This 1973 Buick Riviera Boattail is a Beautiful Classic Today, But Was Controversial In Its Time
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- The third generation Riviera was meant to be a classic from the get-go. Legendary designer Bill Mitchell was nearing the end of his career, and wanted to go out with a masterpiece. He certainly designed one in the Boattail, but GM brass and the accountants would throw a serious curve ball in the process, that pretty much changed the entire direction of the car, if not the concept itself.
That said, this Riviera was really the last bespoke generation, that shared virtually no cosmetics with any other GM product. It's unique styling and the inherent goodness of the mechanicals have contributed toward these cars now being fully appreciating collectibles with a strong following.
This is an in-depth review and test drive of a 12K mile 1973 Riviera GS. Vehicle is from a private collection, and not for sale.
Videos referenced in this video:
1971 Buick Riviera Road Test:
• BUD LINDEMANN ROAD TES...
1964 Corvette Sting Ray:
• The Mid-Year C2 Corvet...
1968 Buick Riviera:
• This 1968 Buick Rivier...
1974 Pontiac Formula Firebird:
• 1 of 58! This Ultra R...
1977 Pontiac Grand Prix by:
• This 1977 Pontiac Gran...
Dude, this is my favorite Florida Humidity And Animal Activity channel.
He breaks me up
it's easy - very easy - to hate all birds/animals. Hate them all.
That's funny.
🤣
I’m waiting for the day he comes across an alligator
Back in '73, my dad and I looked at a Riviera just like this one, minus the vinyl roof. After the test drive and the haggling, he didn't buy it. On the way home he told me he was 50 bucks away from pulling the trigger. It was all I could do not to wail and bang my forehead on the dashboard. Evidently the look on my face was memorable, because he told that story for the next 50 years with an evil cackle. I'd love to hear it one more time. I really miss him. Thanks for the great memory, Bill.
What did he buy instead?
@@michaelwhite2823 He held on to his '70 4-door T-Bird for a while longer, which was gorgeous and crazy fast. We all loved it.
@@DavidHall-ge6nn Cool!
What a fantastic story. You just made the video even better. I also wish I could hear my Dad tell a story and laugh also. Thanks for making my day better.
@@scottbiddle3967 My dad was Superman as far as I'm concerned. We made some great memories together.
I own a 1973 Riviera by Buick. It's huge, it floats and I love it. It's powerful and glides as lovely as the classic Cadillacs of this era in my collection.
Look at what bud Lindemann said about the 72 model as well as the 71 listed in the description
I agree!
Every bit as good as a Caddy or anything else, but prettier.
My father had a caddy '70/4 door. But his sister,my aunty, had got the '72 boat tail, split rear window, but loaded! Power everything, big block, wheel package!🤤loved that thing! She used to call me her step son.
Long story short, she had done and cared for my sister and I. Just before she passed, she had put it in her will, the house and property got sold. My sister got half of the money, I got the Rivera!!!!!!. Sadly 😞 a truck ran off the road and through the garage and into the living room 😞😞 nobody was in the house,but the Riv. Didn't make it!😢 And get this... She used to tell me, "it's worth more than anything else"! Bank only gave us $5-6 grand .😢😭
I always liked the boattail. Funny how the rear design concept is so much like the 1963 Corvette Stingray, but HUGE!
No coincidence. Bill Mitchell was GM's chief of design from '58-'77 and had a huge influence on both cars. He loved the designs of the late 20s and 30s classics. He used a lot of styling cues from the Packards, Auburns, Duesenbergs and of course Cadillacs from that era.
KIRBY, WASN'T THE "BUICK" A "GM" PRODUCT... AND THE "CORVETTE"🤫
Fusion of a Buick Electra and a C2 Corvette.
+ The 5,000 Pound Corvette +
@@BuzzLOLOL Corvettes themselves were pretty heavy back then. The frame needed to support the fiberglass panels is considerable.
Dad hated it when it came out, but I always loved it. Brazenly garish. Few cars have such a different look depending on the angle it is viewed.
