Arguably, the Buick Riviera is one of the most esteemed American automobiles introduced in the 1960s. Some may consider the original incarnation (’63-’65) to be the Riv’s truest form. Others will take it further, up through the ’73 Boattail editions. How about Gen Six (’79-’85), the first of the front-wheel-drivers and shrunken a bit from its predecessors? Well, let’s review a beautiful, low-mileage 1985 example and see what you have to say about it. This exceptionally clean example is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, and is available here on eBay for $49,999 CDN (approximately $35,934 U.S.).

Buick’s famed personal luxury coupe was available in both two-door coupe and convertible body styles in ’85, with production output reaching about 65K units – the highest total of the seven-year Gen Six run. The seller tells us, “In 1985, a GM executive ordered this Riviera as a present for his wife. His wife hardly drove it and always had it stored in their heated garage, and never winter driven the car.” The seller has owned it for three years and claims complete originality except for the notorious bumper fillers, which have been replaced with fiberglass pieces. The entire presentation, including the finish, vinyl top, and chrome bits show like new. No, you’re not imagining things with the wheels, this Riv comes with both Buick alloy wheels and steelies mounted with wide-whites and finished off with wire wheelcovers.

The interior is upholstered in typical GM gray velour-like material – it’s a standard from Chevrolet all the way through the Buick division. One could argue that it’s rather pedestrian for a car of this stature, but that’s the way it was in that era. Regardless, it’s in nice shape with no indication of wear or uncleanliness. The instrument panel is unexciting, and there’s plenty of faux wood trim slathered around, but that’s to be expected, too. All in all, it shows as a comfortable environment.

Gen Six Rivieras joined the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Toronado by moving to a front-wheel-drive architecture (E-body platform). In this case, the four-speed O/D transaxle (not a three-speed as the listing claims) is driven by a 140 net HP, 307 CI, Oldsmobile V8 engine. The seller states, “running absolutely perfect“.

The seller has included ten (yes, ten!) videos of this Riviera, and here’s the walkaround edition for your viewing pleasure. You can check out the other nine via the listing, at your leisure. These were popular cars, and this one may be, as the seller suggests, “PROBABLY THE LOWEST MILEAGE 1985 BUICK RIVIERA IN EXISTENCE!” Hard to prove, of course, but you get his point. So, is this 1985 Riviera a worthy successor to the to those fabulous versions produced in the sixties and early seventies? I have a thought on that matter, but I’d really like to hear yours.