Photography by THE AUTHOR 
hen stepping into the world of hot rodding, there are a number of paths you can take while on your way to the promised land. Many times, ramping up to take on a full build entails everything from sourcing a solid base and driveline to start with as well as setting a timeline for making decisions on the fabrication, paint, and interior required to bring it to completion. You could decide to take on a stalled project where someone gave up or purchase an existing hop-up to add your personal touch to complete the look. One interesting way to approach it from a totally different direction is by stepping into the fast lane by buying a perfect original car to add your performance updates to. That’s what Rick Smith of Quincy, Massachusetts, did on the glamorous ’64 Buick Riviera laid out across our pages.
After reviewing countless cars available for sale, fate brought him to a ’64 Riviera that had recently changed hands from the original owner who was in his eighties. Originally delivered through Sheehan Buick in Pompano Beach, Florida, the car showed only 88,000 miles on the odometer; it had retained its Wildcat 425ci V-8 and had one repaint through its life. It was straight and rust-free, making it a perfect platform to start with. Without wasting any time Rick made the deal and it wasn’t long till it was in his home shop for evaluation.
Even though the factory Wildcat 425ci Nailhead V-8 was a perfect runner, Rick wanted to up the ante with modern performance and opted to make the change to LS power. To bring the thunder he started with an ’11 6.2L LS3 plucked from an ’11 C5 Corvette. Direct from the factory the 376ci V-8 engine comes packed with all the right goods, starting with a cast-aluminum block featuring six-bolt, cross-bolted main caps. It’s packed with a nodular iron crank linked to powdered metal rods capped by hypereutectic aluminum pistons with added thump from a Comp Cams hydraulic roller stick thanks to Don Kinder at Slowhawk Performance in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. A set of L92-style port high-flow aluminum heads, as cast with 68cc chambers, and Brian Tooley Racing valvesprings (added by Kinder) generate plenty of power, especially when matched to the factory intake, fuel injection, and 90mm ETC throttle body. A C5 ignition lights the fire with exhaust gases flowing through stainless headers to 2-1/2-inch black ceramic-coated exhaust with Walker Exhaust turbo-style mufflers. Neat underhood details include custom-fabbed inner fenders, front filler panels, and a cold-air intake system by the owner as well as a Summit Racing aluminum radiator and Spectre Performance HPR air cleaner. A Gearstar-built Level 4 GM 4L65E trans with matching cooler moves a robust 457 hp rearward through a shortened factory driveshaft, thanks to a custom tune by Kinder.
Thankfully, the Rivi led a great life with its original owner who meticulously maintained it, keeping it rust-free through its life. When it came to evaluating the mirror-straight body, Rick decided that the repaint of its original color, Silver Cloud, currently on the car only needed a cut and buff to bring out its full luster. He did however want to shave the antenna and looked to Steve Hill of Holbrook Auto Body in Holbrook, Massachusetts, to do the deed. Looking inside to the business office, Rick recovered the dash in black vinyl while also freshening up the stock gauges. A factory wheel carves the course with shifts moving through the original stick and cool breezes flowing thanks to Vintage Air. To bring the interior back to its factory-fresh glory he installed a new headliner, biscuit-style black vinyl seat covers, and matching carpet all from Original Parts Group Inc. (OPGI) while also updating the factory wiring to accommodate the updated LS driveline swap with a harness from BP Automotive. Since completion, the Rivi has seen well over 6,000 road miles, traveling to numerous national events as well as on plenty of family vacations, and to us that as cool as it gets!
