A full-size coupé or personal luxury car, the early models of the Riviera in particular have been highly praised by automotive journalists and writers.
1973 - Buick Riviera Boattail
Buick Riviera
A common misconception is that all Rivieras produced after the 1965 model are front wheel drive cars; this is true only of the 1979-1999 models. The Riviera's stablemate, the Oldsmobile Toronado, was always front wheel drive, however, as was the Cadillac Eldorado beginning in 1967.
1973 BUICK RIVIERA BOAT TAIL.
The Riviera name first entered the Buick line in 1949 as the designation for the new two-door pillarless hardtop, which was described in advertising as "stunningly smart." The Buick Roadmaster Riviera coupe (along with the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and Oldsmobile 98 Holiday coupe) constituted the first mass production use of this body style, which was to become extremely popular over the next 30 years.
sickeststeve\x26#39;s 1973 Buick
From 1950 to 1953 the "Riviera" designation was also used on versions of the 4-door Buick Roadmaster and Super sedans. The 1950-53 Buick Roadmaster and Super Riviera 4-door sedan featured more standard features, more plush interior trim and, most significantly, a wheelbase (and overall length) that was 4 inches (102 mm) longer than a regular Buick Roadmaster or Super 4-door sedan. The 1950-53 Buick Super Riviera 4-door sedan was still 0.75 inches shorter in wheelbase and length than the regular Buick Roadmaster and 4.75 inches shorter than the Roadmaster Riviera 4-door sedan.
Buick Riviera Styling Changes
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
Starting in 1955 GM also offered a four-door pillarless hardtop body style, and the "Riviera" designation was also applied to these models. Riviera hardtop bodies were offered on all Buick lines in the next few years, including the Buick Roadmaster, Buick Super, Buick Century, and Buick Special. Since it was a body style designation and not a model, however, the Riviera name did not usually appear on the car. The last usage of the term "Riviera" to describe hardtops was 1963, as the formal designation of the #4829 Electra 225 Riviera four-door hardtop. Coincidentally, this was the same year the Riviera would become a separate model in its own right.
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
Buick Riviera 1973
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
In the late 1950s, GM began to feel the need for a personal luxury car to compete with the highly successful Ford Thunderbird — a uniquely styled, two-door, four-passenger car with an image of both comfort and performance. The design that became the first Riviera was created as a Cadillac model, the XP-715, possibly to be called LaSalle, after Cadillac's smaller "companion" car of the 1930s. Its styling was reportedly inspired by GM styling chief Bill Mitchell's visit to London during the period, when he was struck by the sight of an elegant, custom-bodied Rolls Royce in the fog. He later said that "knife-edged" styling was what he wanted for the new model, but with a lower profile and a bit of Ferrari thrown in for performance. The design itself was penned by stylist Ned Nickles.
brochure. 1971
1971-1973 Buick Riviera
The management of Cadillac was not particularly interested, since the division was very successful at the time and needed all their production capacity for their existing models. In an unusual move, in 1960 the project was thrown open for competition by the other divisions. Buick, which was desperate to revive its flagging sales, enlisted the aid of the McCann-Erickson advertising agency, with which it had just signed, to create its presentation. Buick won, and the finished design was adapted to a shortened version of Buick's cruciform frame. The design was substantially the same as the original, although the hidden headlights — originally concealed in the fender grilles — were initially omitted for cost reasons.
1973 BUICK RIVIERA - BOATTAIL,
Buick Riviera
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
THE BUICK RIVIERA BOATTAIL.
1973 - Buick Riviera Boattail
1973 - Buick Riviera Boattail
Buick Riviera
A common misconception is that all Rivieras produced after the 1965 model are front wheel drive cars; this is true only of the 1979-1999 models. The Riviera's stablemate, the Oldsmobile Toronado, was always front wheel drive, however, as was the Cadillac Eldorado beginning in 1967.
1973 BUICK RIVIERA BOAT TAIL.
The Riviera name first entered the Buick line in 1949 as the designation for the new two-door pillarless hardtop, which was described in advertising as "stunningly smart." The Buick Roadmaster Riviera coupe (along with the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and Oldsmobile 98 Holiday coupe) constituted the first mass production use of this body style, which was to become extremely popular over the next 30 years.
sickeststeve\x26#39;s 1973 Buick
From 1950 to 1953 the "Riviera" designation was also used on versions of the 4-door Buick Roadmaster and Super sedans. The 1950-53 Buick Roadmaster and Super Riviera 4-door sedan featured more standard features, more plush interior trim and, most significantly, a wheelbase (and overall length) that was 4 inches (102 mm) longer than a regular Buick Roadmaster or Super 4-door sedan. The 1950-53 Buick Super Riviera 4-door sedan was still 0.75 inches shorter in wheelbase and length than the regular Buick Roadmaster and 4.75 inches shorter than the Roadmaster Riviera 4-door sedan.
Buick Riviera Styling Changes
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
Starting in 1955 GM also offered a four-door pillarless hardtop body style, and the "Riviera" designation was also applied to these models. Riviera hardtop bodies were offered on all Buick lines in the next few years, including the Buick Roadmaster, Buick Super, Buick Century, and Buick Special. Since it was a body style designation and not a model, however, the Riviera name did not usually appear on the car. The last usage of the term "Riviera" to describe hardtops was 1963, as the formal designation of the #4829 Electra 225 Riviera four-door hardtop. Coincidentally, this was the same year the Riviera would become a separate model in its own right.
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
Buick Riviera 1973
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
In the late 1950s, GM began to feel the need for a personal luxury car to compete with the highly successful Ford Thunderbird — a uniquely styled, two-door, four-passenger car with an image of both comfort and performance. The design that became the first Riviera was created as a Cadillac model, the XP-715, possibly to be called LaSalle, after Cadillac's smaller "companion" car of the 1930s. Its styling was reportedly inspired by GM styling chief Bill Mitchell's visit to London during the period, when he was struck by the sight of an elegant, custom-bodied Rolls Royce in the fog. He later said that "knife-edged" styling was what he wanted for the new model, but with a lower profile and a bit of Ferrari thrown in for performance. The design itself was penned by stylist Ned Nickles.
brochure. 1971
1971-1973 Buick Riviera
The management of Cadillac was not particularly interested, since the division was very successful at the time and needed all their production capacity for their existing models. In an unusual move, in 1960 the project was thrown open for competition by the other divisions. Buick, which was desperate to revive its flagging sales, enlisted the aid of the McCann-Erickson advertising agency, with which it had just signed, to create its presentation. Buick won, and the finished design was adapted to a shortened version of Buick's cruciform frame. The design was substantially the same as the original, although the hidden headlights — originally concealed in the fender grilles — were initially omitted for cost reasons.
1973 BUICK RIVIERA - BOATTAIL,
Buick Riviera
1973 Buick Riviera Boattail
THE BUICK RIVIERA BOATTAIL.
1973 - Buick Riviera Boattail
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