Buick’s fabulous Riviera gets its fair share of coverage on Barn Finds – certainly the early second-gen (’66-’70) and the spectacularly styled third-gen (’71-’73) with its most distinctive boattail rear end. One model year that is often overlooked, however, is the last of the second-gen, the 1970 model. So with that thought in mind, let’s review this beautifully black ’70 Riviera. It’s located in Pocatello, Idaho and is available, here on craigslist for $18,900.
If you have watched the price of popular collectible cars, you’ll notice that those prices, in the last six months to a year, have gone through the roof. The recent Mecum Kissimmee auction validates that assumption – the trading values are nutso. So much for that “old guy dying off, no one is going to want these old muscle cars, etc., so forth and so on“. Maybe that will be the case at some point but it doesn’t look like it will occur in 2022. Going with that assumption, there are still nice automotive finds that can be obtained without hocking one’s future – and they are typically larger domestics like this Riv. They’re big, fast, and comfortable but certainly not road rockets or corner carvers.
The immediate and obvious differences between the ’70 Riviera and its ’69 predecessor are the non-retractible headlights and the addition of fender skirts. Also noted is the stainless side trim which is usually finished off in body color though that’s not the case with this example. What is the case are the nicely preserved body panels which appear to be free of any damage or corrosion and they’re richly coated in Regal Black lacquer. Original finish? Perhaps, it’s not stated but with a non-authenticated mileage recording of only 34K, it’s possible. The trim, chrome, and Buick road wheels reflect the condition of the body – all brilliant.
New for Buick in ’70 was a 455 CI V8, generating 370 gross HP and a stump-pulling 510 lb. feet of torque. In this case, the Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor has been replaced with a Holley throttle body EFI system – a setup that allows for a stock engine appearance. The seller doesn’t elaborate on this Buick’s operating characteristics but one has to imagine that this is a stout performer. He further adds, “New water pump, new hoses, new fan, new belt, new plugs, and aftermarket oil pressure gauge“. Unlike GM’s similar E-Body cars, the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado, this Riviera’s Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission drives the rear wheels.
Inside, one discovers a splendid-looking Sandlewood interior which is stated, “shows well and is clean with nice carpet and a good headliner“. Unfortunately, a comprehensive image of the entire shebang is not included, but what can be seen does look A-OK. And an interior is this light a shade is a tough one to keep looking clean. Of note is the goofy-looking Riviera emblem stuck to the left side of the instrument panel, not sure what its purpose is, it’s not like one would need to be reminded what they’re driving.
This Riviera is a find! I always encourage a personal inspection, and there is no documentation revealed regarding the mileage, but assuming that everything checks out, I’d say this Buick looks like a good buy, what says you?
This is another one of those that looks like it would beat you up for not putting premium fuel in the tank.
OOOOHH! The only way I could LOVE this one better, would be if it had buckets and a console! Such a beauty!! GLWTS!! :-)
I’d rather have a 69
Wouldn’t we all
Plenty of room in the back seat for that.
Arrive in style.
Wow, this thing is bad-ass and a luxury cruiser at the same time. Buick sure got it right with this one. Bill Mitchell again?
Nice straight black car, really needs nothing but the console and bucket seats as Moparman said.
What a beauty! My favorite uncle was a Buick man for life so I have passing familiarity with 68 Rivieras, 72 75 and 78 Electras. But the beauty of this particular model year had escaped me. Those fender skirts! WOW!!!
1970 isn’t my favorite year, but if this thing is as nice as it appears it will make someone a sweet cruiser.
It’s just a guess but that nameplate might be covering up the space where an option might go. I love the Buicks from that era though.
And it didn’t come from the factory that way. Looks like a custom touch.
Beautiful time capsule there. I haven’t seen one like that. It looks huge.
Not as nice as the ’66, but it’s still a beauty…despite the fender skirts.
WOW! DOUBLE WOW! I love this car. The ad says come get it and drive it home, exactly what I would do. I might stop down the road and take the skirts off and put them in the trunk. I generally don’t like skirts on cars. Don’t read too much into that.
Are those dice above and below the Buick logo on the right side of the instrument cluster????
Lots of goofy, stick-on crap everywhere…speaks volumes about the previous owner. This one doesn’t look so great to me, and it is not a GS.
I’ve owned four ’69’s and a ’68 (’69’s are the best year, by far).
Rivieras are either perfect, or they are pigs in a poke. This one is far from perfect.
I had a 69…loved it, drove it for 3 yrs, although it did leave me stranded on the side of the road for short time. Didn’t realize it had athingamabob attached to were oil filter screwed on that wouldnt allow car to run when it didnt sense oil pressure. Evidently a rock hit it an broke were the wire plugged in, buick filters kinda hung out in the breeze on front of the motor….when I figured out what happened i stuck a piece of coat hanger into it an completed the circuit. Changing blower motor was a pain in the butt too, had to remove passenger side fender…great cruising car…wish I still had it.
One of my favorite cars ever . Been looking for one for a few years . This is one fine looking ride .
I love the bigger fender skirts like this one has on the ’70 Rivs.
I’m a boat tail fan. 71/72/73, or a 69, 70 never took me, but this one is fabulous and worth the money, I wonder about that EFI Holly set up cause my 73 Grand Prix has a 455 and I’d like to switch it over, I’m 60 years old and would like my teenage son to want to keep it after I’m gone, less complicated w fuel injection
To this day I am still kicking myself for getting rid of my ’70 Riviera. It had a perfect interior in black, buckets, console, sycal floor shift, pw, pl, ps, pb, put.
We all make mistakes.
This is a big regret in my life
I think it is beautiful. It still reminds me of a Regal on steroids. That has to be the buy of the month?
Bought one in the eighties when they couldn’t give them away for $1200. Strong runner, great rumble, no posi, would just sit and spin. Punative mileage. Wrecked while parked on the streets of LA. I would buy the right one now.
As a bonus, you could bag this and go to any lowrider meet.
As a bonus, you could bag this and go to any lowrider meet. With zero mods
necessary.