I prefer the production version. The '66-'67 Riviera styling is spectacular. Even the Riviera script nameplate on the '67 is a work of art. This design has aged extremely well. Still looks spectacular today.
The mid-60’s to early-70’s were the golden age of Buick. To this day, I believe the ‘65 Riviera to be one of the all-time beauties. And even back in ‘61, the Invicta looked bold and energetic while the most of the American sedan offerings were downright insipid by comparison. And even back in the day, l especially liked the boat tails … And why not? The second generation Corvette still stirs me to this day !!
My uncle was part of the design team on this model. He, of course, got a brand new one. Nice car!! Last I knew, my cousin had it, probably still does.I hope 😊
I actually like them both. It just shows how talented the designers at Buick were at that time. However, in my humble opinion, the '66 and '67 Rivieras are the most beautiful production autos ever made!
My vote also goes to the production model over the clay. Your videos are great - I don't know how we made it before you started making them and always look forward to viewing them. I also appreciate the research you do for the videos, they're obviously not just "thrown" together! I don't know what the proposed "smaller" boattail Rivera would've looked like but I've personally always thought it looked great on the full sized frame and I was VERY enamored with them when they came out in '71 - not so much my father unfortunately. My absolute favorite Rivera is the '71 -'72 boattail - if ever I win the lottery, among the cars I'll be searching for is a '72 Rivera GS with buckets.
Loved this style. I had a '67, with, what I understand had the rare "standard" interior, but with the buckets and console. The 430 put out massive torque.
I wanted to be a car designer / stylist from age 10 through 20, and I greatly enjoy your design history videos ! -- On the clay proposal, from 4:28, I really like the extra feature lines - they make the car more slender and elegant, and I think they would have earned themselves back, in some extra sales :--)
I was 14 and a hopeless car nut already when these were introduced. GM was in the midst of a huge strike so they were few and far between until mid winter. I remember visiting a Buick dealer in Chicago in September, 1970. The had a 1970 and a 1971 Riviera in the same showroom. I loved the 1966-1970 Riviera’s but I have to say, there was nothing else like the 1971 and I was in love.
I remember seeing the 71-73 Rivieras as a kid in the early/mid 70s and loved them then, and still do. I love all the first three generations of Rivieras, though the first gen, and 65 specifically, is my favorite.
A very informative review... Thanks Adam! The '66-'67 Riviera is probably our favorite GM car ever, from a design standpoint. There is no weak view point, it looks pleasing and balanced to our eyes from any angle. We see what looks like a slight difference between the '71 vs. '73 boat tail treatment, as if they slightly toned it down... flattened it out at the rear. Perhaps this was a transitional phase-in, for the major changes coming the following year to accommodate those big nasty Malaise Era bumpers...
Thank you Adam. That design concept Riviera is great looking. I think they went back and used these themes for the 1971 Riviera. In the end they got rid of the boat tail. Thank you for explaining your attention to detail and sharing how things changed to production. They all had wire wheels in later years. You are right about the final production Riviera. I think the 1995 would have looked better with an update version of the 1966 styling.
My Uncle Howard, by maternal marriage, owned a Maroon and Black '67 Riviera GS. He was a seargent in the Army during Vietnam. I remember drooling over his 2 year old car when I was 5 in '69. He'd driven it from Maryland to Dallas,TX to propse to my Aunt Mary, who owned a Granada Gold and Black '67 Camaro. They met at a party, while he was on leave, visiting buddies in Dallas in '68. His had no vinyl top. Black vinyl buckets and headrests with floor shift console interior. I distinctly remember him allowing me to sit on the console and move that horse shoe shifter into gear. Then Id move to my aunts lap. Naturally it had seat belts, but no one used them. Additionally, his Rivi had a tape player. It fascinated me to no end that instead of a record, he inserted the cartridge and music came out both the front and rear if the car. In '68, when Aunt Mary and Uncle Howard began dating, my Mother had a Crocus Yellow with Black bucket seat, 110 engined, '65 Corvair Monza Sport Sedan. The following year she bought a '69 Grand Prix Model J...Wonderful memories 😁
The Buick division of GM always allowed their designers to go wild. Once in awhile they hit a sour note, but usually their cars were very contemporary and futuristic.
