This week on My Classic Car, join Dennis Gage as he travels to Ocala, Florida where he will have the pleasure of meeting with National Parts Depot owner, Rick Schmidt. S09E06
One of these saved my life in 1975 a tornado dropped a large pine tree on the roof while moving. I was in the rear seat with a coat over my head. The glass split and shattered, but I was unhurt. The doors would not open and the roof was slightly impinged, but we were alive! Thank you Buick we survived the Atalanta Govenor’s tornado. Unfortunately the 4 year old car was totaled.
I bought a 71 Riviera in 1975 when I was 18 years old. It was my very favorite car of any and I regret ever selling it. I had it for 18 years gorgeous car. Lots of power smooth excellent handling and totally beautiful.
The last of a car with a very unique style and lines that could be considered a work of art. There were a lot of them on the road when I was a kid in the 60's through the early 70's. 👍🏻😉
My sister had one of these when i was a kid. She was probably 20 when i was 6yrs. I remember how heavy the door was. Yup, and she had a heavy foot with that Buick 455 . Geezz i miss those days before everyone was paranoid about absolutely everything.....
One of my dad's good friends who was an attorney had one of these he bought new. It was rather radical to see it at first glance. I've always like this design as well. Way ahead of it's time.
The vents on the trunk lid are the exit vents for the interior ventilation system. All full-sized, and a few smaller GM cars (like the Vega) had them in 1971. It was discovered that at certain speeds and window openings, that air would flow into them rather than out, so the design was changed for 1972. Flow through ventilation wasn't new for GM, but the design that year made the exit vents more visible.
Stumbled across this. My best friend in High School, this would be 1974/1976 Father had a 1971 Riv GS that he "Special Ordered". He owned a British Leyland Dealership and was buddy's with the local Buick Dealer. Man, that car was smooth and very fast. He would let us take it out on Friday and Saturday nights occasionally. The girls loved it! Another story! Had some great times in that beautiful Riviera.
Went to DisneyWorld in this car in 1971 on vacation. I remember it being a cool looking car and very comfortable compared to the cars my Dad usually bought.
One of my brothers had that exact car. It was like a low flying jet on the interstate but my God, you couldn't pass a gas station without stopping to gas up!! Still...a beautiful car 😉
Why do they keep talking about the car being impractical? No one who bought a Riviera thought of it as a family car. Personal Luxury cars were about spoiling yourself with something beautiful and special, not hauling the kids to school and soccer practice.
Completely agree! It's like in this day in age, if you own a car simply for the purpose of enjoying it, people treat you like you're some selfish ogre... that does not have his/her priorities straight-- driving what everyone else drives, for the purpose of the "common good of society". Or some crap like that. The problem is everyone has become too utilitarian and practical in nature. As adults, we are no longer allowed to have fun. We are expected to give of ourselves whole-ly to others at the expense of our own wants. If we're not going shopping with our wives or taking the kids to soccer practice, we're terrible people. Well... I never had kids, and I'm divorced, so I make sure I have time for my things, and they are NOT practical things.
We owned a 1971 Riviera for 5 years and it was in no way "impractical". There was room for 5 adults (mine had a console in front) and their luggage. Our main use for the car was traveling and it did it well. The trunk lid was unusual but the space available covered almost a third of the car, all of the space under that beautiful rear window was trunk. We averaged 16-18 miles to the gallon on the highway with the 455/4 bbl at 65-70 mph and at least three adults with gear. I regret ever having parted with this car.
My original argument was that if a car fills a need, who cares if it's "impractical"? But you one-up'ed my argument with an even better example, showing that it served a need as a desirable vehicle AND was practical all at the same time! Which not only partially supports mine & Lord Publius' arguments, but also rebuts the original person who said it's impractical's argument. Good show! Glad you spoke up and shared your experience.
