The styling that Buick introduced with the 3rd Generation of the Riviera could quite easily be described as daring or adventurous. It gave the vehicle a distinctive appearance but wasn’t one that necessarily met with great acceptance from the buying public at the time. However, time heals all wounds, and while they are not a car that will command stratospheric prices today, they are still a car that has a strong following. This 1973 Riviera is a clean and solid example, and it has a genuine 31,500 miles on its odometer. After 17-years in his possession, the owner of the Buick has decided that the time has come for it to head off to a new home. Located in Machias, Washington, you will find the Riviera listed for sale here on Craigslist. The sale price for the Buick has been set at $18,000, and I really have to thank Barn Finder Ikey H for referring the vehicle through to us.

The Buick isn’t perfect, but it is a fairly clean survivor. Rust doesn’t appear to be a real problem with this car. Up until 2003, it had spent its life in California. Since finding its way to Washington, it has always been stored indoors. The panels are largely straight, although there is a noticeable dent in the rear pillar on the driver’s side, along with a ding on the rear corner of the car on the same side. The Arctic White paint is looking a bit dull, so it would be interesting to see how it would respond to an attack by a buffing machine. The vinyl top is also looking tired, but before I considered replacing it, I’d try cleaning it thoroughly and then trying to treat it with the sort of polish that is used on fiberglass boats. I have seen this approach before, and the results can be pretty surprising. The trim and chrome seem to be in good condition, while the factory tinted glass appears to be free of significant scratches or flaws.

Powering the Riviera is a 455ci V8, producing 250hp. As befits a luxury car, it also comes equipped with a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. When you consider that the Riviera tips the scales at 5,048lbs, that’s a lot of weight to be moved by an engine producing these sorts of power figures. As a result, the Riviera can accelerate from 0-60 in 9.8 seconds. However, while a ¼ mile ET of 17.2 seconds doesn’t put the Riviera in muscle car territory, it is still quite reasonable. The owner says that the Buick runs and drives exactly as it should, with the transmission shifting smoothly. He doesn’t indicate whether he holds any documentation to verify the mileage claim, but he does hold all of the original dealership and service paperwork.

Taking a look around the interior of the Buick reveals some pretty positive news. What you find is an absolute sea of red upholstery, and it all looks like it is in good condition. The seats, door trims and rear trims are free of any obvious tears or faults, while the headliner appears to be flawless. The dash and pad are both in great order, while it is super cool to find the original Buick floormats still in situ. These are an item that can tend to disappear over time, so that really is a nice little treat. The carpet itself looks quite good, while the inclusion of air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, and a tilt wheel should make life quite pleasant on the road.

This 1973 Riviera is a nice survivor and is a car that is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately. With those few cosmetic issues addressed, it should be a real eye-catcher. These are not a car that commands big dollars in the market today, but they still have a strong following. I suspect that those cosmetic issues may impact this one’s ultimate value, but if the mileage claims can be confirmed, then that is likely to offset it. So, with that in mind, I tend to think that the pricing on this car might be close to the mark.