Vehicle Description
430 cubic inch V8, TH400 automatic, loaded with options. Great
color combination with older repaint. Beautiful Parchment interior
with bucket seats and the coolest shifter you'll ever see.
Powerful, smooth gentleman's muscle car.<BR><BR>Buick
stylists had their hands full when it was time to replace the
ground-breaking first-generation Riviera in 1966. Fortunately, they
nailed it with an all-new design that carried the Riv through the
end of the '60s with a clean, modern shape that was both muscular
and elegant. By the time this 1969 Riviera was built, the
horsepower wars were in full swing and Buick kept the GS badges on
their top-of-the-line Riv just in case some grownups wanted to get
in on the fun, too. Buick experts will quickly glance at the cowl
tag and see that this one was originally code E Twilight Blue, but
at some point in the not-too-distant past it was repainted Signal
Red and we think it's all the better for it. The paint job was
clearly a full disassembly job, because there's no trace of the
original blue paint in the nooks and crannies and the sheetmetal
underneath is in great condition. You can see that those big doors
and quarters are quite straight and someone added a white pinstripe
on the flanks to accentuate the body lines. The white vinyl top may
just be original and it's still in fine shape with no signs of
trouble underneath. It also sports nice original chrome and
stainless trim, correct 'Riviera GS' emblems, and good glass all
around. Oh, and the headlights work properly, although the right
side tends to droop a little bit after the engine is shut off.
<BR><BR>The lovely code 664 Parchment vinyl interior
appears to be largely original and in fantastic condition. Buckets
and a center console were standard equipment on the GS and the
shifter for the TH400 3-speed automatic transmission is one of the
coolest ever designed. Black carpets anchor the interior and are
surely newer than 1969 simply because they're in excellent shape, a
condition helped by a set of heavy-duty Buick-logo rubber floor
mats. Gauge markings are bright and crisp with some reasonably
realistic faux wood trim for an upscale feel. Options include power
windows, A/C (functional but needs a recharge), an unusual rear
defroster, and an AM/FM radio in the center of the dash. It's worth
noting that the door panels and headliner are really nice, which is
unusual for a GM car of this vintage, and the back seat area looks
especially well-preserved. The trunk is correctly outfitted in
factory mouse fur upholstery and includes a full jack assembly in
the quarter panel and spare tire underneath.
<BR><BR>The only engine available in the 1969 Riviera
was a 430 cubic inch V8 that replaced the venerable Nailhead in
1967. It's rated at a rather stout 370 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. of
torque, enough to make the heavy, luxurious Riv feel light on its
feet. There's a big 4-barrel carburetor on top (the chrome air
cleaner lid was part of the GS package) and with bright Dante Red
paint on the block, it's easy to identify this as a Buick
powerplant. There's plenty of evidence of recent work, including
fresh plugs and wires, new belts and hoses, and a few other details
designed to keep the Riv healthy. It starts easily, idles nicely
with a muted V8 burble out back, and pulls the big coupe around
with vigor-horsepower was the name of the game in 1969, after all.
The only transmission was GM's tough TH400 3-speed automatic, which
is still the most durable autobox ever built. The GS got 3.42 gears
on a limited slip out back, so acceleration is brisk if not
electrifying (it weighs 4500 pounds, after all), and it feels
competent and eager on the street. The undercarriage is original
and unrestored, but this car appears to have spent its life down
south so critical rot, holes in the floor, and rocker issues are
non-existent. Power steering was standard and this car carries
Buick's massive finned aluminum drums up front, so stopping power
is more than adequate. 15-inch chrome Buick Road Wheels are the
right choice here and they're fitted with relatively recent
235/75/15 whitewall radials all
around.<BR><BR>Documentation includes the original
owner's manual. <BR><BR>The second-generation Rivieras
have lived in the shadow of their older siblings for too long, and
it's time to take a closer look at cars like this second-generation
GS. Smooth, polished, and luxurious, it's one of the great personal
luxury coupes of the era and still delivers the kind of performance
that puts a smile on your face. Better yet, they're still uncommon
enough that you're likely to have the only one at almost any show
you attend. A cool coupe with plenty of muscle and eyeball appeal
for not a lot of cash. Call today!<BR><BR>Harwood
Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional
inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
