1971 Buick Riviera

coupe Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

Clear

Gasoline

Up For Auction: 1971 2nd-owner Buick Riviera luxury big-block Coupe VIN # 494871H916785 Low-mileage, matching numbers Texas car. I am its 2nd owner. Clear title.First model year - and 40th anniversary - of the Boat-Tail. Considered the most collectible of the three years the body-style was in production for reasons well-known to people familiar with these unique cars. Basically, the ’71 model looks the best and runs the best. But condition is everything, and no one who sees this car fails to comment on how nice it is. I purchased the car with 53,000 miles on it in July 1994 from its original owner, Mrs. T.E. Connor, in Lubbock, TX. She and her husband purchased it new from Scoggin-Dickey Buick in Lubbock. I saw an ad for it in the Dallas Morning News.After talking with her twice by phone, I felt strongly that the car was the one I had been looking for. Even in the early '90s, nice original '71 boat-tails (especially one in a good color) were not easy to find. I took a driver, went to Lubbock (500 miles from my location near Texarkana), looked at it, drove it, bought it, checked into a motel, and drove it home the next day. That trip proved that it was everything I had hoped it would be. In the years after she had stopped using it as her main car (1980-1994), she had stored it in her closed garage. Her adult son, who was there to supervise the sale, had maintained it and driven it periodically, enough to keep it in good running order. It has been stored in a closed garage for the 17 years I have owned it.Euipment: 455 cubic inch V-8 - 315 h.p. - runs strong, quiet, and reliably. 400 automatic transmission - shifts like new. Power-steering and power brakes are fine. 6-way power bench seat in the diamond pleated pattern. With the wide center arm-rest is down, it creates the appearance of bucket seats. Headrests and factory seat belts.The power seat operates as it should: forward/back, up/down/,recline/tilt.Tilt steering-wheel (no slack)Power door-locks are snappy.Original rubber Buick floor mats (front).Heater works great, as does the rear window defogger.Power trunk-release located in glove compartment works. Glove compartment liner board is nice.Factory AM/FM stereo radio works. Power windows: master switch and individual switches are all fine. All windows operate well with one exception. (the left rear window needs attention; window motor is fine and window stays up, but doesn't roll down. Should be a fairly simple fix. Something came loose. But you can hear the motor running fast and quietly while pushing the switch in either up or down position Original Frigidare A/C compressor needs replacing. A/C blew cold until the front seal on the compressor failed. Clutch turns free.Driver's arm-rest has a typical 5 or 6 inch split on top (see photo). Usually, since these large molded arm rests all do this, people fabricate a piece from heavy sheet plastic, pad and upholster it, and then simply attach it over the original. Passenger-door arm-rest is perfect.Driver's side seat bottom has one seam split where the stitching broke. And slight wear is visible on the edge welt bead where the driver contacts it getting in and out. Back seat upholstery is super nice, as if the back seat was never used. Original headliner and sun visors are flawless. No cracks in the padded dash. On the passenger side, there is an area of the dash approximately 10 square inches that has darkened in color, but is not the least bit weak. Carpet is original and very good. Left rear floorboard carpet shows something once spilled, but it did not rot the carpet. All plastic panel pieces inside are Excellent, with no scrapes or UV damage. Lights - interior and exterior – all function correctly. Seal beam headlights are clean and clear. Dimmer switch works.Windshield wipers work good on both speeds and return to their hideaway position. Fuel guage and all dash indicator lights work correctly.Hubcaps are original and nice. Tires are matched and 50% tread. Good front-end alignment.Under the Hood: dry, clean, has not been detailed. Hood insulation pads clean and orig.Door Dings: (1) one directly below the driver-side door handle. Not bad or especially noticeable, but it's there. Did not break the paint. (see photo)Weather stripping and various rubber parts: It's all original and intact. Still soft. Naturally, it shows some age, but it's not loose or torn. Trunk compartment weather stripping is very good. Trunk lining