This 1973 Buick Riviera Boattail is a Beautiful Classic Today, But Was Controversial In Its Time
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 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.
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
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.
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.
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 .😢😭
Lounge on wheels for the mature 'mad man'. Thanks Bill.
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 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
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!
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 🤩 RUclipsr and his other video’s!!!
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
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.
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.
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.
Finally a review of a CAR!
Enjoyed it immensely.
These are fantastic videos with amazing cars filmed in a beautiful location, despite the birds!
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!!!!!!
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!
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.
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 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!!
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
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
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.
Beautiful ride. Nice burnouts and highway action as well as Bills observations.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Love your reviews!🤣🤣🤣 Hilarious, and informative... Strange combination, but entertaining 😎😎😎 You know your 70s GM trivia!
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.
So the owner gave permission for you to smoke the tires. Sweet! Gorgeous vehicle.
Fascinating. Love Rivieras (in general), but never knew all that much about them!
Bill, those big black birds are definitely turkey vultures. But don't worry, they won't eat you until after you are dead. For example, if a giant python slithers out of the Everglades and squeezes you to death and then decides you are too big to swallow whole, the vultures will swoop in and have a feast. They usually start with the eyes, a nice soft point of entry. Have a wonderful 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!
Same one Bruce Willis drove in The Last Boy Scout. Always dug this, and plenty of other classic GM designs from this era.
These do always remind me of Fletch, aka Dr. Rosenpenis, aka Don Corleone, aka Ted Nugent..
Nice review as always of a non-Oldsmobuick, Bill.
Nice car Bill, thanks for the video.....If that's a vulture don't worry about it, unless you have an animal carcass on your head. 😁😉
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.
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.
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.
I love the boattail Rivieras. I had no idea there were a significant number of people who didn't. Funnily enough, if this car had been produced for the A-special platform, I wouldn't be terribly interested in it. It's the fact that it's a fullsize car that looks this cool that makes it so appealing to me. Only lackluster part of the design for me is the front. It's not bad, but it feels bland compared to the rest of the car.
I also love how Bill is always at odds with the animal kingdom in these videos. The little doomsday interjections crack me up.
Glass, glass... the problem with contemporary vehicle's is the reduction, down size of glass.
Amazing and Stunning Riviera, and DAMN those Birds are HUGE. Thank you Bill.
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.
I love every facet of this 73. It fixed the excesses of the 71/72 and improved the interior. Absolutely stunning inside and out.
35:42 hopefully Andrew puts that Mercedes up for sale on Cars & Bids too so more people can be treated to that hilarious review with all the guns stashed inside the car. 😂
Doug getting rich off Bill's non PC straight to the point humour
Oooh link pls lol
@@KarlHamilton - ruclips.net/video/uHR0kOm3n5I/видео.html
The fun begins at the 15 minute mark.
@@drivedb7 Thank you very much 😃
A real American car
Haha, I love the outlandish tales of stereotypes! The alcoholic satanic farmer from Idaho who hoardes Rivieras! May there be more of them out there. Interestingly, I just noticed how its profile reminds me of a Jensen Interceptor (long hood; big glass rear window).
I ACTUALLY OWNED A BEAUTIFUL 1972' BOATTAIL NAMED "SLOOP JOHN B"☘️
I always appreciate the history lessons that come from Bill on each car he reviews…he’s very knowledgeable. Bill sounds like an old man but I assume he’s only about 50 based on prior videos in which I think he said he graduated high school in 1989 (unless he was left back a few times lol)
I think the 1970 was the worst looking Riviera, followed by the 1977-78. The mid 1980s downsized ones were not good either. All others were gorgeous in their own ways.
He gives a shout out to Cars and Bids!! Maybe Doug Demuro should give a shout out to Bill!!
Cattle farmers around here lose calves to black vultures Bill. Best beware. Love the car and your channel.
Awesome background on all the behind the scenes stuff that went into the making of this iconic vehicle.
