There are survivors and there are survivors, and this 1969 Buick Riviera GS, or Gran Sport, is one stunning car. With 98,721 miles, it isn’t a low-mile trailer queen but it looks almost like new in most of the photos. The seller has this gorgeous car listed here on craigslist in Angola, Indiana and they’re asking $25,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
This isn’t a barn find, but it’s an exceptionally nice-looking example of a rare car, a second-generation GS version of the Riviera, of which only 5,272 were made in 1969 out of 52,872 Rivieras that year. We have seen a few here on Barn Finds over the years, but they don’t come up that often. As you can see in the photo above, the hidden /flip-up headlights work, as does everything on this car, as far as we know.
It’s hard to beat this dark olive green vinyl top for me. Our house is white with this same 1960s green accent color and once you get to the interior of this car, it gets even better. The Riviera was made as its own model for 35 years, beginning in 1962 for the 1963 model year, up until 1993, at which point it went on hiatus until 1995 and then it went away for good in 1999. There have been a couple of concepts since then but Buick hasn’t taken the plunge again, and probably won’t unless they make an EV SUV and call it a Riviera, since most buyers seem to want SUVs now, not cars.
There’s that beautiful interior! This car is a little unusual in being a combination luxury car and somewhat of a muscle car, but there aren’t many luxury features as we might expect. It looks like a true time machine inside, too. Power windows would have been an option as was air-conditioning, and Buick offered an optional console shifter for the Turbo Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission, but this one has a column shifter. The trunk looks clean and the seller included an underside photo.
The engine is Buick’s 430-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have been factory-rated at 360 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s had a lot of maintenance in the last couple of years and it runs great, according to the seller. Hagerty is at $16.900 for a #3 good-condition car and $28,400 for a #2 excellent car. Any thoughts on this Riviera GS?
Another good looking sweetheart-nice score, T.J. IMHO these were the Buick engineers answer for the declining lack of Cadillac power and performance combined with luxury.
Interesting that it has so many luxury features and yet the original order decided on manual window cranks.
The original Buick 8Track is an added time machine dial!!
Interesting too is we’re seeing more cars/trucks for sale at a perceived reasonable price in the $25k range (not that I have that kind of “rathole” money but you get the drift..).
Nice write up, Scotty.
Thank you, sir! Same here, maybe if it was $2,500…
I don’t think the car has AC either, which is another unusual thing for a luxury car, even from ’69.
I had one for a few yrs, same year, non gs though. No AC, but here in maine not unusual at all for cars of that vintage….
Yes that’s a fine looking car, cheaper version as the lack of options, but less to break. But again it is a GS, that wasn’t standard so might have ordered the car from the dealership looking for some performance. Sweet!
This unique Riviera sold on BAT for $15,050 (with buyer’s fee), just last month (Dec 15th, 2022). The pictures are even the same. Add third party transport from Seattle to northern Indiana, $1500 on the low side, $2500 on the high side. Plus taxes and fees. So – $18,000? A flip, or buyer’s remorse?
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1969-buick-riviera-10/
The owner on BAT claims to have only put on a100 miles? Just one flip after another! Something must be wrong…
Nor does it have the coveted 455 ! I know small potatoes but I’d hold out for the last GM big block to drop & winner of a few big block shootouts not to mention thin wall casting that made this big block almost small block in weight! I’m not even a dyed in the wool buick guy but I know the good stuff when I see it!
455 didnt appear until 1970
The seller incorrectly calls the 430 a “Nailhead.” It is not. The only difference between a 430 and a 455 is the 455’s larger bore. The engines share architecture.
Correct, no 455 til 1970. This is a beauty. And where I live, no AC needed. It just leaks out anyway. And R134 is garbage.
Too bad for the lack of console shifter which made these absolutely sexy.And no optional lower windows or a/C?Nah!
This car is not going to last long. A great car for a fair price. How often does that happen?
I liked this car when it first came out. A friend from work asked me to go with him on a roundabout trip to pick up another vehicle he purchased. This was one sweet riding machine.
The vehicle I drove back was 1967 Deville convertible, and I loved that car too.
I had to look twice – this looks identical to one that
a neighbor’s son would show up in.Not for me,but still a
really cool car that you didn’t mistake for any other one.
Appears to be a nice car, BUT…..poorly equipped.
No A/C = No Sale.
What happened to the antenna which was on the RF fender? Has an AM-FM + 8-track, so it had an antenna at some point. Very strangely optioned–a GS Riv w/manual windows and no AC?
Might be embedded in the windshield.
Nope, not in ’69.
I wanted to reply on this topic. I did research on this radio/stereo 8- track topic.
These could be dealer or owner installed. Why? No fender antenna, as mentioned. The 8-track front and the mounting bracket are painted the green to match interior. The factory didn’t do that.
There is a windsheild antenna. Click on the picture above to expand and see more detail. I thought maybe this was a very late 69 build, but, it is an early build car. I think the windsheild is a replacement, some of the excess ‘goop’ at the top is there.
The other scenario is the rt fender hole was filled and painted.
Outstanding Riviera. I’m in love…
This car has been on BaT twice. The first time it didn’t make reserve and several months later it was listed again and sold. There were questions whether this was a legitimate GS and the seller could not substantiate that it was.
The GS emblems on the fenders sit higher than where the factory placed them. Why the quick flip?
& no state had an issue with those inboard headlights back then?
Never understood a top line car, with no options, I would have gotten a Skylark if I was going to go budget, I’ve owned many early 70s to mid 70s cars, I currently own a 73 Grand Prix SJ 455, with every conceivable option including factory power sunroof, I wouldn’t had bought it if it wasn’t optioned up, my favorite car that I will miss forever was my 73 Pontiac Luxury Lemans with Power Windows, Doors, everything, it was so rare, should have never sold it
How many of your old cars had cruise control?
& it may not have even been available in smaller pre-’75 novas & vegas.
& not many 1st & 2nd gen f-bodies had that option.
& A/C was a costly option, compared to the price of a base car back then.
The seller has pulled the listing, which one of you grabbed it?