I definitely like the production version much better. While I loved the 1st generation, especially the 65 that my parents bought when I was a kid, I really love the 66 to 69 designs the best. The 71 was, in my opinion, a design masterpiece. My parents didn't like the radical design, so they went with the Lincoln Marks. Thanks for these excellent tutorials!
Can't tell you how much I appreciate your channel. I've been drawing cars since the late fifties, dreaming of designing transportation. I agree, timing and design of 66 Riv', is pretty close to perfect. I do prefer the clay's treatment of the tail lights above the production and I would have the forward door opening edge curved forward into the front fender. The Pontiac GP, for this Pontiac fanboy, was almost overdone, so my thinking lends to, the designers just threw as many small proposals on one. 'GM gots the look, yeah. GM's got the style! The style that gets look, yeah!" 🏁💯👍🏾
Production for sure. At 11 years old I thought the 67's were the ultimate designs across all of the Big Three. Nobody mentions how disgusted every car nut was with the 68 and 69 models as the side marker lights looked awkward initially. The Charger overcame that in the 68 model, as it was one of the best of that year to us young guys.
I like the production version. The production version has a more simpler design with the perfect touches of smoothness and angles. The 1966 & 1967 models, along with the first gen, had a more muscular exterior design. The updated 1968 model was when the Riviera started to look more like a personal luxury car before the exterior became more luxurious in 1970. The 1971-1973 boattail had an exterior design of a sporty luxury touring coupe.
Adam, your 67 Riv is my favorite as far as sheer elegance and class from Buick. The design study has nice features but does not flow together as the production model does. Happy Holidays!
The front bumper extending under the front fender as shown on the clay model looks like one seamless piece. It looks much better than the 2-piece production car. Perhaps the one piece bumper on the clay model could not be reproduced on the assembly line?
My most favourite vehicle ever, the boatail Riv. Close second the 63 split window corvette. I wanted to buy a riv and bring it back to Australia for a full restoration when I retired as I have the level of skills needed, then this Covid crap came and ruined everything. As I am now 70, and the cost of shipping is criminallly expensive now, looks like I can only dream of what could have been. I saw a nice white boatail at Martin Customs in TX on our last trip before Covid. They had it for a TV customer project. I happen to like the front exposed lights on the boatail over your car, despite yours being in near perfect condition.
Thanks, for the video. I love your channel and videos and discussions on design. As a teenager I wanted to be an auto designer/stylist, but I knew up in New Orleans and not Detroit. However I would hang out at a nearby Buick dealer. Buick is still my favorite current GM/domestic brand. I thought the 65 Riviera was the best of the 1st. generation, but I loved the second generation the best, especially the 66-68 versions. Thanks, again!
I do like the Clay model and never knew they were trying a boattail on the 66 Riviera, but the production model I really do like more than the clay model too
Good video. (BTW your Riviera is stunning!) I wasn't a fan of the boattail Riv when they were introduced, especially after the gorgeous, clean-looking, and IMHO, perfect '66-'67 models. But I have grown to appreciate them (although I can't remember the last time I saw one).
Buick and Bill got it right for '66 and perfected on that for '67. That design proposal was good, but the production hit the target. The boattail exterior design is distinctive, if a bit ungainly. The front end is ok. Perhaps hidden headlights would have helped. Overall the interiors copy the '69-'72 Grand Prix "Command Seat" theme, yet remain unique. Still searching for a '67. Interestingly, I keep finding '66's/non bucket seat w/console shift '67's. Great video.
As an 7 year-old, the first car I ever drove was a ‘66 Buick Wild Cat Hard Top in 1968. Thanks Grandpa! Best car I’ve ever driven including several W123 Mercedes and W116’s. But hey, 7 years-old behind the wheel of a Nail Head V-8? How do you top that?
"Bil Mitchel was "enameled" with it's styling". I think it was more acrylic enamel by '71, but I'm not sure. Had a '71, among other earlier Buicks. Sharp as hell, but by that year the interiors suffered, among other thing discussed by this channel regarding GM's full sized failings. Mine was mauve. A pinkish-brown. No vinyl top and standard wheel covers. Very handsome!!!
