Made in Linden, New Jersey, this beautiful, low-mileage 1981 Buick Riviera now resides in Sarasota, Florida. The seller lists the mileage as being 20,878, and this is one case where it looks like it could be a 20k-mile car to me. What do you think? The seller has this front-drive luxury beauty listed here on eBay, and they have a $17,950 price listed, or you can make an offer. Thanks to Curvette for the tip!
Before you light the torches and sharpen the pitchforks, Hagerty is at $17,200 for a #2 excellent-condition example, just as a reference. Ranking as one of GM’s best-looking redesigns, in my opinion, the smaller E-body front-drive Riviera-Eldorado-Toronado had a classic look, with a long hood and short rear deck. I think they’re a “right-sized” car, but what do I know? I guess a few million buyers also liked them, so there’s that.
Beige with a Doeskin vinyl top, the only possible flaw I see in this car, inside or out, top to bottom, is the slightly miscolored rear bumper filler material. I’m not sure if it’s just beaten and aged from decades of being on the planet, as a lot of us are, or if it’s been replaced. The front looks like it matches better, but maybe it’s just fading or something. Otherwise, I really don’t see anything tipping off this car as having 120,878 miles rather than 20,878, do you? Here’s what the trunk compartment looks like, by the way.
The seller has included dozens of excellent photos on a link here, so please check them out to see this beauty in all its glory. They even had it on a lift for many photos to show the incredible condition of the underside. The seats look like new, both front and rear, which also makes me believe this is a low-mile car. I don’t see any wrinkling, compression, sagging, or other wear, even on the driver’s seat. The sixth-generation Riviera was made for model years 1979 through 1985, and it was the first front-drive Riviera. Although as a new, smaller E-body, it shared the same platform as the previously front-drive Eldorado and Toronado.
The engine is an Oldsmobile-sourced 307-cu.in. OHV V8, mounted longitudinally, and it has 150 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. Sending power through an automatic transmission to the front wheels, the seller doesn’t say how it runs, but they also say it has rear-wheel drive, so there’s that. I’m guessing it runs great. Any thoughts on this Riviera?
This is one clean Riv here. I’m going to have to be honest. It doesn’t look like a 120000 mile car to me. The interior, including the non-sagging headliner looks way too good to have that much use on it. Even under the hood and the underside looks really clean. Kudos to the seller for having 66 photos on the listing. And, a tip of the hat to Curvette for finding another creampuff ( look at the color…. Get it???). And of course Scotty for researching and writing this up. Its been very well cared for during its life and hope it still gets the care its received down the line with its new owner.
I had one just like this, except mine was the 120,000 version. Learned my lesson–NEVER buy a high-mileage luxury car. Different problem every week. Hope this one makes the new owner happy.