For fans of the Buick Riviera, I’m curious if the fourth-generation examples might be the most misunderstood of the bunch, at least up to that point. However, that’s just my opinion, and it has nothing to do with the car itself, as the 1974-1976 models were fine automobiles that offered plenty of style and luxury in a great package. We’ll evaluate the mid-seventies-era Riviera below, but if you enjoy this period of Buick’s personal luxury car, this 1975 Riviera here on eBay might be right up your alley. It’s located in Island Park, New York, with the auction amount having reached only $530 so far, which is understandably short of the reserve. Another possibility is to own it today for $5,000, which is the seller’s buy-it-now price.
The previous-generation Riviera’s appearance was out of the ordinary, to put it mildly, and some might even call it quirky, featuring an unusual roofline, an oddly shaped back window, plus a trunk and pointed rear section that resembled a boat. In 1974, the car got a more modern look, but in the process, it lost much of the unique styling that made the moniker so special. It was still a nice-looking automobile, but now one that blended in better than it stood out. Maybe it’s as simple as the design team thought three years was enough for such an odd-shaped exterior, and taming the body was inevitable, but I kind of dig the peculiar shape of the 1971-1973 cars myself.
The Riviera being offered here still looks pretty respectable on the outside, and it’s likely good enough as-is for just a fun cruiser. However, the seller mentions a few areas of rust, including under the vinyl top. Hopefully, the corrosion hasn’t gotten to the point where any of the panels can’t be repaired, and fortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case. I’m guessing that a skilled bodyman could get the exterior massaged out with minimal effort, and this Buick would be a real standout with a new coat of paint afterward.
Even with all the fourth-generation revisions, the Riviera didn’t lose much weight and was still powered by a 455 engine. Aside from describing the car as a good runner, the owner doesn’t provide much specific information about its mechanical condition, though it is noted that the transmission leaks when the car sits for a long time.
The seller reports that the interior was redone before his acquisition, and this appears to be one of the car’s strongest areas, with the seats, dash, and door panels all appearing in very nice condition. For those who appreciate this time frame in Buick’s personal-luxury-car history, this 1975 model seems like a decent example and probably worth checking out. What are your thoughts on this one, and what’s a reasonable price to consider spending here?
Nice price for a nice weekend cruiser; daily it when the cost of gas isn’t a punch in the gut. Make an offer at $4k and see if this car will roll to you.
I think the styling leapt off a cliff with these, after the beautiful prior model. The squared off, boxy front profile, and then the “slope down to nothin’ ” rear end profile……”Meh” to the nth degree. What were they thinking?! Was this “colonnade”? Was the previous model?
Beautiful looking car. IMHO, this is the best looking car since the 1967-69 Riviera generation. My biggest complaint would be the gauge cluster. I don’t think there should be *that many* warning lights. They should be like Mopar cars, mostly using needle gauges.