Adam, Whether it was a Freudian slip or not, I agree with your assertion 1:29 that GM's Styling Vice-President Bill Mitchell should have been "enameled" along with his boat tails.😉🤣 The sales figures clearly show, three years of boat tail Rivieras were three years too many. 😂
I remember seeing the sneak pics of the 71 Riviera as a 14 year old car nerd and thought, "horrible". While not as harsh a critic today, it's just not good. My first impression of the rendering of the 66 proposal was, "That's an Oldsmobile!" Perhaps others at Buick felt the same.
The FWD 66-70 Toronado and 67-70 El Dorado were longitudinal designs. Unsure if these 3 models shared the same platform from 71-79, but these FWD models remained longitudinal until 1985.
I'd like to see more angles of the clay model before I would say up or down versus a '66. I feel confident that the awkward shaped rear glass wouldn't have been 'final' for a '66 boat tail. I think they were trying to see what a fast back '65 would have looked like and find the right progression the design should take.
Of course, before the 71-73 Riviera, there was the original GM boattail, the 63 split rear window Corvette. The boattail worked perfectly on a car of that size, but was way out of proportion on a car the size of the Riviera.
The clay model has some beautiful elements. Particularly the back end (not necessarily the boat tail, just the more pointed tail.) I can’t argue that the production model is lacking though. It’s a very good looking car. How many cars do you have? You must go through a lot of wax with all that surface area!
The sail panel of the proposal almost matches the 63-65. Just saying there might have been a continuity of a design feature desired for the 66 that may or may have had some influence with the back window shape that flowed into a very blunted boat tail.
I agree with you to an extent. I think they were looking to turn the 1st generation into a fastback for the 2nd generation. This model, I believe, they were considering the 'easy' fix of rear glass to extend the roofline back in a similar fashion to that Barracuda or the '80s Monte Carlo SS and Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 and not so much a boat tail.
It's hard to imagine anything improving the production design. One of those rare moments when they absolutely do get every detail right. And this comes from the owner of a '66 Toronado. While I consider the Toronado to be by far the more interesting of the two, when considering appearance only the Riv wins hands-down. As to the Eldorado, did you know it was planned for that car to have a V12 engine in it? I've been told that is one reason why the hoods on those cars are so long. But I sort of doubt that, since even the Olds/Cadillac V8's do a pretty good job of filling the engine bay. But the V12's DID exist, they just didn't make it to production.
The only thing I would have hoped to carry over from the clay model was that lower body line just behind the front passenger's wheel that dropped more considerably on the clay model. I think it would have really worked well with the more rounded quarter panel of the production model
I am curious if any of the automakers have actually studied if the loss of fuel milage would be recoverable through sales when designing a car that has the quality of style demonstrated in this and so many other of your videos? Btw. I’m 67 years old and was considered a little off (according to my friends at the time) when I felt these cars were designed to be classic beauties from the time they came out.
I'd vote along with the rest of the group for the production version. Adam, why not edit in a few photos of the gorgeous "A body" proposal....Mitchel's original choice for the '71.....management should have trusted his judgement.
Buick General Manager Lee Mays did not get along with Bill Mitchell. He stated emphatically after viewing the smaller proposal that there would be no "small" Riviera on his watch. They blew it up and applied the design to the new E body and as Mitchell was later quoted, "They turned a speed boat into a tug boat."
I really like the side windows, blending perfectly into the rear window on the clay model prototype. The radius continues from the back of the side rear window all the way to the rear window. It’s so smooth looking all arcs continue.
To me, the clay model looked like they wanted to keep the "C" pillar style from the 1st gen Riviera while having a fastback roof. I don't see much of the Boattail style. The "W" shaped pointed front and rear was already the theme on '65 B body Buicks and other 1964-65 models in more toned down form. The production 1966 Riviera ended having a more pronounced "W" shape at the back than the clay model had. Buick kept showing that theme on B bodies in 1967-68 and on the Riviera up to 1969. Mid size cars had the V shape rear end in 1968-69 but they went back to a W rear end in 1970-72. The emblem placement on the prototype seems to have been seriously considered for the production '67 model. The body manual for '67 shows Riviera and GS emblems on the rear quarter. That probably explains why the GS models have a code on their body tag for most of the 1967 model year (which would have required assembly at the Euclid body plant in that location). That code was deleted somewhere in April of 1967 and not documented like other option codes. It's not present on the 1966 models either.
