Getting rid of cars is probably one of the biggest mistakes in Auto history. In 20 or 30 years there will be documentaries about how the American car manufacturers screwed up and only made trucks and SUVs.
I miss these times too but cars have only gotten better since then. My wifes 4-cylinder 2018 Kia Sorrento has more hp and torque than that giant riviera with its 455 4barrel. Plus far better mileage. Technology certainly has come a long way.
@@chimster1234 Crashing your Kia into a tree would improve it's styling. All American cars after 1972 are ugly junk. I could drive this 4700lb Riviera and push your ugly shit Kia into a ditch and watch your air bags pop, then drive away. How safe is that, pussy?
The base 72 / 455 smog equipment restricted Riviera had a net hp of 225/360 TQ.and it went up in engine stage options from there...to 270/390 TQ....in 1972 the Buick 455 was dropped to about 8.5 to 1 compression ...In 1970 the same Buick 455 had a rating of 370 /510 TQ.....and they did offer a dual 4 barrel carburated option on the mid 1960s 425 V8 which upped the torque numbers and put the hp at around 425 horses....these cars would definetly move....and the single 4 barrel carburated Riviera got around 15 miles per gallon on the highway.... Gas was cheap then, and ride and power , and style were of more importance.....
So, many of you younger people think your foreign cars are better? Really? These had nice big roomy interiors. You could stretch out on a long trip. You could yawn with both arms outstretched and not touch the side windows with your elbows. You could float down the highway with no harshness because they had full frames with rubber insulators. There was no verticle movement at the corners so, there was no jerkiness that is present in ALL of the newer cars. The air conditioners were not temperature sensitive so, you could literally keep copious amounts of ice-cold air coming inside until your teeth chattered or until the compressor froze. You could seat 6 adults with room in the trunk for 6 full-size suitcases. Handling? People drove these cars differently. They slowed down for the corners and railroad crossings and intersection humps. Life isn't all about going around corners at 90 MPH. Who does that in reality? Who would do that with their family in the car? I have well over 10,000 car accidents recorded from right here on RU-vid. I have looked at EVERY single car accident involving older Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Lincolns, and Mercurys. In EVERY SINGLE CASE, there was no evidence, let alone proof, that the suspension was in any way a factor in the accident. NOT ONE! YET, I did notice that many of the newer cars with firm suspensions were involved in high-speed accidents because the firmer suspension encouraged high-speed driving that caused the crash. While it is true that there are fewer traffic deaths now because of airbags, crash crumple zones, and mandatory seat belt laws, high-speed accidents are on the rise. You now have a situation where you either live or die in an accident at these speeds. So, who benefits? It has been known for a long time that in Germany the accident rate is 1% lower than ours in the States BUT, their fatality rate is 1% HIGHER. So, who wins? The insurance companies. It is cheaper to bury someone than to keep them hospitalized for weeks or even months. They save BILLIONS of Dollars from firm suspensions. It's all about money now. Not your comfort. You are only fooling yourself into thinking you have a better car.
The Last beautiful American car made,IMO. 1973 got big fat lip bumpers on everything. Ugly (square?) head lights in '74...Every American car in 1970 was beautiful. By 1980, all ugly junk. Still are today.
My dad had the very same pup in '72. No hole in the roof, though. My dad's was fully equipped with the limited slip axle. We, took trips up/down the east coast. The only mods were steel belted radials. What a difference. With all the available adjustable/power equipment, I, was able to drive that behemoth. My dad always had Big BUICKS since the mid '60's, Riviera G.S every 2/3 years from brand new. But, '72, became his favorite. I,can vouch, it was a Fast land yacht. After that, NEVER THE SAME.
