My Dads 63 Riviera was jet black, Silver leather 2+2 with every option available in 63. It had the “465 Wildcat” motor (torque of course, not cubic inches) dual quads, train horns, everything. It’s downfall was the two speed turbo transmission. I bet it crapped the bed three times during my dads years of ownership. It was Marine Corps clean and maintained like a mistress. My dad was literally off on a business trip, trans went out with my mom driving, and she got a cab home and told the towing company to keep the car for the towing bill. My dad got home a week later, and literally all hell broke loose. He had AAA and full coverage, but my mom signed the title over to the tow company, and the deal was done. My dad drove Mercedes for the rest of his days, but still lamented over that Riviera every year on his birthday and any other day it came to his mind. It remained a serious bone of contention, similar to the Leg Lamp in a Christmas Story, to this day. I hope and pray I can strike a deal to get it back, even if I just drive it by my parents house, on the rollback, so he can see it one more time. He’s so old and rickety now, that would do him well, knowing it was in my hands. I loved that Black Beauty as much as he did, and thought it my duty to keep it washed and spotless.
Here’s the Skinny on how my dad finally found out about me crashing his Riviera.
When he got the first copy of the book and started reading it, he called me a few days after he started reading. He was laughing his ass off...and the book is how he found out the truth about his prized Black 63 Riviera with Silver (yes Silver) Leather interior and every option available by GM via Buick. Yep...he found out nearly 40 years later.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
Stock Riv road test
Hybrid Mode
