The 1963 Buick Riviera was one of the coolest cars of its time. This sharp-looking car brought a visual appeal from every angle, giving us a car to remember.

Strangely, the early versions of the Riviera were designed to be exclusive, with only 40,000 production units in its first year. This paled in comparison to the total number of Riviera models sold overall, which totaled more than 440,000. The Riviera was one of Bill Mitchell’s greatest creations. If you know anything about Mitchell, you know he loved to create over-the-top cars that were extremely attractive and inspiring.

What was Bill Mitchell thinking with the Riviera?

Can you combine the formality and sharp edges of a Rolls-Royce with the aggressive stance and sporty nature of a Ferrari? Mitchell thought so, and that’s where the Riviera came from. This amazing Buick became one of the most incredible styling triumphs of the midcentury when various styling attempts gave us some cars that weren’t nearly as appealing as the Riviera.

The 1963 Buick Riviera was extremely successful and attractive. So much so that it became the styling signature of the era, when the Lincoln Continental Mark II would have been an obvious choice. The Riviera presented itself as a strong contender with its massive egg-crate grille, pontoon fenders, neatly creased formal rear quarters, and luxurious interior elements.

This amazing Buick was so good that it took over the top spot in the segment, which had previously been occupied by the Ford Thunderbird for the previous five years.

The next model was a little different

By the 1964 model year, the Riviera had found a place of its own. This car no longer wore the Buick badging; instead, it used a stylized R, which represented the car’s name instead of the brand. This car has a look that was unique at the time, adding tastefulness to the market by leaving the fins behind in favor of a more contemporary look.

This car was easily one of the classiest models of the time, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a car that would last forever, at least in the minds of many drivers.

The right proportions for most drivers

The 1963 Buick Riviera was easily one of the most well-crafted and perfectly proportioned American cars of the past six decades. This car was admired by many famous car designers, which says a lot about this amazing Bill Mitchell creation. These early Rivieras still have active owner groups that love to show off their classic Buick cars.

The early Riviera was easy to drive, giving owners a solid, comfortable car to enjoy out on the road. This car was made to be appreciated by true car lovers and will always be a car that’s admired by those who truly understand its significance.

What powered this early Buick?

The earliest years of the Riviera used two big-block V8 engines to give this car plenty of power for a great drive. The 6.6-liter V8 produced 325 horsepower and 445 lb-ft, and the 7.0-liter V8 engine delivered between 340 and 360 horsepower and up to 465 lb-ft o torque. This power was sent to the rear wheels through a two or three-speed automatic transmission.

The front suspension provided a set of control arms and coil springs, while the rear featured a live axle and set of coil springs. Braking was handled by a set of drum-style brakes, which was pretty standard for the time.

Luxury elements made the Riviera comfortable

Most versions of the 1963 Buick Riviera featured leather or vinyl-covered seats in the front and rear, giving this car a smooth and comfortable interior look. Some of the luxury elements found in this car were:

• Power windows
• AM/FM radio
• Power driver’s seat
• Cornering lights
• Deluxe walnut interior trim
• Soft Ray tinted glass
• Dual exhaust ports

The early Riviera was a large coupe with ample room for passengers to enter the rear seat while all the gear and luggage rode in the trunk. This car was built on the GM E-body platform, giving it a solid build that delivers the style, size, performance, and qualities many drivers admire.

The 1963 Buick Riviera is a classic beauty with incredible features that we admire to this day. Many models still in existence have been restored, rebuilt, and improved to make it easy for them to show off the classic style and elegance that’s part of Buick’s driving history. This early Riviera will continue to be a standard of the times and an incredibly historic and well-loved car.