Auto enthusiasts just can’t get enough of dusty and forgotten cars found out in the wild. It seems like every day some automotive hunter locates a once neglected car and takes the steps to bring it back into the public eye for enthusiasts to visually consume and lust after. There’s just something about these mucky treasures that gets hobbyist’s hearts racing and their car-crazy craniums wanting more. Though many of these “barn finds” are true to their name, rides found lying dormant in typical workhouse structures and then re-discovered to the astonishment of their eager hunters, some are just vehicles that have been stored for long periods of time, with the owners aware of their possessions, tucked away from wandering eyes. This 1964 Buick Rivera Has Been Cooped Up For Decades This 1964 Buick Riviera is of the latter situation: a ride that was bought and stuffed away by its last owner in his spacious yard and then handed down to his next of kin after his passing. Pete Boris of Millstone New Jersey is the present-day owner of this rather stationary ride, a stately Buick brought into the property’s chicken coop and parked more than forty years ago. “My dad collected a lot of different things, including some interesting cars. This was one of the examples that have been parked here over the years,” Pete states. Discovering The Riviera To get to the Buick, we had to wade through a sea of old collectibles strewn across the massive coops. For anyone who loves vintage goods, it was an interesting hike to say the least. Of course, there were some highlights along the way. A 1965 Chevy Corvair was the first car we came upon on our journey. The four-door had been sitting quite a long time, as told by its condition and the flattened tires. Though it was bogged down in grime and dirt, the car didn’t look too bad and was complete. Next was a pretty cool 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, a ride Pete knows well. It was a car he often cruised the Jersey shorefront with and is the star of a music video he made for his “Hitman” musical act. Though a little dirty, the car still looks to be in great shape. With a little elbow grease, the Eldorado could be back on the road with little effort. Finally, in the back of the coop, sitting there in the dark, was what I had come to see. I’ve witnessed the extraction of plenty of barn finds over the years, and this Riviera is certainly one of the longest sitting cars I’ve come across. The Riviera had seen some road time over the years before it was brought to its resting place, but like many rides that have been kept out of the elements for many years, it appears to be salvageable. The car’s original Silver Cloud paint is hardly recognizable due to its earthy coating, but most of it is intact. The car has just a small amount of outer rust, and a little bit of peeling paint on the driver’s side. The underside might be a different story as some corrosion is visible from above. As far as the exterior goes, it’s almost complete, with just the front bumper removed. But it seems like everything needed to complete the car is there, along with the original hubcaps. As a plus, the headlight’s clamshell doors look to be in great shape, a sticking point on some of these Riviera models. Under the hood, the original 425-cu.in. “Wildcat 465” looks to be nearly untouched. All the vitals still seem to be there, including the air conditioning and induction system. Though it hasn’t been fired up in years, there is hope that this engine might turn over. Like most luxury-minded vehicles of the time, this one comes with power steering and power brakes. The interior is complete, and amazingly the upholstery looks to have survived the years in captivity without too much damage. There look to be no rips or tears and none of the typical trashing usually done by small, furry animals. With a good cleaning this Riviera will have a very usable cockpit. Everything, including the AM radio and steering wheel, are in great shape and appear to be original. Why Consider A Buick Riviera? Rivieras are often overlooked when collectors are scouring the countryside looking for the more popular GM muscle car models. However, some have come to realize that the big Buick’s mix of size, beauty, luxury and muscle makes this car the perfect combination to build an able cruiser with, and with a little tuning and massaging of the engine, a top-of-the-line performance vehicle. The European-flavored styling, American performance and chiseled looks courtesy of Bill Mitchell makes for one unique ride that some resto-modders and restorers alike have come to cherish. Overall, this Riviera has enough positives to make it a worthy candidate for a rebuild and deserves a second chance at life, just like the Corvair and the Ford Country Squire that are parked next to it. With a muscular Buick V-8 under the hood and beautifully sculpted lines inside and out, this Rivera doesn’t need to be hidden away any longer. It would be an undertaking to restore it, but we’ve seen much worse come back to life.