I totally agree with you in every way . I own 4 1976 Continental Mark IVs all lipstick editions . These cars are huge ,I can get six people in the car. But I don't . It is usually just me and sometimes a friend or my son. I find that when I am in the car alone it takes me back to the day of Disco some of my happiest memories .I was a trained ballroom dancer. As for the Buick Riviera I want one a 1964 silver My uncle drove one .A thing of beauty. MRS. M
I owned a 1971 with bench seats. but it had that great 455-4. As heavy as it was I could light up the rear tires at almost any speed. All four windows down it was a great cruiser. Sorry I ever sold it.
Kenneth W. Byrd - I had a 370hp (rated) '70 Electra 225 Custom... at nearly 5,000lbs, it could torque loose as well. Sadly, it was beyond restoring... but my '71 Cheyenne pickup needed an engine. That truck would smoke any stock big block Super Cheyenne it came across. I still have it.
My dad had a 1973 Riviera, the styling was great but his opinion always interested me.. his quote: Its a good looking car but its a Chevy underneath. He had a 1969 Riviera before it and loved that one so much. The pollution controls on the 73 were close to ridiculous and affected the performance. My first experience with Riv's was the 1963 I was so impressed with that car that I bugged Dad until he picked up an early model 68 Riv nice car but not exceptional. They refined it for 69. Styling in 1970 marked the beginning of the Riviera's transformation and the 71 was just stunning.
What I liked about the 1971-72 Buick Riviera is despite the lower compression 455 engine GM had to deal with during those 2 years it could still haul ass.
They could pass everything on the streets! Except for gas stations. Thirsty buggers. I have a great memory of a road trip my mom and I made from Nanaimo BC to Edmonton AB. She world for a Pontiac Buick dealer and the boss lent her his Riveria. We drove most of the Yellowhead highway with the speedo buried. Fastest road trip I've ever been on!
The Buick (GM) 455 is a great engine, probably among GM's best. It had more torque and and weighted 150 lbs less than the 454 Chevy big block. Easy to produce, less material, reliable, great engine of the time.
1) the louvers are part of the Astro ventilation system. 2) the wide rocker moldings were added .3) The hood ornament is not from 1971. 4) the upper door panels with the pull strap are improper for this interior option....nice additions she's a beauty!!!! Also, all 3 Bot tail years had a "seam'' in the rear window...to allow a bit of flex..as there was a cracking issue initially, during testing.
I had a 73 bought from original owners in spring of 93 had 63K miles on it. Kept it till I lost storeage in 02. Sold it well, but damn do I miss taking it to the beach set the cruise at 90 crank up the AC and watch the gas hand move. I joked in the day it will pass anything other than a gas station. Seen that is several comments, LOL.
Dennis . Stumbled on this . What a collection ! It looks like this is invitation only ? That Riviera is ridiculously cool and would pass for a pimpmobile ! I did some part restoration / accident damage on one a number of years back. I think it was an earlier model . Very rare over here in the UK . If you Google 1971/72 Vauxhall Victor the front is similar . The difference was the engine was a tiny 4 pot 1.6 or 1.8 litre , l think there was a Ventora with a 3litre 6 pot . Thanks Dennis.
9:35 those are part of the General Motors“Astro Ventilation” system, which first started coming out in the early 1970s. It insured a continuous flow of fresh. Interior air was extracted through those trunklid vents. Later on, they learned how to conceal them.
IIRC,all full size 1971 GM cars,including the station wagons,had those visible louvers on either the trunk lid or tailgate,but they were concealed starting the following year....
Yes, all full size GM cars had those vents on them. My Dad had a 1971 Chevrolet Kingswood Wagon, the color was called cottonwood green, that had the vents on the tailgate. I took my road test in that car. I Loved that Wagon!!!
The vents were moved to the door jambs into the rear wheelwell. The trunk louvers let water into the trunk. Why they got into production is another GM mystery.
