For the person who is looking for a project vehicle that they can secure without spending piles of cash initially, this 1971 Buick Riviera GS might be a car worth a serious look. I’m not going to try to convince you that this is a project that you will knock over in a few weeks in your home workshop but at the asking price, it would seem to represent a relatively minimal initial outlay for what could eventually become a luxurious and potent classic. The Buick is an essentially complete car, and its rust issues are not as bad as we’ve seen with some classics. The Buick is located in Byron, Illinois, and has been listed for sale here on Barn Finds classifieds. The owner is asking $2,950 for the Riviera. However, if you are a shop teacher hunting for a class project, he may be willing to negotiate on that price.
The owner of the Buick essentially bought it in its current state. The previous owner had sourced a number of replacement parts for the vehicle, including the rust-free front fenders that are fitted to the car now. He has partially dismantled the Riviera, and that has revealed the news that whilst it won’t have you turning cartwheels, it isn’t all bad. External rust looks to be pretty limited, with the rear quarter panels, the doors, and the rockers all looking quite promising. The owner admits that the car is going to need new floors, but it isn’t clear how extensive the rust is there. I’ve had a bit of a scout about, and even if all of the floors and the trunk pan require replacement, I have found good quality complete sets for under $1,000. I’m pretty sure that a canny owner could probably better that price with a bit of haggling, but that at least give you an idea of where you would be starting. The hood is present, although it isn’t fitted to the car. The rear window is also there, which is a relief because they can be a pricey investment. There are also some large boxes of parts included in the sale which should help to complete the car.
It isn’t clear what interior trim is present with the car, but it does appear as though it is largely complete, and was optioned with bucket seats. Once again, trim kits are easy to source, and high-quality kits featuring everything that the next owner might need can be found for less than $1,400. One really positive piece of news is the fact that the car comes complete with a 455ci V8 and an automatic transmission. It sounds like the engine might be in good health, and the owner does have a video of the engine running before it was removed from the car. That 455 should be capable of pumping out a rather healthy 330hp, which is enough to get the big and heavy (4,431lbs) Riviera through the ¼ mile in 15.8 seconds. That’s fairly impressive for a luxury car.
This Buick Riviera will definitely need a full restoration, and the owner even floats the idea of using it for a donor for another Riviera project. I think that doing this would be a shame because this is a car that has a lot of potential. I would love to think that someone will take it on, and will be willing to return it to its former glory.
Not one of the greatest cars GM ever built but for the price the shop teacher idea would work well with this car.
How bout those rims!
This generation of Riv is either love or hate. No middle ground. I am in the love group. This car has style.
Love the car. Totally agree with bobhess and the shop teacher comment.
Restoration is becoming a much more difficult decision. You can buy this car done, drive it to the local cruise night the same day for under 30K.
Out side of the shop teacher deal where they can probably get a lot of parts donated in the effort of training and teaching our young people and even some local resto shops who might get involved with that H.S. educational training thing…..the other option is to invest what 75K + into a car worth 1/3 that in the market? Truth hurts these days. market is changing.
Agreed,this is a bad idea ,even if there is thirty thousand dollars cash in the glove box .Boat tails are beautiful and uncommon automobiles ,but they sell for $25k everyday of the week.This one is more than 50 large from there .
the 71 is the most collectible of the boattail years ..especially the GS …it also the most horse powered …. however this one is a basket case ….good luck !
I don’t know why the 71 would be the most collectible. I was originally looking for a 71 but the ones I saw had water/rust issues due to the trunk louvers. Although it wasn’t the color I would have liked, I finally found a 72 with 9,600 miles and no louvers and no water/rust issues.
it was the most collectible because of the trunk louvers but most mostly because of the power …. the 72 & up were dogs because of the smog crap
I bet there aren’t too many ‘71-73 boat tail Ribs out there with less than 10k on the clock so no matter ‘72 and not a ‘71. It’s a boat tail and you have one and that’s more than I can say though I gotta have one sooner than later. Bucket list car and I’m getting older. Dangnabit.
parts car….
OR…
Restomod and put a 5 speed behind that 455
Oh, for cryin’ out loud!!! Will you guys stop pissing and moaning about the $$$!
What ever happened to the love of the hobby? Now all you read in the comments of how much the restoration will cost and you can find one already done for half the price.
I always bought my cars for the love of the car, not how much I could get out of it when done. The thrill of combing junkyards for just the right elusive part.
I had three Buick Riviera’s and two parts cars. All of them drivers.
I’m not in it for the profit. I love the cars. The challenge. The history and knowing I’m helping to preserve the history.
Now, this particular car is quite the challenge. Actually, my parts cars were in better shape than this one.
I had the one year off 1970, a 1971 boattail and a 1972 boatail.
Someone on here once said that the later ’71s didn’t have the vents in the trunk lid. This must be a later one cause there are no vents. Or, it could be a ’72 trunk lid. It has one ’71 taillight and one ’72 taillight.
I really wish we could see the interior and engine. Does it have a/c?
Right now I live in an apartment so I don’t have room for a bunch of cars otherwise, I’d give this serious thought.
When I was 20, I would have taken on a project like this simply to be able to say “I did it myself.” Today, however, if given a choice between spending my weekends searching for parts, scraping my knuckles, getting welding burns, and inhaling paint fumes, or taking my driver-quality car to a few car shows and spending my time meeting people and talking about our cars, I choose the latter.
No judgement – if you enjoy the restoration process, more power to you. For me, it’s “been there, done that, thrilled that I don’t have to do it again.”
Driver quality examples are available for under $20K. Draw your own conclusions.
That is a 72 deck lid and key hole emblem I had a 72 and I think all Rivieras had A/C
@CCFisher
I agree with you. I’ve been there and done that, I’m not sure I have it in me again. At least not at this stage of my life. Maybe a retirement project somewhere down the line, and probably not a ground up deal like this one.
Nice Buick in the thumbnail.
I looked at this car which was in the northern suburbs of IL. it didnt have the fenders on it but he started it up. It’s parts are from different years of 71-73 cars hence the 72 deck lid which is incorrect, 71 had louvers.
It’s a total basket case and the guy was asking $4500 for it. All I can say is good luck. This guy bought more than he can handle. hence the sale.
About 20 years ago I went to see a boattail in Addison where the guy was asking $4,500. I felt so bad for the car that I would have put it out of its misery if I had a pistol.