NPD Collection & '71 Buick Riviera
Written by Keith Fudge

Recently, Dennis Gage had the chance to return to one of his favorite destinations, Ocala , Florida . He met with Rick Schmidt and his father, Jim, with National Parts Depot. The Ocala NPD location is one of the four national warehouses that the company uses to ship parts everywhere in the world. It is at this location that the Schmidts have assembled one of the foremost collections of low-mileage, original automobiles. After we arrived, Rick told Dennis that he was about to take him on a quick trip through six decades of automotive design. First, he shared a little bit about the collection.

Rick told Dennis that the collection was eclectic in nature, mostly American with approximately 75% of the vehicles consisting of low-mileage, un-restored originals. When Rick said low-mileage, he wasn't kidding. They have cars from the 1950s and 1960s that have less than 20 original miles on them! To go one better than that, they have a 1940 Lincoln with only 600 original miles! Needless to say, Dennis was chomping at the bit to have a look, so it was time to take a ride from the 1920s to the 1970s!

Rick chose six special cars for us, beginning with a 1921 Case. Yep that's right, a car from the same company that produces heavy equipment today. This beauty was one of three of the same model originally purchased by a hotel in Colorado . The car was basically a touring car model and was used to carry passengers to and from the hotel in bad weather. It was equipped with a fitted top to ensure passenger comfort and to keep them dry. Next, Rick showed Dennis a stunning 1930 Model L Lincoln. The car, a dual windshield Sport Phaeton, was absolutely elegant in its interior and exterior appointments. There is no doubt that if a person owned one of these in 1930 he or she would have been seen as high society! The next car that Rick showed Dennis is the 1940 Lincoln Continental with only 600 miles! This remarkable car was from the first year of the Continental and is one of only 50 produced! The car was originally crafted from the Lincoln Zephyr, and compared to its predecessors, the lean and sleek styling was to be a trend that Detroit automakers would continue to produce and improve. The next decade in automotive design marked a radical change. In the 1950s, cars became longer and lower in profile, making them a favorite of hot rodders and racing enthusiasts. A classic example of this landmark change was the 1957 Mercury. This particular car in the NPD Collection is a 100% unrestored original and looks as if it just rolled off the showroom floor. Outside, there is stylish two-toned paint, and the two-toned interior was certainly eye-catching. However, under the hood is where this Merc really shines. The car features the 368 cubic-inch Turnpike Cruiser engine, an option that definitely made it the hot rod of the Mercury lineup. The decade of the 1960s certainly saw some of the most stylish and powerful cars ever to roll out of the motor city. We had a chance to see a stunning and rare car that was a combination of both, as Rick showed Dennis a 1963 Impala SS. While these cars were certainly special, this Impala was really unique for it was the 50 millionth Chevy ever produced. Outfitted in Anniversary Gold paint with special attention to the body and interior, this Chevy was a custom from the factory. When this car was finished, there was a tremendous media celebration. Nelson Rockefeller even drove the car straight off the production line. By the way, it is equipped with one of those 409 Chevy engines and has less than 100 original miles! Now that's some Chevy! In addition, the 1963 Impala continued to display the low and lean look that auto designers were promoting and the public continued to embrace. On our trip through six decades of automotive design, Rick Schmidt had saved one of the best for last.

During the early 1970s, no car generated more opinions concerning style than the Buick Riviera. Its unusual “boat tail” design reminiscent of early Auburns created a stir in the auto industry. Produced for only three years (1971-1973), these cars are highly sought after today, especially if they are in mint condition. As I said, Rick saved one of the best for last as he rolled out a primo 1971 “boat tail” Riv for our perusal! This “silver streak” had all original paint and interior and only had 27K miles! As Rick and Dennis walked around the car, some subtle styling touches were noted such as louvers in the trunk (only used on the 1971 model) and a two-piece rear windshield. Under the hood lurked the heart of a beast with a Buick 455 4 bbl. that looked brand new. Rick told us that the block and valve covers had been repainted as some work had to be performed on the engine to get it in good running condition. Since it was such a beautiful day in Florida , and since the car was sitting outside, there was nothing left to do but hit the road. Even though Dennis' eyes were glazed over with excitement at the chance to drive this beauty, Rick allowed him to get behind the wheel and take it for a spin. After they were on the road for a while, Dennis remarked just how smooth the Riv was. While this “ultimate cruiser” is futuristic and exotic in terms of style and design, it is anything but practical. It only has seating for four adults comfortably. In addition, with a growing concern of more strict emission laws and a rapid focus on fuel economy, this version of the Riviera was to be short lived. Rick estimated that the Riviera equipped with the 455 probably only got 8-10 mpg in the city and 14-16 mpg on the highway. However, in our opinion that doesn't keep it from being one of the coolest rides ever to roll out of the Motor City .

During our quick trip through six decades of automotive design, we saw that cars became sleek and powerful. Now, more than three decades after the production of the boat tail Riviera , cars again are returning to sleek lines and more powerful engines. It makes you wonder what the next three decades will hold in automotive design and engineering. We would like to thank the folks at National Parts Depot for making us feel at home and offer a special thanks to Rick Schmidt for giving us a peek into their collection. We can't wait to visit them again. National Parts Depot: the home for parts for your classic car. You can find them on the web at www.nationalpartsdepot.com . That's it from sunny Florida . So remember, “Honor the timeless classics. Happy Motoring!”