The Australian - Buick Car Club of Australia Inc. (Qld.)
Transcription
The Australian - Buick Car Club of Australia Inc. (Qld.)
MAY 2016 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Riview The Australian ROA AUSTRALIAN REGION THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 2 Editorial This edition we have re- printed an article from the US about oils. It has been prepared by an ROA member, John Hellmuth, who worked in Boeing for many years and before that in the aerospace industry. John Forster #13148 “In the meantime, enjoy driving your Riviera and keep those beautiful Rivieras rolling.” Linda Hall #10723 Regional Coordinator This caused Tom and I to be speaking recently, not about the Rivs that we all enjoy but the wide range of folk who have adopted the Riv as their car of choice. John’s background in aerospace might lead you to imagine him driving the latest and most technically advanced car there was to be had, he close the Riviera as his car of choice. Perhaps in 1964 the Riv was the aerospace car of choice, it certainly led the field in automotive technology in so many ways! My background in prisons and prison design might suggest I should be driving a large van with barred windows. I chose the 65 Riv and I can assure you there is no similarity between it and a prison van! Next time you get together with Riv fanatics, have a look at the drivers and see what their story might be. Sometimes it’s not all about the cars. If you get this eMagazine in time, please consider coming along to the Queensland combined ROA and Buick Car Club run on Sunday 1st May. We are meeting at Cameron Park in Ipswich at 9 am for a 9:15 am departure. You can chat with the other interesting people that think the Riviera is the car to have! If you enjoyed the Villa Riviera story in our November 2015 issue then you may want to get to the ROA National in the USA this year. The Villa Riviera has been purchased and restored by an ROA member and will be on display at the meet. It looks as good as ever and more than just a little bit interesting. Please enjoy this edition of The Australian Riview. G’day from the Regional Co-Ordinator Wow, what a great day our Victorian Riviera people had on 13th March when they visited the private collection of Ralph Plarre. What a fabulous collection of fine cars. The very rare 1957 Eldorado Brougham would have been a pleasure to see, along with the Ferraris and the luxurious Rolls Royce Phantom. Indeed a day of ‘eye candy’. Thanks to Tom and Norm Bradford for organising this wonderful day for ROA’ers in Victoria. It’s a shame those of us in Queensland and other States were not closer and able to take in the visit with our Victorian members. Well done, Tom and Norm. As I write this, here in Queensland, nature has not yet realised we are in autumn and we are still experiencing very warm summer days. So on cur- rent trends, we will still have warm weather for our Queensland combined ROA/Buick Club run on 1st May. We will meet at Cameron Park, Easton Street, Booval (UBD 213 Q15) at 9.00 a.m. for a 9.15 a.m. departure. From here, we will take a leisurely drive to a park in a country village for BYO morning tea, then drive on to a country pub for lunch reasonable prices and plenty of parking. There is even a playground area for the kids. To add to the fun, we will have a competition for ROA members only for some special ROA prizes. Other Buick club members are welcome to join us on what promises to be a very pleasant run in the country. So get your Riviera cleaned and polished, pack your morning tea, round up your Buick friends and come along and join the fun on 1st May. We would love to see you there. Don’t forget if you are restoring a Riviera, there is informative technical advice available from the various Technical Advisors listed in “The Riview” - the official ROA journal. If you are a Riv owner but not yet a member of the ROA, it’s a good idea to join so you can access advice, stories of other restorations and some great Riviera people. A reminder that if you are planning on attending the ROA International Meet in Williamsburg, VA you will need to get your bookings made at the host hotel. The meet runs from June 27-30 and is a great opportunity to meet with US members and see a wonderful range of Rivieras from across the USA. Full details in “The Riview” and the ROA website. VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 3 Salt Flat Riviera I wondered whether a Riv had taken a shot at a land speed record at one of the Salt Flats and discovered that a Buick Super Riviera from the 50’s had been pounding that beat for some years but when it comes to The Riviera, well that’s another matter. I did come across a 1965 Riv being built for Bonneville duty back in early 2013. Being assembled by Rick and Nick (that’s all I know of their names), not sure where it got to but it certainly sounded like a serious contender at the time. The Riv was powered by a 427 ci engine with GM Performance LSX block and Arias Hemi heads. At that stage the car was yet to receive an intended forced induction system from Exile Turbo Systems, however the photos show that it was certainly underway. The Riv body looks like it could use a bit more love, but is essentially there. ploits in what is sure to be one of the fastest Rivs on the planet!! If you have more information then send it along to us here at the Australian Riview so that we can share Rick and Nick’s ex- Photos here show the Riv with and without bodywork. With and without bodywork. THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 4 Bill and Sue’s 65 Riv Hello fellow Riviera enthu- siasts. My name is Bill McCausland and this is my story on how I came to own a Beautiful Riviera. All my adult life I have lusted after a V8. I drove company cars for 30 years so I was pretty frustrated about choice of cars, but the cars and the fuel were free. “I was sold! We bought a Land Rover Discovery V8 in 2001. It