Four Seasons is a leading automotive aftermarket supplier of air conditioning and cooling system parts. Popular extra-cost options included a tilt steering wheel, power windows, power driver's seat, air conditioning, a remote-controlled side view mirror, and white sidewall tires. When it was first introduced in 1963, a 325 horsepower V8 engine was the only choice and the only transmission option was a three-speed automatic. Parking lights wrapped around the fender sides. Previously General Motors used the designation for unrelated cars.
At the rear, the reverse lights moved from the rear bumper to new three-section tail-light lenses. Buick Riviera coupe Sixth generation Overview 1979—1985 Assembly , Body and chassis 2-door 2-door Related Powertrain 231 cu in 3. TransmissionFilter selectedTransmissionList, transmissionTemplate ; } listingsSearchManager. The Riviera had full instrumentation. Windows were constructed of heat reflective glass and side view mirrors were power heated to minimize fogging. It was reduced to a wheelbase of 115. In performance as well as refinement, this rendition rivals premium coupes that cost much more.
The incarnation that came to be known as the true Buick Riviera, however, was not introduced until 1963. Chrome side trim was revised, as well. Archived from on March 29, 2013. The design was inspired by classic Buicks, ancient Chinese artifacts, and modern electronic icons. For its time, the G-body was one of the strongest unibody car frames in production 25 Hz. The Rivieras complied on all counts and featured the full range of safety features. Shoulder belts for front outboard occupants were made standard on all cars built from January 1, 1968.
Assembly quality proved to be flawless, as indicated in our test car. The design change however only led to a marginal increase in sales, with 34,080 being produced for the model year. Not only are the speedometer and tachometer too far apart, but the steering wheel blocks the headlamp and cruise control switches. Performance remained reasonably brisk, with a 0—60 time of 8. The Gran Sport package remained available as an option.
Eighth-generation Rivieras received the most powerful V-6 Buick engine since the of the 1980s. When it was first introduced in 1963, a 325 horsepower V8 engine was the only choice and the only transmission option was a three-speed automatic. Replacement specializes in body parts and lighting products; it also stocks electrical, brakes, suspension, intake, exhaust, cooling and heating parts. Total production was deliberately limited to 40,000 vehicles in a year that Buick sold 440,000 units overall to emphasize the Riviera's exclusivity and to increase demand; only 2,601 were delivered with the delayed availability larger engine in the 1963 model year. The concept car had quad headlights, with the inner pair located in the center grille.
Exposed quad headlamps were nearly flush-mounted, while the new front bumper wrapped around and over the new vertical bar grille, set between the headlamp pods. It has since earned Milestone status from the Milestone Car Society. The last production year for the Riviera was in 1999. The revised styling did nothing for sales, which plummeted to 20,129 in 1974. WheelSystemFilter selectedWheelSystemList, null ; wheelSystemFilter. One noteworthy advance was Buick's Max Trac. The 455 was gone, replaced by a 350 cu in 5.
Acceleration, handling, and ride quality are vastly better than in the old Riviera. Cosmetically, changes were few, and were limited to the addition of a wide, full-width, center-mounted horizontal chrome grille bar that stretched over the headlight doors and outboard parking lights. As a preventive strategy, it is a good idea to often take care of your automobile in before and after drives. The 1983 Riviera was selected as the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 and in 1986 it came in fourth place in the Motor Trend Car of the Year rankings The Buick Riviera is a two-door, five-seat sports coupe. An occasional passenger might occupy the middle rear seat.
Sales for 1975 were 17,306. Redesigned manifolds are also available in the aftermarket. The ignition switch was moved from the instrument panel to the steering column, and locked the steering wheel and selector lever when the key was removed a security feature which became mandatory for the 1970 model year. I drive fairly fast, and still average over 24 mpg mostly highway. I had to replace a radiator due to a crack in the plastic tank when i got it, but that's the only problem i've had to face. The Olds 403 and Buick 350 were dropped, but the Olds 350 remained, as did a new of 231 cu in 3.
It is a front-engine vehicle and models produced between 1979 and 1999 are front-wheel drive. I now commute over 100 miles per day, and wouldn't hesitate to take it across country. The design was originally intended for the smaller , and the use of the Riviera's body—expanded for 1971 by 3 in 76 mm in wheelbase and more than 120 lb 54 kg heavier—produced controversial looks. After 10,000 miles a year, it's showing wear and tear, but, there's a lot of life left in it. Thus modified, the car looked far less distinctive than its predecessors, and even its platform mates, the and. The Riviera placed fourth for 's 1986 Car of the Year contest. It has gull-wing doors and a plug-in electric driveline as well as , electromagnetically controlled suspension with air springs, built in connection, transparent and wireless charging.
The Buick Riviera of the late 1990s came standard with air conditioning, anti-theft protection and a six-speaker audio system. Coolant was supposed to last 5 years or 100,000 miles. This turned the car from a into a , as it featured wide B pillars and fixed quarter. After 12 years, and a few sets of tires, I now have 150,000 miles on the odometer. The interior was restyled and for the first time shared its instrument panel with the other full-size Buick models. A tilt steering wheel was standard.