Adam, you don’t know why Buick Division changed the 71-72 dashboard, do you??? I loved the right side curve of the 71-72 dashboard. I love the 71-72 Rivera the best but I do like your 66 as well.
A Unique Car in the 1970's, but it was a tribute to the Boat Tail Cars of the 30's, as U said...The '66 Riviera definitely was going to have a Boat Tail, but they waited until '71, eh Adam🤔🤲
I think the production 66 & 67 Riverias are one of the best designs that came out of GM in the 60s. I disagree that the clay model depicted a boattail design. It was more of a fastback design with a crease feature running down the center of the glass and decklid. The contoured surface curving from the C-pillars, backlight and decklid do not form a point at the center near the rear bumper as a boattail would, but flatten out and follow the outside shape of the "W" design of the rear end. The back end at the bumper is more square than pointed, like the Baracudda you showed. In the 80s, GM produced a small number of fastback Gran Prixs with a similar design. These where hatchbacks, and their rear (and front) styling were developed for better aerodynamics for NASCAR deployment. GM had to produce a minimum number of these for the public to qualify them for racing.
I actually think the production model is more attractive than the clay version. Thanks for all the info you provide, it’s interesting and fun too. 🤓👍
100% Agree!
Not only is the production design better, it is also perhaps your most beautiful car.
I prefer the production version. The '66-'67 Riviera styling is spectacular. Even the Riviera script nameplate on the '67 is a work of art. This design has aged extremely well. Still looks spectacular today.
The mid-60’s to early-70’s were the golden age of Buick.
To this day, I believe the ‘65 Riviera to be one of the all-time beauties.
And even back in ‘61, the Invicta looked bold and energetic while the most of the American sedan offerings were downright insipid by comparison.
And even back in the day, l especially liked the boat tails … And why not? The second generation Corvette still stirs me to this day !!
Kinda looked like 73-77 LeMans too😮
I'm with you on the 65 Riviera for sure.
How hard would it have been to do the production version of that rear glass?.That might enter into it too.
I've owned three boattails in my life, including a '73 GS Stage 1(What a car... I really miss that one)!!!!
The 1966-67 Rivieras were the best looking of them all. Give me the nailhead of the 1966.
My uncle was part of the design team on this model. He, of course, got a brand new one. Nice car!! Last I knew, my cousin had it, probably still does.I hope 😊
The side profile of the model is drop dead gorgeous!
I actually like them both. It just shows how talented the designers at Buick were at that time. However, in my humble opinion, the '66 and '67 Rivieras are the most beautiful production autos ever made!
The production version gets my vote over the boat tail clay. Thanks, Adam.
My vote also goes to the production model over the clay. Your videos are great - I don't know how we made it before you started making them and always look forward to viewing them. I also appreciate the research you do for the videos, they're obviously not just "thrown" together! I don't know what the proposed "smaller" boattail Rivera would've looked like but I've personally always thought it looked great on the full sized frame and I was VERY enamored with them when they came out in '71 - not so much my father unfortunately. My absolute favorite Rivera is the '71 -'72 boattail - if ever I win the lottery, among the cars I'll be searching for is a '72 Rivera GS with buckets.
Much better.
Production version, particularly the best hidden headlights ever.
1960's was the best decade for car body design's...metal beautifully molded to rolling art on wheels
Production model without a doubt. And the Black....Beautiful !
Love the channel and your devotion to 60's and 70's cars!
The 66 production car was better than the proposed form but your 67 is even more attractive to me.
Beautiful car!
Loved this style. I had a '67, with, what I understand had the rare "standard" interior, but with the buckets and console. The 430 put out massive torque.
