Richard Hammond starts his 7.5-litre V8 Buick for the first time since The Grand Tour 

Petrol is at 2,2€ a litre and you guys revive a 7.5L V8. Love it

I’m so glad that Hammond didn’t give up on this car. So cool.

Don't give up on that beast, it would amazing to see this completely restored from top to bottom. And it's and extremely hard body to find now. So we'll worth the investment

The smile on Hammonds face when that engine is purring is every petrol head on the planet 😂😃

A garage tour of Hammond would be truly exuberant if possible.

Best way to pour fuel out of a full can is out of the open bit at the end mate. Cheers 👍

this should be the benchmark for every episode no annoying announcers or intro. straight to the people you want to hear talk about their cars. let's keep it simple loved it

In terms of pooring stuff from a can upside down or not. The trick is that with the hole near the top, any fluid leaving the can more easily be replaced with air since it needs to go through less fluid. The effect then mostly is a smoother poor, resulting in likely less spilling.

Keep the car, they're rare as hens teeth. I had one for a about 3yrs, 10 or so years ago. For a few months it was my daily driver. I was filling up one day and a bloke asked me how long a full tank lasted. I told him "three days or three hours, depends how I drive". Loved that car

I still love how Hammond is still Hammond even outside Top Gear

I enjoy seeing Hammond working on these things in videos. Truly a pleasure.

Thank you for calling it a 'hood'. I'm a Canadian and the front of my Triumph was referred to as a bonnet, so it's only fair. I could never call my Camaro's front a bonnet, after all. ;)

A moment to appreciate what the trio has given us 👏🏼

Sounds like it just needs the idle jets cleaned up. Also, it'll run super fat unless you restrict the rear carb's passages because off the shelf 4BBLs are set up for single carb use instead of duals.

This car is just so cool. We want more of this and running on road.

The second that engine started I felt like a kid again, how that engine just roars. Would be great to see a full restoration to it former glory.

The under plate gas cap was very convenient. You could pull into a station on either side of the pump and fill. No awkward this side or wrong side of the pump and backing in on a busy day, nose to nose with another car. It was more attractive too, than my MGB rear cap beside the plate. BTW, you remove the cap, and there is a pair of lip holders that you place the cap into, that keeps the plate swung down. Ta Da.

My very first car had a Buick 455 in it. I love old school Buicks, they hold a special place in my heart.

These 9 minutes were a lot more enjoyable than what is being passed off as 'Top Gear' at the moment!

I’ve been waiting for a part 2 of this, only on Father’s Day, perfect.

Ah that smile, it equals the one for the first start of an engine you've rebuilt, or the first shift of a transmission you put syncro cones in. It's what keeps you young at heart, and I go back to the days where those rear filler caps under the license plate were common. Worked at a gas station (petrol station to you) as a teenager, and saw plenty of them. So keep smiling, and live long.

I've been working on cars for 20+ years, and I still get that feeling in my gut when an old beast fires up after sitting for a while. The excitement on Richard's face made me excited.

First time I heard of one of these was in Due South. Ray Vecchio was so proud of his 1971 Buick Riviera, that it’s one of the few American cars I’ve ever been truly fond of

"I feel like a vet" Think you've been spending too much time on Clarksons farm there Hammond 😅

My dads first car back in 1982 was a riviera. He was so happy to see Hammond with one, not to mention an extremely BADASS one.

That smirk at 4:16 conveys the exact sensation of having a big ol' V8 yelling at the world in your hands :)

Hammonds face when it starts. That's a pure love of big engines right there!

There's so much potential in that car! Just standing there like that it already looks mind blowing. Minus that wing, of course...

I'd love to see that thing restored to its original state! Also loved how they said "hood" because 'murica.

Dear Mr. Hammond Your mechanic prowess is expectedly impressive. The time you spent as an apprentice for Santa has paid off. Also thank you very much for the Evel Knienel train set you made me in 1977. I loved it for 18 glorious minutes, then it caught fire jumping the provided orphanage model building. Best of luck with boat tail.

Brings back so many memories. My first car was a 72 Riviera in a darker green color. I wish I never got rid of it.

I have 2 7.5L v8s in my boat, they sound amazing.

