Vehicle Description
The heyday of the Riviera has finally arrived. For those of us who
love these cars, we've known for years that machines like this 1971
Buick Riviera Boat-Tail have been almost criminally under-valued.
That's changing, and once you see the extent of the preservation,
the quality of the care spent on it since new, and the long list of
features in this gentleman's muscle car, you'll understand why
these are very special cars indeed.
Despite many American cars starting to decline in the early '70s,
the Riviera was just getting started. Radically redesigned from the
previous iterations, the 3rd generation Riviera road the wave of
the all-new, dramatically styled cars that would go on to define
the decade. Under the tutelage of GM legend Bill Mitchell, Jerry
Hirshberg took inspiration from the vaunted 1963 split-window
Corvette and incorporated a vee-butted, fastback rear window onto
the Riviera's platform. The result if the "Boat-Tail" that many
enthusiasts believe the is the best-looking Buick of the bunch.
Originally Code 11 Arctic White, a former owner made the wise
decision to upgrade this big coupe to a shade similar to the Fire
Red that was offered in 1971. With how dynamic the car looks in
person, it's hard to argue that the color-change wasn't an upgrade,
and the work was done right as there are no signs of the former
color. It's an older paint job, and a car that looks this good has
obviously been driven and enjoyed, but it still presents very well
as a higher-end driver, especially with that slick black vinyl rook
providing a nice contrast. For many years, the values on these cars
meant that restorations were rarely done properly and you almost
never saw the well-cared for through the decades. That's definitely
not the case here, with straight bodywork, an attractive finish
with a deep shine, and good panel fit throughout. It's not a
perfect showpiece, 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, with massive
bumpers fore and aft and polished brightwork found throughout, and
that unique baleen-like front grille is really an awesome design
feature for the '71 model.
The beautiful white interior appears to be a combination of
preserved and restored components, with the previous owners using
correct patterns and materials when they were needed over time, and
it's always cool to see buckets and a console in a full-sized
luxury car. The dash would set the pace for Buick for the next
decade and this car is loaded with options including cool factory
A/C (with R134a refrigerant that could use a little extra freon), a
tilt wheel, power windows, and an upgraded retro-style AM/FM/AUX
stereo inside the stock slot. Factory gauges inside a
machine-turned bezel keep an eye on the 455 under the hood, and the
three-spoke steering is an original piece that includes the same
woodtrim found in the center console and door panels. The middle
console is a welcomed piece that keeps the look sporty up front,
and we have to say this might be the coolest shifter ever. Plush
black carpets insulate the floors, the perforated headliner might
be original and is still in great shape, and even the rear package
tray has survived largely unscathed - further proof that this Riv
has lived an easy life all these years. Out back, the absolutely
cavernous trunk is neatly finished with black carpets and has
enough room to accommodate almost any traveler.
That's a powerful 455 cubic inch V8 under the hood, which Buick
initially rated at a stout 315HP out of the box. But with EPA
looming large over all the big automakers, lower compression rates
and emissions standards choked the motor down to around 255HP,
although performance is still quite brisk even in the elongated 3rd
generation Riv. It makes the big Riv feel fast when it needs to be,
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 the proper
'455' decal on the snorkeled air cleaner lets everyone know right
away that this Riv can handle itself if it needs to. It appears to
be almost entirely stock, including the big Rochester 4-barrel
carburetor that replaced the dual quads when the 425-inch V8 was
dropped a couple years before. Factory exhaust manifolds feed a
mellow-sounding dual exhaust system which uses chambered mufflers
for a throaty, factory rumble up-and-down the throttle. The TH400
3-speed automatic transmission was the only option, but you already
know it's indestructible, and the beefy 10-bolt rear end houses
highway-friendly gears and the addition of Buick's Max Trac
limited-slip differential. Note that this car has not spent its
life being abused and it looks fantastic sitting on Buick Road
Wheels and big 225/70/15 Hankook white-letter 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. This is the Boat-Tail Riv you've been waiting for.
Call today!