I wanted to be a car designer / stylist from age 10 through 20, and I greatly enjoy your design history videos ! -- On the clay proposal, from 4:28, I really like the extra feature lines - they make the car more slender and elegant, and I think they would have earned themselves back, in some extra sales :--)
I agree as an owner of 1966 Riviera GS.. I think the production version is one of the most beautful lines ever created
That 3/4 view from the rear where the roof tapers into the body on the production model was my favorite.
We need to see more of that '67 Riviera. Production version all the way.
I like the diving line on the lower section. It flows from the front bumper and fades away.
I was 14 and a hopeless car nut already when these were introduced. GM was in the midst of a huge strike so they were few and far between until mid winter. I remember visiting a Buick dealer in Chicago in September, 1970. The had a 1970 and a 1971 Riviera in the same showroom. I loved the 1966-1970 Riviera’s but I have to say, there was nothing else like the 1971 and I was in love.
I remember seeing the 71-73 Rivieras as a kid in the early/mid 70s and loved them then, and still do. I love all the first three generations of Rivieras, though the first gen, and 65 specifically, is my favorite.
No doubt, to my eye the production version is better looking. That is a fine example you have there. Thanks for the continued content.
I completely agree with you. I owned a 67 Rivvy for a few years and always thought it was gorgeous
Adam, your Riviera presentation is a resounding success. Thank you,
The '65 prototype was beautiful! Ashame never went to production.
A very informative review... Thanks Adam!
The '66-'67 Riviera is probably our favorite GM car ever, from a design standpoint. There is no weak view point, it looks pleasing and balanced to our eyes from any angle.
We see what looks like a slight difference between the '71 vs. '73 boat tail treatment, as if they slightly toned it down... flattened it out at the rear. Perhaps this was a transitional phase-in, for the major changes coming the following year to accommodate those big nasty Malaise Era bumpers...
Thank you Adam. That design concept Riviera is great looking. I think they went back and used these themes for the 1971 Riviera. In the end they got rid of the boat tail. Thank you for explaining your attention to detail and sharing how things changed to production. They all had wire wheels in later years. You are right about the final production Riviera. I think the 1995 would have looked better with an update version of the 1966 styling.
My Uncle Howard, by maternal marriage, owned a Maroon and Black '67 Riviera GS. He was a seargent in the Army during Vietnam. I remember drooling over his 2 year old car when I was 5 in '69. He'd driven it from Maryland to Dallas,TX to propse to my Aunt Mary, who owned a Granada Gold and Black '67 Camaro. They met at a party, while he was on leave, visiting buddies in Dallas in '68.
His had no vinyl top. Black vinyl buckets and headrests with floor shift console interior. I distinctly remember him allowing me to sit on the console and move that horse shoe shifter into gear. Then Id move to my aunts lap. Naturally it had seat belts, but no one used them. Additionally, his Rivi had a tape player. It fascinated me to no end that instead of a record, he inserted the cartridge and music came out both the front and rear if the car. In '68, when Aunt Mary and Uncle Howard began dating, my Mother had a Crocus Yellow with Black bucket seat, 110 engined, '65 Corvair Monza Sport Sedan. The following year she bought a '69 Grand Prix Model J...Wonderful memories 😁
Awesome analysis of the proposed and production designs of the Riv as always….great job!
The Buick division of GM always allowed their designers to go wild. Once in awhile they hit a sour note, but usually their cars were very contemporary and futuristic.
The production version is simply stunning!!! 👍👍🎄☃️
Yours is absolutely stunning. Bravo!
Production for sure! I actually like all production Rivieras, even the boat tail and the "anti" boat tail ones that followed.
I definitely like the production version much better. While I loved the 1st generation, especially the 65 that my parents bought when I was a kid, I really love the 66 to 69 designs the best. The 71 was, in my opinion, a design masterpiece. My parents didn't like the radical design, so they went with the Lincoln Marks. Thanks for these excellent tutorials!
66&7 for me,that front bumper got a little clunky looking in 68-70.