did what we wanted but it didn’t sound like an American V8. We bought a really nice 25 ft. Cruise Craft boat with a 5 litre V8 and a Mercruiser leg. It didn’t sound like a V8. Then my wife rented a replica Cobra for a birthday weekend. It had side pipes and it sounded like a V8. I smiled the entire time behind the wheel. But, I was still working, had responsibilities and so I just kept reading Unique Cars each month and dreaming. Finally at 67 years old last year, with an inheritance from my dear old Mum (made it to 92), I began seriously looking. The Cobra was ruled out because I wanted an authentic car. I started scanning every site and came across a 63 Riviera in WA and I thought it looked beautiful. A phone call told me it had been sold months back. The body style had hit me and from that point on I was hooked. I started reading all I could about them and realized that the 65 Riv was the market favourite and I consider it a stylish work of art. I found one for sale in Melbourne which was a good car but needed a total repaint. I wasn’t game to buy any direct from the States even though some seemed pretty authentic. I did look at some 67s but they didn’t do it for me. Then I found a 71 boat tail in Qld (a new import). I rang the owner about it and in conversation he said he had a couple of other boat tails and a 65, which wasn’t really for sale. From that point on my focus was the 65. He sent photos and it looked beautiful. He was firm with his price and would not budge. He didn’t really have to sell it to me, I was sold. VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 5 All I knew about the car was that he had it for about 3 years, He had the body painted in an original colour sourced from the US. All the chrome and bright work has been renewed and it had new wheels and tyres .The engine has new leads and not much else replaced. There is a lot of work to be done just to get it roadworthy, and even more to get it to the standard I would like. When I went to Qld to inspect it I visited Linda Hall to look at the last of her Rivs for sale. I am so glad I visited her because she linked me up with Tom Kunek in Melbourne and I know I am going to get the guidance I need to get the Riv to the standard it deserves. There are many things to do but already I am really proud of the ownership. I know I am a temporary owner because it will pass on when I go but I will have taken it back to closer to new than it is now. The previous ownership is partly known as I have all the original books, service and driving history. Just under the radio there is a plaque to the original owners. The bottom line is this: it sounds like a V8 should. It brings a smile to the dial and as you are driving you can see the smiles from all the others on the road. Photos attached are of Bill and Sue during their first visit to Riviera Lane in their Sahara Mist Riviera. Please note that Bill’s Rivi is not a GS. I looked up the name and address of the last US owner on the web, (Mudama Fredrica) and it lists one of his friends as Harry Olsen. This means that Harry bought the car from the original owner, Donald Spears around 1970 and kept it until 2012 until he sold it to his friend Mudama. Seen at Nail Head Alley So it means Harry owned it for 42 years and travelled in it maybe around 85000 miles (2000 approx. per year). So, including the guy in Qld, I am the 5th owner. I think I will contact Mudama and get some info. Bill THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 6 #13148 Riviera Musings—The 1977 Phantom It would be hard to argue that by his retirement in 1977 Bill Mitchell had burned a lot of his bridges in GM. Legendary for his treatment of staff (badly) he found himself with a distinct lack of power as he approached his retirement. “The Madame X Car.” dered off the site by Howard Kehrl, executive vice president in charge of production planning and technical staff. Kehrl had risen through the engineering ranks of GM and had been subjected to the Mitchell management style and may have seen this as a chance to get even, perhaps. Nevertheless as a parting shot he was able to put together his idea of the ideal car. He is quoted as saying, “Realising that with the energy crisis and other considerations, the glamour car would not be around for long, I wanted to leave a memory at General Motors of the kind of cars I love.” In any event the Phantom was certainly not the car for the times but was undoubtedly the car for Bill Mitchell. It was a clear indicator of his personal belief in what a great car should look like. He had the styling studio create the Pontiac Phantom. There is much speculation that Bill Mitchell’s idea of the ideal car was the 1966 Riviera. There is little doubt that the first series Riviera has the Mitchell stamp but he was also responsible for the second series and later Rivs that Sadly, when he tried to have it shown at a styling show for the GM board at the proving grounds at Milford, the car was or- So why does the Phantom appear in the Australian Riview? first arrived for the 1966 model year. The matter that a concept car, if we could call the Phantom a concept car and not a parting shot car, looks remarkably like the 1966 Riv gives us a clue that this was indeed Mitchell’s idea of the perfect car, adds weight to the theory. Other styling cues on the Phantom hark back to the fifties (cut away wheel arches) and even to the thirties (extended hood and short rear deck) as exemplified by his code name for the car prior to completion, that being the Madame X car. I have provided a showcase of photographs of the Phantom for you to draw your own conclusions. I have also included one shot (of dubious quality) that has the Phantom shown with a large Buick logo behind it! VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 7 Pontiac with liberal touch of Riviera ?? THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 8 #13148 Australian Fashion Sensation Riv .As Riviera