cardboard is all there and very good, with a few rub marks and one mounting screw which has pulled through leaving a small hole. Spare and original jack are included.Five (5) OE style sport wheels in fair, unrestored condition are included. No center caps. I bought them and considered using them but decided not to. Personally, I only like the look of the OE sport wheels when they have been fully chromed. Things I have done: Replaced the exhaust system, front to rear, including OE type resonators and correct, angle-cut tips which do not protrude beyond the rear bumper. Looks much better that way. Replaced all belts and hoses. I took a few six or seven hundred mile trips and wanted no problems. Removed the aluminum water pump housing cover to have a slow-drip sized hole professionally repaired. That's the only piece under the hood that has been painted. My mechanic checked the timing chain while the cover was off and found it to be excellent. The engine shows to have had regular oil changes. I'm sure most of you know how to determine this --- by the color the oil maintains, the lack of build-up on the oil-filler cap and dipstick, etc. Serviced the radiator and replaced the thermostat as preventative maintenance. Replaced valve-cover gaskets.New front windshield - no pits, cracks or stars. Recently installed a new exhaust manifold gasket (right side) to correct a slight leak and had the points set.The battery is five years old, so I am installing a brand new heavy duty Continental. This is a rare, low mileage (currently 58,944) original car in superb mechanical and overall cosmetic condition that has been kept in closed storage since 1980. The chrome is bright and the undercarriage/frame looks good. No paint has been applied to the frame to cover anything up. NO oil consumption after driving the car 3,000 miles, which even surprised me. Most big blocks use a little oil. No fluid leaks. In 1994 when I bought it, it had 53,000 miles. To keep the mileage under 60,000, I basically stopped driving it in 1999, other than occasional 5-10 mile 'exercise'distances and one trip of about 175 miles. There is no rust whatsoever. Correction: I did notice one small spot of surface rust next to the left rear wheelwell molding when I was taking photos. (see photo). Also, on the point of the trunk, there is some paint flaking. I see no signs of body repair, but a small ding in the rear bumper (didn’t break the chrome - see photos) leads me to think the deck lid may have been scratched and refinished when the car was fairly new. Also on the trunk, a ring is visible where a CB antenna was installed. I am extremely confident that the miles are correct. There is documentation from May 16, 1988 - a Midas Muffler warranty signed by the first owner that indicates the mileage was 51,181 at that time. It runs and drives like it looks - tight and solid. No squeaks or rattles. I wish the a/c was working, but if it was, it would likely need repair within a season or two, whereas with a new compressor installed by your A/C shop, you will have someone local to warranty it. Ask a few reputable A/C shops for an estimate for this job. They are not expensive compressors. As I have mentioned, the air-conditioning blew nice and cold until the compressor lost the front seal. The good thing about older A/C systems is that all the connections are screw type, not the 'built to fail' quick assembly type on cars since the '80s. No line leaks, evaporator core leaks, or A/C condensor leaks are pesent. Color is the very appealing Bamboo Cream inside and out, including the excellent original vinyl top. All I have ever done to the paint is hand wax it. I do not believe it has ever been buffed. Included are the owner's manual, protecto-plate card, and other items shown in the photos.Look at the pictures. Please Ask any questions you might have. I have tried to give a full and honest description and accurate pictures, but I will be glad to provide additional information.Buyer is responsible for arranging pick up or delivery. Payment details are as follows:A deposit of $1,000 is due via Paypal within 24 hours of the close of auction. Balance is due within 10 days of close of auction. Payment, either by certified cashier's check or in cash, (no personal checks) is to be made at my local bank, at which time the title transfer will be made. One of the nicest original '71 Rivieras you will see in a fair price range. No disappointments here.Bid with confidence. On Jun-14-11 at 13:18:02 PDT, seller added the following information: Up