1965 was the year the Riviera's Gran Sport debuted — its Super Wildcat V8 ran twin four-barrel carburetors just to hit 360 horsepower.
Lead trim: Riviera Gran Sport Super Wildcat V8 (360 hp)
Buick Riviera Gran Sport1965–1965
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Buick Riviera Gran Sport yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
Fact1965 was the year the Riviera's Gran Sport debuted — its Super Wildcat V8 ran twin four-barrel carburetors just to hit 360 horsepower.
In 1965 the 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 returned as the Riviera's standard engine and the "Gran Sport" version made its debut, powered by the Super Wildcat V8, a 360 hp engine equipped with two Carter 625 CFM carburetors, a distributor with different advance and a more aggressive 3.42 axle ratio. The Super Turbine 400 transmission now had a variable-pitch torque converter but was fitted with a three-speed gear selector, and the Gran Sport's stock dual exhaust pipes were increased from 2.0 to 2.25 in inside diameter with fewer turns to reduce backpressure. The heavy-duty suspension (quicker-ratio steering box and firmer springs) was a separate H2 option, not part of the Gran Sport option. The 1965 car had vertically arranged headlamps hidden behind clamshell doors in the leading edges of each fender, the taillights moved into the rear bumper, and the tilt steering wheel was standard.
Collectors Spotted in the Buick Riviera Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Buick Riviera yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera Gran Sport Super Wildcat V8 (360 hp) | 1965–1965 | V8 | 360 hp | 465 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
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1965 was the year the Riviera's Gran Sport debuted — its Super Wildcat V8 ran twin four-barrel carburetors just to hit 360 horsepower.
Buick deliberately capped first-gen Riviera production at 40,000 a year — in a year it sold 440,000 cars overall — just to keep the Riviera feeling exclusive.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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