The Buick Riviera nameplate is perhaps one of the most recognized models in all of American car manufacturing. The big body coupe has lone been a pinnacle of luxury, power, and style, and despite the eight generation model representing its final send-off, the adherence to these principles of what constituted the Riviera’s identity continued through to the end. This is a particularly nice final generation model, loaded up with the supercharged 3800 V6 and just 9,146 miles from new. It’s rare to find one this clean and with such low miles, so check it out here on craigslist with an asking price of $18,950.
That price may be at the top of the market right now, but how many of these Rivieras are left in this sort of condition? So many of them went tumbling down the slippery slope of becoming a cheap, used luxury car that cash-strapped owners were drawn to like moths to a flame, trying to maintain the appearance of opulence while not having the means or the desire to keep up with the upkeep. The Riviera seen here has had no such problem, likely belonging to an elderly couple or a collector (or both) who knew what a special car it was. Thankfully, it doesn’t wear the typical champagne color so many of these were seemingly ordered in.
The matching “Dark Ruby” leather seats are in mint condition, as you’d expect for any car with under 10,000 miles. The Riviera was not necessarily a passenger-friendly car (though it did have a backseat), so the interior doesn’t show much in the way of cosmetic flaws like scuff marks or seat tears. The Rivieras were loaded up at the factory, with options including dual climate controls, cornering lamps, traction control, automatic day/night side view mirrors, and more. This Riviera also came with the high-end “Twilight Sentinel” system, which is about the coolest name ever conceived for automatic headlights.
The interior is in beautiful condition, with spot-free carpets and perfect plastics in the center console and stack. The Buick’s engine is a supercharged V6 that later became standard but was still optional in 1995. The supercharged mill was good for a run to 60 in under seven seconds, which is truly impressive for a car of this size. While the price tag is high, I do believe the final swan song of the Riviera will someday be a collector’s item, so I wouldn’t call you crazy for wanting to jump on this one – but the seller may have to admit he’s a bit ahead of the market at the moment. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find.
These cars are deceptively attractive….never driven one but the styling is nearly timeless…
Nice looking dash, too.
Yes, one of the few dashes that I think looks even better with an aftermarket wood kit. They add sort of a retro, timeless elegance to the design befitting of a Riviera.
IMHO, this is one of the best exterior designs ever on an automobile. Wish I had the cash laying around to snatch this one up.
Was the photographer seasick and using a small periscope? Appalling images of a nice car.
I found 110 Pics in a slideshow on CL AD copy & paste into header. nicer pics. drugs do fix the sea sickness issue.
I have that same car, 97 the red is a lil darker, and interior is tan but is the same car, add 100k miles….it still presents well tho and everything works to this day, maintenance is straightforward yet seldom required, although serpentine belt is a bitch cuz a motor mount goes through it, I love the car…this one is basically a brand new vehicle, and given the cost well worth it, won’t be mistaken for just another Grand national…r
Series 1 engines don’t have that serpentine belt issue (or the plastic intake/EGR issues, or the funky coolant elbow). The Series 1 SC engine like this can also run on 87 octane gasoline.
When I was 19 I was one of those cash strapped people trying hard to afford a 4 year old 95 Riv like this. I fell in love with this design the first time I saw it and still love it today. The Riv I passed on was a black on maroon 95 with about 75k on the odometer and mis matched tires. Trying to be responsible, I instead went for a 1 year old Chevy Malibu with low miles. That car was the single worst car I have ever purchased, complete piece of junk. I love this car featured here, I hope the new owner enjoys it.
I was lucky enough to sell these new. Many loyal, repeat buyers. One family ordered every two years. Black with tan leather – supercharged, all the options, even chrome wheels.
Surprised this one doesn’t have the chrome wheels, but this looks fine – that wheel is the same wheel you could order on a Park Avenue or LeSabre, included in the Y56 Handling Package, but had a different center cap with ‘exposed’ lug nut covers (see picture of a used wheel). I always liked this center, and wondered how they would look on said Riviera.
I would love to have this one!
I worked at a Buick dealership in the late 80s thru 2007. We put those center caps on almost all our Riviera’s. Huge improvement! Also identified that it was a vehicle we originally sold when it was time for service and/or trade in.
Really does look like a fantastic design theme and effort but by 95 GM didn’t have any brand cache anymore thus very little prestige to go with a nice car. It’s sad really that gm management wouldn’t add in that last 10 per cent of effort for their marques to attain the respect they could’ve had.
Very nice car here and I sure hope someone gets it to appreciate and preserve. I agree its probably priced ahead of the market but if this is the car you want, not very many are around in this condition.
Great cars and surpisingly capable.
Seller about 20-25 percent high on his expectations, these just aren’t there yet.
A/C is obviously inop to boot.
Beautiful car, astronomical price. Not pluto-level, but close. Sure, it’s a survivor, and it has a following, but it’s still a mid-90’s GM midsize car.