was moving towards extinction in the late 1990’s a range of initiatives were developed to keep the Riviera relevant. “You may not be aware that Richard Tyler is an Australian . .” Amongst the good things that came of this program was Buicks involvement with breast cancer research and the creation of Concept:Cure. This was a program developed to bring together General Motors and the fashion industry in what was a unique collaboration to raise funds for breast cancer research. Five fashion designers were attached to five GM Divisions to produce a series of one off cars. The Divisions involved were Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet and GMC. Buick enlisted fashion designer Richard Tyler to work with Buick designers and come up with a one off special Riviera. This one-of -a-kind Riv was unveiled at a reception in the General Motors New York Showroom on 29 October 1996 as a part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) annual press event. You may not be aware that Richard Tyler is an Australian designer born in Sunshine, a Melbourne suburb, on September 22, 1946. He had connections to the pop industry here in Aus and eventually around the world. Just prior to receiving this commission he was voted Best Women’s Wear Designer (1994) and then followed this with Best Men’s Wear Designer in 1995. Shortly after the unveiling, the car was sold via a silent auction in partnership with Neiman Marcus, with all proceeds benefiting the Nina Hyde Centre for Breast Cancer Research in Washington D.C. Tyler commented; “Designing a collection and designing a car is exactly the same. Much like the Riviera, my clothing comes from a classic base, highly tailored and beautifully detailed. I used the same philosophy when designing the car – classic, clean and also very sexy, which is important.” Well you can’t argue with some of those sentiments! The one-off Riv came in two-tone brown which was the rage at the time. The accompanying blurb described the colour as “two rich shades of mocha brown”. You may recall other similar car exercises like the Tiffany LTD here in Australia. The lighter shade of brown is used to separate the hood, roof and boot from the vehicle body and sides. Inside is the obligatory hand crafted leather trim and it came complete with a leather trimmed baby seat. Up front, this special Riv carried the widelyacclaimed supercharged 3800 Series II V6 engine that we saw in Australia in the Calais and delivering 240 horsepower and 280 ft-lb of torque. Drive was through a four speed automatic. Where is the Richard Tyler Riv now? VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 9 The Richard Tyler Riviera and Press Kit THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 10 Tom Kunek #3845 The Plarre Collection and the ROA The 2016 ROA Regional meet was at Ralph Plarre’s private collection located at his residence in Essendon. as the street is not very wide so we had to consider neighbours’ access to their drive ways. It was a perfect day to take a nice cruise to see one of the finest private collections in Victoria. Once we all arrived we were invited by Ralph and his Wife Marg to walk up his driveway and into his marvellous man cave. We all parked in front of Ralph’s place but it was not possible to take a group photo of the Riv’s together Even though most of us have seen the photos of Ralph’s space and collection it was still breathtak- ing to walk in and see it in actual reality. Ralph introduced himself and thanked us for coming along to review his collection. We all made donations to one of Ralph’s charities which provides scholarships to gifted young musicians. After the welcome Ralph jumped right into giving a detailed review to each “It was a perfect day . .” Rachael Kunek enjoying the dream! car including its history. Probably the rarest car in the collection was his 1957 Eldorado Brougham (only 400 made) and which is the only RHD 1957 Brougham known in the world. This car was considered the ultimate in automobile luxury of the 50’s. The Eldorado Brougham was the answer to the Continental Mark 2 and was considerably dearer than a Rolls Royce of the day. Ester McCluskey in a 59 Cadillac VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 11 It has centre-opening doors and brushed stainless steel roof. and the Rolls Royce club so you can see that this man loves to contribute. Then there was the Ferrari 599 GTB which is the fastest ever road going Ferrari. Thank you Ralph for being so generous with your time and your kind hearted hospitality. At the other end of the spectrum Ralph reviewed his Rolls-Royce Phantom which also has centreopening doors and state of the art everything. A special thank you must go to Norm Bradford for being the focal point with Ralph to make this event happen. Tom K During the afternoon our very own Jade Offer played on Ralph’s grand piano which was just magic. Afternoon tea was served with a delicious spread of cakes from Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse which has been baking for well over a 100 years. It was a perfect day to take a nice cruise to see one of the finest private collections in Victoria. No one was disappointed and by the feedback received it was a most enjoyable day for all. Ralph has been the past president of the Cadillac “No one was disappointed . .” Ralph speaking to the ROA members THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 12 ROA# 14425 ‘64 Series I Addition to the Line Family I have to confess that my love of cars has been long (mid 60's), but confined mainly to the GMH division of the GM Group until recent years. The need to chase an American classic started in early 2013. This stemmed from attending numerous American Car cruises in S.A. with a mate who has a rare 1960 Chrysler 300F. I know, I'm a mere novice compared to the rest of you, but have ultimately seen the light. “I started looking within the GM stable . .” I, of course, started