1971 Buick Riviera 455ci V8, Boattail Styling, Gold over Cream,
Clean Florida Car Why This Car Is Special The 1971 Buick Riviera is
one of the most distinctive American personal luxury cars ever
built, and not just because of the way it looks. The
third-generation Riviera, produced from 1971 to 1973, introduced
what Buick designers called the boattail roofline a dramatic
fastback design that swept down to a pointed center peak at the
rear, inspired in part by the classic Cord 810 of the 1930s. It was
a bold departure from anything else on the road at the time, and it
remains one of the most recognizable silhouettes in postwar
American automotive history. Bill Mitchell, GMs design chief at the
time, championed the look personally. Not everyone loved it when it
was new, but fifty years later the boattail Riviera is recognized
as a genuine design landmark. What makes this particular 1971 Buick
Riviera especially worthwhile is the combination of its
original-style gold exterior, cream vinyl interior, correct 455ci
V8 drivetrain, and an undercarriage that is genuinely clean not
cleaned up for photos, but structurally solid in the way Florida
cars tend to be when theyve been kept out of the salt. The VIN
confirms this is a 1971 model year car, built at Buicks Flint,
Michigan assembly plant, and equipped with the 455 cubic inch V8.
The odometer shows 88,918 miles, which is consistent with a car of
this age that has been driven regularly but not abused. The 1971
model year is considered by most Riviera enthusiasts to be the
cleanest execution of the boattail design. The rear bumper
treatment was revised and simplified compared to the 1970 carryover
model, and the overall proportions hit their sweet spot before
emissions regulations began softening performance figures in
subsequent years. Buick built approximately 33,810 Rivieras for the
1971 model year, making this a moderately produced car not rare
enough to be impossible to find parts for, but certainly not common
enough to be overlooked at a show. Features List - 455ci V8 Engine
- Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-Speed Automatic Transmission - Dual Exhaust -
Air Conditioning - Power Steering - Power Front Disc Brakes - Power
Windows - Tilt Steering Column - Woodgrain Steering Wheel - Dark
Brown Vinyl Top - Boattail Styling - Riviera Rally Wheels -
Whitewall Tires - Woodgrain Interior Trim - Bucket Seats with Head
Restraints - Floor Console - Chrome Bumpers - Tinted Glass - Body
Pinstripes - Clean Undercarriage Mechanical Under the hood sits
Buicks 455 cubic inch V8, the largest displacement engine the
division produced during this era. In 1971, the 455 was rated at
315 horsepower in standard tune, with torque figures north of 450
lb-ft the kind of low-end pull that made these cars feel effortless
at highway speeds regardless of their substantial curb weight.
Buicks 455 has a well-earned reputation among enthusiasts for being
a strong, durable engine with a broad torque curve that suits the
Rivieras grand touring character perfectly. This is not a
high-strung engine that needs to be wound up to deliver it moves
the car from a rolling stop with authority, and it settles into a
relaxed cruise with equal ease. The Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed
automatic backs the 455 and is a proven, robust unit. Looking at
the undercarriage photos, the transmission pan is clearly stamped
Hydra-matic, Div of GMC, confirming the correct unit is in place.
The dual exhaust system exits through the rear bumper in the
correct boattail configuration a detail that matters both visually
and acoustically, as the 455 with duals has a distinct, low rumble
that suits the cars character. The undercarriage itself is coated
in black and presents cleanly, with no visible rot or patch work in
the floor pans, frame rails, or suspension mounting points. The
front suspension uses an independent A-arm setup, while the rear
uses a torque arm arrangement not unusual for the platform, and
WeBe Autos Specializes in Marketing and Advertising Muscle,
Classic, Vintage and Specialty Cars. We offer Professional
Photography, HD Movies, and Staging that Sells Cars. Let us
showcase and sell your specialty car. Please visit our website for
more details. Keep in Touch, Michael Runnalls Specialty Car
Marketing & Media WeBe Autos Ltd. Long Island, NY 11780
[email protected] www.WeBeAutos.com (O)631-339-0399
(C)516-729-2003 Skype webeautos (F)631-389-2605 - - - Contact
Michael Runnalls at 631-339-0399 or
[email protected] for more
information. -