@Danthelandyachtfan79 - I agree. 100%. And awesome name btw. Gen X rules!! 😉 Anyways, looks like we got us a defector in your comment section. Probably drives a Subaru and tells everyone how much better his Japanese car is vs American..... 😑 Lmao!! 😂😂😂
This 4700 lb "ugly" car could push several new cars off the road into ditches, popping air bags everywhere along the way and still look beautiful driving away. Newer don't mean better. This is the last beautiful car made in America, before the mandatory fat lip safety bumpers in '73. You probably think square headlights were a good Idea. I've owned a 71&72 Rivieras and If I get another you better get the hell away from it.
What a car. These Buicks rode like a Magic Carpet on the open road. 1972 was the last halfway decent year for a really long time. Not many cars even come close to the ride comfort of these big boat Buicks. Love it!!
I disagree. I love all the cars of yesterday. I'm a little over sixty. My favorite Buick R. Was the 65. 425 with 2 4 barrels carbs. What a sleeper. Talk about the four wheel power glide. Scary cars back then. Tubes in the tires. Nothing for brakes. Armstrong steering. And the open road. Backseat full booze and a sweetie beside me. Life was great. Was.
Well I sure didn't drive my '72 like this, but it's nice to see someone else do this to theirs. Just proves it's the last beautiful car. Looking spectacular at every angle, at any speed, parked, or behind the wheel. Best car I've ever saw, drove and purchased. (a '71&'72).
I didn't drive my 72 that hard either but I would say "spirited". Didn't need the helmet, but I did wear both the lap and shoulder belts in my Riviera, because when you were buckled in you got a better feel of the road and how the car handled. I actually enjoyed wearing the seat belts- increased safety and an enhanced driving experience, it was a no-brainer. Along with a full tank of gas and a pack of Winston 100's, I was a happy 25 year old.
I always liked the Buick Rivieras, although I prefer Pontiac's 69-70 Grand Prix as my personal car. GM styling had it going on in the 50s, 60s and early 70s.
I LOVE Buick. I'm a Roadmaster fan. I want a '57 and WILL buy one in the future. But deep inside I am a massive sucker for Pontiac too. I love the Bonneville, Grand Prix, Le Mans, GTO, Tempest (60's not 80's LoL) and of course, the Firebird T/A 👍
The only reason gas prices even went up is because car manufacturers started making more economical vehicles. So the gas industry had to continue making money. I still drive a Roadmaster with a 300hp 350 though. I don't care about high gas prices. I Love my Buick.
I had a 1971. My late father had a 1972 in this exact color. Between us we had 1963, 64, 65, 67, 70 and 1996. These boat-tails were the best of the bunch.
Almost five thousand pounds of gas sucking, coffee cup sloshing, coif spoiling, divan driving, sea sick inducing performance! I sure would love to own one!
It only sucks gas if it's running 😉 Those 3 speed autos mated to hp-spewing big blocks certainly were not made for fuel economy. Although they averaged around 9-10 mpg (not bad for a boat with balls). The Lincoln Mark 5 averaged 8 mpg Lmao!!
@@asmongoldsmouth9839 Back when gas was about 30 cents per gallon. Seems cheap today but even back then, it didn't take long for prices to at least double. That Buick was an expensive car to buy and to run...even in 1972. My father in '72 was making about 10 grand per year (single income household like most back then btw), paying on a 35k mortgage at 6.5% interest, and raising 2 kids. The family car was a 1969 Chevy Kingswood station wagon with a 396 that got about 8 mpg in town and was run only when necessary. Fun times though! BTW, that wagon could sure haul ass when Dad's right foot got itchy. Sure loved the sound of that 4 bbl carb when Dad tromped on it.
The era of the land yacht. These types of vehicles once dominated the roads of America. Floating, wallowing, nose diving, and power steerable with your pinky.
It always felt spooky going fast in these on roads with corners. You feel so disconnected from the road it's somewhat of a guess which way it's gonna go in a corner.
