1972 Buick Riviera

1972 Buick Riviera Hardtop As the Sixties wore on, the Riviera grew in size, losing much of its early elegance and distinction. With the third generation's boattail styling that arrived for 1971, the Riviera recaptured the spotlight. The styling is a blend of Corvette and earlier Rivieras, which is fitting as it was overseen by GM's VP of styling, Bill Mitchell. Mitchell's designs for the 1963 Corvette and the 1963 Riviera were approved on the same day, Christmas Eve, 1961. Car and Driver, 2023   For consignment, a 1972 Buick Riviera hardtop with a title verified 89,044 actual miles. At a time when GM cars crossed platforms and created cars that were essentially the same and relying on brand loyalty, there was nothing quite like the Riv which was continually used as the palette for design creativity. Despite overall automotive malaise, the '72 still stood out.   Exterior From every angle, the Riviera presents as something different, even space age, beginning with the profile which presents with a humpback created by the curved rear window, then a long overhang beyond the rear wheels balanced by the long hood with forward canted fenders and their short overhang. With its custom paint configuration of Ivory over Copper Metallic, this one is unique beyond its incredible lines. The slight rise on the hood is accentuated by copper pinstriping while side molding delineates the colors and highlights the steep curve of the rear quarter panel under a C-pillar that forms a picnic basket handle between the glass and copper top. In back is the pointed tail which transfers its line onto the bumper itself, creating a chrome beak rarely seen on the back of cars. 15-inch black wheels carry staggered size tires. Imperfections include some bubbling on the lower door skin along with random chips and uneven filler. We also note chips, minor inclusions, some bubbling throughout, areas of orange peel, surface rust on the bumper, a ding in rear bumper, scratches, and edgewear on a front fender. Interior Off white vinyl and plastic mixes with the woodgrain insert under the door pull to form the door panels, and both doors show some patina. Gray cloth inserts with vinyl borders covers the 60/40 split bench front seats, mirrored by the back bench and all in nice shape. A three spoke steering wheel fronts the dash with spun aluminum backing, all curved to embrace the driver's view and showing some light patina. An A/C panel is to the left of the wheel in a rare configuration and an AM radio to the right, while a temp gauge has been added. Tan low pile carpet is below and a gray headliner above. The trunk, with its incredible contoured lid, is barren and clean with some minor usage shown.  Drivetrain Under the hood, you'll find a visually driver quality but stock looking 455ci V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and 250 horsepower. It's mated to a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission that routes power to the 12 bolt rear axle.  Undercarriage Driver quality here as well with some typical oxidation and surface rust, some oil and build up on the pans, but otherwise solid steel construction out of Flint, Michigan. Dual exhaust runs through stock style mufflers and resonators before exiting through steel tips. Power brakes are supplied as front disc and rear drum, and suspension consists of coil springs at both ends with a 4 link in back.   Drive-Ability A tap of the gas and a turn of the key, and the 455 comes to life with a smooth idle and relatively quiet operation. Once out on the test loop, we note some squeaky suspension, a bit of front end slop, and the car pulling left upon braking. Inside, the radio and clock don't work and our consignor informs us of a missing heater/AC duct. Outside of that, all remaining functions work as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.Â