1969 Buick Riviera

Description

The day of the Riviera has arrived once again. For those of us who love these cars, we've known for years that machines like this 1969 Buick Riviera have been almost criminally under-valued. That's changing, and once you see the quality of the restoration and the long list of features in this gentleman's muscle car, you'll understand why these are very special cars.

The Riv was fully redesigned in 1966 and incrementally updated until 1970, and there are a good many enthusiasts who believe the '69 is the best-looking of the bunch. Looking at this gorgeous Verde Green Riv, it's hard to argue. For many years, the values on these cars meant that restorations were rarely done properly and you never saw a big investment. That's definitely not the case here, with laser-straight bodywork, great paint with a deep shine, and good panel fit throughout. The work is a few years old so it's no longer perfect, but you're going to have to look pretty hard to see the flaws and touch-ups. The shape is as striking today as it was 50 years ago, conveying a sense of power and competence without resorting to stripes and wings. No, this is a car for grown-ups, but you don't have to be shy to own it, because you're going to get A LOT of attention. The chrome is in good order and the white vinyl top offers a nice contrast that helps it look low and sleek, while providing a further touch of sophistication to this vintage legend.

The beautiful green interior was also extensively restored using correct patterns and materials and it's always cool to see a comfortable split-bench and a beautiful, crack-free dash in a full-sized luxury car. That very dash would set the pace for Buick for the next decade and this car is loaded with options including factory A/C (needs to be serviced), a tilt wheel, power windows, power locks, power antenna, and that cool speed alert system. Gauges cover the basics and are crisp and clear, and the wood applique on the dash and door panels adds a further touch of class inside. The factory steering wheel looks great, and the carpets are fresh thanks to protection from the correct Riviera floor mats. There's a Pioneer AM/FM/cassette stereo in the factory slot that sounds decent, and inside the hushed Buick interior, sound quality matters. Out back the trunk is downright gigantic, finished off completely in its stock configuration.

That's the original, numbers-matching 430 cubic inch V8 under the hood, which was rated at a very substantial 360 horsepower and a towering 475 pounds of torque. It makes the big Riv feel downright fast, but it's effortlessly smooth under all circumstances and just ignores the drag of things like A/C and power steering. Dante Red paint on the block gives it a traditional Buick look and an aftermarket cold air intake rests atop a Holley Performance 4-barrel carburetor. Other than those additions it appears to be almost entirely stock, including the valve covers, radiator, and power brake and power steering systems. Factory exhaust manifolds feed a mellow-sounding dual exhaust system which uses polished tips under the rear bumper. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission was the only option, but you already know it's indestructible, and the beefy rear end houses highway-friendly gears. Note that this car has not spent its life in the snowbelt and it looks fantastic sitting on Buick Road Wheels and big 225/75/15 Hankook whitewall radials.

If you've been admiring these cars, now is the time to buy because they won't be getting cheaper. This one stands out and gets everything right, and it's still a fraction of the price of a Chevelle or GTO. Have your cake and eat it too, with the Buick Riviera. Call now!