Buick’s flagship Riviera always represents style and luxury, and turbocharged performance elevated specimens like this 1984 Buick Riviera T-Type coupe in Sunbury, Ohio to the pinnacle of Buick’s pecking order that year. This one looks complete, but shows wear and rust everywhere. If you like rarity, it’s one of 1153 T-Type Rivieras built that year, according to Wikipedia. Our own Jeff Lavery covered what looks like the same car in 2019, and it looks a little rougher today, but still a highly interesting find! The $2500 asking price on Facebook Marketplace leaves room for parts and refurbishing. Hagerty reports value in Good condition at $9400 as we go to press, so buyers will be fans of the FWD turbo luxury coupe more than greedy investors.
A complete-looking engine compartment certainly helps, as finding anything FWD turbo-specific could be a bloody nightmare. Turbocharging added 81% more horsepower over the non-turbocharged 3.8L (231 cid) V6, according to Buick sales literature, from 110 to an even 200 during a year when the new Corvette C4 made 205. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for details.
When Oldsmobile and Cadillac moved their Toronado and Eldorado coupes to Front Wheel Drive in 1966 and 1967, respectively, Buick kept its premier two-door luxury Riviera on RWD until this sixth generation body debuted in model year 1979. Automakers struggled to balance performance, fuel economy, and emissions regulations in the mid-’70s to mid-’80s, resulting in some of worst performing vehicles in decades. Against that backdrop, Buick’s use of turbocharged V6 and I4 engines delivered a much-needed boost relative to average cars of the day, and when it came to style, nothing looked like a Riviera.
Close-cropped pictures may leave OCD buyers with a nervous tic, and tetanus should concern anyone diving into a restoration of this Buckeye State Buick. The missing plastic filler between body metal and bumper plagues many General Motors vehicles of this era, as they distorted and disintegrated after lengthy exposure to sunlight and the elements. A formal roofline graced the ’84 Riviera coupe, radically different from the boat tail look of 1971-73. Do you harbor a soft spot for the boosted Riviera T-Type?
I think this is a cool car but one that seemingly needs everything and I. The end likely the party buying / restoring would be way upside down in the equation. If you have a passion for these, it would likely be money better spent to find one in good condition and restore from there.
Cool 😎 and rare version of the great Riv
I see what you did there ..
These Rivieras were “ Motor Trends “ “Car of the Year “ – in 1979 when they first made their debut. They had 350ci engines in 1979-1980 and had really good performance. Even the 307ci engines starting in 1981 had a decent off the line takeoff power. When they went to the 3.8 liter “turbo” they were even better! These are definitely “ collector cars “ for sure. I would definitely buy one! If anyone does buy this one – it would be for personal enjoyment not for profit. Probably $2,000.00 bucks here, and another $3,000.00 (ish) and you’d have yourself a GREAT cars and coffee CLASSIC, just for yourself. Nice article!
….if I had a dollar for every cv boot and or axle and lower ball joint I did on these I’d retire to a tropical destination.Olds 307 was a decent engine other than the aluminum intakes that would leak on top of the iron heads in the corners where the coolant passages were and those pesky leaky heater control valves that threaded into the Inake that would leak coolant but that’s typical on Oldsmobiles… I’d see the check valves blow out on the smog tubes and clog the air filter with exhaust soot quite often. This one is too far gone Imo.ahhh memories..glwts.
I love these. I have two 85 Rivieras. One is a turbo and the other a V8. The Turbo T-type I bought new. I love this car. It’s a hot air turbo so it doesn’t have the power of a GN but it is a sight better than the V8. A really well balanced car with great handling. Maggy is right about the axle boots but after the first set you do, you realize that it’s an easy job to replace them. Sequential port fuel injection and crank triggered ignition are among the attributes for this mid 80s car. It was ahead of its time. Both my cars still have the original ball joints and they are in good condition.
Have always enjoyed these GM front wheel large door sedans. Had 2 new Toronado’s back in the 80’s. A few years ago , tried to find a nice Riviera convertible, but found a Toro convertible and have enjoyed it. These cars are so much fun to drive and relive the 80’s technology.
I’ve got one of these beautiful cars just like this one except mine has the cloth crush family interior. It has 3.8 sequential fuel injected turbocharged engine as well and when I was driving it it floated like a Cadillac down the highway as of this moment my turbocharger has gone South and the car hasn’t been driven in about 15 years. Looking at its rarity I expected it to appraise higher value, cosmetically yes it needs some help but if you look what this car started in 1984 with the GN….every Buick lover should be lining up to have one of these historical cars in the garage too.
I’m a fan of these 1979-85 Rivs and I love seeing turbo versions.They are very rare. But yeah, I concur that this would need just too much work.
The turbo-charged V6 actually had more horsepower than the V8, but most buyers went for the V8, which makes these rare.
Not easy to work on due to the electronics and electrical relays buried everywhere in these cars.
$2,500? This guy is dreaming. A rusty mess with what’s now described as ‘patina’.
This car may not be as bad as it appears. It does have a good load of options and accessories. Bose system, 4 wheel disc brakes, Twilight Sentinel to mention a few that are visible. The major downside is that it’s an Ohio car. The real truth will be known when a bottom side inspection is done. The weak point is the rear frame horns which tend to rust when exposed to a lot of salt. However, for the price, this is a great parts car. A low optioned Riv could be made something very nice with the parts from this car.
Very cool cars in their own right, but good luck trying to find restoration parts for them. Hopefully someone takes it on and restores it!
That picture of the quarter panel tells everything that needs to be said about this one’s bones.
Drag it home, remove and inventory all the useful bits to keep your existing example on the road, and till the remaining hulk under in the garden.
Ad an owner of a 84′ Riv, I seriously believe GM should’ve made this gen RWD… Meanwhile I have a Crispy 84 Triple Burgundy Riviera (fully equipped) for sale
I used to blow the doors off those things for fun with my 72 GS 455 Riv I built and then take them for a ride in a real Buick and watch them try to hold on to the dashboard. Big fun
You sound like a real maverick Stephen!
The old “try and hold on to the dash board” remark. Lol comical to be sure.
I used to blow the doors off those things for fun with my 72 GS 455 Riv I built and then take them for a ride in a real Buick and watch them try to hold on to the dashboard. Big fun