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Value of 1965 Riviera


Guest osunset

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I'm new to this forum and am considering purchasing a 1965 Riviera in great condition with original 455 Wildcat engine and transmission with only 23,500 miles...cant confirm if the odo rolled over or not, but based on the condition of the interior and exterior of the vehicle it appears to be low miles. I'm curious as to the value...any ideas? Here are a few pics:

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your correct about the engine...it came as standard on the '65 as a 401 nailhead...the "wildcat 445" label indicated torque foot pounds rather than displacement..kinda confusing...

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The '65s definitely command a premium, perhaps as much as 20%. I have two '63s for sale at about $23,000, and sold a gorgeous '65 two years ago for about $32,000. I have an all-original '65 coming in shortly that I will probably price at $29,900. Prices on these are definitely on the move and I put these cars on my short list of cars that will be worth more in five years than they are today. They aren't going to rocket you to riches, but you can buy one today, enjoy it for a few years, and probably make a few bucks on it when the time comes to sell. They are not $12,000 beaters anymore. Everyone has been predicting a big rise for these cars and this might be the beginning of it, or perhaps it's just going to be a modest appreciation, but they're definitely moving up. This is in stark contrast to 90% of the market which is stagnant.

This is the 1965 I sold for $32,000-ish a few years ago:

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These are the two 1963s I have for sale:

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Great cars and if you can get that one for $27-30,000, I think you'll do OK.

Hope this helps.

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Mr. 58Mustang is right about the engine. For whatever reason,

the "Wildcat 445" engine was named, like some other Buick engines,

after its torque output of 445 foot-pounds. It was 401 cubic inches,

produced 325 (gross) horsepower, required premium fuel, and was

the standard engine that year for the Riviera.

If anyone is thinking that the odometer's low-mileage reading justifies

a higher price, I would ask for documentation of the mileage: years

of past repair records, etc. When cars are totally restored, owners

sometimes set the odometer back to zero. Someone dishonest could

also have set the odometer back.

According to the Old Cars Report Price Guide, widely used in the hobby,

#1 condition is listed as $33,000; #2 as $23,100; #3 as $14,850.

The scale goes all the way down to #6.

Condition #1 is a perfect trailered show car, a national award winner.

#6 means good only for disassembly for parts.

You may know these conditions, so I'll spare the explanation unless

you want more information.

There are on-line price guides at Hagerty (antique-car insurance co.)

and at NADA (www.nada.com). According to NADA's printed book,

their prices are for ORIGINAL (unrestored) cars, and their prices are about

the highest you would see in the several guides available.

Even though I think it's a buyer's market for many cars, it might not surprise me

if the owner is asking well above what a car is worth.

Edited by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)
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I'm considering a trade for a 1967 project car that is completely dissassembled and 90% complete (minus exhaust and some interior parts) It is a PHS documented sport coupe with numbers matching 400 engine a turbo 400 tranny with factory A/C. The engine was completely overhauled in 2010. It has its share of rust in the quarters and floor boards, but is certainly restorable...I placed my GTO value at 15k plus....wondering if I should proceed....

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