looking within the GM "stable" for a suitable candidate. After passing through the more well-known Chev & Pontiac brands and finding them a little too, dare I say, common, I quickly moved on to look long and hard at the Buick range. A number of months were spent looking through the 1955 to 1957 Buicks which are far and above better looking and designed cars than their Chevrolet counterparts. It was soon evident that to find one of these in "stock condition" to meet the stringent SA Motor Registration requirements may prove more than the budget allowed. The search moved into the 1960's Buick range and as soon as I saw a Series 1 Riviera, knew that this was the model I needed to find. Again, in an attempt to soften the "Registration process", the search was confined to within Australia for a suitable car initially. Success came in November 2013 with the purchase of my '64 Riviera from WA which arrived in Adelaide in early December. Despite the car being imported from the US to WA in 2008, it still took several trips to our SA Motor Registration to be finally passed to have approved registration in February of 2014. I even managed to get approval to use the same registration number as it had in WA (RIV-064). My first "cruise season" in the Riv was "fully booked", once the car had been checked out and some minor repairs attended to. Unfortunately timing wasn't with us to take the car to the ROA Nationals at Bathurst in May 2014. To think that in 1964 the Riviera had such luxuries as cruise control, electric windows, electric driver’s seat, power steering and tilt steering column. Buick, and many other makes of the era, certainly make our home-grown Holden product look basic by comparison. Perhaps I should have been wary that things were going so well with our 50 year old "new addition" to the family. In August 2014, we found out that a group of likeminded Buick and ROA members were coming to Adelaide on their way to Perth for the Nationals. A great chance to meet up with them in the Barossa Valley, be introduced to other similar enthusiasts, and discuss the "Trishield make" at great length. On one of the cruise runs, the Oil pressure warning light came on, and despite all the experts being available at the time, we could find no reason or solution to the problem. Even the car wasn't giving me any of the usual warning signs (noisy engine, loss of power, evidence of oil loss etc.) VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Given we intended to pull off the motor anyway, this was just done earlier than planned, and the worst was soon evident. The engine would need a complete bottom end rebuild, with the sump full of oil sludge and "metal bits" being the visual sign. Three cylinders almost oval in shape, meant getting the block machined, and a full Master engine rebuild kit ordered from the US with appropriate oversize pistons etc. It was a good chance to also "upspec" the cam (Isky Racing Cam) a little to improve torque even more without compromising reliability and fuel economy. After making a very large hole in the allocated "Car Budget" and the assurances to my wife, Terry, that it was all worthwhile and justified in the overall scheme of things, we were back on the road. We have continued to enjoy the Riviera attending the many events in SA available to classic cars during each season. SA has a very strong US car scene, including regular "US only" cruises, regularly attracting anywhere between 150 to 500 cars, covering all makes and types. During the "off-season", more fine-tuning was done to the '64, including the very welcome addition of a dual water temperature and oil pressure gauge hidden behind the ashtray "flap" in the centre console. Both Terry and I, and my "Chrysler" mate, Ross all piled into the Riv in Aug'15 to go to Wagga for the ROA Nationals meet there, Page 13 renewing some acquaintances and friendships and making new ones, and thoroughly enjoying the activities and cruises. We will continue to use our '64 Riviera as it is something that needs to be driven and enjoyed rather than being stored away. The '64 Riv is not the only "classic car" that we have, and joins a very nice '74 Holden HQ Statesman with a factory Chev 350 motor (what else) and a more recent purchase of a 1949 4 door Chev Styleline. We'll look forward to catching up with you all at the Buick Nationals in 2016. Cheers.......Grahame Line During the off-season . . THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 14 Tom Kunek #3845 Oils Ain’t Oils As you all know, the Aus- tralian Riview is free to anyone who has an interest in the Buick Riviera. The reason it is free is to help make known that an organization such as the ROA exists and that it may entice folks to join the ROA and receive the outstanding bi-monthly publication called “The Riview” “developing oils that are compatible with our older vehicles . .” Below is an article that was written by ROA member John Hellmuth on oils we should use on our collector cars. This article is on page 7 of The Riview - Jan/ Feb 2016 edition. It has been slightly modified so that oils that are available in Australia are listed. It is not a comprehensive list. COLLECTOR CAR OILS By John Hellmuth #9292 For the last ten years there has been controversy on whether modern oils (post 2005) are compatible with older flat tappet engines. This question comes up at every ROA Technical Session and on the various Buick forums. Personally, I am not getting into that discussion as there are as many opinions as there are “experts”. What I present here is partial listing of oils that the industry has specifically formulated for collector cars including our Rivieras. The criteria I used for putting this list together was to review the manufacturer's specification sheets to ensure that the zinc and phosphorous contents were at least 1200 ppm, the levels that were standard before OEMs introduced the new style catalytic converters. In addition, I talked