The luxurious Buick Riviera was an immediate hit when it arrived for the 1963 model year as GM’s response to the four-seater Ford Thunderbird, with evocative Euro-styling that’s still highly appealing today.
GM’s design chief Bill Mitchell wanted to recapture that magic with the dramatic ’71 model, created by Jerry Hirschberg (later Nissan’s head of design), who accentuated the stretched-out body style with a boldly tapering roofline that extended to a near-point at the middle of the back bumper, with an almost-horizontal rear window.
Naturally, it was nicknamed the Boattail, a retro reference harking back to sporty pre-war cars, exemplified by the iconic Auburn Boattail Speedster. The Riviera’s front was kind of pointy, too, while chrome trim along its flanks outlined the curvaceous styling.
Riviera’s new look continued only through 1973. Although the boattail styling appears intriguing today, it was not a big success at the time, with Mitchell opining that perhaps it was too extreme for the buying public.
The Pick of the Day is a 1973 Buick Riviera described as an all-original preserved survivor with just over 35,000 miles on its odometer and in “excellent condition inside and out.”
“This Riviera Boat Tail is stunning and original!” according to the West Babylon, New York, dealer advertising the Buick on ClassicCars.com. “So clean and runs like a dream.”
As if the Riviera wasn’t audaciously sprawling enough, the previous owner lowered the suspension to make it even wilder looking, the seller says: “Lowered on lowering springs, could easily be brought back to stock height, but why? It looks great!”
The Burnt Coral Irid paint is in fine condition, and the white interior is in beautiful shape, the seller adds, with full power features and the original radio with a working 8-track tape player, although a custom sound system with Bluetooth has been added. The car sits on Coker classic whitewall tires fitted to factory Buick rally wheels.
Power is provided by the original 455cid big-block V8 and automatic transmission. Despite the massive size of the Riviera, it should still move out nicely with that torque monster under its hood.
One of the most stylish cars of its day, the Riviera is priced at $24,900 for this well-kept survivor.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Good Riviera
Beautiful Vehicle
Do you have anymore photos ?
Do you have original purchase sales info. ?
Body, Engine & Interiors photos ?
Where is the car located presently ?
Still available for sale ? And where is it located
Thank you for all these editorials I really love Ray in each and every day. This car looks a real goer and in very nice condition thanks for spotting it
Mr. Golden, Are you interested in trading for a 1994 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon , 49xxx original ALL OPTION LT1 350 , ice cold air, New tires & battery , Burgundy w/ burgundy leather interior , power front seats , twilight sentinel, premium sound factory CD , power mirrors,windows , still has factory carpet protective plastic on third row seating , moonroof w/ dual shades , all eyes on at car shows ! Fantastic load leveling system ( factory equipment) drive anywhere in total comfort ! Just back from Ohio & Oklahoma . Service records available.
Maybe, but for a collector, only the 1971 1972 will do. Front and rear are changed, dashboard isn’t as dramatic. 1971 is really the best, with the trunk louvers
SWEET!!! We used to own a ’71’ Navy Blue GS w/white interior…
I was so disappointed when my parents traded it in for a Lincoln Town Car simply because of experiencing issues with the radiator, as I was hoping I was going to get my hands on it…
Ahhhh, the dreams of teens:)
I remember in the summer of ’71, myself and 5 other friends were on the way to the beach in a friend’s family Ford wagon, not to be misunderstood, it had the 390 and held it’s own on that July long weekend. All of a sudden this bright, candy apple red flash, whooshed by, all we could see was the torpedo shaped rear window, ever so briefly because this Buick Riviera was towing a boat and passing everything on sight… without breaking a sweat. I swore then and there Iz’d have one of those before my time on this rock was up. Had just about every type of vehicle but this much desired vehicle (I’ve owned 3 Corvettes ’96, ’02, and ’04, 2 Thunderbird hardtop deluxe, Millenium Editions and Mercedes Benz SL500, I love cars).
just beautiful, wow!! I,d like to take that on a road trip, stunning.
I had one just like this same color, the power of the 455 ci V8 was astonishing.
I have a 73, not as clean as that, but I’m trying!
Hi , are you selling the 1973 Riviera ? I am interested
The story is from several years ago. You still need to follow the links in the story to get to the seller’s ad.
I’m after a similar boat tail please advise
Nick
Visit classiccars.com to see what you can find!