mp65riv

Arizona desert along Rte 66 - July 1966 - still had 2000 miles of road ahead of us!

I took my 61 Electra 225 our for a spin in the sunshine on Saturday!

Its a 4 speed stick...and has a factory sunroof...cool little ride!

Very nice! I love the Opels from that era. I wish I could put a 3 liter I-6 in my Manta to get more power!

Along with pics of the Riv in progress...

Here's a pic of the opel...

I'm 59 and own a 65 GS. This is my 4th Riv. The first was a 65 I bought and restored while in high school as my first car - silver with blue cloth interior. I unfortunately sold it in 85 when I needed some $. The second was a 97 that I owned for about a year in 2000-2001 - loved the car but it was a tight fit for me due to its somewhat limited headroom. Third was a 67 I bought from the original owner in 2008 - beautiful car - turquoise with a white vinyl top, but I sold it in 2017 to get back to my first love the 65. Hope to have the current 65 back on the road in a few months - its getting stripped followed by some minor body work and a new coat of its original seafoam green paint. My other cars include a 61 Electra 225 4 door Riviera hardtop (6 window) and a 74 Opel Manta Luxus that I've owned since 79.

Done! Thanks again!

I am a ROA member, but didn't think to look there for this information. That is my bad! I agree, the ROA site has a wealth of info and resources! Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction!...

Great chart...very helpful! Thanks much!

Looking at American Racing VN1055773 - 15 x 7 with 5 x 5 bolt pattern, 3.760 backspace. Any insight on whether these will fit without much drama?

Ok thanks. That's what I was thinking...just wanted to be sure.

I'm looking at American Racing Wheels for my 65 Riv - the website is coming up recommending 15 x 7 wheels with a 5 x 4.75 bolt pattern, with a 3.75 inch backspace. Any thoughts as to whether these will fit and what my limits on tire size will be with these rims? I'm not planning to modify my wheel wells or inner fenders.

my 61 deuce and a quarter...

This is the Buick that inspired my love for the marque - my parent's 61 Electra 225 that they bought in 62 after trading their 57 Roadmaster 75. Because of this car, I now also own 61 deuce and a quarter that I can't imagine ever selling... also shown in one of these pictures is my uncle's 62 Chevy Impala!

Cool!...and thanks for taking the time to read and respond! We had lots of good times in that Sportwagon! Ours was a light blue 9 passenger "Custom" with all the goodies. I loved the raised roof and always thought it was one of the coolest wagons of the 60s and was disappointed when Buick ended production a few years ahead of Olds. The 70 Estate Wagon which replaced the Sportwagon was never as unique and cool in my opinion.

As an African American child of the 60s, I lived in California but spent a fair amount of time during the summers in rural Alabama. Almost every summer, my parents would pack up the Buick, initially a 57 Roadmaster 75, followed by a 61 Electra 225 and then a 65 Sportwagon, and we would drive the 3 day journey to see my grandparents on the land they farmed in Alabama. My parents were the first of their respective families to graduate college, and they felt it was extremely important to understand the world they came from. I have vivid memories of the injustices we experienced while there, and those memories are a part of who I am today. Yet we had plenty of good times, in the midst of great injustices, and there was much love when we were with our family...so my thoughts are both good and bad. My aunts and uncles marched with Dr. King in the marches leading up to the Selma march, and they were jailed. Although I look back fondly on my visits to rural Alabama, I will not forget the struggles and sacrifices my parents and grandparents and great grandparents endured so that my generation could have the opportunities we enjoy today. Without a doubt, my family benefited from the economic growth and expansion of opportunities for African Americans that took place during the 60s and 70s. And yet there is still plenty of hate and bigotry in our society today, so there is much work still to be done. So please be careful about romanticizing that era. Yes, there was much that was good about the simplicity of the times and the character that many people demonstrated. The cars were fantastic and quite memorable. But all wasn't rosy...enjoy and relish the good things, and resolve not to let the bad stuff seep back into our current discourse. If we can do that, while looking for opportunities where we can help others improve their station in life, we will be learning and growing and maturing as individuals and as a society. Just my 2 cents... Mike

Very nicely said. Bravo and Thank you!

Beautiful car in a fantastic color combination. Years ago my parents had a similar 57 roadmaster 75. They migrated from Alabama to California in that car in the summer of 59. It looks like the same color combination, only reversed...attached is a puck along with the 52 roadmaster they traded to buy the 57...wish I had both today...

It actually doesn't look bad in my opinion - different from stock, but not bad.

I've gotten fabric from SMS for my 61 Electra 225 and 62 Olds Jetfire. Very satisfied with their quality.

Fantastic! Thank you, and I will call and ask for Jack.

Chris, you give good instructions for draining the TC. Is there any trick to properly refilling it?

Do you have the right passenger side rear armrest piece (metal frame covered in vinyl)? Thanks!

Does anyone have a reference for a transmission shop in the DC metro area that can work on a 61 Electra 225? I have a couple of things I'd like to get checked out - most importantly, a delay in going into gear when cold (fluid levels look good) and a slight shudder when starting from a stopped position after driving for 30 minutes or so. Thoughts/insights are most welcome! Thanks!