HotCars digital artist Rostislav Prokop creates one rad Riv whose contemporary details and a potent engine make it a bona fide muscle car.
The knife-edged styling of the first-generation Buick Riviera marked a design breakthrough following the overblown, chromed-up looks of late-50s cars. Produced from 1963 to 1965, the Riviera was General Motors’ response to the upscale, low-slung Ford Thunderbird.
For 1965, Buick introduced the Gran Sport (GS) A9 option on the Riviera and made only 3.354 of these cars. While the differences between a GS and a conventional Riviera are primarily mechanical and not stylistic, these features bring the former closer to muscle car territory.
In his exclusive render, Hotcars digital artist Rostislav Prokop brings back the 1965 Buick Riviera with its already-awesome design cues and transforms it into a compellingly muscular restomod.
A Buick Riviera GS That’s Now A Lower, Sleeker, And Meaner Muscle Car
The original first-generation Buick Riviera took inspiration in part from the Studebaker Avanti. The Riviera echoed the Avanti’s unique Coke bottle styling somewhat. By comparison, Prokop slams and slightly stretches the updated Riviera GS. The stance signals “muscle car”, especially at the rear.
The artist has also deleted the front bumper chrome in order to showcase the egg-crate grille. The Riv’s signature clamshell headlamp covers are now see-through, revealing vertical rectangular-shaped LEDs.They replace the vertically-stacked round headlights that were a 1965 model year refresh.
On the sides, Prokop has inserted a B pillar to support indented doors that accentuate its flaring fenders. Racing wheels on wider tires are an additional modern touch. At the back, Prokop keeps the LED taillights low on the bumpers but again deletes the chrome and simplifies the configuration. Narrow vertical air ducts and large cutouts for the exhaust pipes complete the look.
An Engine Swap That Suits The Buick Riviera’s New Status
The original engine that powered the rear-wheel-drive Buick Riviera GS was the “Super Wildcat” 425 cu. in. V8 that made 360 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. It also featured a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission. The GS also came with dual-quad Carter carburetors and a dual-snorkel air cleaner.
But, as robust as that engine is, this refreshed Tri-Shield deserves a strong, state-of-the-art engine with a drivetrain to match. Therefore, it wouldn’t be out of line to swap in a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 from the Camaro ZL1. With a few upgrades, this new Riviera restomod would yield 1,000 hp and over 900 lb-ft of torque.
This engine pairs nicely with either a 6-speed manual transmission or 10-speed automatic. With that in mind, either gearbox makes this 1965 Buick Riviera GS restomod able to boldly throw down with nearly any other muscle car on the road.
