Gee, I just LOVE annoying people

Graeme, there's no doubt about it and if anyone is offended, I apologize to your delicate sensibilities. If there were an option of one or the other and I was buying the car - I'd buy your version with no hesitation or even look back! Monumentally handsome!

Aaah! I feel vindicated. What a glorious feeling of relief.

Lowering the twin fender peaks makes a world of difference, for the better; especially at the very top, front. Just to show the indent of the grille, I added a touch of body color to represent a scooch more indention.

@graeme-ogg, let's not get too comfortabel here. Membership in the Think Tanked group is contingent upon being socially acceptable...for the most part...for most of the members...some of the time...

Graeme, by making those changes it reminds me of the Olds F85.

I love the original design. But Graeme's is intriguing. I tend to agree. If the original had been Graeme's front clip, we would love it just as much. 

Yes, a satisfactory modification. Love that wider grill.

Messing with the flawless design of the '65 Riv is akin to sacrilege, but I do commend you for your courage in presenting what appears to be the result of crossbreeding it with a 2025 Nissan Kicks.  Bravo.....in a meek sort of way....I suppose.

Hmm. As everyone will agree, your Forum contributions are generally noted for their unsurpassed intelligence, perspicacity, wisdom and undeniable powers of logic and acute observation (all deriving from an impressively extended educational experience). But you kind of got me baffled on this one. Or maybe you were employing irony, an area in which of course you Colonials are known to excel but which we Brits just fail to grasp.

But obviously I would not wish to take issue with you, so at this point I will discreetly withdraw (as the bishop said to the actress).

Meanwhile, I promise to resist any future temptation to desecrate a Buick Riviera of any vintage whatsoever

and will confine myself to more practical (and hopefully non-controversial) thought experiments.

Posted by: @graeme-ogg

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I have always greatly admired the ’63-’65 Riviera. A wonderful piece of timeless styling, and in most respects (and in spite of my much-despised attempts at a wagon version) I would bow to the general view that it shouldn’t be messed around with.

HOWEVER . . . from time to time I have looked at it and thought that compared with the quiet, understated subtlety of most of the design, those ribbed chrome “clamshells” at the front corners might be just be a teeny bit exaggerated, and even (whisper it quietly) slightly crude.

So I removed them.

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Feel free to be offended, but I might venture to suggest that if the car had originally appeared with this more “European” front end, and otherwise unchanged, people might have been equally happy with it. Or then again maybe not.

Anyway, this was just me having another of those little “What if?” moments. Any complaints should be addressed to the Think Tanked Committee. They can only suspend me (probably using a length of discarded rope from the reins of a horse-drawn Trabant).

By the way, where is that "much loved" mode of transportation lately ? Perhaps it has taken a Winter Holiday ? 

Steve 

@graeme-ogg 

I've said it before Graeme; I LOVE your photoshop skills. Tongue-in-cheek or serious work, it's fun to look at the manipulations you weave into the automotive subject line.

My first 'take' on the four-door Riv is to hate it as much as when Jeep made the Wrangler into a four-door Unlimited model. I still like the two-door much better in the iconic breed but the four-door is now familiar and far less egregious than the first time I saw it. If the Riv was made in that configuration, I'd probably start to like it by now too and it certainly does offer more convenience as does the Unlimited.

The big rear window - uh, no. The six-light Poncho - uh, NO!!!

Posted by: @graeme-ogg

↑

Hmm. As everyone will agree, your Forum contributions are generally noted for their unsurpassed intelligence, perspicacity, wisdom and undeniable powers of logic and acute observation (all deriving from an impressively extended educational experience). But you kind of got me baffled on this one. Or maybe you were employing irony, an area in which of course you Colonials are known to excel but which we Brits just fail to grasp.

But obviously I would not wish to take issue with you, so at this point I will discreetly withdraw (as the bishop said to the actress).

Meanwhile, I promise to resist any future temptation to desecrate a Buick Riviera of any vintage whatsoever

-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --

and will confine myself to more practical (and hopefully non-controversial) thought experiments.

-- attachment is not available --

Ah yes, the Pontiac Bountiville. For drivers when just four are not enough. 

Steve 

@graeme-ogg "Hmm. As everyone will agree, your Forum contributions are generally noted for their unsurpassed intelligence, perspicacity, wisdom and undeniable powers of logic and acute observation (all deriving from an impressively extended educational experience)".

Graeme; I humbly appreciate your mostly bang on accurate comment (above) but I do take issue with "perspicacity'.  I religiously apply underarm deodorant, whether or not I am in the city or countryside.