The Buick Riviera was a gentleman's muscle car, an executive express that offered luxury, high style, room for four, and power enough to embarrass many a performance car. The second-generation Rivieras that arrived in 1966 are considered by many to be the ultimate expression of the design theme. GM's design staff came up with their own idea for a personal luxury coupe. Mitchell wanted something like a cross between a Rolls-Royce and a Ferrari; what he got was one of the best-looking cars of post-war America. Our second-generation Riviera, which was completely restyled, is even cleaner and more chrome-free than the original. The headlamps are tucked up under the overhanging hood, descending when needed, eliminating the previous car's troublesome power-operated fender-front grilles that had concealed the headlamps. Delicately framed bumpers fitted nearly flush and have a finish better than the factory. The car's length and width grew, and there was now room for three passengers in the back seat. The elimination of front vent windows and the reshaping of the roofline into a graceful fastback produces a pure hardtop look. Gaps are well minded, and steel is all rust free, all bathed in the Shadow Turquoise. Trimmings and minimal badging is all excellent. Bringing up the rear of the car just under that wonderfully sloping rear glass and trunk deck horizontal ribbed taillights conform to the shape of the car and its rear fenders. 15-inch Buick Rally wheels are wrapped in less than a year old 235/75R15 Hankook rubber all around including the spare. A swing of the wonderfully appointed door panels reveals masterful use of brushed aluminum and molded vinyl in two tone cream. A band of green carpeting runs across the bottom. Bucket seats replace the factory bench and show off in tuck and roll piped high back style and have headrests. These are cream vinyl. A makeshift center console is between the buckets, and an aircraft throttle style shifter is in a temporary housing on the hump. In back the rear bench is in the same color and shows very nicely with its built-in top speaker. The original angled dash is in tan with a brown padded top. Some use of wood appliqué and futuristic square gauges line up around a barrel rolling speedometer. The car has an aftermarket radio, but the consigner states it is weak. He will provide a factory correct AM/FM Delco radio with the sale. Fronting the dash is a wood rimmed steering wheel with the 3-shield badge in the center. Green fade free carpeting floods the floors and above is a nice tight off-white headliner. Under the hood is not the original 455ci engine circa 1971/1972. It has been painted a beautiful orange/red on the valve covers and has a chromed plate style air cleaner on top. Just underneath is a 4-barrel Edelbrock carburetor, and a Poston divider intake is the manifold. On back a TH400 3-speed automatic is now installed pushing power rearward to a 10-bolt 3.07 open rear axle. Rust-free solid steel for the framing and floor pans as well as the rockers and inner fenders. Independent coil spring suspension is in front and a 4 link with coil springs on back. Power drum brakes are on all 4 corners. Dual exhaust is noted.
