correct/perfect 1965 Corvette Sting Ray—one that would easily receive a Top Flight in NCRS judging. My interest is in what the situation is for the Riviera. Funds no object, of course.

How many restoration shops would do it right for a 1965 GS? Is it two, five, ten?

I had never heard of a fin comb …

All I've ever seen is "December 1964."

If I've got this correct, that's an early (built December 1964 or prior) Gran Sport.

Sold for $13,200, which Hagerty sees as just about all the money.

I concur on the paint. I'm thinking that is an unusual color combination for a 1968.

I haven't seen anything from Buick. The automotive press was using boattail/boat-tail to describe the third-generation Riviera by late 1970.

Boat tail wins the Google search results competition. I must confess that I used boattail because Houlihan used that construct.

Agreed, though I do enjoy reading it. They must have tested a bunch of titles, right? Maybe Hemmings Collector Car or Hemmings Interesting Car didn't scan?

My Hemmings Classic Car came yesterday. In the Recaps column is a short letter from John Houlihan: "I need to point out to Hemmings the following correction: Only two years are considered the true "boattail" Rivieras: 1971 and '72. The '73 Riviera's rear end was truncated by direct order of the Buick Division Manager. I am a member of the team that designed this car, so I speak from direct experience. Accordingly, please do not refer to '73 Rivieras as "boattails."" Thoughts? John was part of the team that designed the third-generation Rivieras.

Want a new Riviera? A Dark Blue Metallic 1985 coupe with a blue heavily padded vinyl top, an AstroRoof, tan prima cloth 45/45 front seats, and 73 miles that sold at Mecum Indy for $37,000 plus buyer's premium is now available for $49,700: https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/buick/riviera/2492965.html

Agreed—I really enjoyed the articles on transmissions and identification plates.

With all the contributions, this is darn close to a Riview article.

Hah! That's what I get for assuming … I'll modify my original post.

1978 Buick Riviera LXXV coupe on Bring a Trailer, showing 75,000 miles on the odometer. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-buick-riviera-75th-anniversary-edition/ —bid up to $7,500 with 5 days left.

@Shop Rat was very helpful in multiple ways when I was an AACA newbie. I know that my online participation is not necessarily steady.

That's a reality check. For decades, I wanted to get my father a Morgan, because he always talked about them. Then, I actually thought about it … the realities had nothing to do with the expense. By the way, Matt, you are a good person for even attempting.

That would be correct—you may get lucky, but you shouldn't assume you will get lucky.

Matt, my wife and I have been in that situation—people either have no clue, don't care, or believe we are their servants. All because we were born a couple of decades later.

Bingo. So much better than what you see almost everywhere else.

Agreed—lordy …