Why the 1965 Buick Riviera is one of the Coolest Classic Cars Ever Made

The Buick Riviera that was released and sold in the year I was born, 1965, was quite a vehicle. It was the last year for the "first generation" Riviera model - and by far the best. A unique, recognizable body style that encompassed a spacious cabin and housed a powerful V8 engine has now become a sought-after gem of classic car collectors. I was fortunate enough to have one for a few months in my youth. Here are some of its power stats: 

*0-60 in 8 seconds 
*Quarter mile in 16 seconds 
*Top speed observed 115 MPH 
*Mileage 13.2 MPG 

With a 401 Wildcat under the hood, I had no trouble getting where I wanted to go. And while the body was large, it was quite maneuverable thanks to the standard equipment power steering and stiff heavy-duty suspension. And who says getting there fast can't be in style? Check out some of the features it came with: 

*Front bucket seats 
*Bucket-style rear seats 
*Cruise control 
*Tilt steering wheel 
*Center console floor-shifter & storage comp. 
*Power windows, including wing-window! 
*Driver side 4-way power seat 
*Air conditioning 
*AM/FM radio with power antenna 

This 1965 car had more stuff than my 1985 Toyota did! I can remember cranking up the radio with the cruise control on doing 75 while adjusting my power seat, the tilt wheel, and the power wing windows. Ah to be young again - those were the days. 

But the real feature that made the 1965 Buick Riviera stand out from all the other years were the hidden headlights. Tucked out of sight by the clam-shell covers that opened and closed automatically on the outer edges of the vehicle, they were moved back into the grille for all future body styles (where they had been the previous 2 years. 

Back in the mid-80's these cars were a lot easier to find, but there are some original vehicles still sitting in driveways out there is suburban and rural America. You might be able to pick one up for $1,000 if you do your homework. Less populated areas away from big metro cities are your best bet for discovering one of these hidden gems. 

Find one, invest some time and/or money into restoring it, and you will have something special. It's a good investment too; you just can't lose restoring classic American cars. 

There is another unique Riviera worth mentioning here, and that is the 1972 model, otherwise known as the "torpedo back." A neighbor-mechanic of mine told me they love those things in Las Vegas (this was in 1985). I have never owned one of those - not yet anyway! 

Article Source: http://www.ArticlesAlley.com/

What To Look For In A Classic Car Auction

What To Look For In A Classic Car Auction 
By Marc 
You will find a wide range of car of all ages and all conditions. They are also a great place to find rare cars of all types. You will find that some classic cars will be sold for very high prices and often not sell at all. Most cars won't sell on their first attempt because of the high prices and the classic car market is not all that large. This just makes thing easier for people that want a particular car and are prepared to spend the right amount of money.

To find good classic car auctions you will need to look around, as they are not that many around. A good place to find where the best classic car auctions are is to look in the most popular classic car magazines and try attending any classic car functions that you can find. The classic car world is fairly tight knit and you will need to be in the know to get on too the good deals. That doesn't mean that you will need to be an expert but you will need to know what you are looking for and be prepared for the high prices and lack of selection.

If you are prepared to do a lot of hunting around and a lot of leg work you can find some very rare cars in very good conditions for a very good price. Not all classic cars are expensive you can find car that are old but not all that rare so the price won't be so high. Just because the car is not are that does not mean it not worth buying. If you are looking for a classic car then most likely you will know exactly what you want but trying to find it will be the hard part. It's also a good idea to attend a few too get a feel for what you be up against and find out how it all works.

When you do find the perfect car at the perfect price be prepared for a bidding war. The fact that you like and want the car means that there will be most likely a lot of other people that are thinking the same time. Always remember to watch what you are buying, as there are a lot of replicas out there and all may not be what it seems. I wish you the best of luck in you classic car buy adventures and hope you find what you are looking for. 

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/

How To Safely Haul Your Classic Car

How To Safely Haul Your Classic Car
By: Phoenix Delray
Begin by looking at your trailer. Is there sufficient length for the Classic Car plus enough space to operate the ratchet assemblies at the fore and aft of the bodywork? Do you have ‘D’ rings located towards the corners of the trailer? Is the ‘D’ ring rated for a total of 3 times the weight of the car? Once these items have been addressed, It is time to load the car and tie it down.

Once you have loaded it onto the trailer, the next step is to connect the straps. You can buy a complete tie down kit from Mac’s custom tie downs. Start by connecting the twisted snap hook on the fixed end (the short end) to each of the ‘D’ rings. Choose a set of locations to tie down to. 

Typically, on a Classic Car those locations would be through the wheel, over an axle or substantial suspension member, or possibly around a frame horn. 

Some general guidelines to keep in mind are: choose a location with enough strength to hold the Classic Car in the event of an accident, one that is free of cutting hazards, and with enough space around it to lace the axle strap. 

DO NOT run a strap where it might migrate and crush a brake line. Also consider the effect of the movement of the Classic Car while it is traveling down the road, since what may seem like a clear space now, could become tie down strap guillotine later, if the trailer hits a hard bump.

After choosing a location, you should now run your axle strap around it. Check the length if the standard 24” isn’t enough, don’t worry Mac’s can make the strap in any length needed in a short timeframe. 
After determining that the length is correct, align the two delta rings at the end of the axle strap together and click in the running end (long end) of the ratchet strap. Before ratcheting the strap tight, pull the tail end of the strap through until the strap looks straight. Now you can ratchet the strap, making sure to have two full wraps around the mandrel to ensure a positive mechanical lock. Repeat this process at all four corners of the Classic Car.

Should you cross the straps? Possibly. Understand that the strap will have its maximum strength in the line it is pulling. It is always a good idea to have the straps at the rear of the Classic Car pulling mostly straight back. Most vehicles will out corner a trailer, so the Classic Car is more likely to come loose when an accident occurs than wander around when properly tied down. Be sure to take a look at the setup in your trailer and make sure that it is sensible this is the best test for tie downs.

Article Source: http://www.articlemap.com

What To Look For In A Classic Car Auction

What To Look For In A Classic Car Auction 
By Marc 
You will find a wide range of car of all ages and all conditions. They are also a great place to find rare cars of all types. You will find that some classic cars will be sold for very high prices and often not sell at all. Most cars won't sell on their first attempt because of the high prices and the classic car market is not all that large. This just makes thing easier for people that want a particular car and are prepared to spend the right amount of money.

To find good classic car auctions you will need to look around, as they are not that many around. A good place to find where the best classic car auctions are is to look in the most popular classic car magazines and try attending any classic car functions that you can find. The classic car world is fairly tight knit and you will need to be in the know to get on too the good deals. That doesn't mean that you will need to be an expert but you will need to know what you are looking for and be prepared for the high prices and lack of selection.

If you are prepared to do a lot of hunting around and a lot of leg work you can find some very rare cars in very good conditions for a very good price. Not all classic cars are expensive you can find car that are old but not all that rare so the price won't be so high. Just because the car is not are that does not mean it not worth buying. If you are looking for a classic car then most likely you will know exactly what you want but trying to find it will be the hard part. It's also a good idea to attend a few too get a feel for what you be up against and find out how it all works.

When you do find the perfect car at the perfect price be prepared for a bidding war. The fact that you like and want the car means that there will be most likely a lot of other people that are thinking the same time. Always remember to watch what you are buying, as there are a lot of replicas out there and all may not be what it seems. I wish you the best of luck in you classic car buy adventures and hope you find what you are looking for. 

Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/