Vehicle Description
60,531 original miles. Lifetime Texas car. Extremely clean
throughout, everything works, drives very well. One older repaint
in the factory color, beautiful original interior, optional 5.0
liter V8. Loaded with options and ready to enjoy!The light gray
color will always be in fashion, particularly on a luxury coupe
like the Riv. With so few miles in a warm climate, the sheetmetal
is in great shape and the repaint about 10 years ago accurately
reproduces the original finish. There's a great shine with only a
few signs of use and age, but no damage or other issues. Panel fit
is excellent and even the plastic extensions behind the bumpers are
in fantastic shape with no cracking or fading. The long hood/short
deck profile works as well on a luxury car as it does on muscle
cars and that vertical rear window adds a formality that's quite
appealing. Details like the chrome and stainless trim, name badges,
taillight lenses (with delicate little 'R' logos in the back-up
lights), and even the padded vinyl roof are in great condition. If
you're looking for an affordable luxury car, this one seems to have
led an easy life.The plush gray velour interior is 1980s American
luxury at its finest and it, too, is extremely well preserved. The
comfortable bucket seats are firm and supportive, which might be a
surprise for those of you used to these cars feeling mushy. The
carpets are deep enough to lose your shoes in them and the dash pad
hasn't been baked by the sun. This Riviera is loaded with virtually
every single option you could get, including automatic climate
control (A/C is ice cold), power seats, power windows, locks, and
mirrors, cruise control, rear defroster, tilt steering column, and
a decent-sounding AM/FM/cassette stereo that's the same Delco unit
found in every GM car of the period. All of it works properly, top
to bottom. The instrument panel covers only the basics of speed and
fuel level, but the markings are bright and crisp and the lens is
crystal clear. The only possible demerit inside is that the sun
visors are showing some deterioration, but on the plus side, the
headliner is in great shape. The trunk is unmarked and includes the
original space-saver spare and jack assembly.There were a variety
of engines available in the Riviera, but the one you want today is
the reliable, smooth, and torquey 5.0 liter V8. It's actually a 307
cubic inch Oldsmobile V8, but in the Buick it provides the kind of
effortless thrust that you'd expect from a top-of-the-line luxury
coupe. Examine the photos closely and you'll spot nothing that
wasn't there in 1982, with only maintenance items being changed.
There are fresh fluids inside the engine and the A/C system has
been converted to R134a to make it easy to service in the future.
Turn the key and it starts as easily as a modern fuel-injected car
(the Riv still used a 4-barrel carb in 1985) and immediately
settles into a smooth, almost imperceptible idle. No fussiness, no
waiting for the choke, just a luxury car acting the way it should.
It pulls with ease on the road and thanks to thick, supple weather
seals, you won't hear it running at speed. The only transmission
available in the front-wheel-drive Riviera was a 4-speed automatic
with overdrive, making this a superlative highway cruiser that
pulls down decent fuel economy. The all-independent suspension
isn't sporting but it's competent and swallows bumps large and
small without any drama, just a distant 'thump-thump' from the
tires. The underside was treated to a light dusting of undercoating
when it was new, but has otherwise never seen any inclement
weather. Steel wheels with wire wheel covers were a very popular
option and it sits on 205/75/15 whitewall radials.Smooth, quiet,
and competent, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover how
comfortable vintage American luxury can be. Just a clean,
well-maintained, no-stories Riv that's ready to enjoy. Call
today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or
professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to
purchase.