For Auction: 1971 2nd-owner Buick Riviera luxury big-block Coupe VIN # 494871H916785 NOTE: NOW SELLING AT NEW LOW LOW RESERVE! ALSO: (DONE TODAY 6/14/11): (4)BRAND NEW TIRES 225/70 AND TWO NEW STOCK MUFFLERS, PLUS NEW POINTS AND CONDENSOR. DROVE THE CAR 60 MILES, AND IT DID GREAT. POSTED NEW PICTURES OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. Low-mileage, matching numbers Texas car. I am its 2nd owner. Clear title. First model year - and 40th anniversary - of the Boat-Tail. Considered the most collectible of the three years the body-style was in production for reasons well-known to people familiar with these unique cars. Basically, the ’71 model looks the best and runs the best. But condition is everything, and no one who sees this car fails to comment on how nice it is. I purchased the car with 53,000 miles on it in July 1994 from its original owner, Mrs. T.E. Connor, in Lubbock, TX. She and her husband purchased it new from Scoggin-Dickey Buick in Lubbock. I saw an ad for it in the Dallas Morning News. After talking with her twice by phone, I felt strongly that the car was the one I had been looking for. Even in the early '90s, nice original '71 boat-tails (especially one in a good color) were not easy to find. I took a driver, went to Lubbock (500 miles from my location near Texarkana), looked at it, drove it, bought it, checked into a motel, and drove it home the next day. That trip proved that it was everything I had hoped it would be. In the years after she had stopped using it as her main car (1980-1994), she had stored it in her closed garage. Her adult son, who was there to supervise the sale, had maintained it and driven it periodically, enough to keep it in good running order. It has been stored in a closed garage for the 17 years I have owned it. Euipment: 455 cubic inch V-8 - 315 h.p. - runs strong, quiet, and reliably. 400 automatic transmission - shifts like new. Power-steering and power brakes are fine. 6-way power bench seat in the diamond pleated pattern. With the wide center arm-rest is down, it creates the appearance of bucket seats. Headrests and factory seat belts. The power seat operates as it should: forward/back, up/down/,recline/tilt. Tilt steering-wheel (no slack) Power door-locks are snappy. Original rubber Buick floor mats (front). Heater works great, as does the rear window defogger. Power trunk-release located in glove compartment works. Glove compartment liner board is nice. Factory AM/FM stereo radio works. Power windows: master switch and individual switches are all fine. All windows operate well with one exception. (the left rear window needs attention; window motor is fine and window stays up, but doesn't roll down. Should be a fairly simple fix. Something came loose. But you can hear the motor running fast and quietly while pushing the switch in either up or down position. Original Frigidare A/C compressor needs replacing. A/C blew cold until the front seal on the compressor failed. Clutch turns free. Driver's arm-rest has a typical 5 or 6 inch split on top (see photo). Usually, since these large molded arm rests all do this, people fabricate a piece from heavy sheet plastic, pad and upholster it, and then simply attach it over the original. Passenger-door arm-rest is perfect. Driver's side seat bottom has one seam split where the stitching broke. And slight wear is visible on the edge welt bead where the driver contacts it getting in and out. Back seat upholstery is super nice, as if the back seat was never used. Original headliner and sun visors are flawless. No cracks in the padded dash. On the passenger side, there is an area of the dash approximately 10 square inches that has darkened in color, but is not the least bit weak. Carpet is original and very good. Left rear floorboard carpet shows something once spilled, but it did not rot the carpet. All plastic panel pieces inside are Excellent, with no UV damage. Lights - interior and exterior – all function correctly. Seal beam headlights are clean and clear. Dimmer switch works. Windshield wipers work good on both speeds and return to their hideaway position. Fuel guage and all dash indicator lights work correctly. Original hub caps. Four (4) brand new 225/70 tires installed 6/14/11. Under the Hood: dry, clean, has not been detailed. Hood insulation pads clean and orig. Door Dings: (1) one directly below the driver-side door handle. Not bad or especially noticeable, but it's there. Did not break the paint. (see photo) Weather stripping and various rubber parts: It's all