Buick Riviera 'Boattail' Coupé, 1972
Buick Riviera III
Buick Riviera III•
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Chassis No.: 4Y87U2H932967
Engine No.: Not known
Registration: MBD 558K
With over a million produced over numerous generations to date, there is no doubt that Buick represents a cornerstone in American car design and production. Allegedly reflecting the French Riviera, this stylish coupé was used to denote a premium-trimmed, six-window hardtop style.
The elegant ground-up styling sported new ‘Coke bottle styling’, with the middle of the body exhibiting a tapered ‘tucked-in’ appearance. With the same power as the bigger Buicks and less weight, the Riviera had sparkling all-round performance; hitting 0-60mph in about eight seconds.
Jaguar founder and designer, Sir William Lyons, remarked that the Rivera’s designer, Bill Mitchell, had done "a very wonderful job," with Sergio Pininfarina declaring it "one of the most beautiful American cars ever built.” The ‘Vee-butted’ fastback rear window was inspired by the Corvette Sting Ray and worked well, the profile well considered and swept from front to back.
Acquired in 2013 from a US collector in Flint, Michigan, curiously just a few miles down the road from the factory, this car then went to Sussex before forming part of an extensive 70’s US collection in Northampton. This ‘burnished bronze’ with contrasting sandalwood interior example presents well with excellent carpets and optional power bench seats and column shift. Fully up and running with no rattles or squeaks and with new rear springs fitted, this car last had an MoT test certificate in October 2018 and should be simply procedural to acquire another.
