1969 Buick Riviera

1969 Buick Riviera

Riviera is a hallowed name in Buick history, and while it was originally applied to GM's first hardtop version of the 1949 Roadmaster-a sister car to the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and Oldsmobile 98 Holiday-it came to prominence as its own model for the 1963 model year. This new car represented General Motors' design department at the top of its game; it was a clean-sheet re-imagination of a premium Buick coupe created by stylist Ned Nickles and his team of designers and modelers, under the careful direction of vice president of design Bill Mitchell.

What happens when you take one cool cat and make it even sexier. Well, you still have one cool cat, but you can use the words very very after the word one. A custom engine, deep end of the pool black paint, and these headlights are truly Da Bomb...and they work flawlessly. This angel is a centerfold! Read on my fellow beatniks.

ExteriorA luxury car combined with a sports car is the mantra for this 1969 Riviera. Dual headlights and the system that drives them have been completely worked so they are really reliable and totally disappear when off, unless you pop the hood. All dents and dings from years of use were removed, sanded down to bare metal, then painstakingly repainted in the black paint, and it is a fab job to say the least with only minor dings appearing in the hood. All trimmings and chrome was stripped off prior to the respraying, and polished if needed. All beautifully preserved from bumper to bumper it is holding up fabulously. Buick rally style wheels are wrapped in BFG raised white letter Radial T/A's. m Gaps are well minded throughout, and it's a turn the key and enjoy kind of car. Tinted glass and a fastback styling for this beautiful machine, and we've only touched on the exterior.

InteriorStarting with a big swing of the large and incharge full access doors whose panels are covered in horizontal black tuck and roll ribbed insert panels framed by a cream molding and then surrounded by smooth black vinyl for the sills and edges and some black carpeting on the bottoms. Power toggles for the windows and a large armrest will support both arms if you can do it! Slipping inside simple styling has been retained from the factory setup with square and rectangle design for the dash and gauge cluster. A small machined aluminum panel now hosts the Vintage Air A/C aftermarket system. An AM Sonomatic radio is within a thin band of wood appliqu, and all this is fronted by an original steering wheel. A thin black vinyl covered center console sweeps between the sleek stitched ribbed buckets all in black vinyl. These have bowtie smooth inserts with stitched emblems in their centers showing on the backs of the chairs. In back a nice large bench stretches across under the sloping rear glass. The bench has custom speakers inserted into the rear interior deck and they resemble headrests. Black carpeting for the floors and a black headliner is above.

Drivetrain Lifting the big hood and don't be shocked when you see the 4 headlights peering up at you. It's only a movie, well actually, it's the mechanism for the headlights that allow the car to keep its sleek exterior styling, and have you asking where the hell are the headlights? But I digress. Within the fully restored confines of this engine bay is the money shot. Here we see a 455ci V8 fully rebuilt now with aluminum heads, polished aluminum intake and ceramic headers. On top is the EFI, and inside is a mild cam, and special lifters. The heads are now covered with black painted chrome ribbed and Buick badged aluminum valve coverings. A yellow 455 call out reminds you of the cubes. On top is a custom airbrushed yellow smoke motif air cleaner covering. On back is a TH400 3-speed automatic with racing gearing, and on back a 10-bolt posi rear. A/C is also polished and yellow wiring snakes its way to the high output plugs. A custom aluminum radiator keeps everything at running temp, but the power from this car remains HOT! Also check out the R I V I E R A on the radiator top. As I said earlier only Very Very Cool Consigner stated 600hp cat.

UndercarriageUnderneath patina original parts mix with some new black painted suspension and steering parts. Power drum brakes are now installed and some stainless steel mufflers are on. All looking good under 'ere me droogs.

Drive-AbilityA great experience and I felt like a million bucks behind this wheel. You are in a rolling piece of modern art with quick starting, smooth a silk idle, and driving that is a breeze with power steering and power brakes. A/C, and power steering worked just fine. The radio turned on, and the right rear power window only works from its position. Overall it felt like a large sports car as I raced around the track.

Put on some smooth jazz and put your foot top the floor, as you glide through highways and byways to suburbia and the city all in the 1969 Riviera from Buick style...hey that sounds like a commercial, FF that TIVO!

VIN DECODE494879H9357534-Buick94-Riviera87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe9-1969H-Flint, MI Assy Plant935753-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAGST 69 49487-1969 Riviera 2 Door Hardtop Sport CoupeBDY EUC208308-Flint Body #TR 669-Black VinylPNT 65 65-Trumpet Gold03B-2nd Week March Build

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.