Page 16 - ROA Online Riview Library

Built for the Track
Built for the Track
Built for the Track

’65
BY CHARLES COUTURE

We have always been a Buick family. My The original exterior color was Sahara Mist, which I changed to a deep metal-
parents, brothers, and now even my daughter lic burgundy. I lowered the front springs and used heavier 600-rated springs in
drives a Buick. My love for Buicks began in high the rear. This modification resulted in a one-inch drop in the front height while
school with a 1968 Skylark. My next, at age 18, the rear height remained the same, giving it a more aggressive stance. I swapped
was a 1970 Stage 1, four-speed Gran Sport. Ap- the stock chrome mirrors for sport mirrors and installed 15” x 7” spoke Budnik
parently, I didn’t have the skill to drive a manual wheels on the front and 15” x 8” spoke Budnik wheels on the back with Micky
shift and I blew the engine. After brushing up Thompson Drag Radials. I made these changes specifically for drag racing. I grew
on my driving skills, I ordered a 1973, 455ci up drag racing, first on the street, then on the track in Gainesville. I wanted this
Gran Sport. I am proud to say the engine is still luxurious Riviera to not only look great, but also hold her own at the race track.
intact and the car sits in my driveway today,
45 years later.
Muscle cars have always peaked my interest
along with the urge to someday restore and
modify one. In 1993, my brother tipped me off
to a 1965 Rivera, which I consider to be one of
Buick’s first muscle cars. The car was located on
a farm in Micanopy, FL. Upon inspection, we
found the car needed restoration, a little rust,
but no rot and was powered by the powerful
Nailhead engine. I was sold!
The car had traveled 94,000 miles with the stan-
dard single, four-barrel carb intake. I changed
that to a two-four-barrel carb configuration.
The two-four configuration was an option on
the 1965 Gran Sports. I also changed the stock
converter to an after-market torque converter, a
3500 stall, 3:42 gears with limited slip differential.
16
16 July/August 2019 The Riview