A9, H2 and Q5 option prices in 1965

[65VerdeGS]

I see varying prices listed for 1965 options such as A9 - Gran Sport Performance Group, H2 - Ride and Handling option, and Q5 - Power Seat 4-Way Tilt Adjuster.

 

For example, the ROA website quotes the price of A9 at $306.38, H2 at $10.45, and Q5 at $88.97.

 

However, a copy of an original window sticker from a late production '65 Gran Sport lists the cost of A9 at $299.96, H2 at $36.64, and Q5 at 69.46.  The window sticker was for a GS sold brand new on August 11, 1965.

 

I must assume the original window sticker prices to be the ones valid throughout the '65 model year.  Or, did prices for some options change during the 1965 model year?

[RivNut]

August 11, 1965 is almost into the 1966 production year.  Perhaps the prices were cut so that the car could be moved out before the '66 cars appeared.

 

This price list comes from the automotive milepost website but I might not put too much faith into it.  They show pictures of things like '64 cast aluminum wheel covers and call them the
"chrome plated wheels." and for 1963, they show a door panel with no wood on it and no escutcheon around the joystick for the remote mirror.  They also list a white vinyl top but it has the same code as a black top.  ????

 

See how these compare to the prices on the ROA website.

 

RPO/CODE GROUP/OPTION/(RETAIL PRICE)

W17 A9 Gran Sport Performance Group ($306.38)

--- -- "Wildcat 465" V-8 Engine—340 Horsepower ($48)

--- -- "Super Wildcat" V-8 Engine—360 Horsepower ($188)

U63 D1 Sonomatic Radio with Manual Antenna (Researching price)

U64 D2 Sonomatic Radio with Electric Antenna ($116.42)

U69 AM/FM Pushbutton Radio with Manual Antenna (Researching price)

AM/FM Pushbutton Radio with Electric Antenna (Researching price)

U80 E6 Rear Seat Speaker ($17.20)

P26 F1 Whitewall Tires ($43.32)

W19 H2 Ride and Handling Including Modified Steering and Suspension ($37.63)

C60 I6 Air Conditioning ($430)

A49 J1 Two Custom Front Seat Belts with Retractors ($7.53)

A47 -- Two Custom Rear Seat Belts ($12.95)

A01 L1 Soft-Ray Tinted Glass ($43.00)

D05 N2 Four-Note Horn ($27.95)

B93 O4 Door Guards ($4.09)

D33 O5 Remote Outside Mirror ($11.93)

Y54 P1 Carpet Savers and Handy Mats ($12.93)

A46 Q5 4-Way Power Drivers Seat ($70.95)

A31 R1 Power Windows ($107.50)

P05 V2 Chrome Plated Wheels ($91.38)

N30 X1 Custom Steering Wheel ($53.75)

C50 -- Rear Window Defogger

--- -- Ribbed Rocker Panel Molding ($26.88)

C08 -- Black Vinyl Roof ($110)

C08 -- White Vinyl Roof ($110)

--- -- Cruise Control ($56.98)

N37 -- Tilt Steering Wheel (Standard on Riviera)

--- -- Power Vent Windows ($53.75)

--- -- Guide-Matic Headlight Control ($43)

--- -- Air Conditioning Modification Delete ($18.28 credit)

A62 -- Seat Belt Delete ($11.00 credit)

C48 -- Heater/Defroster Delete ($98.00 credit)

K24 -- Closed Positive Engine Ventilation ($5.40)

P02 -- Simulated Wire Wheel Covers ($75.35)

--- -- Wonderbar Radio Foot Control Switch ($3.00)

A50 ** Custom Trim Bucket Seats - Vinyl, and Rocker Molding ($166.63)

--- -- Custom Trim Bucket Seats - Beaumonde Cloth ($96.75)

 

 

[Rivdrivn]

[Pat Curran]

It is not unusual for prices to be modified during a model year either up or down.  

[1965rivgs]

Hi Alex,

  Can you post a copy of the GS window sticker which you referenced?

  Tom

[65VerdeGS]

22 hours ago, Rivdrivn said:

Hi Steve,

 

This looks like a reproduction window sticker.  Did Mike Tromm create it for you?

 

An anomaly in your sticker is that Option J1  - TWO CUSTOM SEAT BELTS-WITH RETRACTORS is listed.  However, we know that the front seat belts with retractors were included in Option A50 ** CUSTOM TRIM BUCKET SEATS.  Why would the factory charge the purchaser twice for the same thing?  

 

Here's a copy of an original '65 Gran Sport window sticker:

 

This copy was sent to me many years ago by Leonard Scott, former ROA '63-65 Technical Advisor.   He purchased his Gran Sport brand new, on August 11, 1965.  See the note at the bottom of the window sticker citing "Reduced Excise Tax Rate effective June 22, 1965".    Option J1 is included on this sticker because Leonard's car had the Standard, no extra charge interior.  Also, Leonard's car was optioned with W5 - Rocker Panel Moulding.  If he had purchased the optional Custom Trim option then both J1 and W5 would have been included in its $163.14 price.

 

Back to my original question, did the factory prices for Options such as A9, H2, Q5, and the Custom Trim Interior vary depending on when the car was purchased during the 1965 model year?

 

 

[65VerdeGS]

Hi Tom,

 

Do you have samples of original window stickers to compare?  

 

It seems the base price for the car also varied, depending on when the car was sold during the model year.

 

For example, the base price printed on Len Scott's window sticker is $4,318.  Winston (aka Seafoam)'s car (non GS) window sticker says $4,408.  His car appears to have been built fairly close to the same time that mine was (01C - 3rd week of January 1965), going by his car's the Body Number, which is 88412 vs. 95616 for mine.  The ROA cites $4,318 as the base price for the '65 Riviera, before options or the "destination charge".  

 

So, this appears to confirm that the base price, and perhaps option prices too, were not fixed throughout the model year.  I wonder why the prices would vary?  Did they lower the base price towards the end of the '65 model year to help "move them out" and make room for the 1966's?

 

This arcane stuff is of no interest to the average rational person.  But to us Riv aficionados, it's gold!

 

[RivNut]

17 minutes ago, 65VerdeGS said:

 

 

This arcane stuff is of no interest to the average rational person.  But to us Riv aficionados, it's gold!

 

Perhaps it's time to get off the gold standard. The United States did in 1973.  ?