Buick Riviera. 1963–5 (prod. 112,244 sold). 2-door coupé. F/R, 401, 425 in³ (V8 OHV). Buick introduced a personal-luxury car to revive its flagging sales, challenging the Ford Thunderbird (1961–3). Very elegant, with a slight Coke-bottle line at rear, and largely unadorned, with no sheetmetal shared with any other GM products. Double wishbones at front, live axle with trailing arms at rear, but designed to minimize roll, and slightly firmer than comparable American cars. Good balance between ride and handling for the segment. Gran Sport option in 1965, with larger V8.

Manufacturing locations: Flint, Michigan, USA; Linden, New Jersey, USA

Marque: Buick | Model: Buick Riviera | Successor: Buick Riviera (1966–70)