Riviera campers

arthurnugen · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject:

Weird, Checked my m-plate and my destination code is US. It was manufactured April 23, 1965.
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Empicollector · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:12 am Post subject:

I have had my Riviera for about 12 years and did some research back in the mid-90s:
Riviera Motors Inc was the distributor for Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho. So they had control of all vehicles distributed in these States.
During the Mid 60s the factory Westy`s were very popular in the Western States and the Dealers could sell all they could get their hands on. As a
Distributor Riviera was required to buy and sell all models of VW buses not just Westy Campers, so Knute Quale, the owner, contacted ASI Inc
to make the conversion. They were a small mom and pop operation with a lot of flexibilty and used off the shelf RV/Mobilhome Products to convert the Buses.
In 1954 Wade Carter went to work for Riviera Motors, in Oregon, while attending College--Graduating in 56---and Knute helped him establish
his own Dealership in Seattle in 1960. So as Friends and Associates there were a lot of Buses imported to Seattle and then sent to ASI in Vancouver for the conversion. Most of the conversions were panels, but the conversions could be done on any Bus. On occasion they were done on Window Buses.

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:19 am Post subject:

Knute Quale...what a great name! Very Happy

Yeah, this sounds much like the information I've heard over the years on Rivieras. Except, I didn't realise RM handled distribution all the way up to Alaska. I suppose someone had to, I just didn't think it'd be a dealership in the Portland area.

So this makes me wonder...my bus was delivered into the port at Baltimore, MD but was converted to a Riviera camper. I can't figure out if the original owner bought the panel and then almost immediately headed west and had it converted...or was there something within VWoA that said "Okay, this dealership needs more panels, so we're gonna pack some on a truck and drive them across the country."

I wish I knew....
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9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

WhitewallsJohnson · Samba Member Joined: October 21, 2005 Posts: 620

Anniehum · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:35 am Post subject:

Empicollector · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:03 am Post subject:

Ollie W · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:40 am Post subject:

Just in case anyone cares, here's a look at the Portland location now where Rivera Motors used to be.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

arthurnugen · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:05 am Post subject:

Ollie, cool bit of history! Annie, great pics! I don't remember from seeing your bus this summer, but does it have the long side window on the driver's side?

So it looks like the change from swing out cargo door windows to slider cargo door windows happened sometime in '66? Does anyone know when they started using wood vs the paneling cdennisg and I have in our '65s? Seems like natural wood would be more expensive and labor intensive (sanding, staining, etc.).
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NorCalWeekender · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject:

I don't think it was necessarily a change. Though that's an interesting theory if you can prove it. They actually starting doing the conversion, period, in '65 as I understand it. So if we can find as many '65 Rivieras as possible and check their windows, you might be onto something.
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

arthurnugen · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject:

More Riviera pics I found in the gallery:

This one's a '66:

'65 Kombi based- Riviera:

'66:

'67:

'66:

Interesting '65:

Cool '65:

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NorCalWeekender · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

Something about the 65 with the pop top says not-Riviera to me. What I can see of the interior is all wrong. Sure, picture window, but all those windows were made by HEHR and it could just be a hack job.

Okay, so here's my challenge...anyone, find me a confirmed 65 Riviera with a picture window. I think we might be onto something with this whole crank vs. slider window thing!
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

arthurnugen · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:51 pm Post subject:

Empicollector · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:21 pm Post subject:

Here is a 65 Riviera:

Ian · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject:

The last pic of the old gentleman with his Riviera is one of my favorite pics of all time.
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All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012

crofty · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject:

Anniehum · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject:

Lind · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:15 pm Post subject:

this bus was ordered to become a riviera.

can anyone else spot the special M-option that tells me this?

Long-roofs · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

No upper vents, Panel, non walk thru...
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I have been on a treadmill drinking vodka, maybe more than once.

"No, I do not own a bleepin' leaf blower"

--

NorCalWeekender · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

I'm assuming it's visible in the pic and honestly, I haven't the foggiest!
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995


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Riviera campers
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