For the few who had the moolah and the patience, the luxurious ’82 Buick Riviera Convertible (which were supposed to arrive in April but were delayed) finally arrived at Buick showrooms in July of 1982 just in time for summer top-down cruising. Buick’s first convertible since 1975, the Riviera was very expensive. With a starting price of $24,000, it was nearly $10,000 more than the base Riviera Coupe and twice the price of Chrysler’s K-Car based LeBaron Convertible. The ’82 Riviera Convertibles were also limited in both exterior and interior colors. Customers had a choice of a White or Firemist Red exterior with matching leather seats in either Claret (dark red) or Maple (light brown). Buick advertised that only 500 of these limited-edition convertibles would be built, but dealer and customer interest pushed the final production number to 1,248. And here’s one of those for sale wearing the attractive White with the dark red interior that has been pampered, well maintained, is highly original, and showing only 61,400 miles on the odometer.
The seller is the second owner and is only selling the Riviera due to recent medical issues. Overall, the car shows very well. The Code 11 White paint looks very presentable, there’s no sign of rust or accident damage, and the car’s chrome, trim, badging, glass, and red side accent stripes looks very good for its age. It has a dealer-installed luggage rack on the trunk lid and while most of these came with wire wheel covers, this Riviera is sporting the optional chrome wheels offered that year. The white bumper fillers have been replaced and since one photo shows a black convertible top instead of the Riviera’s original white soft top, it has been replaced at some point. The seller doesn’t mention if the black Riviera Guard Dog in the garage photo is part of the sale or not.
The Riviera was Buick’s flagship model and it is evident in the gorgeous dark red leather interior. That’s early-80’s Detroit luxury at its finest. The original cabin looks to be in great shape with comfortable red leather seats, new carpet, and a matching dark red convertible top headliner. The seller shares, “Headliners were not available until the 1984 – 85 models, but I added it to this one as it really improves the interior appearance.” These luxury cruisers were loaded with convenience and comfort items and this one has power steering, power brakes, power windows, a 6-way driver’s power seat, power door locks, factory air conditioning, and its original AM/FM Stereo radio. And since it was 1982, you’ll see a lot of faux wood trim on the door panels and especially the instrument panel.
Up front is the original optional 307-cubic-inch, 4-barrel carb V8 that’s mated to an automatic transmission. The 61,400 miles on the odometer are said to be original and given the condition of the car, I’d believe it. The seller shares a detailed list of recent work performed by the previous owner within the last 4,000 miles which includes, “a new AC compressor and freon, valve cover gaskets, trunk and hood struts. Transmission service includes new kit installed, overhauled, filter and fluid changed and replaced rear seals. Water pump replaced, new fan belts, idler arm, air intake hose and antifreeze flush. Carburetor adjusted with new fuel filter, master cylinder replaced, brakes all checked, brake fluid flushed and new fluid added. Air filter, wipers, oil change and power steering all done.” The current seller has installed new Vogue tires, reconditioned the original chrome wheels, and put in a new aluminum radiator, top and bottom hoses, water outlet and thermostat. This ’82 Buick Riviera Convertible is located in Agawam, Massachusetts, and is for sale here on craigslist for $17,500 or the best reasonable offer. Thanks to John Federico (slowpoke17) for spotting this Riviera and sending it to Barn Finds.
I was going to start off joking about Scotty giving us a drop top Riv. ( oh….. Well….. I just did it anyway…) Very pretty car, great color combination too. The burgundy interior looks very rich too. The lines on the quarter panels definitely go back to the early to mid 60’s as a call out and I always liked that. Very nice car.
Agreed. Cool car and dog 🐕 👍
To D and S . LOVE the Riviera and the dog. Of course I can’t help commenting, *These were before the auto industry really went to The DOGS!* Feel free to growl!
Great interior. Seems like a reasonable price
When my parents bought there 84 Eldorado, I beg them to either buy the conv or this one, not to be, but man I thought these were sweet for the time.
It really is a shame that when the power antenna failed (they were not hard to fix) they bolted on a gaudy fixed mast antenna). Other than that, it really is a gorgeous car.
Agreed, when my power ant. malfunctioned in my ’78 MB 450sl I sought out an easy Ebay one <20$, easy install!
The only reason I’d pass on this one is the fact leather interiors just don’t work in Southeast Texas especially during the summer months. I rarely if ever see a leather interior anything down here so anyone who gets this is going to be like Scarface or The Godfather 😄
ABBS I live in Houston and I agree with you, but my step son and his wife both love leather interior in their cars. Of course all our cars are air conditioned. Still I prefer cloth seats in my cars. Except my 64 Riviera has black vinyl, but it stays inside the garage most of the time.
I do love this Riviera convertible even if it is front wheel drive.
God Bless America
I agree, Abbs, for what it’s worth: leather interiors don’t serve in hot climes. Neither does daytime driving with the convertible top down. I disagree, though, with the writer’s implication that top-down cruising in July is pleasurable. Even in the Northeast, where I live, many would find the heat and humidity of mid-summer too oppressive to sit for more than a few minutes in an open car.
Surely you jest. We live halfway between Houston and Galveston, own five vehicles (ranging from a ‘61 Olds Starfire to a ‘23 Escalade) and they all have leather interiors. They still make cloth interiors?
Loss the luggage rack. It’s a luxury car.
Agreed. The luggage rack detracts from, rather than adds to this car.
I was selling cars around the time this would have been new. Customer came in to by an Oldsmobile 88 Coupe and insisted on having a luggage rack added. I tried to talk him out of it, but it was his $$. Ugly then, ugly now. The rest of the Riviera is great!
rmward, what’s worse is the hideous continental kit on the back bumper. Winner of the largest lifesaver candy in the world, your choice of flavor. Ewww.
I worked for the local Buick dealer when we received our “One of 500,” white, like this. We had it for months and months, the flooring cost must have been tremendously high. Was a hard sale. GM quality was really in the toilet then (as always??). I offered it to NFL great and broadcaster Don Meredith but no sale.
same 1 arnold drove in the movie raw deal
I had one of these, an 83. Kept blowing out EGR gaskets. The touch climate control was famous for blowing up. The engine had miles of vacuum line for the antique emissions sensors.
But when it was running, I’d be out with the top down and windows up, A/C on and I felt like a million bucks.
IF I found one again, I’d get it. Put a 60’s Toro 350 driveline in it, and cut all the sensors. “Nothing Rides like a Buick” Was true with this car.
Not a Riviera, but there’s a white, white roof, & red leather Olds Toronado Caliente convertible conversion with 46k miles for sale in the Twin Cities for $18,000. Like new, clean underhood. Saw it again last night at a car show.
Wow I wasn’t expecting a black top on this, everyone I’ve ever seen had a white top,I really like it and it makes this car stand out, sweet.
Only one nit to pick with this writeup, and it’s certainly forgivable, as few would remember trivial trim details after forty-three years. This interior is Maple. Claret was, I believe, the very dark red that lesser GM makes used on the instrument panel and steering wheel/column to reduce glare in vehicles with Maple Red interiors but could also have been a Cadillac-exclusive interior offering.
Even at the seller’s reduced price of 16.5K, I see this as a hard sell.