Chicago family spends countless hours restoring 1965 Buick Riviera in heartwarming tale

The 1965 Buick Riviera is already a classic, but this one comes with a story that’s just as special as the car itself.

Jaime Reyes and his son, JJ, spent two years restoring the car from the ground up.

What started as a passion project turned into a family bonding experience they’ll never forget.

And it all ended with JJ giving his dad the first ride.

VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie

JJ was just 15 when he picked up the 1965 Buick Riviera, which is coincidentally the same age Jaime was when he got his first Riviera.

While some 15-year-olds have a multi-million dollar supercar collection, JJ was content with restoring the Riviera.

Under Jaime’s watchful eye, JJ and his sister Katie dove headfirst into the project.

They replaced brake lines, tires, and suspension parts, and even the famous clamshell headlights got a full refresh.

The family didn’t just focus on the outside, they reworked the interior panels to make the car feel fresh off the showroom floor.

And under the hood?

The Reyes crew brought it all back to life, staying true to Buick’s 1960s engineering.

The 1965 Buick Riviera came with a 401-cubic-inch V8, nicknamed the Wildcat 445 for its 445 lb-ft of torque.

It’s paired with a smooth three-speed Super Turbine automatic transmission.

The best part? Watching JJ take his dad for a spin in their finished masterpiece.

After all, there’s nothing more heart-warming than a good father-son car moment, like when this father made a fleet of wooden supercars for his son.

The moment was captured on camera by YouTuber Lou Costabile, where you can see the pride and joy on both their faces.

Jaime, a lifelong Buick fan who’s owned every Riviera from 1963 to 1985, got to enjoy the ride from the passenger seat for the first time.

And it makes sense that Jaime was such a big Buick fan, given how the Buick was so advanced that it even had a touchscreen back in the 1980s.

In any case, this project wasn’t just about nuts and bolts.

It was about tradition, family, and passing down a love for classic cars.

And the story’s not over.

Katie already has her eyes set on a 1967 Riviera, so it sounds like another restoration project is just around the corner.

One thing’s for sure, the Buick legacy is alive and well in the Reyes family.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie