65 Riv Gran Sport?? You decide

[Guest carlbraun]

Buick : Riviera Buick : Riviera | eBay

here is a sweet turquoise 1965 Riv that looks like a great start toward a really nice car....but...there's always a catch.

The owner makes the statement at the end of the ad that he's discovered the engine isnt a LX Code Super Wildcat motor. Here's the owners statement:

AFTER DOUBLE CHECKING THE ENGINE CODE, THIS IS A KW CODED ENGINE, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A 1964 SINGLE 4 BARRELL 425 ENGINE. THIS CODE MATCHES THE BODY CODE TAG, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY MAKE THIS AN EARLY PRODUCTION BABY GRAN SPORT

...if he's implying that the engine S/N matches the VIN then...hmmmmmmmmmmm<!-- End Description --><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> /**ThinViewJs**/ var ifr = function() {}; ifr.browserDetect = function() {this.bFirefox = this.bWebTV = this.bOpera = this.bNav = this.bIE = this.bSafari =this.bWin = this.bMac = this.bMacppc = this.bMactel =this.bWinXp = this.bXpSp2 = this.bAOL = this.bVista = false;this.iVer = this.fVer = -1;this.fMinorVer = 0;this.init = function() {var nv = navigator, agt = nv.userAgent.toLowerCase(), i = 0, ver;with (this){if (agt.indexOf('webtv') != -1){bWebTV = true;i = agt.indexOf('webtv/') + 6;}else if (agt.indexOf('firefox') != -1){bFirefox = true;i = agt.lastIndexOf('firefox') + 8;}else if (agt.indexOf('safari') != -1){bSafari = true;i = agt.lastIndexOf('safari') + 7;}else if(typeof(window.opera)!='undefined'){bOpera = true;i = agt.lastIndexOf('opera') + 6;}else if (nv.appName == 'Netscape'){bNav = true;i = agt.lastIndexOf('/') + 1;}else if (agt.indexOf('msie') != -1){bIE = true;i = agt.indexOf('msie') + 4;if ((agt.indexOf('aol') != -1) || (agt.indexOf('america online') != -1))bAOL = true;}ver = bOpera?window.opera.version():agt.substring(i);iVer = parseInt(ver);fVer = parseFloat(ver);fMinorVer = fVer - iVer;bWin = (agt.indexOf('win') != -1);bWinXp = (bWin && (agt.indexOf('windows nt 5.1') != -1));bVista = (bWin && (agt.indexOf('windows nt 6.0') != -1));bXpSp2 = (bWinXp && (agt.indexOf('sv1') != -1));bMac = (agt.indexOf('mac') != -1);bMacppc = (bMac && ((agt.indexOf('ppc') != -1) || (agt.indexOf('powerpc') != -1)));bMactel = (bMac && (agt.indexOf('intel') != -1));}}this.init();return this;}var oCl = ifr.browserDetect();if (oCl.bFirefox) { ifr.init(1); } ifr.addLoadEvent = function(func) { var oldonload = window.onload;if (typeof window.onload != 'function') {window.onload = func;}else {window.onload = function() {if (oldonload) {oldonload();}func();}}};ifr.addLoadEvent( function() { ifr.init(2); } ); ifr.init = function(callerId) {var lastInitCall = '';var bSafari = oCl.bSafari;var bFirefox = oCl.bFirefox;var iVer = oCl.iVer;var bWin = oCl.bWin;var cTime = new Date().getTime();if (!window.bError) {var el = new Date().getSeconds();var lt = (el - window.bl);}if (typeof(clientErrorLog) !== 'undefined') {if (lt > clientErrorThresholdTime) {ifr.process(lt);}}if (((callerId !== 2) && (lastInitCall !== '') && ((cTime-lastInitCall) < 2000)) || (bSafari && (callerId == 1))) {return;}lastInitCall = cTime;document.onclick = function(e) { e = (e) ? 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[RivNut]

No such animal as a "baby Gran Sport." Somewhere along the way, that name was given to the Gran Sports that came with the smaller emblems.

KW would be a '64 engine as he describes, but there's no way the engine code would match the VIN - Period.

If you were even considering this project, I'd ask for photos of the VIN cowl tag and the engine serial code. They won't match if this is a KW motor.

Caveat Emptor

Ed

[Guest carlbraun]

No such animal as a "baby Gran Sport." Somewhere along the way, that name was given to the Gran Sports that came with the smaller emblems.

