Vehicle Description
The day of the Riviera has arrived once again. For those of us who
love these cars, we've known for years that machines like this 1969
Buick Riviera have been almost criminally under-valued. That's
changing, and once you see the quality of the restoration and the
long list of features in this gentleman's muscle car, you'll
understand why these are very special cars.
The Riv was fully redesigned in 1966 and incrementally updated
until 1970, and there are a good many enthusiasts who believe the
'69 is the best-looking of the bunch. Looking at this gorgeous
Verde Green Riv, it's hard to argue. For many years, the values on
these cars meant that restorations were rarely done properly and
you never saw a big investment. That's definitely not the case
here, with laser-straight bodywork, great paint with a deep shine,
and good panel fit throughout. The work is a few years old so it's
no longer perfect, but you're going to have to look pretty hard to
see the flaws and touch-ups. The shape is as striking today as it
was 50 years ago, conveying a sense of power and competence without
resorting to stripes and wings. No, this is a car for grown-ups,
but you don't have to be shy to own it, because you're going to get
A LOT of attention. The chrome is in good order and the white vinyl
top offers a nice contrast that helps it look low and sleek, while
providing a further touch of sophistication to this vintage
legend.
The beautiful green interior was also extensively restored using
correct patterns and materials and it's always cool to see a
comfortable split-bench and a beautiful, crack-free dash in a
full-sized luxury car. That very dash would set the pace for Buick
for the next decade and this car is loaded with options including
factory A/C (needs to be serviced), a tilt wheel, power windows,
power locks, power antenna, and that cool speed alert system.
Gauges cover the basics and are crisp and clear, and the wood
applique on the dash and door panels adds a further touch of class
inside. The factory steering wheel looks great, and the carpets are
fresh thanks to protection from the correct Riviera floor mats.
There's a Pioneer AM/FM/cassette stereo in the factory slot that
sounds decent, and inside the hushed Buick interior, sound quality
matters. Out back the trunk is downright gigantic, finished off
completely in its stock configuration.
That's the original, numbers-matching 430 cubic inch V8 under the
hood, which was rated at a very substantial 360 horsepower and a
towering 475 pounds of torque. It makes the big Riv feel downright
fast, but it's effortlessly smooth under all circumstances and just
ignores the drag of things like A/C and power steering. Dante Red
paint on the block gives it a traditional Buick look and an
aftermarket cold air intake rests atop a Holley Performance
4-barrel carburetor. Other than those additions it appears to be
almost entirely stock, including the valve covers, radiator, and
power brake and power steering systems. Factory exhaust manifolds
feed a mellow-sounding dual exhaust system which uses polished tips
under the rear bumper. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission was
the only option, but you already know it's indestructible, and the
beefy rear end houses highway-friendly gears. Note that this car
has not spent its life in the snowbelt and it looks fantastic
sitting on Buick Road Wheels and big 225/75/15 Hankook whitewall
radials.
If you've been admiring these cars, now is the time to buy because
they won't be getting cheaper. This one stands out and gets
everything right, and it's still a fraction of the price of a
Chevelle or GTO. Have your cake and eat it too, with the Buick
Riviera. Call now!