with most of the technical staffs of major cam, valve train and oil manufacturers that were exhibiting at SEMA last November. The general consensus was that these specialty oils have resulted because of demand, have become a sizable market and an extremely cheap insurance policy. Additives are no longer required and, in fact, discouraged. With engine rebuilds running in the many thousands of dollars, it might be a good time to consider these new oils. Also, there are many questions on what type of oil should be use; mineral, blends and full synthetic based oils. Based on scientific data, synthetics are superior oils in reducing friction/wear but may not be cost effective for our limited usage. That decision is left to each individual owner. I personally have been running synthetics in my Rivieras for over ten years and have not experienced any of the initial concerns of oil leaks, seal damage, etc. Most of the manufacturers have responded to the market place and now offer a full range of oil options. Another question is what weight oil is best for our rides? Generally speaking, a new engine will run lighter weights because of tighter bearing tolerances. Check your owner’s manual for your OEM’s recommendation. As an engine ages, heavier weights are usually recommended. I personally run a heavier weight (15W-50) in my 1964 Rivi because it has accumulated almost 90,000 miles. If I had a new rebuild engine, I would probably run a SAE 30 weight or multi-grade. The multi-grades are probably better suited for the wide ambient temperatures our cars experience. As you can see in the availability listings, most manufacturers primarily offer multigrades. One other consideration is special oils for new/rebuilt engine break-ins. The industry and engine builders have standardized and now recommend mineral base oils specifically formulated for that purpose. Oil manufacturers now offer these along with specific break-in recommendations. Usually these are straight SAE 30 weights. Synthetic oils are not recommended by most rebuilders for older engine break-ins. The oil industry has spent a lot of research funding developing oils compatible with our older vehicles. I suggest now is the time to take advantage of these developments and protect your car/ investment with these new products. VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 15 Tom Kunek #3845 Here’s the Good Oil . . PARTIAL LIST OF OILS FOR CLASSIC CARS AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA which ran in the "golden" age of supercharged gassers. The last 25 years he has been involved with land speed racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats. MOBIL 1 (synthetic) 10W -40, 15W-50 He has a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and worked in the aerospace industry for 40 years. Working on the manned space programs after graduation and gravitated over time to the cruise missile world with Boeing. He was Technical Director for the Tomahawk and Advanced Cruise Missiles. When he retired he was the Program Director for the Harpoon anti-ship missile. Australia has that weapon in our Navy. VALVOLINE – XLD CLASSIC (mineral) 20W50 VALVOLINE – MAX LIFE (Semi Synthetic) 20W-50 (Engines over 100,000 miles) John Hellmuth’s back ground. John is a 75 year old gent who has been involved with cars since he was a teenager. He got into drag racing in the late 50 & 60s. He had a 1941 Willys coupe with a supercharged Chrysler hemi John lives with his wife Carolyn in rural North Central Arkansas, 10 miles outside of the town of Flippin! Most folks think that is funny. They moved there 12 years ago so Carolyn could follow her passion for fly fishing. They live on the White River, one of the best trout streams in the USA. John joined the ROA in the early 2000s after he bought a 1964 Riviera which he restored. It is a daily driver and now has over 30K miles on her. By joining the ROA you not only receive the bi-monthly magazine “The Riview” and you can also attend the Annual ROA meet where you get to meet lots of friendly and interesting people like John and Carolyn Hellmuth. They will be at the next ROA International Meet to be held at Williamsburg Virginia 27-30 June, 2016 “you not only receive the bimonthly Riview . .” THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 16 Modified Riv of the Month engines powered a single, vertical driveshaft connecting to a single J-58 engine. Once one engine was started, the cart was wheeled to the other side of the aircraft to start the other engine. It is reported that the operation was deafening! Each Wildcat engine was a 425 single four barrel Buick V8. This 71 boat tail was for sale in the US a little while back and naturally caught my eye. “Oh, and of course the twin cantered tail fins . .” Bidding peaked around $6000 and it failed to move. Interestingly, the owner had decided that he wanted to replicate the SR71 Blackbird look and thus the twin tailfins mounted on the boot. This in itself makes the Riv interesting and the addition of front mounted machine guns I expect was bound to get the attention of a particular sort of enthusiast, however the interesting thing is what I found out about the SR-71 itself. The fastest jet in the world is the SR-71 Blackbird, but what do you need to start the fastest machine in the world. Well, you need a start cart apparently. The original start cart included two Buick Wildcat V8 engines positioned under the aircraft. The tow Later, big-block Chevrolet engines were used and eventually a much quieter pneumatic start system was developed for use on the Blackbird main operating bases. However the start carts remained to support recovery team Blackbird starts at diversion landing sites that were not equipped to start J-58 engines. This edition’s modified Riv of the Month features shaved doors with poppers to the doors and the boot lid, halved front bumper, front mounted 50 calibre machine gun barrels, aircraft style