The 60s were a time of innovation and exploration. By the mid 1950s, Ford had made a bold move into the personal-luxury segment with the iconic Thunderbird. The competition, although late, tried its best to keep up with the Thunderbird fever. GM was trying left and right to get a hold with the likes of the Oldsmobile Starfire and the Pontiac Grand Prix.

But none of those could catch up with Ford. And then came the Buick Riviera, a gorgeous two-door sports coupe that fused in the best of American and European-inspired styling. This GT offered plenty of "luxury and sporty appeal". And GM finally had nailed it. The Riviera was quicker and sharper than the Ford Thunderbird.

They had a winner at hand, or did they? Well, Ford usually sold more T-birds than Buick did Rivieras. Still, the Buick Riviera remains an American icon that pushed the threshold of luxury and sportiness among American muscle cars.

Buick Riviera was an upscale muscle car that fused luxury and sportiness into one car in an attempt to topple the Ford Thunderbird.

Launched In The 60s As The "Thunderbird Killer"

1963 Buick Riviera front third quarter ariel view
Via: Media.buick.com

The Buick Riviera was intended to be an answer to the ever-increasing wave of performance-driven European machines stealing the thunder from American muscle. The main rival was a beautiful French car called Facel Vega which was interestingly powered by a Chrysler-supplied Hemi V8. And when fighting a common enemy, an internal face-off started. Ford combined pure American-bred muscle with the grand-touring cred that European cars were known for.

1963BuickRiviera media buick com
Via: Media.buick.com

The result was a car with plenty of performance, but even higher on touring appeal. With the Europeans out of the way, the Riviera came into the picture to topple the Thunderbird. But the Thunderbird Killer was never intended to be a "Buick Riviera" but rather a "Cadillac La Salle".

But GM was not interested in that, and after getting rejected from Chevy, GM's mid-range trio - Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Buick came into the picture. The first two wanted a change in design which Bill Mitchell didn't approve. And that's how Buick got to build the Riviera. The first-gen Riviera came out in 1963 and was an instant success, despite Buick being skeptical.

Related: Iconic Luxury Sports Car: A Detailed Look At The Buick Wildcat

A Performance Machine With Touring Credentials

1968 Buick Riviera side view
Via: Media.buick.com

The first-gen '63 Riviera packed a 6.6-Liter (401 cu. in.) "Nailhead" V8 that churned out 325 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque. An optional 7.0-Liter (425 cu. in.) V8 was also offered which packed 340 hp. It was paired up with a two-speed automatic transmission called the Dynaflow. The underpinnings were a modified version of the frame used in other larger Buicks. It was shortened to 117 inches and gave it a sturdier suspension setup with trailing arms and coil springs coupled to telescopic shocks. It also had a track bar for improved ride and handling.

1963 Buick Riviera front and rear view
Via: Media.buick.com

The chassis was tuned to gobble up miles without any signs of fatigue. Then came the Super Wildcat engines from 1964. The 425 motor was now the base option with the Super Wildcat coming in on top with 360 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. As the years went on, larger V8s were offered, topping off with a 455 c.i. monster. Later on, as the Riviera saw downsizing, various V6 engines would also be seen under the Riv's hood.

This two-door coupe also possessed impressive touring credentials. The shorter wheelbase also helped it stay nimbler than other Buicks of the time. The Super Wildcat-equipped Riviera's were faster than any of the Thunderbirds of the time with 0-60 mph coming up in about seven seconds and a top speed of 130 mph.

Iconic "Boat Tail" Carried Forward Riviera's Rolls-Royce Inspired Design

1971 Buick Riviera rear view
Via: Media.buick.com

The first-gen Riviera was a handsome-looking car inspired by a Rolls-Royce Coachbuild. Stretching over 204 inches, this land boat was sharp and low-slung. The headlights were mounted into the grille and kept the sharp form factor intact. It was unlike any other car on the road. The1965 version was the closest to the concept.

The '65 came with concealed headlamps which gave it a whole different level of drama. But the most gorgeous design that instantly connects you to the Riviera came about in 1971 with the boat tail design (seen above). The car had a receding shoulder line that added a classic wooden motorboat design touch to it.

Related: These Are The Best Features Of The 1965 Buick Riviera

A Luxurious Package With Loads Of Comfort Options

1971 Buick Riviera side view hd wallpaper
Via: Media.buick.com

Luxury was a no-brainer in the Riviera. Just like the Thunderbird, the Buick came with four comfy bucket seats wrapped in vinyl with options for cloth/vinyl or leather/vinyl for added plushness. Despite being a two-door coupe, there was ample space for four adults to go on a cross-country tour.

And the options list was lavish with accessories ranging from power windows, power seats, tilt-wheel, air-conditioning, and even cruise control. It also had a radio, power door locks, and automatic trunk release as options. The list kept getting cozier as time passed.

Revival Of The Classic American Icon

2007 Buick Riviera concept front third quarter view
Via: Media.buick.com

The Riviera nameplate finally bid adieu in 1999 as a rather odd-looking coupe. Buick tried to remind people of this iconic nameplate with two concepts, one in 2007 and the other in 2013. The latter was more intriguing as it was conceptualized in China, Buick's largest market in current times. But it was a cool design study for future Buick models with gull-wing doors and a fluidic design language.

Until now, there are no indications of plans to revive the Riviera nameplate. But we have a gut feeling that the "Thunderbird killer" will make a comeback as a cool luxury EV, of course, with Grand Touring appeal, flaunting the new Buick logo.

Sources: Media.buick.com, Silodrome.com, Drivinglane.com, en.Wikipedia.org