Can't tell you how much I appreciate your channel. I've been drawing cars since the late fifties, dreaming of designing transportation. I agree, timing and design of 66 Riv', is pretty close to perfect. I do prefer the clay's treatment of the tail lights above the production and I would have the forward door opening edge curved forward into the front fender. The Pontiac GP, for this Pontiac fanboy, was almost overdone, so my thinking lends to, the designers just threw as many small proposals on one. 'GM gots the look, yeah. GM's got the style! The style that gets look, yeah!" 🏁💯👍🏾
I own a 67 as well,Buick Plum/white interior console,I love it!I also have hubcaps
I do miss my '71 Riviera.
Production for sure. At 11 years old I thought the 67's were the ultimate designs across all of the Big Three. Nobody mentions how disgusted every car nut was with the 68 and 69 models as the side marker lights looked awkward initially. The Charger overcame that in the 68 model, as it was one of the best of that year to us young guys.
Great video , Adam as always. My pick is the production version vs. the clay mock up prototype.
I like the production version. The production version has a more simpler design with the perfect touches of smoothness and angles. The 1966 & 1967 models, along with the first gen, had a more muscular exterior design. The updated 1968 model was when the Riviera started to look more like a personal luxury car before the exterior became more luxurious in 1970. The 1971-1973 boattail had an exterior design of a sporty luxury touring coupe.
Adam, your 67 Riv is my favorite as far as sheer elegance and class from Buick. The design study has nice features but does not flow together as the production model does. Happy Holidays!
The front bumper extending under the front fender as shown on the clay model looks like one seamless piece. It looks much better than
the 2-piece production car. Perhaps the one piece bumper on the clay model could not be reproduced on the assembly line?
I like the rear window on the clay model.
My most favourite vehicle ever, the boatail Riv. Close second the 63 split window corvette. I wanted to buy a riv and bring it back to Australia for a full restoration when I retired as I have the level of skills needed, then this Covid crap came and ruined everything. As I am now 70, and the cost of shipping is criminallly expensive now, looks like I can only dream of what could have been. I saw a nice white boatail at Martin Customs in TX on our last trip before Covid. They had it for a TV customer project. I happen to like the front exposed lights on the boatail over your car, despite yours being in near perfect condition.
you can't find a more beautiful designed car than a 63 - 72 Riviera
A 1971 Riviera is on my "wanted" list. It's one of the best looking cars GM ever made. Yup. It's love it or hate it. Put me in the "love it" column.
Your '67 is stunning! IMO the best looking cars ever to come out of GM were '64-73
Thanks, for the video.
I love your channel and videos and discussions on design. As a teenager I wanted to be an auto designer/stylist, but I knew up in New Orleans and not Detroit.
However I would hang out at a nearby Buick dealer. Buick is still my favorite current GM/domestic brand.
I thought the 65 Riviera was the best of the 1st. generation, but I loved the second generation the best, especially the 66-68 versions. Thanks, again!
I do like the Clay model and never knew they were trying a boattail on the 66 Riviera, but the production model I really do like more than the clay model too
The ultimate production version is definitely a styling highlight in gm's long and impressive history.
By far, the production version blends elegance with a muscular form in a delightful way that the study model can't.
I think the production version is a prettier, more cohesive design and really just a stunning design. Also, have a Merry Christmas Adam!
Harley Earl: Addict to have cars cover with chrome...
Bill Mitchell: Addict to Boattail designs...
Good video. (BTW your Riviera is stunning!)
I wasn't a fan of the boattail Riv when they were introduced, especially after the gorgeous, clean-looking, and IMHO, perfect '66-'67 models. But I have grown to appreciate them (although I can't remember the last time I saw one).
I owned a 66 back in the mid-80s, and while I think that the best design is the 1965 model, the 1966-67 Rivieras will always be my favorite.
was the car any reliable
Buick and Bill got it right for '66 and perfected on that for '67. That design proposal was good, but the production hit the target.
The boattail exterior design is distinctive, if a bit ungainly. The front end is ok. Perhaps hidden headlights would have helped. Overall the interiors copy the '69-'72 Grand Prix "Command Seat" theme, yet remain unique.
Still searching for a '67. Interestingly, I keep finding '66's/non bucket seat w/console shift '67's. Great video.
The rear glass design on the '66 clay model was shelved until 1986, for the Monte Carlo Aero Coupe
I don't often hear the word 'svelte' used anymore, let alone correctly. Thanks for changing that...😄
This is in the Top 5 of your collection.
