Used Buick Riviera for Sale near Kailua Kona, HI
Buick Riviera Overview
Except for a blip in 1994, the Buick Riviera was in continuous production from 1963 until 1999. This full-size luxury coupe was Buick's flagship car and targeted at those wanting performance and upscale comfort in a personal cruiser. It debuted in 1963, the result of an effort to compete with the Ford Thunderbird and create a totally new look based on European styling. The coupe featured innovative frameless windows and sharp lines and edges that made it stand out among its competitors. A large V8 engine put out over 300 hp.
During the 1960s, it went through some restyling that introduced retractable headlights. In 1966, it was given a fastback roof and more sloping lines, and a new 430 V8 placed it squarely in the muscle car arena. Some of the most classic Buick Rivieras came after the controversial boat-tail restyle in 1971. Originally designed for use on a smaller car, the angled front and rear ends helped make it a collectible today, but many people did not like it. A combination of the redesign and detuned engines caused by the gas crisis led to decreased sales.
Over the 1970s and '80s, the sporty Riviera remained a coupe, but got heavier and less distinct. Horsepower slipped under 200 and eventually in the low 100s. The Riviera also got shorter, though it still sat at the top of the Buick lineup in terms of personal luxury. In 1979 it switched to front-wheel drive and offered a turbo engine and was picked as Motor Trend's Car of the Year. By the 1980s the V8 engine was gone, and the Riviera only came with a V6. It did introduce the first touchscreen control panel, though that was scrapped after a few years.
The 1990s Riviera coupe experienced a resurgence with a new supercharged V6 that became standard in 1998 and a new G platform. A lighter-weight design made the coupe easier to handle and shifted it again toward better performance. Horsepower rose above 200, and standard features continued to offer upscale comfort and convenience. The Riviera was discontinued in 1999.
4.6 Overall rating
(109 reviews)Customers say
The Buick Riviera has long been appreciated for its unique styling, powerful performance, and luxurious comfort. Across various model years, owners express love for its smooth ride, impressive handling, and powerful engines, particularly highlighting the supercharged variants. Despite acclaim, some drivers noted challenges with fuel economy and mechanical reliability in certain models. Overall, the Riviera stands out as a stylish and enjoyable option for those who value performance and comfort.
AI generated from the text of customer reviews.
What people say
The 67 Olds Toronado is an exceptional example of American automotive engineering.
Tons of fun, sub 15 second 1/4 mile, cold a/c, and full power with exception of door locks. Riviera lays frame using custom airbag suspension, and is powered by a 430 Buick Wildcat V8 at 10.25:1 compression, coupled with an ST400 transmission with variable ratio torque converter and 3.42 gears.
The car is getting an updated 425ci big block, it will be pushing around 600hp when all done. Which is more than enough power to push this 4500Lb car around anywhere. The car rides like your floating on a cloud, the suspension is so smooth, and the seats just add to the experience. really nice car, it looks really sinister, sleek and sexy though.
A very solid, well built car. It has a great 455ci (7.5L) V8 and a great ride. Styling that is love it or hate it, but absolutely unique.
BEST USA built touring coupe built!!! GM took all the imperfections from the previous years and tweaked them out for the last year Riviera and built ONLY 1,787 !!! Today less than 100 can be found. Last of the G body format not the unibody of today few computers and a 3800 series 2 supercharged engine best engine built in the last 25 years! I own 4, few have seen these cars and fewer have driven them, a sleeper collectible. BTW I prefer fwd weight on your drive axle is better in my opinon. Compare to other models ? no can do