The Riviera would arrive in 1963 as Buick’s competitor in the growing personal luxury segment of the car market. By 1970, sales were slipping, and the nameplate needed a reboot, which it got in 1971 with all-new “boat-tail” styling which you either loved or didn’t. That left cars like the seller’s beautiful example to hold down the fort for one more year. This automobile has the looks of a survivor, but the seller doesn’t mention the things that would qualify it as such. Like does it wear its original paint, is the drivetrain numbers matching, or how many people have owned the car? So, instead, feast your eyes on this Buick and draw your own conclusions. From Ashland, Kentucky, this “nice driver” is available here on eBay for $17,500 (or you can make an offer). Another sweet tip from Barn Finder Larry D!
Though changes were coming in 1971, Buick didn’t just skate by with the Riviera in 1970, The car would borrow styling cues from GM head designer Bill Mitchell’s 1968 “Silver Arrow II” concept car. Its exposed quad headlamps were nearly flush with a new front bumper that wrapped around and over the new vertical bar grille set between the headlamps. And this model year would be the only time the Riviera wore fender skirts, which work well with the styling. The car also had a new engine, the 455 cubic inch V8 that produced 370 hp.
This Riviera wears Coronet Gold paint with a white vinyl top. Also. there are white accent strips on the sides of the car. This could all be dated from 1970 or could have been redone at some point in the Buick’s past. The white interior matches the roof and comes across as original with just some signs of routine wear but nothing that would require any immediate attention. The seller says there is “no serious rust at all” which implies there is rust somewhere, we just don’t see it.
The big V8 engine is said to run well, but no indication is made as to the mileage on the stately automobile. Also, the belt seems to be off the air conditioning compressor, a sign that it is not in operating condition. But those great Buick-road wheels on all four corners and in the trunk, which also looks good. If this vehicle is truly a survivor, it’s been well cared for over the past 52 years.
That steering wheel cover must be burned immediately. Worth every bit of 17. Count me in on the boat tails
Count me in on the fender skirts! All hail Bill Mitchell!
The ’70 Riviera is a one-year-only car. I think they are beautiful. For general knowledge, Buick offered two different sizes of fender skirts on these cars. This has the big ones. The smaller ones cover about half as much.
I feel sure this is the only model which ever offered two types of fender skirts for one model. Pic attached of the smaller version.
https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/1970_buick_riviera_1567467449a26bc0bDSC_0399.jpg?fit=2048%2C1146
RWL tires are out of place on a Riv. That pinkish color must be rare as hell.
The big fender skirts on the car here for sale make it look aero & futuristic, especially with the hidden wipers(when properly adjusted after they park) & ventless side glass.
I agree with you Larry. I don’t know of any other car where a buyer had two styles of fender skirts to choose from.
The first 70 Rivs had the big skirts. The smaller ones appeared later in the model year. Skirts were quite a change on the 70s as the 66-69s had fully exposed rear wheels, and perhaps there were customers who liked the old style better. The design of the rear wheel opening meant that skirts had to be fitted since the wheel well was not fully open, as there was hidden body structure under the skirt. The side molding as shown on this car also appeared on all early cars. The later cars (1/2 skirts) were available w/ and w/out that molding. A friend’s father bought a new 70 in this exact color combo, but his was a small skirt, no side molding version.
Interesting, Larry. Those small skirts seem superfluous really. And that color!
@Rex Kahrs
Yes sir that color is a stunner. One of the rare and unusual offerings from Buick.
I feel the small skirts were basically for the folks who didn’t want skirts but Buick had to put something on there to cover up the body work necessary to fit the skirts.
I actually remember most of the ’70 Rivs having the big skirts and am not really sure I’ve ever seen one with the small skirts in person. But there again, how many ’70 Rivs have we really seen in person?
Happy color combination.
Body with personality.
It’s passionate.
It represents its time very well.
Well Larry, I do love the gold Riv, but my comment was referring to the hideous lavender Riv on BaT!
Also, well said Ricardo. Great comment.
The 1970 is a cleverly disguised second generation car. Bill Mitchell was concentrating on the upcoming boattail and told his staff to make the 1970 “look more French.” Hence the fender skirts.
It was the most powerful year for a Riviera at 370 horsepower. The sweepspear on this car was an option but it should be body color. Painting it to match the roof is a commonly seen custom touch.
Came home from school in 63 to find one in the driveway. Beautiful and a HORSE. This one a winner.
I bought one at an estate sale a few years ago , had small skirts , had big ens’
in the trunk that were paint matched but scratched up . It ran but was a big project . I bought it planning to pull the motor for my 66 Skylark convertible , and part the rest out , but while still on the bed of my rollback the Monday after the auction a Hispanic fellow came in my garage and asked if it was for sale . I told him my plans and he begged me to sell him the car . I unloaded it and let him check it out while I went to do the last few minutes of an inspection . He was standing behind my chair when I finished the sticker and offered me more than I could ever had said no to . Fast forward about a year and the most beautiful custom candy orange 70 Riviera on 14″ Dayton’s you’d see . I said “this ain’t the car I sold you” , he showed me pictures on his phone and sure as I’m typin’ this it was . Side note , the 66 got a LS3 .
This was the last recipient of the famous (or infamous) GM x frame, where the rest of them abandoned it after 1964.
Here we go again……
Yes, I owned a ’70 Riviera in the early 2000s. Mine was green with a green vinyl top, black vinyl interior.
It had all the options….. bucket seats, consol with floor shift in a “cicyl” design, duel exhaust, aftermarket Holly carb, small skirts, etc. etc. You could literally watch the gas Guage go from full to empty when you accelerated with that Holly carb. I loved that car. You could leave rubber all the way across the intersection.
Hate that I had to get rid of all my Rivieras and Cadillacs.
Hey Angel-
I still have my 76 Riv. Fell in love with the styling and the color, although I don’t believe it was a factory offering. Only 36k miles, found it here on BF!
Hey Jim,
I’m very envious. I had 3 Rivieras and 2 Cadillacs. Had to get rid of all of them because of divorce. Such is life.
Can’t afford to replace them, especially now that everything is skyrocketing in price.
I remember that car very well. You even wrote me about a few things you had to do to it after you received it. Beautiful car though!
I bought an original 1 owner one in California for $1,200 back when they could not give them away. Strong, rumbly big block, would spin one tire for miles, but not go anywhere. SHOCKING gas mileage. Beautiful design. My fave riv. Sidenote: totaled while parked on the street in Redondo Beach.
One year shy of perfection in the Riviera lineup.
I love GM styling of the mid-1960s to early 1970s, but this is just a miss for me, as its platform-mate (although driven by the front wheels) the Olds Toronado of this vintage. A little whale-like to my eyes.
Auction ended, but has been relisted at a lower price – $15K.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/314068071028?ViewItem=&item=314068071028&vxp=mtr
Had one back in 2013, still one of my favorite cars. Big fender skirts, green with black vinyl top and black interior, even had the ultra rare rear window defroster (which was basically a blow dryer attached to a vent in the rear dash). Gobs of horsepower and TORQUE. Sold mine for about $4k and it went to Argentina. Miss that car.
You can see in the engine bay the Cruise Control is not hooked up on the accelerator. The windshield washer hoses are not connected, the hear core is bypassed. And if you look closely at the driver’s rear quarter shot, some rust bubbles appear along the lip of the trunk by the stainless trim. The original trunk lining is missing and replaced by some rubber that was cut to fit (sort of). I always wonder about sellers who do not show the undercarriage. I imagine the car needs a total body off frame restoration. Unless you just want to drive it to Sonic on Saturday nights.