mrmike Posted October 26, 2019 Posted October 26, 2019 (edited) My new project is AMT's '65 Buick Riviera. I would have really liked it if this kit was a GS or Gran Sport version, but the GS version has improvements over stock that you really can't see on the outside. My paint will be Dupli-Color Emerald Green Metallic with a Tan leather interior. The wheel covers will be replaced with Buick's Chrome Plated Road Wheel and they were a gift from my friend, Barry Fadden. Thank you Barry! My inspiration for this build is a '65 Riviera GS that I have seen at several car shows. More Riviera to come... Edited October 28, 2019 by mrmike
espo Posted October 26, 2019 Posted October 26, 2019 This is a very nice kit and I like your pick of color combination, I'll be following your build.
mrmike Posted October 27, 2019 Author Posted October 27, 2019 Thank you David! My only wish for this kit is that it should have been a GS version. Dual quads tells me that it should have been a GS.
mrmike Posted October 27, 2019 Author Posted October 27, 2019 (edited) Based on my research, this model is a Riviera GS and not the standard Riviera. I suspected that this model was a GS since it came with the dual carb setup and was missing the side vents between the door edge and the rear wheel arches. Too bad AMT never saw fit to call this model a GS like they should have. This is also very old tooling since the chassis also includes the exhaust system and most of the front and rear suspension. I got the engine mostly assembled and I drilled out the distributor cap for ignition wires which were superglued into place. I may have to find a piece of wire here in the shop to make plug boots from. More Riviera to come... Edited October 27, 2019 by mrmike
espo Posted October 27, 2019 Posted October 27, 2019 While having a very basic chassis the rest of the tooling is pretty nice. I don't recall if this kit included the side covers that covered the spark plugs. The 1:1 may have done away with this feature by that time, it was sort of a specific Buick feature and also a bad deal as the plug wires aged and they would start arcing to the covers.
Can-Con Posted October 27, 2019 Posted October 27, 2019 That's gonna be sharp in that color combo. Seen one like that for sale in northern Maine back in the '80s. BTW, only the '63 and '64s had the fake scoops in the side, '65s didn't have that at all.
StevenGuthmiller Posted October 27, 2019 Posted October 27, 2019 30 minutes ago, Can-Con said: BTW, only the '63 and '64s had the fake scoops in the side, '65s didn't have that at all. That's what I was thinking as well. I don't believe that the AMT kit represents a GS. The only real difference that I can see between the standard Riviera and the GS on the exterior are the Grand Sport emblems on the front quarters and the trunk lid which I don't believe are present on the kit. The engine intake is likely not a good representation of the model. There are a ton of kits that have been produced over the years with inaccuracies such as this. Just as an example, my most recent Johan 1965 Plymouth Fury build depicts a Fury III body, but the interior is absolutely Sport Fury. Not only that, but the kit includes a Hemi engine, which was not an option in '65. Steve
Trendsetta68 Posted October 27, 2019 Posted October 27, 2019 I loooove AMT's '65 Riviera body ... the old mold has held up very well ... It might be just me ... but the spoke wheels are a nice touch/ addition to ones parts box ... ???
Rob Hall Posted October 27, 2019 Posted October 27, 2019 1 hour ago, Trendsetta68 said: I loooove AMT's '65 Riviera body ... the old mold has held up very well ... It might be just me ... but the spoke wheels are a nice touch/ addition to ones parts box ... ??? I like the wide wire wheels... I have one of these that I plan to swap the wheels w/ the '66 Wildcat..the 5 spoke Buick road wheels will look good on the Riv w/ whitewalls.
mrmike Posted October 28, 2019 Author Posted October 28, 2019 Thanks guys! 7 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said: That's what I was thinking as well. I don't believe that the AMT kit represents a GS. The only real difference that I can see between the standard Riviera and the GS on the exterior are the Grand Sport emblems on the front quarters and the trunk lid which I don't believe are present on the kit. The engine intake is likely not a good representation of the model. There are a ton of kits that have been produced over the years with inaccuracies such as this. Just as an example, my most recent Johan 1965 Plymouth Fury build depicts a Fury III body, but the interior is absolutely Sport Fury. Not only that, but the kit includes a Hemi engine, which was not an option in '65. Steve I was going to post an entire diatribe about the car and this kit, but I changed my mind. Probably for the better. Basically, this kit is not a Riviera GS. But, I see it as one since everything that made a Riviera GS is hidden under the body. To you it may not be a Rivera GS, but to me, it is.
