1966 Buick Riviera

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE 

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong. 

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy. 

* * * 

The 1966 Buick Riviera marked the fourth year of the first-generation Riviera, a personal luxury coupe that helped define the segment. Designed under the direction of GM styling chief Bill Mitchell, the Riviera combined European-inspired elegance with American performance. Its crisp, angular lines gave it a distinctive, upscale look that stood apart from other GM offerings. 

For 1966, Buick refined the Riviera’s styling with a new grille and rear fascia, while retaining its signature “Coke-bottle” silhouette. Under the hood, the standard engine was the 425 cubic-inch V8, producing up to 340 horsepower. Mid-year, Buick introduced the new 430 cu-in V8, which would become standard in 1967. The Riviera featured advanced features for its time, including power accessories, optional cruise control, and a sophisticated suspension system that balanced comfort with handling. Motor Trend (February 1966) reported, “Buick calls this a ‘tuned’ automobile, and it's very well-tuned indeed, with all components working toward a common goal – a very uncommon automobile.” 

Sales for 1966 reached over 45,000 units, reflecting the Riviera’s strong appeal among buyers seeking luxury and performance. Though it competed with the Ford Thunderbird and Pontiac Grand Prix, the Riviera carved out its own niche with understated elegance and engineering excellence. 

Highlights 

• Offered from The Generous Collection 

• Finished in Shadow Turquoise (L) over black vinyl upholstery with cloth inserts 

• Powered by a 425 cu-in “Wildcat 465” V8 with four-barrel carb rated at 340 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque 

• Three-speed Super Turbine 400 automatic transmission 

• The chassis number (494876H900138) decodes as:  

  • 4 – Buick 

  • 94 – Riviera 

  • 87 – 2-door sport coupe 

  • 6 – 1966 model year 

  • H – Flint (Michigan) assembly plant 

  • 900138 – Sequential production number  

Features 

• Rear-wheel-drive two-door coupe 

• Bench seats

• Power steering, brakes, and windows 

• Tilt steering wheel  

• 140-mph vertical ribbon speedometer 

• Hankook Optimo H724 whitewall tires 

Known Imperfections 

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars. 

• Brakes need work/not roadworthy as is 

• Unable to open trunk 

• Center “R” of passenger front tire hub is broken 

• Imperfections on dash top 

• Clock inoperable 

Ownership History

This 1966 Buick Riviera is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles. 

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.  

Contact: Frank Malefors   Phone: 602-488-7888   Email: fmalefors@hagerty.com   

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is. 

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.