seating, flame thrower and a range of other odds and ends. Oh, and of course the twin canted tail fins on the boot! Please enjoy a look at one man’s view of the combination of the fastest machine in the world with one of the world’s greatest automobiles! VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 17 The Riv Wizard In the last issue, your Riv Wizard gave you a little wisdom on how to go about looking for a nice Riviera to call home in your garage. In this issue we continue with some more helpful hints. If you are unfamiliar with the car you are interested in then the Wizard strongly recommends you find someone who does. That’s where car clubs are so handy. Don’t take anything you read as gospel. Lots of statements and comments you read are just opinions. If you want to buy right then you have to spend time investigating and researching about the car you want. It will be well worth the effort. And you will have confidence in the negotiation process when the time comes to hand over your hard earned dollars. The most important thing is to take your time and enjoy the process. Always look close to home first when looking which is very often the cheapest and best way to buy. Buying Local or even interstate gives you the option of seeing the car a number of times for inspection before you buy. Ask lots of questions about the car including the history. If it has a known history, follow up and make contact with the previous owners. Again, don’t be in a hurry to make a decision unless the car is exactly what you are looking for. If the car is interstate and you don’t have time to inspect it yourself, have it inde- pendently inspected complete with a detailed report. Some state Auto clubs have this service. This is a must if we are talking about a car with lots of money involved. If you find a car that has been stored for many years (Barn Find) don’t make the assumption that it has been looked after better than a car that has always been on the road. If you are not mechanically minded, the best way to judge a car and how it’s been treated during its life is to have a good look at the interior. If you are looking at a car with low K’s and the interior presents like new or in very good condition then this is a sign of a car that has not been mistreated and has been looked after well. If it still has original paint as well then you have come across a real gem. Even if the car has high K’s but the car’s interior and paint is original (and still presents well) then you are looking at a car that has not been messed with. INTERIORS First of all check the Ergonomics. Are you comfortable in this car? How does your back feel? Does your knee hit the steering wheel? The classic was designed and built in a particular period. That is partly why it’s a classic. If your daily driver has more supportive and comfortable seats just remember that drivers seemed to manage with those seats in those days. How do you feel in the seat when you go around cor- #0455455 ners? Check for simple things like does the clock work? Check Door hinges for wear and drop. Check that all the locks work. Check every item on the dash including the windscreen wipers and horn. Turn everything on and off to see what works and what does not work. You do not have to be a motor mechanic to check items like the radio, heater and Air/Con. Can you adjust the seats without much effort? Do all windows go up and down? How original is the interior? Does it have an aftermarket steering wheel which is the most popular and widely used modification to classic cars? They usually are smaller than the original and some of them look really nice. But do not get rid of the original steering wheel. The next owner may well want it. In fact, never dispose of any original equipment if you are making modification to suit your tastes. No matter what your tastes, always try to be guided by the original design. If the car has an aftermarket stereo ask the seller if he has the original. The radio is a piece of industrial design locked in time. An old radio makes the car look as it should. Please remember that when you are buying a classic or older car you are buying a car and not a stereo system. Avoid cars that have had their interiors heavily modified. They have been customised to make driving a more pleasurable experience. These folks haven’t come to terms with one of the fundamental principles of classic car ownership. “Looks are everything” They have fitted Recaro seats, 10 x CD stacker and stereo, accessory gauges everywhere, the latest cool fabric on the seats that “somehow” matches the interior. The owner may well like the interior but do you as a buyer? The Riv Wizard will always recommend that you avoid buying heavily modified cars. If you still want to buy such a car adjust the asking price accordingly. Next issue we will look at the outside of the car. “Looks are everything!” THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 18 2016 Buick Nationals in NSW The Nationals this year are based at the Wollongong Leisure Centre in the Illawarra where entrants will be steered into a range of interesting venues to get a basic taste for the area. However, this will not be at the expense of curtailing your ability to seek out those extra little bits and pieces that make up coastal areas such as we find in and around Wollongong. “Bring your ID for Friday’s once in a lifetime chance . .” The now traditional meet and greet opens the event at the official accommodation site on the Sunday afternoon. This should allow enough time for entrants to travel from their home ports to the site over the Saturday and Sunday, with the exception of course for those coming across the Nullarbor! Monday sees registration continuing whilst a coastal run is planned that lands us at the Motorlife Museum at Darkes Road in Kembla Grange; an interesting collection of not only vehicles but a full range of interesting exhibits from the past. Tuesday and the event