What is his collection?
As an 7 year-old, the first car I ever drove was a ‘66 Buick Wild Cat Hard Top in 1968. Thanks Grandpa! Best car I’ve ever driven including several W123 Mercedes and W116’s. But hey, 7 years-old behind the wheel of a Nail Head V-8? How do you top that?
Sorry. As a 7 year-old.
I think the guy who reeled in that proposal to the production version earned his pay check
"Bil Mitchel was "enameled" with it's styling". I think it was more acrylic enamel by '71, but I'm not sure.
Had a '71, among other earlier Buicks. Sharp as hell, but by that year the interiors suffered, among other thing discussed by this channel regarding GM's full sized failings.
Mine was mauve. A pinkish-brown. No vinyl top and standard wheel covers. Very handsome!!!
I kinda flubbed the word enamored. But perhaps he was enameled
@@RareClassicCars His teeth were...
@@RareClassicCars VERY unlike you! Can tell you have a cold, so you're off the hook....THIS time.
@@DanEBoyd My teeth are enamored as well.
Nice video - I hope your cold gets better!
I've had my 66 for 16 years it had 74,000 org miles took me 15 years to turn it over
HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE CAR BY FAR!!!!!!
I think that the first generation Rivieras and Toranados were some of the most beautiful cars GM ever made.
Adam, Whether it was a Freudian slip or not, I agree with your assertion 1:29 that GM's Styling Vice-President Bill Mitchell should have been "enameled" along with his boat tails.😉🤣
The sales figures clearly show, three years of boat tail Rivieras were three years too many. 😂
I appreciate your analysis of the Riviera designs. But what about the elephant in the room: the 1963-1967 Corvette Stingray with its boat tail design?
My favorite car
I think both the clay and production models are great.... difficult to choose.
I remember seeing the sneak pics of the 71 Riviera as a 14 year old car nerd and thought, "horrible". While not as harsh a critic today, it's just not good. My first impression of the rendering of the 66 proposal was, "That's an Oldsmobile!" Perhaps others at Buick felt the same.
Blows my mind that they had FWD transverse and RWD longitudinal cars on the same platform. I've never heard of that before.
The FWD 66-70 Toronado and 67-70 El Dorado were longitudinal designs. Unsure if these 3 models shared the same platform from 71-79, but these FWD models remained longitudinal until 1985.
I like the clay model.
Production version looks like a product of the 1960's, while its clay model looks like some sporty style futuristic R&R.
The best generation of Riviera!
I'd like to see more angles of the clay model before I would say up or down versus a '66. I feel confident that the awkward shaped rear glass wouldn't have been 'final' for a '66 boat tail. I think they were trying to see what a fast back '65 would have looked like and find the right progression the design should take.
Sounding a little congested. Get well soon!
I love the clay model!!!
Bill Mitchell was "particularly enameled"? (1:31) That'll teach him to stay out of the paint booths. 😅
🤣🤣🤣
Of course, before the 71-73 Riviera, there was the original GM boattail, the 63 split rear window Corvette. The boattail worked perfectly on a car of that size, but was way out of proportion on a car the size of the Riviera.
In 1992 I saw nine Riviera "boat tails" in one wrecking yard! All crushed over thirty years ago.
The clay model has some beautiful elements. Particularly the back end (not necessarily the boat tail, just the more pointed tail.)
I can’t argue that the production model is lacking though. It’s a very good looking car.
How many cars do you have?
You must go through a lot of wax with all that surface area!
And by the way, I love the channel and the choice of cars. Makes for super interesting entertainment.
Thanks!
Welcome!
The sail panel of the proposal almost matches the 63-65. Just saying there might have been a continuity of a design feature desired for the 66 that may or may have had some influence with the back window shape that flowed into a very blunted boat tail.
I agree with you to an extent. I think they were looking to turn the 1st generation into a fastback for the 2nd generation. This model, I believe, they were considering the 'easy' fix of rear glass to extend the roofline back in a similar fashion to that Barracuda or the '80s Monte Carlo SS and Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 and not so much a boat tail.
