1971 Buick Riviera Boattail
The luxurious Buick Riviera was an immediate hit when it arrived for the 1963 model year as GM’s response to the four-seater Ford Thunderbird, with evocative Euro-styling that’s still highly appealing today.
GM’s design chief Bill Mitchell wanted to recapture that magic with the dramatic ’71 model, created by Jerry Hirschberg (later Nissan’s head of design), who accentuated the stretched-out body style with a boldly tapering roofline that extended to a near-point at the middle of the back bumper, with an almost-horizontal rear window.
Power is provided by the original 455cid big-block V8 and automatic transmission. Despite the massive size of the Riviera, it should still move out nicely with that torque monster under its hood.
The Burnt Coral Irid paint is in fine condition, and the white interior is in beautiful shape, with full power features and the original radio with a 8-track tape player.
In conclusion, Buick manufactured one of the most controversial designs in their history with the 1971-1973 Rivieras. The 1970s became a time for downsizing as a result of a great shift in American culture caused by the energy crisis triggered by the 1973-1974 oil embargo. The boattail Buick Rivieras, due to their huge size, became a casualty of the era.
