OPGI Customer Car Spotlight: 1965 Buick Riviera

OPGI Customer Bob Balandran of Corona, California is the proud owner of this very original 1965 Buick Riviera. The “original” quality of Bob’s first generation Riviera stems from the fact that the car has been in his family since it was purchased new in 1965. His parents bought the Champagne Mist colored Riviera just two months before Bob left to serve in the U.S. military that year. Remarkably, Mr. Balandran’s Buick remained in near perfect condition over the last 50 years. The Riviera was never wrecked or damaged in any way, and it never needed a total restoration. As a result, most everything on the car remains original today with the exception of a few minor parts here and there, one recent repaint in the original color and a freshening of the engine to keep it running smoothly.

After Bob decided to freshen up the Buick in dedication to the memory of his parents, it took him about three years of on and off maintenance to get it into the ultra-clean shape it is today. The wheels, bumpers and trim are all original stock items, and after a respray by the Barry White Speed Shop, the outside of the car looks brand new. Inside, Bob says the rear seats, dash, headliner and door panels are all original items. Bob did add a new carpet and glove box (from OPGI), and he had the front seats recovered by Nunez Upholstery due to wear on the original items.

The entire drivetrain including the engine, transmission and exhaust system, is all factory original equipment too. The car was ordered with air conditioning, power brakes and power steering, and all of those systems still work perfectly today. Bob did add electronic ignition to the engine for increased reliability, but otherwise the Buick 401 powerplant is the same as it was in 1965. The famous Italian automobile designer Sergio Pininfarina once declared the 1965 Riviera as “One of the most beautiful American cars ever built.” Looking at the photos of Bob’s super clean Riviera presented here, we’d be inclined to agree.

1965 Buick Riviera
Bob Balandran, Corona, California
Buick 401 V-8
Champagne Mist paint
Buick Super Turbine 400 transmission