Yesterday we discussed the Bill Mitchell designs at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance that primarily delt with the Chevrolet Corvette. In addition to the Corvette, Mitchell was also closely identified with the Buick Riviera.
1963 Buick Riviera
Although not a part of the GM Heritage collection that appeared at Meadow Brook, this ’63 is a beautiful example of the first Bill Mitchell-inspired Riviera. Originally intended as a Cadillac model, it had to be placed with another division because Cadillac, at that time, was at production capacity with all their current models. In an interview in 1984 with David R. Crippen, this is how Mitchell described the events:
“Anyway, we got it all done, and showed it in the auditorium one night to Donner and Gordon, just the three of us, and Donner said, "Well, I think we should build it, but who's going to build it." Cadillac didn't want it, they didn't need it. And, Chevrolet was knocking the pants off of Buick, Olds, and Pontiac with the Impala. So, Donner—ever the financial man said, "Jack, where we going to get the money to build this car?" He [Gordon] said, "Take it as an advertisement." Now, that was pretty good. In other words, two people talk about General Motors having a stylish car. They liked it. So, they let Pontiac, Olds and Buick bid for it. DeLorean was at Pontiac then, and he had some crazy ideas that he was pumping into them, and I wouldn't let him touch it. It was down in that room finished! [At] Olds, Jack Wolfram, wanted to put a blower on it and do something. I said, "No way," and Roller! [Edward D., Buick General Manager, 1960's] who owned this house one time, he said, "I'll take it the way it is."”
Buick Riviera Silver Arrow I & Silver Arrow III Concepts
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Silver Arrow I
The Silver Arrow I was actually one of the first production 1963 Rivieras to come off the assembly line. Mitchell took it back to the design studio where the roof was lowered and the front fenders lengthened to house the concealed headlights. When it wasn’t being shown, it served as his personal vehicle.
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Silver Arrow III
Based on the boattail 1972 Riviera, the Silver Arrow III was designed by Mitchell and introduced at the 1972 Detroit Auto Show. The stock body was altered with a lower roofline and redesigned quarter windows. Advanced features, at the time, included 4-wheel ABS, traction control and rear high-mounted warning lights that doubled as turn signals. The interior featured plus silver leather with such advanced features as adjustable brake and accelerator pedals as well as a tilt and telescopic steering wheel that meant the driver seat never needed horizontal adjusting.
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Silver Arrow III