Inarguably, one of the most original and beautiful cars of all time.
The back end copies the 63' Corvette Stingray, so I wouldn't call it original.
Just purchased my 72 yesterday. 3rd gen rivs are seriously underappreciated.
Shhh🤫 your making the prices go up
Congrats!
I'm jealous. Enjoy!
Thanks
I have a 71 but wanted the 72. Just couldn't find one I was satisfied with.
Lounge on wheels for the mature 'mad man'. Thanks Bill.
Makes me laugh how much Bill hates his own rambling. *He does, he really does*
8:45
"He does, he really does" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
@@BoothsEurotrash I was waiting for someone to pick up on that! 😂
I hate his rambling too. Glad I have a "skip" ahead button.
@@hoodagooboy5981 Not only rambling but a little bit whiny
I have a '73 Buick Electra Limited with just over 20k miles, ALL original. I was with my Dad when he bought it brand-new. LOTS of simularities between the Limited and the Riv. Almost the same dash and seat designs, but the back of the Riv is killer!! I enjoyed hearing another 455/4bbl. opening up, last of the potent GM big-blocks! Thanks for showing us this gal!!
What an amazing car!!! Great showcase of it, Bill! These are some of the most visually striking vehicles ever made, and fun to drive.
I don't really consider this a 'boat tail' as the only boats with rears like this were trying to look more modern and less boatish and thus look like the old cars in the rear... 'real boat tails' come to a point in rear like a canoe with no rear fenders... I call these Rivieras the "5,000 Pound Corvettes"...
My fav Rivieras are the first gen 63-65 years.
I love this guy I used to have an uncle who was just like him complained about everything and yet somehow it was okay it was more funny than it was annoying.
Everyone should have an uncle like Bill.I'd love to party w/ Bill sometime.he's likeable & not politically correct .
He's just very knowledgeable with a fun personality. He's real, not phony and although delightfully inappropriate, he is never hateful.
@@richardmorris7063 I just love how much he b****** about the birds and then big ones come up he talks about how they're plotting on him. I'm new to this channel and he is a Dead ringer personality wise for my late uncle.
@@robertstone9988 been watching him 2 yrs ,he does his homework,funny,great story teller , he should have more sub's than Doug Demuro who has 3 and a half million .He's good but he ain't no Me Bill.😂
@@richardmorris7063 I'm going down a rabbit hole and watching all of his videos now
I had a 71 & a 72, my personal favorite is the 71, not only was the rear boat tail more pronounced, but it had the trunk loovers as did most. Definitely a Good Fellas car as I found cross hatched .44 magnum rounds behind the back seat, but also saw the rear quarter had been repaired from bullet holes. The frame above the rear wheel stopped both. And the 72 had MaxTrac, and it worked.
Incredible low mileage everything is so fresh, nice find my dude!
The A-platform concept is stunning. That could have easily been one of the most beautiful cars from the 70’s. I appreciate this one for its design as well, but my god that original car would have been fetching 6 figures in classic car auctions today had they produced it!
I had a 73 Riviera boat tail and I think the styling was second to none. It was Burnt Orange metallic.( just like the one Bruce Willis had in The Last Boy Scout.) It had the awesome chrome Buick mag style wheels with Michelin p235-15s. Great power,great ride,great handling,GREAT CAR!!!❤❤❤❤
I was 13 years old in 1973, this is a nice car I wish that GM would bring back this particular one in this generation as they did with the Chevy Camaro.
Government regs make it impossible
I love every facet of this 73. It fixed the excesses of the 71/72 and improved the interior. Absolutely stunning inside and out.
I had one of these in 1992 I was 17 . Man that thing would lay down the rubber. It’s one of the many classics that I wish I still had.
Thank you Bill, I watched most your videos over the past year or so and I really appreciate the history and reviews of all the different makes and models of cars, cats, goats and birds.
