p.1: Exterior pics and history (you are here)
p.2: Performance Modifications
p.3: Other mods
p.4: Pictures with other vehicles
The Buick Riviera personal luxury coupe was produced from 1963 to 1999, with none produced in 1994. While there were some monstrous failures, it's safe to say that most of the Rivieras were spectacular in their own individual way. For the history and evolution of the Riviera throughout the years, see the Riviera owners association website
dig the skull
The seventh generation of the Buick Riviera ran from 1995 to 1999. It shared the G platform with its sister car, the Oldsmobile Aurora, as well as the Buick Park Avenue as of 97. Later models of the Olds Aurora, Buick Park Avenue & LeSabre, Pontiac Bonneville and the current Buick Lucerne shared an updated version of the G platform. The updated Riviera was greeted with unanimous praise, and garnered a dozen design awards. You can read MotorTrend's review
here (p.1)
(p.2) as well as take a look at
popular mechanics' review.
It truly was the concept car you could park in your driveway.
I picked up my 1998 Riviera on Sunday April 3rd 2005. I bought it from the original 83 year old owner, who had recently lost his licence after becoming disabled. It had 48500 km (30000 mi). This car was the previous owner's baby and had been meticulously maintained. You could eat off the engine, if you were so inclined. So I travelled from CFB Bagotville to Toronto and got one heck of a good deal on a great car.
These are the pictures I took the day after I went to pick it up! The gentleman I bought it from had just had it professionally detailed and had all 4 rotors and pads changed. He even paid my cab fare from the airport to his home.
The first thing I did when I received my plates was to remove the front bumper licence plate holder, which detracts from the riviera's smooth lines. In Quebec, we only require a plate in the back.
Next thing I did was remove that hideous dealer decal (royfoss)
The riviera looks good from almost any angle
It is "Emerald green pearl," paint code 38/105D with a light autumn green interior, both new for 1998. There were only 10 953 Rivieras produced in 1998. The only remaining 2-door model in Buick's lineup passed to the 1999 model year essentially unchanged, and only 1 956 Rivieras were be built for the new year before production ceased on November 25, 1998. The 200 final Rivieras were Silver Arrow special editions.
I think the light autumn green interior looks great with the Green exterior. It's quite a subtle shade of green.
The interior was inspired by the original 1963 Riviera.
Here is the Riviera in the dusk, immediately after it was waxed.
I bought it to replace my defunct 1994 LT1 Roadmaster (see Roadmaster, a tribute), which met its untimely doom at 86000 km (approx 54000 mi) when I plunged backwards into a 25 foot ravine. The B-body's sturdy construction saved my life (not a scratch on me), but the car's back end smashed inwards about 1 foot. Although not as powerfull (stock) as the roadmaster, the riv certainly looks much better. I regularly get compliments about my "new" car, or have people asking me what kind of car it is.
The 98 Riviera came standard with the venerable Buick 3.8 litre supercharged engine. The very same L67 that sits in the Buick Regal GS and Pontiac Grand Prix GTP (as well as many other GM cars).
This is what the engine bay looked like on the day I got it. You really could eat off it.
Here is a picture of my riviera with my father's 97 grand prix GTP in the background