American cars weren't made to be tight handling cars back then. they were meant to be landyachtz with soft cushy rides especially especially big high-end ones like Buick Cadillac Lincoln et
I Love GM. I'm sitting in a full-size boat ('96 Roadmaster with the 300hp LT1 350) as I write this. But the fact the video tried to demonstrate the handling of this behemoth makes me laugh as it aggressively leans. If the door wasn't closed ths driver would've fallen out onto the track. Lmao!! GORGEOUS car. The 455 was incredible. But man have times changed!! A sporty luxury vehicle back then: 0-60 in 8-10 secs. A muscle or full sport car did: 0-60 in 5.5 secs. Now a sporty luxury vehicle does: 0-60 in 5.5 secs. A muscle or full sport car does: 0-60 in 2.8-3.5 secs.
Those cars did have quite a bit of body roll, hence wearing the lap and shoulder belts was critical. Not only did they hold you in place for the obvious safety aspects, but with both belts buckled, you really had an enhanced feeling of how the car drove and handled. Back then I was one of the rare people that buckled up, just as much for the enhanced driving experience as for the safety aspect.
My dad had the exact model Riviera GS 455 Stage 1. Limited slip rear,auto level control, OEM mags, & VOGUE tyres. But, he didn't have the hole in the roof nor cruise control, but, he had the speed buzzer. He loved that car. With all the adjustments I learned to drive that behemoth easily. But, I remembered his had 455cid 4bbl, & a Stage 1 sticker . So this must be a regular 455. Big block- Naturally Aspirated. With today's technology i.e. Dodge Viper - don't Need No Stinkin Turbo or Supercharger!!!!
@@INNO222 When I got my 1st new car, I ordered it again, cheaper than cruise control. I got me a 2dr Buick Landau coupe,225. Astroroof, power every thing, chrome Buick rims & the VOGUE tyres. Brushed aluminum molding, etc...for a tick over $9k. Even limited slip,try buying a full equipped car new or used (entry luxury) for that $$$$$. They say it's INFLATION. $$$$ It was a 1976, got it in early December 75. I miss those behemoths, the serene & smooth ride was AWESOME. U could drive for days,& still feel fresh. NOW, U got to pay heavyweight $$$ for that. Just a better handler. When I purchased my new '83 Riviera, it too had it, in place of the much more expensive cruise control. I had many non GM cars after that.
@@INNO222 if I'm not mistaken only BUICKS offered this feature. But, it still was available in my '83 Buick Riviera. It's a great option & inexpensive. No speeding tickets
Love Rivz' Had 2 Bobtailz 71' n 72' after putting new springs ,shocks coilovers , She Handled Beautifully!!! Bambio Cream with Sandlewood interior, Buckets n Console, my "BlondeRiv" I Loved Her!!!
Had a '71. They all had 455 4 barrels, but mine wasn't a GS. It was a beautiful mauve color (pinkish/brown). Not being a GS, it had a bench seat. In good shape but GM vinyl interior materials started to get weaker by '68. '71 to '74 Rivs were just LeSabers with a different rear body clip. My '65 was another story!!!
455 4 barrel automatic on the floor fully loaded my car is a beast this thing will pass anything on the road except the gas station at air conditioning cruise control positraction rear end she was fast and mean I wish I still had it I bought a brand new
A 455 BBL? I guess the title of this means it has a carburetor. It would be strange if it didn’t at the time. The title doesn’t specify which variety, though, which is makes it an odd title when describing the the type of engine.
That was the speed warning needle to remind the driver that he is going faster than he wanted to go. It could be set to any speed. When the driver reached that speed, a buzzer reminded him that he exceeded the speed he wanted to go. It was great as a way of not getting a speeding ticket.
They didn't handle like today's cars for sure. However, back in the day, if you were one of the rare guys like me that wore both the lap and shoulder belts, you were held in place and you had a better feeling of how the car drove and handled especially during spirited driving. Problem was hardly any one wore a seat belt back then.
0:42 - I kind of get the feeling that USA cars are as good as the music of the time. Nowadays we have rap ... and look at the cars. Just add a "c" to the rap and you get ...