La década en diseño de autos (60s) más atractiva con los Cadillacs, Chevys, Buicks, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles y otras marcas ❤
60's Riveieras, rolling art.
How about a video on the Monte Carlo? Those were kind of cool in the sixties?
I miss my 1969 just doing a never ending one wheel burnout.
It's hard to imagine anything improving the production design. One of those rare moments when they absolutely do get every detail right. And this comes from the owner of a '66 Toronado. While I consider the Toronado to be by far the more interesting of the two, when considering appearance only the Riv wins hands-down. As to the Eldorado, did you know it was planned for that car to have a V12 engine in it? I've been told that is one reason why the hoods on those cars are so long. But I sort of doubt that, since even the Olds/Cadillac V8's do a pretty good job of filling the engine bay. But the V12's DID exist, they just didn't make it to production.
Looks alot like a 64'-67' Corvette Sting Ray.
The only thing I would have hoped to carry over from the clay model was that lower body line just behind the front passenger's wheel that dropped more considerably on the clay model. I think it would have really worked well with the more rounded quarter panel of the production model
I am curious if any of the automakers have actually studied if the loss of fuel milage would be recoverable through sales when designing a car that has the quality of style demonstrated in this and so many other of your videos? Btw. I’m 67 years old and was considered a little off (according to my friends at the time) when I felt these cars were designed to be classic beauties from the time they came out.
I'd vote along with the rest of the group for the production version. Adam, why not edit in a few photos of the gorgeous "A body" proposal....Mitchel's original choice for the '71.....management should have trusted his judgement.
Buick General Manager Lee Mays did not get along with Bill Mitchell. He stated emphatically after viewing the smaller proposal that there would be no "small" Riviera on his watch. They blew it up and applied the design to the new E body and as Mitchell was later quoted, "They turned a speed boat into a tug boat."
@@ricksand6477 ......instead of a GS edition, should have been a TA..........Tugboat Annie...
I really like the side windows, blending perfectly into the rear window on the clay model prototype. The radius continues from the back of the side rear window all the way to the rear window. It’s so smooth looking all arcs continue.
To me, the clay model looked like they wanted to keep the "C" pillar style from the 1st gen Riviera while having a fastback roof. I don't see much of the Boattail style. The "W" shaped pointed front and rear was already the theme on '65 B body Buicks and other 1964-65 models in more toned down form. The production 1966 Riviera ended having a more pronounced "W" shape at the back than the clay model had. Buick kept showing that theme on B bodies in 1967-68 and on the Riviera up to 1969. Mid size cars had the V shape rear end in 1968-69 but they went back to a W rear end in 1970-72.
The emblem placement on the prototype seems to have been seriously considered for the production '67 model. The body manual for '67 shows Riviera and GS emblems on the rear quarter. That probably explains why the GS models have a code on their body tag for most of the 1967 model year (which would have required assembly at the Euclid body plant in that location). That code was deleted somewhere in April of 1967 and not documented like other option codes. It's not present on the 1966 models either.
Adam, you don’t know why Buick Division changed the 71-72 dashboard, do you??? I loved the right side curve of the 71-72 dashboard. I love the 71-72 Rivera the best but I do like your 66 as well.
Production version, definitely.
A Unique Car in the 1970's, but it was a tribute to the Boat Tail Cars of the 30's, as U said...The '66 Riviera definitely was going to have a Boat Tail, but they waited until '71, eh Adam🤔🤲
I think the production 66 & 67 Riverias are one of the best designs that came out of GM in the 60s. I disagree that the clay model depicted a boattail design. It was more of a fastback design with a crease feature running down the center of the glass and decklid. The contoured surface curving from the C-pillars, backlight and decklid do not form a point at the center near the rear bumper as a boattail would, but flatten out and follow the outside shape of the "W" design of the rear end. The back end at the bumper is more square than pointed, like the Baracudda you showed. In the 80s, GM produced a small number of fastback Gran Prixs with a similar design. These where hatchbacks, and their rear (and front) styling were developed for better aerodynamics for NASCAR deployment. GM had to produce a minimum number of these for the public to qualify them for racing.