I know he has to do research on the cars for these videos. I am so very glad that he does. His videos are the most insightful ones I've seen. I mean really who has all of that information. Not only the specs on the cars but designers, heads of the companies, where else they have worked. What was going on in the world that would affect the cars. I mean he is just great.
I was about to get upset that the next review wasn't the Cordoba but then I saw this Riv. OMG!!!! Love it!
Bill doesn’t have a Cordoba. He’s just leading us on.
@@garysandiego Nooooooooooooo!!!
As always, great to get the weather report from you Bill ! I had a 73 Centurion back then. The 455 was a beast. Burned lots of gas !
Same. Had a 73 Centurion convertible in 70s brown with nutmeg (iirc) interior with the 455. With the way I drove that thing I doubt I ever got over 8 mpg.
Centurions are so rare, and so few people remember them! I remember at a junk yard I took the medallion off of one, because it was so cool! I think they were essentially dressed up LeSabre coupes, and with the Regal squeezed in there, as well as two door Rivs, Electras, LeSabres, Regals, variation of roofs on the coupes, hardtops, collonades, opera windows, and on and on, yet another bit comfy kind of upscale coupe like the Centurion was an odd play for the Buick lineup, to even deserve its own unique cool medallion!
And that's not even counting nearly infinite variations of all of these cars at the other GM divisions.
I think they are great cars, and don't get enough attention!
And so sad that now, you can't buy even ONE biggish, comfortable luxury coupe from ANY GM, or ANY American maker. Not one.
The closest thing is a base Dodge Challenger with the softest springs, but clearly aimed much more towards sport, not luxury. But at least it's a coupe, and decent sized.
Wow,,, this car was just SOOOOOOOOOOO Beautiful. Back in '79, our neighbor lady had a 73, and wow > just so SEXY of a CAR! It's a Cadillac on the inside. On the outside like a GIANT CORVETTE!!!!!!
Great review as always! I think part of the reason the rear end changed was because of the federal bumper standards the car companies had to deal with starting in 1973. The rear bumper in 1973 had to survive a 2.5 mph crash test, in 1974 it had to survive a 5 mph crash test.
I want it. A friend of mine had a robin egg blue 72 or 73 boattail back in the day. And another of the friends in my circle had two '65 Riv's, which one was a GS. I love the fact that Buicks are always the underdogs, and are usually dismissed. However, the '65 Rivy has always been a stand out as far as I'm concerned.
I had one of the Boat Tail Rivieras, Baby Blue paint, and White interior.
Both it off a Used Car lot in the late 70's, and what made me buy it, it was a GS, and a T-Top.
That car got a lot of interest from everyone.
Whenever I see you one of these I can’t help but hear Three dog night and Leon Russell, that was some of the music my brother-in-law played in his 73 Riviera when I was seven years old going with him to see the Springfield Indians of the old American hockey league, priceless memories
If anyone’s interested. I have a yellow 1971 Monte Carlo SS for sale with 522 miles. Yes 522 miles with ALL documentation.
PM me please
John DeBenedetto on Facebook
I could have driven any car i wanted in 73 and i bought a new Riviera G S Stage 1. I paid about the same price as a new Cadillac.
I can smell the English Leather aftershave through my phone.
Hahaha...now that was funny!
Maybe some Jade East , too
67- 68 was the best one IMHO
How do I love your videos Bill? Let me count the ways. Funny. Shrewd. Expert. Historical. Honest. Insightful. Entertaining. Informative. Unique.
Yeah, he's a bit of a classic 👍
Magnificent car, my brother had a 71 in high school, 455 V8 wonderful, his was a dark brown.
Finally a review of a CAR!
Enjoyed it immensely.
As a kid I loved this car when it first came out. I understood that it was controversial at the time but I could never understand that . To me that boat-tail is the best part of the car. Likewise I was also a fan of the Cadillac Seville Bustle-Back designs of the '80's.
That Riv is quite a catch. Twelve thousand miles over 48 years. Even with that gas guzzling 455 and 4500 lb curb weight, that is probably a bit more than one fill up per year, on average.