Hammond: "He's gonna say he hates it but he doesn't" Mike: *inaudible* "I can't hear what you're saying" Hammond: "You love it!" Mike: :)

My Grandfather bought this actual car over from Canada when my mum was little, it drove me to my wedding 17 years ago. Have countless memories drives out to the country as a child in the summer - I hope you restore it to what it was someday!

It sounds amazing! So awesome seeing the Riviera. Wish we had boattails now, it's my favourite old American car.

This is the car that Ray had in one of my fav shows growing up, that being "Due South" If you've never heard of it you're missing out.

With my (admittedly limited) knowledge in this area, I'm going to say that your problem, well besides the dead battery, is that the carburetor needs to be retuned. They're not commonly called "edelbroke" for nothing.

Exhaust leaks, misfiring, dropping cylinders, timing off. Perfection.

I LOVE this car, such a cool thing, especially hier in Europe. Imagine seeing this on the road...so silly but so cool

Ohh man😍😍😍 what a superb sound... Music to my ears 😍😍 What's the status of dear Oliver? 😍

Beautiful car must say 👏

The smile on your face is priceless... I was smiling right with you, too...! What an epic history on that green machine! 👍👍

What I loved about having the gas cap behind the number plate was you never had to think about what side the fuel door is on and it keeps the rear quarters clean.

Boat tail...one of the most iconic Buicks ever built... I absolutely loved that car

I swear we have all been in this same position before , watching hammond and his mechanic mates trying to start the buick ! 😂

I owned a '68 Road Runner for 15 years. I also hated filling the gas tank behind the rear license plate. So when I had body work done on it, I installed a Dodge Charger gas tank and a fuel cap on the left-hand quarter panel.

Engines as old and as cool as that have a rumble that you can feel, and you don't even have to be inside the car. It's magic 😊🥰

It's a 7.5L V8 guys! 71/72/73 only for 3yrs. Who did the super charger work?

It is a gorgeous shape. It reminds me some what of the corvette stingray. The back end i am referring to.

the editing and sound was so well done here, its amazing how you can make real life look like a movie, really makes me forget I'm sitting watching RU-vid

I've always loved the older Rivieras and I'm glad to see some proper appreciation for them. First time I saw one was on a calendar my parents got me when I was a kid. It was just a collection of vintage muscle cars, and the Rivera is still a standout out of all of them. Glad you love weird cars Richard! I love them too!

Love this beautiful car! So glad Hammond and his team have got it running!

08:17 the camera getting closer to RH...👍👍👍👍👍👍 loved it...

the way it shakes just from the revs wow i need

That face and with that smile. Is priceless 😄. Same thing with my Sapphire GLX Executive 3 litre V6. The mechanic installed 3.4 V6 in due the 3 litre V6 on the way out. Started her and gave me a biggest smile. I daily drive her. Love it. Restore that Buick Riviera 7.5 V8. Sounds beastly beautiful! Love it!

I would love to see that engine properly built, and the right supporting mods done to the car, so you can confidently drive it!

idk why i love this car but it looks so cool with the supercharger and wing😂

I OWNED A 1971 BUICK RIVIERA WITH RARE OPTIONS ... IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE INDESTRUCTIBLE MOTORCAR

More. More of this beautiful boat

Oh my goodness, I haven't heard a car start up like that since I was a kid. My mom had a Vega my dad souped up and it would rock like that when you gave it gas or when it idled really low.

I'd love to see this up and running and out 😍

A bloke I used to live beside had an old Ford Galaxy. There's something special about big old American land barges. They're just so cool. Bring this old girl back to life Hamster.

Hope it will work soon! Can't wait to see it ride.

Thats wicked. Love the fact that Hammond has an appreciation for our vehicles. Means a lot! Cheers from across the pond. 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

That car has such a Roadkill vibe to it probably cuz it has that massive supercharger on it

I love seeing US muscle cars here in Britain. There is a guy near me that only drives Mustangs and his dedication is amazing, he has a '90s Mustang at the minute and the way it stands out always makes me smile.

Wow. What a sound. It is just thunderous.

It was the tv series Due South that introduced me to the Riviera Boat-tail and I feel in love with it. It was a dark green with a vinyl roof.

Such a cool car 😎 putting fuel in at the moment would be interesting 🙈 I suspect Hammond doesn't really have to worry about fuel prices, luckily for him. As that is the case it HAS to be a resto-mod 👍 along the same lines as the Charger Hammond broke in the GT episode this car was in.