original and intact. Still soft. Naturally, it shows some age, but it's not loose. Trunk compartment weather stripping is very good. Trunk lining cardboard is all there and very good, with a few rub marks and one mounting screw which has pulled through leaving a small hole. Spare and original jack are included. Five (5) OE style sport wheels in fair, unrestored condition are included. No center caps. I bought them and considered using them but decided not to. Things I have done: Replaced the exhaust system, front to rear, including OE type resonators and correct, angle-cut tips which do not protrude beyond the rear bumper. (NEW stock mufflers installed today 6/14/11). Replaced all belts and hoses. I took a few six or seven hundred mile trips and wanted no problems. Removed the aluminum water pump housing cover to have a slow-drip sized hole professionally repaired. That's the only piece under the hood that has been painted. My mechanic checked the timing chain while the cover was off and found it to be excellent. The engine shows to have had regular oil changes. I'm sure most of you know how to determine this --- by the color the oil maintains, the lack of build-up on the oil-filler cap and dipstick, etc. Serviced the radiator and replaced the thermostat as preventative maintenance. Replaced valve-cover gaskets. New front windshield - no pits, cracks or stars. Recently installed a new exhaust manifold gasket (right side) to correct a slight leak. The battery is five years old, so I am installing a brand new heavy duty Continental. This is a rare, low mileage (currently 58,944) original car in superb mechanical and overall cosmetic condition that has been kept in closed storage since 1980. The chrome is bright and the undercarriage/frame looks good. No paint has been applied to the frame to cover anything up. I experienced NO oil consumption after driving the car 3,000 miles, which surprised me. Most big blocks use a little oil. No fluid leaks beyond normal seepage. In 1994 when I bought it, it had 53,000 miles. To keep the mileage under 60,000, I basically stopped driving it in 1999, other than occasional 5-10 mile 'exercise'distances and one trip of about 175 miles. There is no rust whatsoever. Correction: I did notice one small spot of surface rust next to the left rear wheelwell molding when I was taking photos. Also, on the point of the trunk, there is some paint flaking. I see no signs of body repair, but a small ding in the rear bumper (didn’t break the chrome) leads me to think the deck lid may have been scratched and refinished when the car was fairly new. Also on the trunk, a ring is visible where a CB antenna was installed. I am extremely confident that the miles are correct. There is documentation from May 16, 1986 - a Midas Muffler warranty signed by the first owner that indicates the mileage was 51,181 at that time. It runs and drives like it looks - tight and solid. No squeaks or rattles. I wish the a/c was working, but if it was, it would likely need repair within a season or two, whereas with a new compressor installed by your A/C shop, you will have someone local to warranty it. Ask a few reputable A/C shops for an estimate for this job. They are not expensive compressors. As I have mentioned, the air-conditioning blew nice and cold until the compressor lost the front seal. The good thing about older A/C systems is that all the connections are screw type, not the 'built to fail' quick assembly type on cars since the '80s. No line leaks, evaporator core leaks, or A/C condensor leaks are present. Color is the very appealing Bamboo Cream inside and out, including the excellent original vinyl top. All I have ever done to the paint is hand wax it. I do not believe it has ever been buffed. Included are the owner's manual, protecto-plate card, and other items shown in the photos. Look at the pictures. Please Ask any questions you might have. I have tried to give a full and honest description and accurate pictures, but I will be glad to provide additional information. Buyer is responsible for arranging pick up or delivery. Payment details are as follows: A deposit of $1,000 is due via Paypal within 24 hours of the close of auction. Balance is due within 10 days of close of auction. Payment, either by certified cashier's check or in cash, (no personal checks) is to be made at my local bank, at which time the title transfer will be made. Undoubtedly the nicest original '71 Riviera you will see in a very fair price range. No disappointments here. Bid with confidence.