It’s also a Series 1 engined car. Maybe, MAYBE if it was a ’96-’98 with those miles it might get that price due to the Series 2 3800, but no way a ’95 gets that price.
That being said, it is a gorgeous automobile. As others have said, it’s one of the most beautiful modern designs GM released, along with it’s “sister” car the 1st Gen. Aurora. I owned a ’96 Aurora back in high school, and it was a wonderful car. Got it with something like 150k on it, and put another (relatively) trouble free 45k on it before selling. I’ll be the first to admit, I was not easy on that car. I’ve wanted another one (along with a Riv) to this day.
I agree that this guy’s ask is very optimistic and most people would pay more for a Series II 3800, but there is a lot to like about the Series I, especially the Supercharged ones that are designed to run fine on regular unleaded.
Note the seller did post “$18950/ Make OFFER” This would seem to indicate he is willing to bargain a bit. A $15,000 offer might get things started. And don’t forget, there’s less than 10,000 miles on this puppy!!
I have owned four GM cars with the bullet proof 3.8 engines. Change the oil, fuel filter and coolant regularly and you will never have to fix it. I drove my 88 Trofeo more than 200,000 miles and never replaced anything except exhaust, brakes and the steering rack with the infamous GM morning sickness. When they trashed the 3.8 for the POS 3.6. I bought a Grand Marquis. Great car at a bit much money, but $44,000 Plus is what idiots spend on a Jeep with its variant of a 3.6 POS that has huge problems. I work at a Jeep dealer. All we do is fix them.
The 3800 (especially the Series 2) was a great motor. I remember my dad having a Trofeo. Great car & quite unique back in the day. Also owned a few GM 3800 vehicles. 87 Buick LeSabre T-Type, 89 98 Regency Brougham to name a few. GM’s best motor?? The good old “iron duke” 2.5fi. Had one in an 87 Century. Didn’t make much power, noisy, but I got 498,000 miles out of it & it was still running when I got rid of the car.
I’m a fan of Ford’s panther platform. Owned a 79 LTD wagon, 2003 Lincoln Town Car, & still own my 2010 CVPI.
I must confess I’ve owned 3 Jeeps w/3.6 engine. My current is a 2015 Rubicon w/32kmi. Never an issues with any of them??? When I traded my 2013 Wrangler in on the Rubicon the dealer gave me $700 less than I paid for it otd three years prior. Not such a bad investment to me
Wow MjL, have to disagree. I worked on a lot of GM’s with the 2.5 and I loathed that motor. Horrible blow by on almost all of them. They put them in cars because they were cheap, not because they were good.
This is the generation of Riviera that reminded me of the beast in “Alien”!
Rounded design that didn’t age well just like the oval Taurus. Bad idea to preserve this as a collectable
When they first came out I thought the nose and rear end borrowed a lot of styling cues from the Jaguar E-type. That’s certainly a design that’s aged well. I don’t love the interiors on these, but I think the exterior styling still looks great. Would think about this at half the asking price, but I’d buy it to drive in nice weather, not tuck it away as a collectible.
Another great find Pat L.!!!
My neighbor was an old codger and he had a brand new one of these that he was super proud of – especially the little “supercharged” emblem. My friends would show up in their classic muscle cars and there he would be explaining in his friendly but assertive way why his supercharged Buick was a superior car! We always humored him. For this reason, for me these will always be cars for white haired old men that like to race everyone off the stop light, trying super hard not letting anyone pass them until the speed limit is reached. This looks to be a nice clean example.
OMG, I have become one of those “old codgers”! Nothing quite as fun as a little stoplight grand prix. :)
I had a 1997 the same color with a taupe interior. I put 196,000 miles on it before selling it. The 3800 is bullet proof if properly maintained (I have owned 6 cars with them). I prefer the Series II after having both but you will have to replace the intake manifold gasket on a series II.
These are very nice riding and comfortable cars. The last generation Riviera’s bugaboos are the fuel tank sending unit, wheel speed sensors and HVAC distribution issues. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when they will need attention. Beautiful car.
I had a 1995 riv. blue inside and out , people called it the blue bullet . always dependable 180,890 miles when I sold it .
Located in Des Moines, IA
My very first car was a Riviera, a 69 with the GS package. I know there’s really no comparison, but that’s also kind of my point. I can spot so many of the shared plastics parts from the GM parts bin in this supercharged 95. It always blasts me that they only have 225hp and 275 torque to lug around its nearly 4000 pounds. You hear “supercharged” and I guess I expect so much more.
I love these cars. I am always on the lookout for them in my area.
I was in a drive through last year and a guy had a nice white one in front of me, so I told him that he had a great looking car. He told me that he had just bought it for under $1,000 with a little over 100,000 miles. I offered him 2K right there and he turned it down. He said he never thought he would love it as much as he did.