Join us for a ride through the countryside in one the most striking American cars of the Sixties, the first-generation Buick Riviera.

“Adventure is a car called Riviera,” the Buick print ads declared in 1964, and this TV spot echoes the theme with a similar slogan, “Every mile is an adventure.” We watch as a well-dressed couple wheel their twin ’64 Rivieras through the countryside (hers is Arctic White, his is Grenada Red) for a mock race and a rendezvous at a swank local club.

The side-roads excursion was an effective way to show off the sleek, sharp lines of the first-generation Riviera, often cited as among the best designs of the Bill Mitchell era at GM styling. Of course, credit for the actual design goes to the prolific Ned Nickles, the creator of the famed Buick portholes, officially called Venti-Ports when they were introduced in 1949.

Following its memorable Paris debut for the 1963 model year, the first-gen Riviera was barely changed at all for ’64. There were only some minor variations in emblems and trim. With a wheelbase of 117 inches and an overall length of 208 inches—almost petite by Buick standards—the personal luxury coupe was aimed dead center at the successful (and profitable) Ford Thunderbird, but with styling devised to set it apart. Sales were respectable, too, with 40,000 produced in ’63 and nearly 38,000 in ’64,  though T-Bird sales didn’t appear to be hurt much. Mitchell and crew deliberately set out to create an instant classic in American cars with the Riviera, and now, 60 years later, we can definitely say mission accomplished. Video below.