The Third Generation Buick Riviera is a range that stands out in the crowd. Colloquially known as the “boat-tail” model, its looks tended to polarize potential buyers. Its radical appearance didn’t help its sales, and the fact that the buying public was beginning to shift its attention towards smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles also hurt it in the market. As a result, the Riviera never reached the sales volumes that the company desired, and finding a good example today can be a battle. If you have been looking, your search could be over with this 1972 model. Its presentation is well above average, and it is ready to be driven and enjoyed by a lucky new owner. Located in Fairdale, Kentucky, you will find the Riviera listed for sale here on eBay. It seems that people like what they see because it has already attracted an impressive forty bids. This action has pushed the price to $14,100, but that still leaves it short of the reserve.
This rear shot clearly exposes the styling feature that made the boat-tail Riviera so distinctive. It is reminiscent of the C2 Corvette Coupe, albeit on a substantially larger scale. It was a feature that remained in production for a mere three model years before being consigned to the pages of history by 1974. This Riviera presents exceptionally well for its age in a combination of Vintage Red paint with a white vinyl top. The paint holds a beautiful shine, and I can’t detect any evidence to suggest that it has received a repaint. The top looks crisp and clean, with no visible deterioration or lifting. The panels are laser straight, and I see no signs of significant dings, dents, or rust. The owner doesn’t mention any problems with the vehicle’s underside. The general lack of corrosion in areas like the engine bay paints a positive picture of this classic’s structural integrity. The chrome shines as impressively as the rest of the exterior, the glass appears flawless, and the spotless Rallye wheels are wrapped in new tires.
The engine bay of this Buick presents nearly as well as the exterior, and it is tidier than you will generally see in a vehicle of this age. It houses a 455ci V8 that should be producing 250hp. Rounding out the mechanical package are a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. Buick’s leanings for the Riviera were more towards luxury than performance, which is reflected in its weight of 4,497lbs. When you consider the weight, it makes the 16.6-second ¼-mile ET look pretty impressive. The news for potential buyers seems to be nothing but positive. The owner has recently treated the car to a new master cylinder, brake booster, belts, and hoses. The Riviera runs and drives perfectly and is ready to be driven and enjoyed.
I am always willing to take off my hat to a buyer who orders a car with an interior trimmed in white because it is a color that can show all manner of sins and problems. Stains and dirty marks will stand out, while it can also be susceptible to developing a yellowish hue as time passes. None of those issues have impacted this Riviera because the seats look extremely impressive. This theme is carried over to the remaining upholstered surfaces and headliner, while it wouldn’t be stretching things to describe the dash and console as perfect. The owner indicates that the air conditioning blows cool rather than cold, but it is the only issue that he identifies. In addition to the A/C, the buyer will receive power windows and a tilt wheel as part of this package.
When Buick released the original Riviera in 1963, they found themselves in the enviable position where demand outstripped supply. By the time the Third Generation cars hit the market, this trend had reversed. As buyers began to turn their backs on the Riviera, sales slumped remarkably. From a high of 52,872 in 1969, the number dropped to a mere 33,728 cars for the 1972 model year. The number continued to freefall in subsequent years, with the trend not reversing until 1979. As the public chose to ignore the big and thirsty Rivera, owners drove many of these cars into the ground before the final journey ended in the crusher. Our feature car has not only avoided this fate but has done so with style and grace. Values have ridden a rollercoaster in the past two years, but that has been true of many classics in the current climate. However, they are beginning to show signs of rebounding, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the bidding has to nudge beyond $20,000 before it passes the reserve. Considering the action to date, I suspect that it will happen. Could you be the person who submits the winning bid?
An outstanding road car! Coming back from four months in
Western Europe, riding trains, riding in many small cars,
then flying, and arriving in California….being picked up
in a ’72 Boat Tail Riviera. WOW!
The ride, the comfort, the powerful engine, on the two-hour
ride home. Just fabulous!
I give Buick a LOT of credit for offering such an awesome car like this. Too bad they didn’t sell more of them! The 71 and 72 are the ones to get as they had the engine turned dash. The 73s are still cool but not quite as nice with the wood grain dash. These cars are awesome – and this is a super nice example in a great color combination with a lot of great options!
I always liked them ,,something different,,nobody is doing that now ,,also I always thought maybe it should have been on a regal chassis a little smaller ( I do LIKE big cars tho ) and it might have made it a little more sporty… I thought of doing that but on a cutlass body as I was an Olds fan, I have the expreince for that as body work was,, Is ,,, still my job , not hobby ,,,but hopefully will soon just be a hobby
by 72 the 455 had been drastically de-tuned ….of the three year boattail run the 71 was the most desirable and the engine still had some punch …. the 70 Riv. was the muscle with 370 hp
You have convinced me Adam,I’ve bid,been outbid and shall bid again.
A console suited boattail with white interior would be a welcome addition .
This ’72 boat tail is an exact duplicate of my ’71 Riviera. My ’71 was this shade of red. With a white vinyl top and interior. Bucket seats, console, floor shift, power windows, everything. I had mine in the late 90s early 00s.
I so wish I had never gotten rid of it. Sold it to a kid in upstate New York, along with my ’72 Riviera that my husband at the time had previously totalled in an accident.
Thin windshield pillars.
Could the headliner originally have been white?
Oh what a ride! Pimpoluscious! Yep, I’ll bid. Look great next to my big ’64 Olds!
I had a 1973 back in the summer of 87, bought it for $100, stripped it out and enduro raced it. It was the worse handling car I ever raced on the 1/8 mile paved oval. The 455 couldn’t hook up quick enough without spinning the back tires (but produced a great James Bond tiresmoke screen!). The best car I ever raced was moms old 67 Newport w/a 383. Hooked up great with the 323 rear gears and just ran it in second all the time (85mph no problem in 2nd) and the front end pushed many cars part way around the turns (who needs brakes when you have cars in front of you going slow). The Riv just couldn’t take it. Note that Riv would be worth some bucks!!!
I had a 1971 Rivey back in the day that turned heads whenever I drove it. I guess the design was a little too extreme for the average American car buyer, but what a classic car it was, and still is; especially when you compare it to the 1974 gawd-awful design.
My dream cars! I have owned one of each of the boat tail years, and miss them all. I would like another 1971 & another 1973. My ’73 was a rusted, dented $75.00 beater in 1985, when I was 14 years old. Mom didn’t know I owned it, which is odd since it was parked around the corner & she saw it all the time.
She sold it to a neighbor who sold it to a friend of mine, who then sold it to me. I was the only freshman in high-school that drove myself to school, & I to this day feel I had the coolest car!