The second generation (’66-’70) of Buick’s famed Riviera is my favorite, except…the ’70 edition, and that’s what I have for your review today. Why, you ask? I’ll explain in a bit. That said, the condition of this Salem, Oregon resident is so fine, I had to cover it – it looks great! Curvette wins an undisclosed prize for this discovery, and those with an interest can find this iconic Buick listed here on craigslist for $12,000, OBO.
For ’70, Riviera came in four iterations: Riviera I, II, III, and GS. Our subject appears to be a Riviera III, as noted by its vinyl top and thinly sculpted fender skirts. Riviera II featured the same abbreviated skirt and a color-keyed side trim spear that extended from the fender’s leading edge all the way to the rear edge of the quarter panel. That trim piece was slender at both ends and then grew some girth at the door’s rear shunt line before becoming svelte again (note the above image). And that’s item one I never cared for. The other is that slim fender skirt; minimal as it is, I prefer the no-skirt look (and Riviera I came equipped with a full rear wheel opening skirt).
OK, I’m digressing. This Riviera is one of 37K assembled in Buick City (Flint), Michigan, 56 years ago, and the production volumes for Gen-Two remained robust throughout its life except in this final model year. Production dropped 31% from 1969, which is not an unusual trend; as models age, generally fewer are produced and sold in their final year. Our subject states 34K miles of use but offers no authentication; still, it could be the case. The Burgundy Mist finish is deep and luxurious, and the black vinyl top shows as new. The 215″ flanks are razor-straight, the chrome is sound, and the Buick road wheels do what they always do – make any Buick look perfect!
Big power comes from a 370 gross HP, 455 CI V8 engine under the tundra flat hood of this personal luxury coupe. A Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the rear wheels, and the seller claims it “runs great.” The engine room is surprisingly clean, which further makes me think the mileage recording is accurate.
Inside, we find black strato-bucket seats and a center console. Research indicates that both a bench seat and buckets were standard equipment – a buyer was able to choose either, though a strato-bench seat was optional at an additional cost. The interior is as nice as the exterior – further indicating careful and restrained use. And that quality condition extends to the carpet, door panels, and headliner. The only drawback, and it’s minor, is the instrument panel; there’s nothing wrong with it; it’s in fine shape – just not too inspiring for a car of this caliber. Oh, one other item: this is an A/C equipped car, but the compressor appears to be beltless – something worth an inquiry.
OK, there you have it: $12,000, OBO, and it needs virtually nothing! I’d rate this Riviera a strong buy; how about you?
Never saw a Riviera model that I didn’t appreciate. They had the most refined body lines, compared to the TBird, Toronado, Mark IV, and Eldorado. I am sure I will receive a few arguments over this, but Buick had the “Gentleman’s luxury performance credentials” dialed in, with power under the hood to match!
Ok it very clean but, I would still take my 69 Lincoln Mark lll over this one. I notice on the Buick the temperature control is missing and Cracked steering wheel. So I have to wonder what else is wrong with this Buick? 🤷🇺🇸🐻
Temp control is all the way to the left as to not allow 370 HP worth of heat come into the cabin LOL.
That 70 455 is an impressive motor.
The Rivera had always been a symbol of quiet elegance and this seventy model is no exception! I would take this over a caddy any day! The seventy model often gets overlooked because it isn’t the Iconic sixty-five or or Eighty-five! It doesn’t have the back of the Boat tail however this car is classy!
The only year Riviera had fender skirts,
After it’s introduction at the fall of 69 new car shows in Detroit and NYC, they got overwhelmingly hit with the addition of fender skirts and quickly came out with a option for a narrow skirts that would finish off the wheel opening but appear as if no skirts. I had one I found at my local Buick dealership someone had traded it in on a new 74 Buick Electra in Oct 1969, the oil emargo happened in Dec 73 and ended end of March 74, I got a deal on the car because they were not selling large V8 cars during this timeframe. Mine had the large skirts
Sorry, I’m not following you when you said “someone traded on a new ’74 Buick Electra in 1969” to the end of your post.
This Riv is gorgeous compared to what came immediately after it. For someone who didn’t want to be too showy like a Cadillac or a Lincoln this fit the bill rather nicely.
The first generation Rivs are iconic and were a tough act to follow.
Buick did a good job with generation-two; well, except for the miscarriage which was this 1970 model.
Sales plumetted by a third despite a major refresh that year.
Then came the third generation, the controversial ‘Boat-tail’ model. I personally found them to be a daring design and quite beautiful. The market apparently disagreed and Buick scaled-back that radical design in its second year.
After the third generation, Rivieras began a long slide into banality. Buick seems to have given-up on keeping them a cutting-edge, halo model.
With the 1979 redesign, they regained some of the beauty of the early years…but were not sufficiently distinct from their corporate cousins (Eldorado and Toronado) to be iconic like the ’63 model was.
The ’63 Riviera and the ’66 Toronado remain two of the most impressive automobiles to ever come out of GM; each for different reasons.
And I would designate the Corvair as the only other one to achieve similar status during the period.