KW would be a '64 engine as he describes, but there's no way the engine code would match the VIN - Period.

If you were even considering this project, I'd ask for photos of the VIN cowl tag and the engine serial code. They won't match if this is a KW motor.

Caveat Emptor

Ed

Ed

You're right.

what concerns me is the possibility that someone has taken the VIN and motor from a 64 to make this project work.

Not considering the car even though I dig the color.

Also, there was a car that was VERY similar to this one that recently showed up on Craigslist Indianapolis...I wonder if its the same car?

[lrlforfun]

OK Riviera People: I'm thinking this is a legit GS that had the original 425 blow up and was replaced by a 64. Hey, as long as it runs strong what's the problem. As we all know already the 425 was not that great a Nailhead. They fell apart in the 70's when they got over 100 and were usually replaced with a 64, 65 or 66 401/425 of which at the time were in abundance in wrecking yards.

This car will never be a high quality car because it's a beater to start with. Well, maybe if one was to spend an enormous amount of $$$$ it could be real nice but I don't see it going there. By the way, this is the kind of edgy stuff that I love. Mitch

[1965rivgs]

No such animal as a "baby" Gran Sport?? I dont get the point? As stated, a "baby" Gran Sport is an early GS with the first edition "baby" or smaller Gran Sport emblems?? Is the point that Buick never called the early cars "baby"?? :confused:

Tom Mooney

[Guest carlbraun]

guys

I just received a message from the seller of this Riviera. He clarifies the situation by saying the "5KW" on the data plate matched the "KW" on the engine block. An honest mistake.

That being said; an original turquoise mist GS with custom black interior is a pretty nice score...especially with the dual quad set up and all of the new items too.

I'll be watching the auction to where this one lands.

[1965rivgs]

Wonder what it looked like before he started the body work? Right side in primer, rear end panel replaced and no bumpers in sight...Looks like the hold down bracket for the rad is missing. I`ve seen this color combo with a factory black vinyl top, very striking in pristine condition.

Tom

[RivNut]

On a '65 data plate, a W would indicate that the windshield only is tinted, and the 5K would indicate door edge guards would be installed. However, the W is part of group 1, and the K is part of group 5. The W would be one of the first options listed (part of group 1) and the 5K would be one of the last options listed (group 5) I don't see how the 5KW could be listed sequentially on the data plate.

Ed

[mt65riv]

13 hours to go and still at $2550... that's a good deal for what you get. How much more will it go?

[Guest Rob J]

Reserve not met, so it doesn't count.

[Guest carlbraun]

On a '65 data plate, a W would indicate that the windshield only is tinted, and the 5K would indicate door edge guards would be installed. However, the W is part of group 1, and the K is part of group 5. The W would be one of the first options listed (part of group 1) and the 5K would be one of the last options listed (group 5) I don't see how the 5KW could be listed sequentially on the data plate.

Ed

Ed

I believe the 5KW would be a designator for a combination of two options within the same group. So, rather than GM listing a 5K and a 5W individually they combine into a code of 5KW (retractable seat belts and door edge guards)

carl

[Guest carlbraun]

Ed

There is a 5K and a 5W and a 5Z option too so rather than GM stamping the "5" over and over again they just combine the two suffixes with the single prefix...kinda like the new math...5A + 5B = 5AB

[Guest onedesertdog]

My 65 says 5KW in sequence on the plate.

Actually, I've been wanting someone to decode the plate for me for a while now.

Maybe in another thread...

[Guest carlbraun]

DD

Its real easy and fun too!!!

Here is the page that lets u decode the whole data plate

Riviera Owners Association - Options and Number Plate

Let us know if you cant figure out a specific code.

heres the page for the paint http://rivowners.org/features/Ev_Stats/colortrim/63-65.html

oh, and by the way, if you like RC cars how about RC locomotives...the REAL ones...thats what I do...check it out at www.cattron.com

Edited November 19, 2011 by carlbraun (see edit history)

[Guest onedesertdog]

Thanks for the info, and THAT's some big time R/C fun right there.

[mt65riv]

Wow, it didn't budge. Who cares if it's not a real GS. Standard Rivs with those pieces are still worth more than $2550 aren't they?

Looks like a good start on a decent build - maybe not a numbers resto - but a cool car. The market has calmed down a ton. Kinda like real estate. Some price correction in the collector market?

Wonder what the reserve was?

Carl, my brother drives for BNSF and does the hand-off when in PDX.