A Bite of History: 1966 Buick Riviera Gran Sport

by Mlke Thies

In 1966, the Buick Riviera Gran Sport stood at the crossroads of elegance and muscle. It was the last year of the Riviera’s original, razor-sharp body style. It was long, low, and dripping with understated class. But behind its refined façade lurked serious firepower.

The Gran Sport package added Buick’s top-tier Super Wildcat 425 V8, boasting 360 horsepower and dual four-barrel carbs. With heavy-duty suspension, a Positraction rear end, and performance gearing, the Riviera GS wasn’t just a gentleman’s cruiser; it was a street predator in silk gloves.

Only about 5,700 were built that year, making it a rare and desirable machine today. The '66 GS quietly embodied the best of mid-'60s American grand touring: power, poise, and presence, with just enough menace under the hood.