gets into full swing with the Show and Shine to be held in a scenic coastal town just a peaceful drive away from our base. The area is surrounded by a range of interesting shops and cafes so you will find plenty to do whilst the cars are judged and the local population gets to see what Buick has to offer. Participants get a free evening to further explore the eating and entertainment options that night and this freewheeling continues into the next day when we are presented with a plethora of options to fill in the day on the coast from Stanwell Tops in the north to Jervis Bay in the south. All easily accessible from our base accommodation. However, don’t wear yourself out because Wednesday night is an organised bush dance and dinner event not to be missed! Thursday will see participants on the road to the HARS Aircraft Museum and private car collection at Albion Park Rail. Both of these venues offer a fantastic experience! A free evening follows to ensure some recuperation time. Bring your ID for Friday’s once in a lifetime chance to tour Australia’s only nuclear facility at Lucas Heights. The bus leaves from our base accommodation and returns us later that day after the tour and lunch. Look out if your lunch is glowing though! We finish the day with the presentation dinner and after an organised breakfast on the Monday morning at our base accommodation we are off to Canberra for the post-tour. If you are able to get to Canberra expect to see markets, glass-works, city tours, the Telstra Tower, Bungendore Woodworks Galley, and village, Questacon (the National Science Museum), coach tours of the district, the Binalong Motor Museum, Cockington Green, the War Memorial, Lanyon Homestead and a whole lot more in the course of our week in the capital!! Get the full story at: http:// www.buickclub.org.au/ Naturally The Australian Riview will be there looking for stories, so see you there. VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 19 A New Home in Tassie for the Convertible Riv Billy Blair is now the lucky owner of the Colin Healy convertible Riviera. We featured both Colin and Dennis Healy’s Rivs in a previous edition of the Australian Riview. Both were great cars and now that Colin’s has landed in Tasmania, Billy and his family will enjoy it immensely I am sure. The photo proves the point! More From The Plarre Collection Day in Vic ffer a O Jade t th rand ay G w n i e Ste o Pian THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 20 Suppliers and Repairers We will run ads until advised to withdraw them. Please ensure that when your items are no longer available you let us know so that we can ensure the freshness of the information contained within this section of the magazine. Many thanks! If you have had a job well done from a repairer, then why not let others know about it. Send in details of your good experiences so they can be printed here. Dan’s Classic Auto Parts of Portland OR - www.dansclassic.com P.O. Box 328, Parts for 60s Rivs St. Marys. N.S.W. 1790 Rob Croxford has had dealings with this firm and advises their prices are reasonable, their communication is terrific and they are very good to deal with. Tel: 02 9623 5333 Fax: 02 9833 1041 Larry Daisey operates a parts supply business for 60s Rivieras. Visit his web site at BJ Panel Restoration and Fabrication, Thornlands. Qld. Bill - 0403 120 921 (panel beating, rust repairs, fibereglass repairs, modifications) Website: www.spectrumrubber.com.au Tim Harper has advised the following Repco now stock K & N filters for Rivieras. Bill works in conjunction with - The K&N E-1360 Aircleaner suits single carb Buick and Riviera applications from 1965-1967, Carr Creation Auto Refinishing, see listing: Graham Carr - 0411 588 272 http://www.knfilters.com/search/ applications.aspx?Prod=E-1360 Thornlands. Qld. (spray painting specialists). Annvid Auto Upholsterers, 24 Smith Street, Capalaba. Qld. 4157 Tel: 07 3390 3444 Mt. Cotton Auto Electrics, Mob: 0429 193 815 Spectrum Rubber and Panels Pty.Ltd. www.RivParts.com Email: sales@spectrumrubber.com.au Note: There was a Dual Quad filter, if you can’t find listing try by Dimensions. The K&N HP-2003 oil filter suits Nailheads and Rivieras up to 1978, check listing: http://www.knfilters.com/search/ applications.aspx?Prod=HP-2003 Go to www.knfilters.com and click on BUY you get a list of suppliers and installers for your Australian postcode. Buick Centre Caps restoration and replacement, highly recommended Mitch Romanowski, www.buickcenters.com Note: This is not in any way an endorsement of these businesses. It is just giving members leads to businesses that other members have had a good experience with. The Market Place For Sale NEW! 63 64 65 Riviera Remanufactured fibreglass Fan Shrouds - $250 63 64 65 Riviera Console Ash Tray Lid - New Wood - perfect chrome - $60 65-66 Wildcat Electra Remanufactured fibre-glass Fan Shrouds - $250 67 - 69 Riviera Top Radiator Support Panel - $30 66 - 70 Rear window exterior louvre (smooth and for vinyl tops) - $40 each. 69 Riviera Stainless Steel Centre Hood Spear - $30 71 Riviera Tail Light bezels - need rechroming $30 63 64 65 Buick Riviera Power Steering Internal Gears 18:1 ratio - $40 63-65 Riviera Factory Radiator Top and Bottom Tanks - $40 Shipping not included, email me for photos or more info. Tony Gentilcore 0408 964 217 email: tonyg@mako.com.au For Sale 1974 Riviera. White with black roof. ONE OWNER. Original paint. RHD. Comes with spare tyres and spares. Rego LUE-666 $18,500 ono John Stewart 03 5358 1787 For Sale 1967 GS400, Complete and 90% assembled and running. Greg Naris gnaris@optusnet.com.au Wanted 1965 Riviera, Alan Wren 07 3282 3474 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 21 The Market Place continued Parting Out 1968 Riviera, complete car, was weekend driver before rear end smash. Car is in USA but can be dismantled and parts posted to Australia or packed in my next container coming over for nominal shipping fee. Ring Doug Hawkins. 