1983 Buick Riviera

The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car produced by Buick from 1963 to 1999.  GM's first entry into that prestige niche, the Riviera was highly praised by automotive journalists upon its high-profile debut.  While early models stayed close to the original form, eight subsequent generations varied substantially over the Riviera's thirty-year lifespan.  In all, 1,127,261 were produced.  The name Riviera, Latin for coastline, was chosen to evoke the allure and affluence of the French Riviera.  It first entered the Buick line in 1949, as the designation for the new two-door pillarless hardtop, described in advertising as "stunningly smart".

For consignment, a well kept, all original, low mileage, and pampered Riviera with a mere 89,445 original miles, however the title is showing 90,000 actual miles.  A 1983 Ad has in bold type “Collectible” and then goes on to say that they cannot guarantee that the new 1983 Riviera will be a bona fide future classic, but with its looks and styling, how can it miss?  Were they telling the future??  Read on for more excitement.

Exterior
Bathed in its factory paint and in the color of Sand Gray Firemist, we can see some aging areas in the form of paint bubbles and slight surface rust on the straight steel panels.  The car is from 1983, but has low mileage, and this car presents as such.  Clearly always garaged, this car even has the plastic fillers which go behind the front bumper, and in front of the rear bumper intact, as well as a caring owner.  A lighter grayish tan Landau style vinyl top is seen above the rear passenger compartment on the exterior.  The chrome bumpers show as nearly new with a shiny finish and no dimpling and the brightwork on the body is in matching shape.  The 80's square and rectangle shape is present throughout the body and conforms nicely to the GM design of the era.  Nice chromed wire wheel covers are spotted on all 4 corners and are wrapped by nearly new 205/75R15 thin white wall rubber.

Interior
Luxurious gray velour cloth buckets, (only in the sense there are two seats and they are separate), and spacious rear bench are seen with the opening of one of the massive doors, which is also covered in gray velour cloth.  Burl feathered veneer accents abound in the seats, door panels and cover the dash.  All straight and square and rectangle design right out of the 1983 design playbook, the dash is very clean and unmarred.  A small center console glovebox is flanked by the front buckets and is gray vinyl.  Conveniences such as climate control, an AM/FM/Cassette radio, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, power steering and power brakes are added.  A lighter gray headliner appears to be losing some of its adhesive, and hangs loosely in some spots, particularly near the front of the ceiling.  Fairly clean gray carpeting with a few stains covers the floors, and carpeted floor mats cover the carpeting.

Drivetrain
A little dusty with a little patina can be seen on the 307ci V8, and it is mated with a THM325 4L 4-speed automatic transmission to its rear.  Power is transmitted to the front tires via a 2.73 geared front axle.  

Undercarriage
Save for the occasional surface rust on straight steel parts, (mainly suspension), the undercarriage maintains its integrity with plenty of rustproofing coverage on the floor pans, and undercarriage surfaces.  Looking underneath the doors we see clean rubber weather stripping, and no rust on the bottom of the doors.  Independent torsion bar suspension up front works with a torsion beam and coil spring set up in the back to provide the ride and single exhaust is seen.  We note the muffler has corrosion and exhaust leaks at the bottom rearmost section.  Power disc brakes work with power drums in the rear to provide the whoah factor.

Drive-Ability
I just can't get enough of these tufted broadcloth velour seats, they fit perfectly to my ample and soft frame.  There is something warm and fuzzy as opposed to leather, although once leather is broken in, it is durable...but…I digress and this car started right up, ran flawlessly, and is a wonderful comfortable cruiser with a kick with only the power antenna and power seat being non functional.

A nice example of a very nice Riviera from 1983.  Well kept, a few faults, but all in all easy repairs to make the car nearly perfect on the exterior and interior with faults noted.  Square and Rectangle late 70's early 80's design, and possibly a classic as stated by the future predicting advertising?

1G4AZ57Y7DE402007

1-USA
G-General Motors 
4-Buick
A-Manual Seatbelts
Z-Riviera
57-2 Door Coupe
Y-307 CUI V8
7-Check Digit
D-1983
E-Linden NJ Assy Plant
402007-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.