If I had one, I'd paint it gunmetal grey, lower and widebody it, put 5 spoke wheels on it, put a camaro v8 in it, remove the front bumper, and put some racing parts in the interior. Oh, and a side exhaust build into the side of the car.
@@enerrivers4392 I know, I was only kidding because in all these videos they measure the braking distance in a massive 4 wheel lockup skid. it's kinda funny, maybe back then threshold braking wasn't a commonly known technique.
Your BMW is somehow better? Really? These cars had nice big roomy interiors. You could stretch out on a long trip. You could yawn with both arms outstretched and not touch the side windows with your elbows. You could float down the highway with no harshness because they had full frames with rubber insulators. There was no verticle movement at the corners so, there was no jerkiness that is present in ALL of the newer cars. The air conditioners were not temperature sensitive so, you could literally keep copious amounts of ice-cold air coming inside until your teeth chattered or until the compressor froze. You could seat 6 adults with room in the trunk for 6 full-size suitcases. Handling? People drove these cars differently. They slowed down for the corners and railroad crossings and intersection humps. Life isn't all about going around corners at 90 MPH. Who does that in reality? Who would do that with their family in the car? I have well over 10,000 car accidents recorded from right here on RU-vid. I have looked at EVERY single car accident involving older Buicks, Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Lincolns, and Mercurys. In EVERY SINGLE CASE, there was no evidence, let alone proof, that the suspension was in any way a factor in the accident. NOT ONE! YET, I did notice that many of the newer cars with firm suspensions were involved in high-speed accidents because the firmer suspension encouraged high-speed driving that caused the crash. While it is true that there are fewer traffic deaths now because of airbags, crash crumple zones, and mandatory seat belt laws, high-speed accidents are on the rise. You now have a situation where you either live or die in an accident at these speeds. So, who benefits? It has been known for a long time that in Germany the accident rate is 1% lower than ours in the States BUT, their fatality rate is 1% HIGHER. So, who wins? The insurance companies. It is cheaper to bury someone than to keep them hospitalized for weeks or even months. You are only fooling yourself into thinking you have a better car.
@@Lucille69caddy Now we are getting assume-ish here. FYI, I have a collection of different brand cars, but if its one thing I know about brand owner's is they assume a lot. Too much.
@@mkaestn How old are you? Well I think since I drove the car, I think I know a lot of about Buicks as my parents had many. Are you a dem-lib? Since you cannot seem to handle an opinion that does not agree with yours?
Mine handled great after a rebuilt front end. The 455 is heavy on the front end, as is the car.(4740lbs curb weight) New radial tires are a Huge improvement over 1972 tire tech, as with most classic cars. You could throw the rear side ways with the gas and it would come right back in line. 4 link rear helps with stability. Test driver is just a psycho in this video having fun.
One day I drove my boss's car, a 1984 Buick Rivera. What a terrible car. It was down sized from the earlier ones. It was slow, mushy suspension and not good lucking at all. Terrible
Buick had a speed reminder needle that the driver could set to remind him that he was going faster than he wanted. On this car, it was set at 85 MPH. It could be set to any speed though.
@@waynejohnson1304 Thanks. I thought it might have been the editing and the car actually was going 85 at that moment. I'm not quite sure I understand the point of that needle though. If you know you don't want to exceed 85 it's right there on the Speedo. That doesn't take a reminder. Four people read and liked your reply to my comment in two hours? *shakes head* Thou dost try too hard. ;)
@@fifteenbyfive Not everyone can constantly monitor the speedometer though. There are times when using the cruise control isn't feasible such as when you are in heavy traffic. At the same time though, you don't want to follow someone on the highway and find you are going 90 mph in a 55 zone either. In this Buick, you could set the maximum speed you wanted to go and when you got to that speed, the buzzer would remind you so, you didn't get a speeding ticket. It was not a popular piece of equipment though. It was annoying to hear the buzzer going off so, it was later deleted.
