1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport
Electrically operated “clamshell” headlight doors concealing vertically stacked quad headlamps distinguished the 1965 Riviera from all other model years, bringing Bill Mitchell’s original design vision to life. Each fender housed a pair of die-cast metal doors hinged at the top and bottom that met flush when closed.
When the headlights were switched on, an electric motor and linkage system rotated the doors outward and upward into recesses in the fender’s leading edge, revealing the lamps in a smooth, synchronized motion. When switched off, the doors closed seamlessly to restore the car’s clean, uninterrupted front-end styling.
Production totaled 34,586 units, with just 3,354 equipped with the Gran Sport package (option code A9). The Gran Sport specification included Buick’s 425 cubic inch “Super Wildcat” nailhead V8, fitted with dual 600 cfm Carter AFB four-barrel carburetors. The LX-coded engine produced 360 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm, featuring 10.25:1 compression, hydraulic lifters, and a specially laminated 2.25-inch dual exhaust system.
Power was delivered through the Super Turbine 400 three-speed automatic transmission (praised by Car and Driver as “without question, the best automatic transmission in the world.)”
A standard 3.42:1 Positraction limited-slip differential transferred power to the rear wheels, while massive 12-inch finned aluminum drum brakes at all four corners provided stopping power across 320.5 square inches of swept area.
The 1965 Gran Sport combined refined luxury with formidable torque and striking design, cementing its place as one of Buick’s most admired performance cars of the 1960s.
Source