@Kevin James & ScottyMac
Hey Kevin,
Yes, the boattail was scaled back but not until 1973. 1971 and 1972 were practically identical except for grill detail and taillight trim and the ’72 had a side chrome molding but in 1973 the tail got scaled back so it wasn’t so prominent. The rear license plate was moved back to the center and the front had those hideous 5 mph bumpers and moving the parking lights out of the bumper up to wrap around the fender.
The dashboard was slightly reworked on the passenger side so not to mirror the driver side.
Yes, im a person of detail.
I had a red ’71 boattail and a mint green ’72.
Here’s a pic of the ’71
Yes the ‘63 Riviera and the ‘66 Toronado was and still is some very beautiful cars even though I think the ‘65 Riviera is stunningly gorgeous. I am in love with the 1962-68 Pontiac Grand Prix. GM made a lot of beautiful cars in the 1960’s.
Heh, heh, heh! Be nice! Boattail fan here!
…me too, scottymac.
I thought they were beautiful.
Do you remember the TV- series which featured a Boat-tail Riviera???
Positively gorgeous and a great price. I really wish I was closer to this. I’d snatch it up in a heartbeat.
Be advised, while the “4-double nickel” was impressive, it should be noted, GM wasn’t too concerned about gas mileage then. At 6-7.1/city and 9-10.5/ highway, put it in the same category as the hemi Cuda, 454 Chevelle, and Olds Toronado. I read, average gas mileage for America in 1970 was about 11 mpg. Very few gas guzzlers survived the gas crisis. Sounds like history repeating itself, no? Regardless, these were/are fabulous cars, I’d go so far as to say the epitome of “Gentlemans Cruisers”. Sorry ladies, that’s just what they were called, as media had women portrayed as driving the Estate wagon. Once again, here’s a car in my youth I never would have looked,yet today, I’d love to have it. Go figure.
I really enjoyed my ’76 Riv, it was featured in the Riviera Club magazine.
One of the nicest and cleanest cars I ever owned.
Shoulda kept it.
Sigh……
I had a 69 Riv GS this same color except the interior was black leather. It was an awesome car. The 60 came with a 430 and that thing would make believers out of Camero drivers.
Grace, Space,Pace! I borrowed that from an old Jaguar ad but seeing how the Rivera was inspired by a Rolls Royce it seemed appropriate!
nice riv but this body is not too popular. exterior parts are 1 year which is tough. love the stump pulling 455 for sure. fairly priced as well. should be able to sell it easily.
Hands-down the ugliest vehicle ever conceived by Buick designers.
And that includes the regrettable ‘Rendezvous’, Aztek-clone.
These Rivs were truly hideous.
Just my opinion, of course.
Had a 1970 in72 and 73. White with blue V-top leather interior and the spear side molding. Loved the car. Then the gas crisis hit. Traded for 74 Opel.
OMG what a mistake.
I read that in the seventies, Car and Driver magazine photographed an Opel wagon in front of a Junkyard! Buick ( the GM division that imported Opel) cancelled their advertising in Car and Driver for ten years after that!
We bought a Rivie for my son , just as a show car , he loved it and used it to take his cousin and his cousin’s bride to church where they got married and to their wedding dance , where his baby brother was the ring bear and front seat rider , that car sure made a statement of elegance
I was so happy that this was a 1 model year design, the rear treatment was beautiful but the front end just wasn’t as elegant as its predecessors
In the early 2000s I had a 1970 Buick Riviera ll. It had the vinyl top, side spear and half skirts.
Inside were the bucket seats, console with the “sickle” shifter, power everything, those iconic Buick rims and that fabulous 455! She would burn the rear tires at a stop light AND during hard acceleration.
Mine was green with a lighter green vinyl top, black interior. As you can see, I was working on it, getting it ready for paint.
1970 was kind of a one off orphaned year. Everyone loved the ’66 through ’69 with the sharp edges and hidden headlights. Not too many cared for the ’70. The hard edges were removed, as we’re the hidden headlights. The rear window was larger and a different conture. I personally like the taillights.
Just like everyone else, I so wish I never got rid of it.
Curious…in the photo, the rear skirt looks to be all-chrome. ‘Never saw one like that before.
Explain, please.
Hi Kevin,
You have a sharp eye.
The side spear on these cars look like two thin strips of chrome. In reality, the entire piece is chromed and the center is painted the body color, making it look like two thin strips of chrome.
The same is pretty much for the half skirt. The entire piece is chromed, then painted body color except for a thin strip of chrome at the bottom.
I took all the paint off of the side spears to make them look thicker and the paint had already worn off the half skirts so they were all chrome when I got the car.
Cadillac did the same on the 1960 Eldorado, painting the chrome strip to look like two thin pieces
BTW I only paid $600 for it 25 years ago.
Very nice car.
I was just wondering how I can get in touch with the person that owns this Buick but very interested in it he can get in touch with me via through my email I’ll be checking this service if I happen to see you out here let me know and I’ll shoot you my phone number thank you
Click on the Craigslist link, and you’ll be able to contact the seller directly.