From the side-on view, the rear end looks bloated. From every other angle, the design is classic and so different from the appliances that we are offered today.
Thanks for a richly detailed and entertaining presentation.
These are fantastic videos with amazing cars filmed in a beautiful location, despite the birds!
Amazing and Stunning Riviera, and DAMN those Birds are HUGE. Thank you Bill.
I had a 74 Electra 225 about 30 years ago. Silver blue with beautiful blue brocade fabric seats. It had that same dash and 455 engine.
Beautiful ride. Nice burnouts and highway action as well as Bills observations.
Some people think the boat tail goes too far but I love it. I love rivieras also. Thanks for the video!
Fascinating. Love Rivieras (in general), but never knew all that much about them!
I love the sound of that 455. That’s a lot of “go power” there. I think you could get that engine and the 3.27 Posi-Trac rear end on the 73 Century as part of the police package. That was the model Kojak drove.
Got damn!!! About time💪🏾!!! I was looking 👀for a clean classic car to want to buy!!! I just brought a Mercury Marauder 03 because I been watching our favorite 🤩 UA-camr and his other video’s!!!
So the owner gave permission for you to smoke the tires. Sweet! Gorgeous vehicle.
“All of this is a tangled web” Pours coffee and gets comfortable. Love Bill ❤️
A boat tail was in a film called the Ice Storm about 1970s key parties in Connecticut.
Elijah wood
Yes, and I recall a cool early 1970s Country Squire wagon as well from that movie.
Thanks for the trip back in time. My dad had a ‘70 LeSabre with the 455 and yes, it got tire spin as well off that torquey big-block!
Awesome background on all the behind the scenes stuff that went into the making of this iconic vehicle.
You know your cars. And you crack me up with the birds and goats.
I remember a show called "Due South" from the 90's. Character called Ray Vecchio had a green 1972 Riviera (although throughout the show called a 1971 one). Little ol' me instantly fell in love with it. Stunning cars.
Yes, I could not think of that show’s name but it’s what I recall as well!
Same one Bruce Willis drove in The Last Boy Scout. Always dug this, and plenty of other classic GM designs from this era.
The 72 Riv could use unleaded premium. They had hardened valves. Btw. Most gas stations pumped fuel for you back then so the license plate fillers didn’t matter to the customer, Just make sure the cap is tight so all the fuel doesn’t leak out.
My dad always loved this diamond back model as we drove around in the 68 GTO. Hahaha I miss him.
Truly THE greatest, peerless Buick/GM product since the 56 Eldo Brougham. Simply priceless. The 65 RIV came close, but had nowhere near the rear. Never again. (71 was indeed better).
The B-body platform, when equipped with the right suspension option, was always a good handling vehicle.
Amazing car and review !! Priceless History lessons ! Love that rear view, arguably the best rear end of any car. The ‘71 front bumper was definitely sleeker before the 5 mph crash bumper took effect.
Thanks for another excellent, informative review, Bill. I had a 75 Century the same color... Ahh, the memories. Acres of brown vinyl, the capacious trunk to fill with elk antlers filched from the Yellowstone, CC and cokes and endless miles of Montana back roads.
Your breadth of knowledge is remarkable and thoroughly appreciated.
I graduated high school in 88 in Chicago. I find your sense of humor hysterical and your references are never lost on me as I infer we are about the same age.
I am most fond of your videos on classic American cars, though I appreciate all of them.
First car, 1972 Pontiac Ventura II, had a 1977 Grand Prix (loved it), also had a 1983 Renault Fuego (cool looking nightmare). My last car was a 1973 Buick Electra 225 which had the same engine/ carburetor as this, I believe. Loved it.
Bro. I haven't been this exited about a care review in a *long* time. I love this car, it's actually one of my dream cars actually.
_"The Boattail Years"_ - These were my favorite of the Rivs, especially with the GS 455... Never owned one, but I knew a small handful of individuals whom did and still do! Almost like looking at a 2nd Gen Vette Fastback on bigtime steroids!
