65VerdeGS

Bernie is right - Leno looks uncannily Trumpish in that photo! Now what would America be like with Jay Leno as Commander in Chief??? Super-premium gas for 35 cents a gallon? Yeah baby!

Thanks Tom, I didn't realize the ride height specs were in the Shop Manual. I'll take a look at this tonight. I'll have to paw through my copies of The Riview (I have most of them as I joined in 1985) to see if some of the Daily Car Report info has been published there. I've never seen the Evans Clagget Riv Club newsletters, which I believe pre-dated the creation of the ROA by Ray Knott, yes? In the fog of the past I recall hearing that "WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE YEARBOOK" (an industry publication still being produced) wouild report out on numbers of options sold for each car line. Are you familiar with this publication? Have you seen the 1965 Edition? And, did Ward's simply reproduce the info from the Daily Car Reports?

Thanks for the info, guys! I'll have to crawl under my car to see if those paper tags might still be on my springs after all these years. Can Tom or anyone confirm what the ride height for an H2 equipped car was when new? How did this compare to the ride height of the standard Riviera? I've heard that the H2 option cars ride about an inch lower. I measured my car's ride height and the dimensions are 24" front, and 22.5" rear. This measurement was taken from the ground at the wheel center line up to the underside of the wheel opening. Not sure if that's how the ride height is supposed to be measured - is it? Tom also mentioned the Daily Car Reports. Is these posted somewhere? How did you get a copy of these reports? What sort of statistical data on options and colors (trim and paint) do they reveal? Has someone compiled the Daily Car Report info to create tables or charts of what was produced throughout the model year 1965 by month, and a summary of factory-installed options for the entire year? Always learning interesting things here!

I have the original owners manual for my '65 and there are no notations or stamps in it which identify the dealer that sold the car when new. The selling dealer info does appear stamped in the "Buick 1965 Owner's Protection Plan" booklet, on the second to last page of the booklet. The Protect-o-Plate is glued to the back cover of this booklet.

No worries! Cheers,

Does anyone have a picture of a '65 Riviera window sticker they can post? I'm wondering what the original window stickers for these cars looked like. What were the dimension of the original window stickers? I've seen a '65 window sticker on the web, which was printed on pre-printed perforated stock, with BUICK in blue ink at the top, with the data about the individual car printed in black lettering, all surrounded by a blue zig-zag type border. Is this correct? I've seen an original 1966 Riviera Gran Sport window sticker. On this sticker, the pre-printed part was in green ink, with the car info and options in black type. Lastly, when the cars were new at the dealership, where were the window stickers placed on the car? Was this a standard placement, or did the dealer decide where to position the sticker?

Very, very nice car, Mike! I agree with Gabriel - your GS should bring no less than $50k, and likely would bring $70k or more given the right buyer. If you are patient,then waiting until late winter/spring might garner more interest and thus a higher price. Your GS is highly optioned, with A/C, custom interior, wood wheel, etc. and has a desirable color combo, so ought to bring top dollar. I'm keen to read this thread as my Verde Green GS is quite similar to yours, except mine has no A/C, and has the dark green custom interior. I would never had believed these cars would be touching fifty grand plus a few years ago. I'm not looking to sell mine, just curious as to where the market is these days. Good luck with your sale.

Hi Paul, I just saw your post about the Buick vanity mirrors you generously offered to give away. I have a '65, so wonder if you still have one available? It seems like the clip on style is the right one for my year. Do you still have one? You could send it to me in Washington State. Cheers, Alex

Hi Tom, Thanks for the info on H2 – I always enjoy reading your informative posts! After 52 years I doubt I’ll find any stickers on my car’s springs to identify whether these are H2 springs or not. I do have a ’65 Buick Master Parts Catalog, so may be able to trace back the part number if this is stamped on the springs. But, where would I look on the springs to find their part number? I’m almost certain that my car still has its original springs. I bought the car back in early 1983. The car still had its original paint and interior and had not been restored in any way. Soon after I bought my GS I joined the ROA and met the late Leonard Scott. He was extremely knowledgeable about our cars. He advised me against replacing the rear springs in my car (the rear was ‘sagging’) because reproduction springs available at the time did not duplicate the H2 springs, so the car’s ride would be adversely affected. Leonard advised me to fabricate a spacer to put in each rear spring pocket to increase rear ride height, or to use air shocks. I did both. I only inflate the air shocks when carrying rear passengers and/or heavy loads. This brings up the question: Are the H2 springs being reproduced today? Which vendor? Do the repro springs correctly duplicate the ride characteristics of the originals? The steering box in my car is 3 turns lock-to-lock. However, it is a replacement, as the original developed a leak. Instead of rebuilding the original it was replaced with a variable-ratio Saginaw box from a later ‘60’s GM car. I got the replacement box in a wrecking yard and remember this route being cheaper and faster than having the original box rebuilt. I see you’ve quoted production number for the H2 option. Where did you get these from? Is there a breakdown of how many 1965 Rivieras were built with each option? I gather the numbers available may not indicate combinations of options (e.g. A/C with Power Windows), or do they? Lastly, is there a breakdown of how many cars were built in the exterior and interior trim/colour options?

I have some questions about the H2 The "Ride and Handling" option package first offered in 1965. I read that this option consisted of stiffer springs and faster steering. The H2 springs are said to have made the car ride an inch or so lower. Did this option include any other things, such a different shocks, or thicker front sway bar? I've heard that while "most" Gran Sports came with the H2 option, this wasn't always the case. Customers ordering a new Riviera would have to check the H2 option box, perhaps after the salesman suggested it. This option wasn't so expensive, at about $35. But, because of the extra cost it would be possible for a Gran Sport to NOT have the H2 option fitted. So, my questions are: How can I determine whether my '65 Riv Gran Sport came from the factory with the H2 option? Is it true that most Gran Sports came with the H2 package? Do we know the percentage of Gran Sports were not fitted with the H2 option? Finally, was it possible for a non-GS Riviera to be ordered with the H2 option? Do we know how many non-GS '65 Rivs came with H2?