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
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!!!
Magnificent car, my brother had a 71 in high school, 455 V8 wonderful, his was a dark brown.
I don't want to ever see that car have oversized ghetto rims on it.
Or two inches off the ground.
Or some country azz tires and suspension for muddin' in the sticks.
You know your cars. And you crack me up with the birds and goats.
The B-body platform, when equipped with the right suspension option, was always a good handling vehicle.
How's things going Bill? Shame all the animals are gone when are they taking down the Confederate Statue in the driveway.
How you feeling, Paulie? Hopefully better.
@@mikeskipworth856
Recovering very well thank you 👍 got discharged on Tuesday.
@@paulie-Gualtieri. Excellent news. Glad you’re on the mend.
Things are good, Paulie. Glad to hear you’re feeling better. You’re also right about the statue.
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...
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.
Unbelievable channel, so glad i stumbled on this gem of a RUclipsr
That's a dealership's service dept sticker
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.
It’s only beautiful today because nowadays the cars are so damn cookie cutter ugly.
Aren't they!
Love it. Big guns easily fit in the trunk as well as every other part of this beautiful mobb boss boat.
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.
TH 400 ended up in Ferraris as well.
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...
Hey Bill Good to see ya , Man I gotta get some money to buy these Beautiful cars you always show !!!!
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!
Nice car !!!Thank you America !!!
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!!!❤❤❤❤
Some people think the boat tail goes too far but I love it. I love rivieras also. Thanks for the video!
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 .
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 👍
When can I buy a curious cars t-shirt with the goats on a porsche silloutte graphic?
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...
_"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!
your channel has open my eyes to post 70's cars. I guess i'd really didn't appreciated these cars having grown up with them thanks. Love your rambling. Going all over the road. You've might have been a bias tire in a different life !!!
That Buick mag wheel was the most elegant looking chrome plated mag of any American car maker ever in my opinion.
Hell yes. I love these cars.
Nice car but I would've preferred the 1971-72 Riviera's over the 1973's due to the smaller bumpers.
Darn it Bill, why do you tease me with this beauty. You know every time you say "it's not for sale" , god kills a puppy.
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
Amazing narrative, as always.
These things took a lot of s**t when they came out ('polarizing' might be a nice characterization), but I think they're a tour de force - though the 71 & 72 are better b/c of the 73 bumpers and toned down nose and tail. Granted it was big, but even road tests of the day gave it good marks, especially with the GS package. Neighbor had one in the late 70s. Single guy and unusually popular with the pot crowd - had a huge 2 story greenhouse out back - later I found out he was a recognized professor of some higher level math and grew prize winning orchids - but what else? To keep the good kids away there were always vicious rumors, but I doubt the freaks would have stood for any or that. Anyway, this car is one I've toyed about owning, still reasonable-ish. Love the buckets and console version with the cantilevered shifter. Still think the 63-54 was the best design, though the consensus seems to be the 66-67. On this one, they should have pushed the rear wheels out a little. The bird, BTW, is waiting for you to croak - and the mere fact that they're interested should be disconcerting :)
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.
Bill...long time subscriber...you need to bring in some ROOSTERS! :)
Hey this isn't a cordoba lol
Aunt Barbara is more concerned that the Winnebago has been missing for over two weeks now... 😲
It's amazing cars like this were made at all. Totally nuts design.
Land yacht special! Bring 8 tracks but leave behind Capt and Tenille and Caroenters. Play some funky music white boy. Tower of Power would be great. Mountain ‘Climbing. ‘
I nearly bought one to have for a daily driver , beautiful car . Thanks !!
Being that I live about 20 mins from the ID border, if say that ID farmers go out and shoot guns, ride dirt and on road motorcycles/atv's, go hunting, go fishing, basically do anything outdoorsy. Idaho is one of the last of the more or less legit free states left. If you've never been to especially northern ID, I highly suggest it!! Some of the most beautiful country in the lower 48!!