I love that car. I never knew it was meant to be smaller and lighter, wow, that would have been amazing. Wish they made it the way the designers intended. Still my favorite Buick, one of my favorite cars. I am a sucker for that swoopy boat tail and rear window, curvy rear fenders. I hope Ed Cole and Lee Mays had heartburn or something.
These cars are just so damn cool... the view of the rear from any angle, but especially from the front, looking overtop of the rear quarters, like at 3:13 and 3:22 is just awesome. There were three of these parked at an (abandoned?) property at Love Canal, NY for years. I remember you could even spot them from Google Earth because of the unique roof / window layout. Wonder if they are still there, fading away...
My grandfather had one of these I think he got 5 mpg, I remember that rear window...... good times 😎👍
Too bad about those 1970's emissions slugs gas hog engines...
Bill, you have a way with words much akin to Paul Harvey in that you paint a picture with language. You have the ability to transport a person to a time and place that always stirrs memories from a particular era through your knowledge of automobiles and the English language. Thank you
Enjoyable and interesting as always, Bill. Beautiful car except for the park bench front bumper. This bumper style inspired Volvo to introduce rubber church benches, front and back, for the 74 models. Being Swedish I would love a US coast to coast drive in one of these Rivieras. A 60:s Olds Toronado would be acceptable for the same chore. Or a Corvette C2. Or a…
I'd put the 72 front end on it
Ooh! A classic boat from Bill! The best!!
THE most controversial Riviera was that downsized compact thing they put out in 1986. Killed GM. A plus platform was a two door on the GM mid sized sedan wheelbase. You know this Bill but between the vultures and the whiskey you left that out.
Sheez. Ya coulda shown it from the outside with all windows down. How often do we get yo see a hard top ;)
That was Roger B Smith the one that didn't want to meet Michael Moore he had some great ideas …not.
You might be right… the Eldo and Riv were atrocities. The emergency lengthening helped, but one can tell the last of the car guys at GM had left the room
@@Rfk1966 we should check the sales stats of the Lincoln Mark VII and VIII in comparison for those years. The 85 downsizing if full sized again and the riv/Toro/eldo was painful. I doubt much mpg was gained.
Hey Bill, glad the weather in Florida is not too bad today, your Canadians are going to be very chipper!!! The 71-73 Rivieras are near & dear to my heart, thanks for showcasing it And it peels out!! Very cool 😎👍👍
Bill,love that car,almost bought one as my first car in 1982 in high school but it had too many mechanical issues.Ended up buying a 1978 Thunderbird .
Great vid, always loved the Buick Riviera III - remember them well as a kid aged 12 in 1973. Lovely car. Take care of her. As rare as hens teeth
Back in 1974, my grandmother gave my mom her 67 Riviera and bought a 74 Riviera.The 67 is long gone, but the 74 is still in the garage with 67K miles, and hope to have it run again some day.
Bill do an early suicide door Lincoln convertible please.I loved this things since I was 7.when I was a kid I'd go to the magazine rack to see the new cars in September. Amazing times ,every yr or 2 they'd get a complete redesign.I'm rambling like Bill now,ill slow dn on the red bull!
I remember falling in love with these boat-tail rivs from the 90's cop show "Due South". The car was a star of the show
I nearly bought one to have for a daily driver , beautiful car . Thanks !!
I used to pump gas at my friend's parents gas station in the mid to late 70s when I was about 10 (child labour in it's finest hour) , and I do remember most of the Buicks from this era having gas fillers that you had to kneel down to get at. LOL
Does this guy know how entertaining he is? I'm living in Manhattan in a one-bedroom apartment, rides a bike around the city and has zero interest in cars, yet I watched, and listened, to the whole video.
This car is a rolling work of art,a true to form masterpiece!.Hail to Bill Mitchell for designing this beauty!.John M Guinto
Hey Bill, great video from a Riviera lover. If you can, which I know is almost impossible, find a early 80’s T-Type. A Riv with a Grand National engine, would be worth trying to find and review.