Hi Gabriel, How come you need to sell your '67? What might your asking price be? Thanks,

Okay, are we here really worried about GAS MILEAGE??? Once, I decided I'd find out what mileage my '65 GS could do on a long trip. I used all the tricks I'd heard about in those gas company mileage challenges in the early '70's : no jackrabbit starts, go easy on the throttle, no passing, keep it under 60 mph. I might of even slid the trans into neutral on one or two long downhill grades. The best I could muster was 16mpg driving to Oregon steady-state on the I-5 freeway. Not bad for a dual quad motor with 3.42 gears, in what isn't a lightweight car. Another time I tested my mileage on a combo of mostly urban driving, with no specific effort to economize. That time the average was about 12mpg. Someone once told me that gas is the cheap part of owning a collector car. I think there is some truth in that.

Gold and Low - awesome! Go easy over them speed bumps! You can rebuild your blown engine. If the engine is original to your car, then the car will be worth more when and if you decide to sell her. Factor that into your decision. Good luck.

A terrible loss of a fine Riviera! Unfortunately, these things happen. A local collector here lost 37 cars in a fire that consumed his storage facility. He spent a lifetime putting together his collection, and they were all gone in one night. We need to enjoy our cars - you never know when it might be the last ride!

Thanks Telriv - I'll focus my lubricant on those front & rear spring pivots and see if that quells the creaking!

I love sixxer's wrench trick! I'll try JZRIV's suggestion to oil the pivots to see if this silences the creaking hinge. Always learning good things on this forum!

Hi Jim, Thanks for posting the photos of both hood springs on Mark's original '63. As it turns out, the springs on my '65 are positioned exactly the same! The open end of the hook on the driver's side is facing up, with the reverse for the passenger side. So, it looks like the spring positioning isn't the reason for the creaking sound I'm getting from the driver's side spring. That brings up the question - What should I use to lubricate the hinge and spring assembly?

How should the hood hinge springs be installed on early Riv's? Mine has the hook portion facing up on the left hinge, with the hook facing down on the right hinge. Is this correct? Or should both be facing up, or down? Here's a pic of the driver's side: I suspect the open part of the spring hook should face down. I say this because the spring on the driver's side of my car is facing up, as shown in the picture. And, this hinge 'creaks' when I open and close the hood. It makes a sound like the spring coils are somehow rubbing together. Last question - how do I remove and replace the spring? The Shop Manual shows two special tools for doing this. Is there another way? Thanks,

Good point Bernie - check your motor mounts! I don't know for sure if worn mounts caused the throttle of my friend's Riv to jam wide open. But it's highly possible. Luckily I replaced my motor mounts when I rebuilt the drivetrain on my '65 a few years ago. The rest of you heed Bernie's advice - a quick check will give you peace of mind.

Yes, they discontinued the door opening paddle handles for the rear seat passengers in 1968 on the custom interior. Another concerssion to Federal safety rules.

Hello RivieraBear I was perusing this thread and came across your post with photo of your '63 (or 64?) Did you get your car fixed? These cars are tough. A friend of mine has a Flame Red '65 GS that he totalled. His throttle stuck wide open when he floored it to pass a slowpoke on the highway. Things happened so fast that he didn't think to turn the key off to kill the engine. Anyway, as it happened, he went onto the center grass median and flew up onto oncoming traffic, hitting a big SUV when he got to the other side. The point of impact was his driver's headlight. His Riv was written off, due to frame damage. The impact buckled his roof part way! He broke 3 ribs and was lucky to survive without more serious injuries. But, undaunted, he bought the car back from the insurance company and restored it! He had the frame straightened, got the parts he needed (including a few bits from me) and within a year or so had the car back on the road! So I'm curious if you got your Rivi back together. I know your accident happened a couple of years ago. I hope it all worked out well for you, and the car.

Ha Ha - Go Devo!

Nice wheels (and car) Paul! Those PO2 hub caps on your '67 sure look similar to the turbine style optional "PO1 Bright Metal Wheel Cover" offered on Corvettes for $57.95 starting in 1968. Do you know if these are the same as the PO2 covers offered on 2nd Gen Riviera's? They look quite similar, except for the center cap emblem. These covers must be a bear to clean properly with all those radial fins...

Hi Tom, Thanks for replying. We all get busy, no problem. Looking at the Pilkington crate photo that Bernie posted I can see why you won't ship a windshield! I'm too far away to pick it up, so that's that. Cheers,

The right side hood hinge on my '65 creaks and groans mildly when I open/close the hood. While lending a slightly gothic and coffin-like sound (hey, Halloween is coming!) I'd like to find a way to silence this noise. However, years ago I made the mistake of lubricating the hood hinges on my '68 Eldorado because these seemed to be 'dry' making the hood hard to close initially. You must know that this car (and probably the '66-70 Rivieras as well) probably have the largest (and maybe heaviest) hoods of about any car. So, I sprayed the hinge contact points of my Cadillac's hood hinges with white lithium grease from a spray can. This turned out to be a bad move, because it removed any resistance to motion so the hood now closed way too easily. For a long time I could not trust the springs to keep the hood up as it was so eager to fall down. I took to keeping a cut off hockey stick in the trunk to prop up the hood, lest it come crashing down on my head if I rocked the car! So, what's the preferred method to lubricate hood hinges, and avoid over-doing it as I did with my old Eldorado? Thanks.