1973 Buick Riviera

Coupe

455

Automatic

4Y87U3H439092

Clear

Gasoline

This is a well cared for low mileage example that shows very well with a reasonable reserve. A proven reliable driver. Not a car that has sat idle in recent years and you don't know what surprises will emerge when you start driving it. Aside from local driving, in 2015 it was driven 1200 mile round trip to a national Riviera Owners Association Meet. No problems and A/C was on the whole trip out and back. Engine is tight, no smoke, no noise. Transmission shifts smooth and it stops straight. Steering is tight, no pulling. Options: Manual A/C (works - R12), Power windows, 6-way Power seat, Vinyl Notchback 60/40 seat, Soft-Ray tinted glass, Trip set/speed alert, RR defogger, Wide rocker stainless, AM/FM stereo, Chrome wheels, Bumper Guards and Vinyl top, Burnt Coral was the most popular Riv color in 73. 5532 cars painted that color but the large majority of those had light colored interior and top. This one is black and it gives the car a different and more masculine personality. I chose black wall tires to accentuate that appearance.There is no pitting on the body chrome including the prone rear taillight bezels. The rubber bumper strips front and back are often damaged or show degradation from sun. The originals on this car are in wonderful condition. These rubber strips are not reproduced. The chrome wheels are very nice with minor imperfections.Paint is original on hood, and top section of doors and fenders. The back end and lower portions have been painted but it was a quality job that matches perfectly. The paint is believed to have been done in the late 90s. Original vinyl roof in excellent condition with no bubbles. Floors are solid as is the trunk. Exterior body condition it is very solid as well. There is no rust bubbling or peeling paint anywhere. The undercarriage is very nice and does NOT have the typical rust scale barnacles which is common on cars from this area. The battery tray area is in great condition with only surface rust. Clearly this car was well taken care of most of its life. The trunk carpeting has been replaced and the cardboard liners are originals and show some wear. The spare is believed an original bias ply and should not be trusted to drive on. Mechanically I had the original radiator re-cored with a MADE IN USA copper core. Not cheap but the best method. The brakes are like new and I recently flushed the fluid. The dual exhaust is excellent, tight, no leaks. No exhaust manifold leaks. The transmission was removed and resealed by the previous owner. I re-bushed the carburetor throttle shafts and installed a kit last year. I replaced the original fuel pump as preventive measure. Original was still working. The water pump was replaced prior to me getting the car. Uniroyal Laredo tires new in 2015 and have about 2000 miles on them. The clock and speed alert do not work. The emissions air pump and plumbing has been removed which was a common practice back in the day. Sorry the Blackhawk front license plate shown in picture does not go with car.Deficiencies worthy of pointing out is the driver seat outer bolster has splits in the vinyl. (see pic) A local shop felt this section could be replaced since the adjoining vinyl is still soft. The driver door armrest has a 1.5" long crack on the vertical surface which is currently covered with black vinyl tape. It can be seen in pic. The clear portion of pin strip tape on the hood has degraded and turned a whitish color. I touched it up and it looks better but not perfect. The original paint is so nice on hood it does not justify a repaint in my opinion. (pic)There is an oil leak in area of timing cover. Its not that bad but does leave its mark on the garage floor after sitting awhile. If I was keeping it I would re-gasket the cover and install a neoprene crank seal.I wouldn't have any hesitation to drive this car long distance. I am generally more particular on details/condition and tend to be more critical than most. There are no known issues that would be a cause for concern but our common sense should indicate its still an old car and not everything is predictable. Please remember this car is 44 years old and while it has appears to have been well maintained and I have tried to cover all major details, its not practical to cover every imperfection that might be important to you. Please ask if you want more detail on anything or want to chat on the phone. The car is available for inspection. Vehicle is being sold as-is with no warranty expressed or implied. Descriptions or representations are not intended or should be construed as a warranty or guarantee. It is the buyers responsibility to inspect and/or vet the car thoroughly before bidding. A buyer's and seller's perception or definition of condition can vary so its important to communicate clearly when asking questions. BOATTAIL BUYING TIPS: If you are looking for your first Boattail read on. 71-73 Rivieras have slowly but steadily increased in desirability and appreciation. Boattail specific parts are difficult to find and expensive when you do, so dig deep and buy the best car you can afford. Thinking you'll buy something cheap and "fix it up" is a mistake in most cases. When it comes to Rivieras in general, your money is far better spent on a well cared for car so spending an extra few thousand up front can save you that 3 fold in the end. "Buy once, Cry once, The quality remains long after the price is forgotten". Buying a Boattail that has not been well cared for or stored and expecting to bring it back to presentable cosmetic and reliable mechanical condition will cost you significantly more than you would ever imagine not to mention the frustration and years of driving enjoyment lost while doing so. Do your homework. Chrome and trim restoration has become terribly expensive and a nice paint job is even worse. Avoid cars that need much chrome plating. Expecting to find a nice bumper NOS or used that doesn't need straightened or replated is very difficult. Any trim pieces stainless, aluminum, or pot metal will be hard to find in nice condition. The front and rear glass trim is anodized aluminum. If it needs redone this is an expensive process. Typical with most cars of the era rusted floors are common. In the Boattail the wells under the rear seat get water from rear window leaks and rusts. Many sellers either don't know or intentionally deceive in the area of floor rust so be careful. The rear quarters around the wheel lip openings are also very prone to rust.The dash pad in these cars is huge and very difficult to find used that are not cracked or sun baked. You do not want to have to pay for a refinished dash pad which will never look original anyway. Door panels are also very difficult to find in excellent condition and restoration of them is difficult, expensive and result usually don't look as good as originals. If a car is being restored from fair condition sometimes it is better in the end to buy 1 or 2 donor cars that will provide most parts needed for the project. Most engine and drive line/brake parts are readily available so is the least concern monetarily when general maintenace and repairs are concerned. Be cautious on cars that have had extensive work or so called "restoration" because more times than not its done by someone who is inexperienced in Rivieras. Many corners are cut which will devalue the car, cost you money, frustration, and lost driving enjoyment. There are few reproduction Boattail specific parts available and do not expect that to change much in the future. These cars had a wide variety of options available to choose from so become familiar with them and decide which ones you can't do without before buying a car. Adding options later is an expensive time consuming process.New to Rivieras? The Riviera Owners Association is an outstanding resource of information and dues will pay for itself many times over. Check the website for more info.