I always liked these Rivieras, I bought a used 1970 Riviera in 1974, and I looked at one of these but it was out of my maximum 19 year old 1st car budget . The oil embargo was on and I got a deal on a one owner 70 Riviera
There was a Riviera that same color at the local Buick dealer when I was with my Dad when he was buying a 1971 Skylark .The salesmen let me set in it.I was 12 at the time.
Somebody had a good look at the 'TUCKER TORPEDO' when designing this car, only ever seen one here in Australia. always reminds me of that line from the classic Sci-Fi film - 'GATTACA' - I was conceived in the Riviera, - a BUICK RIVIERA that is.
Besides under the hood or trunk, the only place it says Buick in this car is on the steering wheel, all other references are Riviera by Buick, that is how they were marketed.
Having owned Thunderbirds and Rivieras. I can say unequivocally the Rivieras rode and handled much better than the T-Birds. I LOVE the T-Bird stylings and they were my first automotive love. However, after having driven a few Buicks, I had to switch over for the ride, handling and comfort.
No, the GP was built on a lengthened 118" midsize chassis, the Riv is on a shortened 122" LeSabre chassis. There's about a 4" difference in width, too.
All of the large GM cars in ‘71 had those vent louvers in the trunk lid (including our Delta 88), and maybe all of them did. The idea was the slipstream coming off the roof would create a mild vacuum and pull air from the interior. That was the only year GM did it. GM discovered that under some conditions caused negative pressure zones and actually draw exhaust gases back into the car.
I had a brand new 71 gold riviera .Mine listed at 57?? . A lot of miles from Chicago to northern Wisconsin on weekends. Not a quick car , but 120 mph was real smooth riding . Quiet with a good stereo. Leather power seats were comfortable . I see someone below says he could light up the tires at any speed. As an old drag racer , that is not true . A 4000 # car was a great cruiser not a burner .
Most of the car of the 70s had some kind 30s and 40s design 71 Riviera= Auburn boattail, 71 72 Pontiac Grand prix= Duesenberg. 75 Dodge Magnum=Cord.75 Chrysler Cordoba=Jaguar. 74 Pontiac lemans=40s buick,chevy,olds,and also the 73 Chevrolet Monte carlo and so on.
The rear window decapitating the drivers in a rear collision is a bit of a downer but other than that I am a big fan of this model Riviera. If only Buick would be a little daring and bring out a new Riviera with some real style.
The New Buick Avenir may be bringing back a kind of boat tail and rear window if the new concept car goes into production. That concept car stole the show.
That is bullshit...the seam was made into the window to relieve stress....when the car flexed do to road conditions etc...this kept the window from cracking.
Dennis is usually knowledgeable when speaking about cars. But when he said this car was "impractical", I couldn't disagree more. If this car is impractical, my Plymouth Prowler must be even more so. It seats only two and it doesn't have trunk space at all. Yet, I keep hearing people use the words "awesome", "gorgeous", and "cool" to desribe my car. If practicality is high on your list, go and buy an MPV.
I found an online classic car that I was intreseted in. I made contact via email to the seller. He advised me he was on an oil rig in the gulf, but I could buy this car through ABL Shipping Limited. It seemed the car was being stored in Washington State, and all I had to do is send funds to them. $12,000. The car is way under market was the first red flag. There is no phone number ascoiated with the shipping company. They ask me to put the funds in their bank which was in the UK, which does not sound right. I asked to see the VIN # of the vehicle, and they stated, it was illegal to do so. I searched there address in WA on google and I find no building. I found a company with a an address close to there and saw a phone number on a building, called them and was told I wasn't the first calling trying to find ABL Shipping. I was told they did not exisit. Whoever this is is trying to bilk people out of their money. I should have known because this 1964 Chevy Impala was way under market value. When saw I had to put money into a UK bank account. I was suspicious. I emailed them as that is the only way you can get a hold of them no phone number. I asked for the VIN # on this vehicle. They said it was illegal for them to give me the VIN. (BS). I told them I was out, and they did not get my money. I also turned them into the BBB. Beware of ABL Shipping Limited.