0418 631 233 or 07 5543 6927 For Sale: 1 x 1968-69 n/s fender with small marker light, excellent cond., no rust or damage. 1 x 1966-67 headlight motor, good working order, includes one flexible coupling. 3 x 1968 rear side marker lights (tri shield design). 1 x 400-430-455 waterpump used or will trade on any 1965 parts. Steve Moore 02 6884 9904 Email: riviera.1965@hotmail.com For Sale: Riviera parts 1966-67 door shells R,L, straight, no rust $300 each 1966-69 door window glass R,L $90 each Electric window motor $120 1966-67 air grille panel (base of windscreen) $30 1969 RH front mudguard straight, no rust $300 1969 rear window guides $25 1969 sun visors (black) $80 pr 1975 tail light assemblies $90 each NEW - Riviera script, the one with large R, early 60’s ? $80 1963-65 lower chin parking light assemblies VGC $250 pr 1975 bonnet emblem (new) $70 Riviera Sales brochures 1963 - 8” x 10” colour 6 pages $40 1966 - 10” x 10” colour 6 pages $40 1968 - 10” x 10” colour 8 pages $40 1995 - 5” x 10” colour 4 pages foldout $20 Ron Noonan 02 9631 4763 Email: buickron1@bigpond.com For Sale 1965 Riviera. Dual Quads. Sahara Mist, excellent Deluxe saddle interior and carpet, rally sport rims. Original and unmolested with many options inc Rare 4 note horns, Air/con, rear defroster. New chrome front bumper, all chrome and stainless nice, reco steering box and pump,2 x 4 Carbs reco’d. New windscreen. New universal joints in drive train and balanced, new brakes prior to importing, new water pump, starter motor and fuel pump. Drives and steers like new. Past winner ROA Griffith meet Ph. Rob : 0402829497 $39,950 Wanted for 65 Riv List of parts required for fellow ROA member Bidstrup by his repairer. Robert Haken <loganvillagesmash@gmail.com> Logan Village Smash Repairs (07) 5546 8673 6 Centenary Place, Logan Village Qld 4207 Front Guard Badge "Riviera" Boot Lock Outer Upper Windscreen Mould R/H Front Door Mould L/H Front Door Mould Lower Rear Windscreen Mould R/H Front Guard Mould L/H Arm Rest (Complete) R/H Arm Rest Rear Section R/H Headlamp Brackets for Mudguard Head Link Assembly and motor L/H Headlamp Rim R/H Headlamp Rim Front Seat Cover Trim Rear Seat Cover Trim L/H Front Kick Trim R/H Front Kick Trim Window Switch (Ele) (All Four) Tested Not Working Front Bumper Bar Bolts R/H Front Guard & Bumper Support R/H Door Mirror Cables Why not take out an ad in the Review? Wanted: Aus Number Plates If you would like to sell an Aussie number plate to one of our US ROA friends please contact: James "Bob" Reed 3709 Masters Drive Hope Mills, NC 28348 Phone (910) 425-5402 Email: jreed5402@nc.rr.com Wanted Rally wheels, Chrome Plated which were optional on 1965 Riviera. Any condition. Tom Kunek 0419 658 500 All new ads are also emailed to the Australian ROA group as soon as they are received! For Sale 1967 Riviera - excellent condition - 94,857 orig miles - LHD - always garaged and well maintained - $27,500 Contact Linda Hall 07 38292222 Email: brianlindahall@optusnet.com.au THE AUSTRALIAN RIVIEW Page 22 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 23 Buick Nationals Meet 2016 – Registration Form: (Office Use Only) Entrant No: This form registers your Buick for the event and books your attendance to the activities for the Nationals and Post Tour. Registrations close June 30, 2016 Please make your own accommodation arrangements. Details: www.buickclub.org.au/nationals PAYMENT SECTION TWO PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE: (tick preferred option) 1) Remit $110 now and the balance of $________ by July 31st 2016. 2) Remit the GRAND TOTAL on page one with this application form. Payment Details and Options – tick a box below Option One : I have enclosed a cheque/money order payable to Buick Car Club ECM and posted with this Registration form to: Buick Nationals Meet c/- 33 Clancy St Padstow Heights NSW 2211 Option Two : I have paid by Direct Deposit into the account below, using My Name as a reference. *Optional - scan and email both pages to: events@buickclub.org.au Account Name: Buick Car Club ECM Bank: CBA BSB: 062622 Account Number: 1036 1664 ROA AUSTRALIAN REGION REVIEW Share The Pride ROA AUSTRALIAN REGION AUS + Qld National Co-Ordinator Linda Hall #10723 PO Box 383 Cleveland Qld 4163 brianlindahall@optusnet.com.au Vic + Tas Regional Co-Ordinator Tom Kunek # 3845 riv@netspace.net.au 0419 658 500 NSW + SA Regional Co-Ordinator Tony Gentilcore # 10107 rivs@mako.com.au 02 9453 9199 This e-magazine is produced under the auspices of the Riviera Owners Association USA and the Buick Car Club of Australia Qld Inc. to cater for the needs of car enthusiasts with an interest in the Riviera produced between 1963 and 1999. Riviera Owners Association – PO Box 261218, DENVER, CO USA, 80226 303-233-2987, office@rivowners.org , www.rivowners.org It is a medium created for the exchange of stories and ideas. Its aim is to support enthusiasts in Australia in the preservation and use of the Buick Riviera built between 1963 and 1999. The editors welcome contributions at laurenejohn@bigpond.com Membership Please encourage any Riviera owners you meet to join the R.O.A. W E’ RE ON THE WEB! WWW. RIVOWNERS. ORG It's simple, just log on to the R.O.A. web site. DON’T FORGET, IF YOU DO SELL YOUR RIVIERA, LEAVE DETAILS ON JOINING THE ROA IN THE CAR New Members Required for the ROA in AUS Recently seen in Queensland. Do you know this car and if so why haven’t you convinced him/her to join the ROA? This is a fine looking 1963 Riv that has some subtle mods, most obvious being the wheels which look good especially in combination with this dark blue colour. As it turns out this Riv is owned by Michael Cartledge and we are working on Michael already. If you see a Riv and have the chance, approach the owner. The benefits of ROA membership are many and varied. Go to the ROA website for full details: WWW. RIVOWNERS. ORG
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