My 10 Favorite Cars- #10: 1963-65 Buick Riviera

People know that I love cars, but which cars do I love?   Frankly, I find low-end, cheap, and poorly engineered cars lovable to some degree (because they're still cars), but they're not endearing.  They do what they do just fine (as my old State-issued work car, a 1995 Chevy Corsica LS can attribute), which is endearing in its own way, but there's nothing about them that just makes you smile.   The following cars possess that special something (for me, at least), that make them special to me.  

10.  1963-65 Buick Riviera - Conceived as the American answer to the Bentley Continental, Buick touted the Riviera as "personal luxury".   A large, low, and tasteful two-door, it forgoes the common chrome warts common on American cars from the period, and the result is a timeless, a tasteful, classic, and European-styled coupe that still turns heads.   The Riviera was unique, and did not share its platform with any other GM product (also known as badge engineering).  It came with Buick's legendary "Wildcat" V-8 with 325-360  horsepower (depending on year and trim, as 1964 and '65 models got 340hp, and the same years' "Super Wildcat" models had 360) , and was considered quite light in it's day.   This led to quite respectable performance, though the fuel economy was low-teens.

With optional leather trim, four place seating (buckets in the back rather than a bench), and power everything, luxury was certainly part of the equation.

As is the case with most American icons, as the 1970's neared, the car became heavier, larger, uglier, and choked by emissions equipment.  These early models show the finest of the nameplate, and as such, are the most collectible.   That aside, I find the 1963-65 Buick Riviera to be one of the most restrained, classic, and lasting car designs from our country, and the fact that it is mechanically competent is icing on the cake.