Buick Riviera 1963

The 1963 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe, series 4747: the first-year personal-luxury Riviera, production held to 40,000, $4,333 base. The 401 cu in Nailhead V8, the “Wildcat 445”: 10.25:1, a Carter AFB four-barrel, 325 bhp at 4400 rpm and 445 lb-ft at 2800. Twin Turbine automatic (a 1.82/1.00 two-speed, as Assetto Corsa has no torque converter), 3.23 axle, double wishbones in front, a live rear axle on trailing arms, coil springs all round, 12 in finned-aluminium power drums, power steering, 7.10-15 whitewalls on 15 in wheels, 117 in wheelbase, 3998 lb. The physics are written from the 1963 factory figures.

The model came lowered on 18 in custom wheels: it sits at factory height here, on 15 in wheels and whitewalls. The black interior has the brushed-aluminium instrument panel and walnut console, working gauges and clock. Sixteen skins: the 1963 Riviera colours, named as Buick named them.

What’s new in 1.1

• The paint is no longer flat: Custom Shaders Patch car paint on every skin, with clear coat and metal flake on the metallics (Silver Cloud and the five “Mist” colours) and the solid-enamel finish on the rest.

This car is open to anybody who wants to improve it: its SVN repository on SourceForge holds the installable car folder. Work directly in the KN5 model and the data files.