Ok I'm all in for the awesomeness that is going to be this project! This thing is gonna be epic!

That's the biggest I've seen mike ever grin about a car... he absolutely loves it! XD

I believe that Riviera Boattail has a 455 cubic inch engine (7,5 litres), not a 400

Cant wait to see this moving around 🤘🏻 Check the water and oil 😂

The smile when it stayed on is priceless looool

The GRINNNN on Hammond’s face…. Priceless!

I've Loved Buicks for as long as I can remember I really hope you guys can get that thing ripping up and down Yorkshire or wherever the heck that is

Pump the pedal 3 times and hold it a quarter of the way down then start it and please lose the super bird spoiler

We need to see more of this beast!

Seeing this beast restored, refreshed, and back on the roads would be awesome

I have fond memories of one of the neatest designs ever. Growing up in West Texas my mom had a brand new gold-ish bronze 71 Riviera, which after about a year was t-boned & totaled. Mom was okay because it was built like a tank. Loving the design my parents promptly bought a metallic chocolate brown 72 Riviera for a replacement. Well, after another few years that car was stolen out of our garage that had the garage door closed, except that the keys had been left in it. Police never found it, & that was the end of our Riviera days. 455ci with posi-trac was pretty quick for such a heavy barge of a vehicle. My dad was a Triumph Spitfire & TR6 kind of guy (Tahitian Blue TR6 is still in the family & runs great), but I recall my dad & I roasting the rear tires of the Rivi every once in a while on back roads & we'd just laugh & laugh. We never told mom however, because it was her daily driver. The engine-turned metal instrument cluster was beautiful to me as 8 year old kid. I remember sitting in the back seats on the long vacation trips we took. But, because of the huge rear pillar & boat-tail window, I couldn't see a thing until we arrived, ha. I'd love to drive one myself someday, because from any angle they're beautiful to me. That green Riviera abomination is a disgrace that saddens me. And those are supposed to be car guys? That's like bolting a whaletail on an XKE. Would they approve of that? Nope!

Imagine an ev being that exciting standing still

i've loved that shape Buick Riviera ever since i saw Due South for the first time and i too have a toy one, or three :)

That face Hamster makes when it roars to life.. that's the face of a happy boy.

Who wouldn't want one of these😎

I can't imagine driving this boat around the 2" wide british roads, haha.

My math teacher in grade 8 had a maroon boat tail Riviera. All the kids loved it.

Look forward to seeing this restored. But as it is now, don't change it!

I’m convinced I know the reason behind the flip down plate. I’ve got the same on my 83 Camaro. I think it’s a simple factory installed plate flipper. Leave the front plate off, (hardly a crime) flip the back one down for your criminal activity, and then say, “Sorry officer, I was just fueling up.” Only way GM could get away with it though is to have it actually be a “necessary” function. But of course on this car, and my Camaro, it’s not illegal because it’s factory. Just my wild thoughts, but wether that’s the reason or not, it’s still cool. Have fun with the Riviera guys, it’s an amazing car already in North America, not to mention the UK!

Note for the future. Never stand in front of the intake when using starting fluid.

Great this :) Makes me look very forward to next Smallest Cog season!

Hammonds still got that fire, great content

It might need a new fuel filter. Also, how are the spark plugs in that Buick? Have you checked the timing?

Could we PLZ get a car collection tour from the trio? PLZZZZ!

Keep making these pls.. never give up

Dude!! The look on the Hamster's face when that Beast came to life was freaking priceless!!

I was told growing up that those cars WERE well-liked when they came out by American car enthusiasts BUT it was too expensive for the typical one to afford and the people that COULD afford them would just get something more high-end like a Cadillac or a European import luxury car instead (I'm from Canada). After they were available for cheaper on the second-hand market for a while THAT was when they took off because the people who wanted one could finally afford to get one! Now they are considered one of the all-time great American classic cars

Beautiful car... except the silly thing on the back. Ditch the spoiler (because it spoils the car 😉), a lick of paint, sorted. Love that engine.

I also loved the look of this model as a child, not many cruising the RU-vids. Must make more videos.

Was waiting for this. Never clicked anything so quickly in my life!

I think this car mesmerize be restored. You can also buy a cheap 454 engine or a masive 8.1 liters for a used much modern use truck, mated with a beffy 4L80, or better an 5 speed Allison trans and you will have a modern power train without lossing the feeling of have a massive big block there