In 2012, I embarked on a journey that would ultimately redefine my love for cars. The spark was ignited by the allure of the Toyota 86, fueled further by a dream of power and the thrill of drifting. Little did I know that this journey would take unexpected turns, from broken backs to turbocharged dreams and, finally, a mesmerizing union with a Lexus V8. This is the story of how a mere car evolved into a roaring beast.
This 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle named “Recoil” was built by Ringbrothers for owner Chris. As a teenager, Chris was lucky enough to snag a ’70 Chevelle that his grandparents were giving away. From then on he always had a soft spot for the Chevelle. Flash forward to SEMA 2012 when Chris met Jim Ring. After talking for a while Chris knew that Ringbrothers was the perfect shop to build his dream Chevelle. In an interview with SuperChevy.Com, Chris says: “(Jim) took my vision for building a ’66 Chevelle and threw in his own ideas without ever knowing if I would call him again. That’s the type of guy Jim is, selfless and driven to build your dream car with his skill set and artistry. It’s a true gift.”
The word Riviera is Latin and means Coastline. In 1964, Buick decided to use this word to name their new range of luxury vehicles. They did this so that it would conjure up thoughts of the allure and the affluence of the French Riviera. The 1964 Buick Riviera was an iconic car with its elegant ground-up styling. It sported the new Coke bottle design with the middle of the body exhibiting a tapered tucked-in appearance.