I have to say,that is a very cool looking shade of Red. Looks spectacular on that Riv. It looks like FIRETHORN RED. One of my favorite colors!!! PERFECTO!!!
“What do you have here, the world’s biggest ashtray?!?”
Pure gold 😂.
Buick has always been my favorite brand from GM and the Riviera was the one to have. The boat tail was the most stunning of them all in my opinion ,though only until 1972, because of the ugly federal bumper in 1973…
Bill, I may not comment on every video but I sure as hell watch every one beginning to end, and enjoy every moment. I learn something about car history every time I watch and you really know how to wax poetic about these cars. And you sure have a knack for finding and featuring the survivors of these older models. Anyway even after watching regularly for the past few years I will still click on your video before almost anyone else I'm subscribed to.
This guy is a car curator. Love this channel...
It's amazing cars like this were made at all. Totally nuts design.
This car showed up in the film Crank with Jason Statham driving it around the inside of a mall - that's another one and i swear i never get tired of seeing this car
“Lucky enough, all of these cars came with with the Turbo Hydra 400 tranny…” “…” Lol, I love that!
Also, my dad was a GM guy, and a lot of his friends had GM products as well. These seventies-era cars are a serious trip down Memory Lane, as I recall cars he owned and cars his relatives and friends owned, and I appreciate the heck out of these videos. Keep ‘em coming!
I’m a FORD guy but have always loved these. Especially in the dark green and the medium metallic brown. Cars no longer have the styling cues that this does. Elegant and sporty.
Hi Bill. Always loved the boat tail, ended up getting a 1971 copper orange one, in France, on US election day 2016 (memorable). I tell my friends it was the car Stevie Wonder bought with money from Master Blaster...
I've always loved this generation of Riviera. In high school one of the cheerleaders drove her dad's 1973 white on green boattail Riviera. She did not like driving the car it was so big. He would not give her a car that she wanted until she graduated or earned it I believe he is now a top executive and a Filter Company. I hope she still has the car.
My sister’s boyfriend had one of these and I thought it was just the most beautiful car, The ride was incredible. He loaned it to my brother and he wrecked it, remember going with my mom to pick him up from the police station the next morning. Classic lol
The 73 Riviera was the best one in this style, I love the big front 5mph impact bumper, it's stylish, strong, tough and bold.
I very much agree with you!
Imposing, but still graceful.
I like the gills on the 71 trunk
Love your reviews!🤣🤣🤣 Hilarious, and informative... Strange combination, but entertaining 😎😎😎 You know your 70s GM trivia!
I knew a girl in my 20's who said her dad drew the design concept for this era Riv. I tried to find the dudes name after a few years and couldn't. Always loved the look of these things!
Yes Joseph Hollenbeck drove one and I cannot believe you realized it was in GO!!!!! Damn Bill you know your SH#T!!!! As if I didn’t already know that. But knowing there was a Rivi in such an obscure movie is pretty strong! Go is actually a pretty cool movie with a good role for Tim Olyphant. Some people might know him from Justified and I think he’s going to be in Havoc. One of the coolest actors out there. Anyway, mad props Bill. Great video and info as always!
My Grandfather had one of these with White leather interior it had the console shifter and was maroon exterior. Beautiful car!!!👍👍👍
Nice cruiser! Almost bought a 72 when I was a teenager. I passed on buying it when I went to look at the carb I found that it was running without an air filter. Lord knows what that engine ingested.
Bill... I 100% agree with you about the Florida weather, especially speaking about ALL SEASONS/ 24-7
Now this is a beautiful work of art on wheels !
Love the way you explain the history of this and all your other cars. Holy shit.
This guy is funniest UA-cam car guy. I really enjoy his schtick, and he's also more informative than most of these other car enthusiasts who will tell you engine size and torque and give you a tour of the car without any back story to speak of.
Today is going to be a great day. Thanks Bill. Cant wait to watch it.
I have to listen to my family and I love them. But Bill, you are the only person left. I cannot stand listening to thank you so much.