Riviera ownership is rewarding because if all else fails, you can simply sit around and look at the car. This is especially true for any Riviera from the 1960s, as the almost equally attractive first- and second-generation models fall into this sweet spot. As early Rivieras have become more and more expensive, many would-be owners have set their sights on the smooth ’66-’69 examples, and their values have been inching upward as a result. See for example this very nice ’68; with 66,000 miles on the odometer and the condition to match, it’s not a bargain-basement ride, but it’s probably worth the price. Located in Wisconsin, it’s currently for sale on Craigslist.

You may have noticed that this deep blue Riviera has a vinyl top, which scares many people away because it is one more rust trap. Aside from looking good on this bodystyle, however, it shows no sign of the typical bubbles and bumps that condemn so many cars of this era. Unlike the concurrent Toronado that doesn’t have a natural quarter panel shoulder, the vinyl top is right at home here (in my opinion).

The interior looks as if it’s been redone at some point in the past, but it could be well-maintained original equipment. With a split bench seat and a column shifter, it’s a far cry from the space age “four-bucket” layout of the first-generation cars, but it’s still a swanky place to spend some time.

Under the hood is Buick’s torquey big-block 430, which was in its sophomore season in 1968. With an effortless 360 horsepower channeled through GM’s nearly-peerless Super Turbine 400, the Riviera was among the best long-distance cruisers of the late ’60s. This one appears to have been treated to a new power brake booster along the way; in fact, the seller implies that everything on the car works and it’s ready to drive.

The undercarriage is also clean, albeit treated with a quick spray bomb, and indeed the seller claims that it’s a rust-free car, which is rare in Wisconsin. The exhaust system looks fresh, too, so that’s a significant savings on its own.

Buying a car from an original owner who knows its complete history has to be worth something, and that price is (in this case) $25,500. Rivieras have been on the rise for a while, so that seems fairly reasonable for a car this clean. Like many of you, I will always buy an inferior example and spend thousands of dollars and several years to end up with a car that is worth what I paid for it. The smart money is in buying the nicest car you can afford, and even if I never heed that advice, I can always be envious of those who do. Thanks to T.J. for sending us yet another beautiful find.