The time is now to buy an early Riviera. Yes, I know they've always been affordable and you always figured that you could pick one up when you wanted one, but that is changing. Partially due to the several early cars we've featured lately and partially due to the fact that I'm very fond of these cars personally, it's been impossible to not notice the steady upward march of prices on 1963-65 Rivieras. It's easy to understand why that's happening; what's harder to understand is why it didn't happen sooner. These cars are simply gorgeous; there's not a wrong line anywhere on the body and the interior is a masterful stroke of early '60s cool that's immaculately tasteful. Add in the impressive performance of the Nailhead torque factory under the hood and you get a personal luxury car that's perhaps even more relevant today than it was when it was new. Despite its affordable sticker price, this Riv still says you've arrived.

Repainted in its original code V Granada Red in the mid-2000s, this flashy Riviera is impossible to ignore. It appears to be a good, solid car with no surprises waiting underneath and the paint work was a full disassembly job, so there are no masking lines to be found, just bright, shiny red paint. Fit and finish are superb, with big doors that open effortlessly and line up properly, super straight quarter panels, and no evidence that this car was ever rusty or wrecked. In short, someone took a good Riviera and gave it a full makeover. The two-stage urethane shines up brilliantly and will probably look this good for years to come without a lot of work, although this is the kind of car you're going to want to park in your driveway and wax it where all the neighbors can see; nobody needs to know how affordable it really is. The chrome and stainless trim is in remarkable condition, with shiny bumpers that look so good I have to believe they've been restored. Details like the clamshell parking lights (the clamshell headlights wouldn't be ready for production until 1965), the spear down the center of the hood, and the quarter panel "vents" are all in very good shape. It's not perfect, of course, but the work is of such a uniformly high quality that it needs nothing to be enjoyed as-is.

The black vinyl bucket seat interior is quite possibly original and it's in truly remarkable shape. There's no wear on even the driver's outer seat cushions and the materials underneath your posterior feel firm and supportive. The carpets have undoubtedly been replaced, they're just too nice to be 50 years old, and the door panels show only minor patina and no damage. Of note, this car carries full-length armrests with integrated latches for rear seat passengers, a neat relic of the 1960s where people actually used their back seats for real people. The wood veneers are impeccably tasteful, working with the brushed metal instrument panel and camera case center console. At first glance, the interior looks quite stock, and the original gauges are in excellent condition, but auxiliary Auto Meter temperature and oil pressure gauges have been installed in the ashtray, although they have not yet been hooked up. The original AM/FM radio is fully functional and uses speakers set into the sides of the center console to enhance the sound. The only demerits are some light pitting on the interior chrome, some wear to the knobs, and a power antenna that's not functional. On the other hand, the trunk is properly outfitted with gray plaid mats and a full-sized spare tire with jack assembly, so it's ready for a cross-country trip.

Driving is what you'll want to do once you experience the seemingly endless reserves of torque provided by the 401 cubic inch "Nailhead" V8 under the hood. With 325 horsepower and a staggering 445 pounds of torque, it makes everything the Riviera does feel effortless and despite a curb weight approaching 4000 pounds, it feels downright quick around town. The engine bay is quite stock, with a proper red air cleaner assembly atop the silver powerplant, and while it's not detailed for show, it doesn't have any signs of trouble, either. The Twin Turbine automatic transmission is a descendant of the Dynaflow and works correctly, offering a seamless flow of torque with no perceptible shifts, which feels odd at first but once you realize you're hurtling along at 75 MPH, you'll realize that all is operating correctly. 3.23 gears are a nice compromise between acceleration and cruising ability. Power steering and brakes make it easy to manage around town, and despite the suspension that has been lowered three inches all around, it rides like a luxury car should. The stock exhaust has been replaced by a burly-sounding Flowmaster system with transverse muffler, giving this big Buick a bit of an edge. Gorgeous 17-inch Torque Thrust wheels have been fitted with 275/40/17 performance radials, giving it an awesome stance that looks right.

As in 1963, this Riviera is a first-class way to get from Point A to Point B. They will not be getting more affordable in the coming years, and if you like the modified stance and a bit of attitude with your personal luxury, this car delivers in a very big way. Smooth, powerful, competent, and downright gorgeous to look at, it's time for the Riviera to graduate to the A-List.