My Favorite Classic: Boat-tail Buick Riviera
7 Comments Published by Joel October 30th, 2006 in Cars. Share This
There are plenty of cars out there that I’d drive if I could: BMW M5; Subaru Impreza WRX STi; Bugatti Veyron; Ferrari whatever. But those cars, nice as they might be, aren’t my favorites of all-time. That honor goes to the 1971 to 1973 Buick Riviera, for my money the bitchinest car of all time.
The boat-tailed, fourth-generation Riviera isn’t a performance beast, with just 250 horsepower from the factory, but with its wide grill and rear-window cribbed from a Corvette Stingray, it’s the perfect balance between sports car and cruiser.
Even better, it’s a two-door, a sort of brazen statement of the utter impracticality of such a vehicle; it’s huge, but doesn’t have a ton of seating space.
Some see the boat-tail Rivs as two cars slapped together—and if you read the history of the design that’s not entirely off-base—but I think it just means you get the best of both worlds: the curvy haunches tensing with power tempered by the lazy class of an American land yacht.
A close second: First-generation Datsun 240Z.
Horrors! It’s your beloved Buick, for sale as we speak on eBay, with flames!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CAUTION-Extreme-73-Buick-Riviera-Boat-Tail-Stage-1_W0QQitemZ250043581006QQihZ015QQcategoryZ6142QQcmdZViewItem
I’m in for classic performance, 1970 Roadrunner Superbird.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Superbird
The ‘68 Camaro with a 396. ’nuff said.
my first car was a ‘76 BMW 2002 and as such that sits up there as my top choice. The body is light and with slight modification can be home to a mid-80’s M series engine …making it one fast beast of a sleeper. Part’s aren’t cheap (cheaper than vintage Porche’s though) but it was relatively easy to work on and a blast to drive.
http://www.bmw2002.co.uk/
http://www.popsweatshop.com/images/Hemi-Cuda-Classics-cover.jpg
Though I think American Muscle and old boats are cool in their own right, none of them are for me.
I’m right with you on the S30 Datsun’s. Give me one of those and a Jag E-type and I think I would be the happiest man on the planet.
Howdy Joel. Love the car.I am in the process of restoring a 72 riviera GS ,but not sure of what engine mods to do. Can you recomend any engine inhancements .It presently runs on dual fuel LPG.The car has been sitting for 3 years out in the weather. The owner said he rattled the motor (meaning he might have spun a bearing)I picked up for $4500 australian. Regards Robert