Col Andy - USMC

Thanks Tom, very informative!

Tom, Thanks for correction on E-body, normally I restore Wildcat’s. Sorry we didn’t link up at Rosemont. With regard to the Riviera optional oversized tire, I pulled my reference material, and I had size wrong it was 8.85 x 15, which was the standard tire in 1965 for the Electra 225....see attached chart from the 1965 Buick Adjustments Guide...it show’s an optional larger tire for Lesabre, Wildcat, and Riviera. Also in owners guide on page 54 discussing when to use an oversized tire, but does not specify size. As to transition from small emblem to large, I pulled date of mid-Dec 1964 from ROA web summary document on 1965 RivGS...that said, I also saw an old post on AACA that say’s transition was likely at end of Dec... Best Andy

Winston, Thanks on your offer, will send private msg, would like to discuss further. The original AC compressor decal on my RivGS was a 1964 decal...I’m assuming since the started build in Sep of 64, they didn’t have the 1965 decal available yet. Yes you are correct with regard to the “yellow” on Buick AC inspection stamp. We went with “white” to provide more detail & contrast under hood, also moved stamping location from side of compressor to top surface. We will let the next owner & care taker of this rare gem decide what their personnel preferences are, and then make applicable adjustments as requested. As to tire size, I believe the bias tire we used was 8.55 x 15, which was in line with the heavy duty optional tire offered by Buick in 1965. It works & looks great on car, very happy with them! Andy

1st, I'd like to thank all the help & technical knowledge provided by Gene Guarnere, Dick Sweeney, and Tom Mooney these last three yrs, as well as, many other 65 Riv GS Buick owners & part suppliers. From the start, my goal was not to 100% replicate how this iconic RivGS came off the assembly line, but rather take Billy Mitchell's vision of European styling from Ferrari and Rolls-Royce and transform a Post WWII American production line car into "timeless elegance." Our goal was to create a hand-built, B-Body Buick, who's Fit & Finish would rival some of the most iconic Pre-WWII European & American cars. So yes, in order to break "glass ceilings" in concours circles or the International Show Car Association (ISCA) series, we deliberately made several minor deviations to enhance the "Fit & Finish" in order to give the car's exterior or engine compartment a much more elegant presentation. When judged, we openly disclose these inspection points to educate the judges and ensure others are not affected by our deviations. We always identify this is an over restored car, all but two deviation can easily be reversed if one desires. I have meet and helped many Buick Riviera owners on the show trail this past year, and have identified how we did some facets of the restoration differently, as well as we have a thank you sign posted in the display to Gene Guarnere, AB&G "Gene, sorry I got nervous during filming and mispronounced your last name." Too the best of our knowledge, many judges & writers on the show trail, we are the 1st B-Body Buick to earn the ISCA 2018 Restored Category Championship, earn Detroit Autorama 2018 - Best Restored Car, earn Boga Raton Concours 2018 - Essence of Design Award, and Radnor Hunt Concours 2017 - Timeless Elegance Award. All awards aside, the three best things that came out of this build were; were finding & saving what many claim is the most historically significant 65 RivGS that GM build, all the new friendships & bonds that have been created across North America, and the growing respect B-Body Buick's have gained through this concours restoration & showing these last two years. Almost forgot to address the tri-band white wall tires. Both Dick and Tom provided excellent details on both the Goodyear and Firestone tire. I to prefer the Goodyear tire, however the only off the shelf bias ply tire that was the closest dimension size, had a scalloped designed sidewall, thus we had to replicate the Firestone tire. If anyone has questions on tire, call Bill Chapman at Diamondback Tires. All our Best, Col Andy Starr - USMC Ret Owner: 1965 RivGS 1 of 1 Samoan Bronze