StevenGuthmiller Posted October 28, 2019 Posted October 28, 2019 8 minutes ago, mrmike said: Thanks guys! I was going to post an entire diatribe about the car and this kit, but I changed my mind. Probably for the better. Basically, this kit is not a Riviera GS. But, I see it as one since everything that made a Riviera GS is hidden under the body. To you it may not be a Rivera GS, but to me, it is. I was only responding to your earlier post. 10 hours ago, mrmike said: Based on my research, this model is a Riviera GS and not the standard Riviera. I suspected that this model was a GS since it came with the dual carb setup and was missing the side vents between the door edge and the rear wheel arches. Too bad AMT never saw fit to call this model a GS like they should have. If you search around, there might be an individual out there somewhere that makes "Grand Sport" and "GS" PE parts. It wouldn't take a lot to make it an actual convincing GS. I don't see any "Grand Sport" emblems in the '70 GSX set, but some of them are difficult to read. Plenty of "GS" emblems. Might be worth checking out. Steve
Trendsetta68 Posted October 28, 2019 Posted October 28, 2019 Just my opinion..... but I really wish that Buick made the Riviera in convertible form ... It has a really nice elegant body form to it .....
mrmike Posted October 28, 2019 Author Posted October 28, 2019 10 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said: I was only responding to your earlier post. If you search around, there might be an individual out there somewhere that makes "Grand Sport" and "GS" PE parts. It wouldn't take a lot to make it an actual convincing GS. I don't see any "Grand Sport" emblems in the '70 GSX set, but some of them are difficult to read. Plenty of "GS" emblems. Might be worth checking out. Steve Steve, I know you were only responding to my reply. I am aware of these PE sets, but I just can't justify to cost of purchasing them just to get three pieces of PE. The '70 GSX PE set is 1/24 scale and the '66 Riviera PE set is 1/25 scale. My plan is to build this Riviera mostly out-of-box with the exception of a wired engine and wheels from the AMT '67 Riviera. Thank you Steve!
mrmike Posted October 28, 2019 Author Posted October 28, 2019 I have finished the engine at this point minus the air cleaner and painting the transmission. More Riviera to come...
mrmike Posted October 30, 2019 Author Posted October 30, 2019 I have replaced the kit carburetors with a pair from my parts box. These are much better looking than the two lumps from kit. More Riviera to come...
mrmike Posted November 7, 2019 Author Posted November 7, 2019 Gave the Riviera a bath yesterday and I let everything dry in the paintbooth overnight. This morning, I gave the Riviera a good coating of Tamiya Light Grey Surface Primer. I'll let this dry for a bit and give the body and hood another good coating of primer in prep for the Dupli-Color Emerald Green Metallic. More Buick to come...
mrmike Posted November 7, 2019 Author Posted November 7, 2019 Paint was sprayin' this afternoon! I got the body and hood painted with Dupli-Color Emerald Green Metallic. This is the first mist and medium coats of paint. The interior has been painted and the dash and console are waiting for detailing. I painted the chassis, transmission and wheels and wheelbacks. The chassis will need to be detailed. More Buick to come...
mrm Posted November 7, 2019 Posted November 7, 2019 Very nice. It’s a nice color, altho from your early photos with the spray can, I expected it to be much darker.
mrmike Posted November 8, 2019 Author Posted November 8, 2019 Thanks guys! The color has gotten darker since I have added two more wetter coats of paint.
oldnslow Posted November 8, 2019 Posted November 8, 2019 Honestly , I would have left the 2 lumps under that air cleaner and saved the better looking carbs for an exposed engine , but it 's looking great , so onward and upward !
mrmike Posted November 8, 2019 Author Posted November 8, 2019 Thanks Robert! Exposed or not, those two better looking carbs would have sat under a large air cleaner and not be seen. It is not often I build a model with an exposed engine and little air cleaners on top of nice looking carbs.
mrmike Posted November 8, 2019 Author Posted November 8, 2019 I did a mockup of the Riviera to set and check on the stance. I like it! More buick to come...
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