The story of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling” starts with a little bird with self-esteem issues due to abusive animals, only for him to attempt to throw himself towards death until he discovers he’s now a beautiful swan and he has no need to believe the cruel. The story of the Buick Riviera is quite the opposite: arguably the most beautiful 1960s car that evolved into a car that could not compete with its earlier incarnations. Our Pick of the Day is one of these cars, a 1970 Buick Riviera that is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in St. Louis, Missouri. (Click the link to view the listing)
When Buick introduced the personal luxury Riviera for 1963, everyone in America stood still to pause and admire what a beautiful car it was. Influenced by the razor-edged British cars of a previous era, the Riviera had its sights on the Ford Thunderbird. Standard was a 401ci Wildcat 445 “Nailhead” V8 with 325 horsepower, with a 340-horsepower 425ci Wildcat 465 becoming the standard engine for 1964; an optional Super Wildcat with 360 horsepower featured dual-quads.
For 1965, the Riviera was given a facelift, now with headlights hidden behind ribbed vertical covers on both sides of the grille. The simulated air intake on the rear fenders were eliminated, and the taillights moved to the bumper. A new Gran Sport package came with a tweaked suspension and standard Super Wildcat V8. This was arguably the Riviera’s peak, though the 1966 redesign was fantastic and only pales in comparison to the first-generation models.
A new engine design with measurements of 430ci arrived for 1967, and the Riviera was restyled for 1968, its curves bulked up and hardened. Truth be told, the Thunderbird went through a more drastic evolution, with the Riviera arguably managing it with more grace. For 1970, the Riviera experienced another restyle, a one-year look that doesn’t sit in the annals of great Rivieras, though it has its charms.
Sharing a family resemblance with both full-size and mid-size Buicks, the 1970 Riviera featured a new 455ci V8 offering 370 horsepower. Unlike in previous years, this Riviera allowed buyers to make choices in styling that was unique among vehicles from Detroit at the time. Glance at the brochure and you can see Riviera was Bold! With fender skirts, while Riviera II was Gracious! With thin body-side moldings. Riviera III was Vibrant! with a sporty flair thanks to unadorned flanks and no skirts. A Gran Sport package offered a heavy-duty suspension, Positive traction differential with standard 3.42 gears, H78 x 15-inch tires, and GS badges.
The Riviera would regain its mojo in 1971 with the “Boattail,” so this Titan Red 1970 Buick Riviera is the red-headed stepchild of Buick’s personal luxury model because it’s wedged between two glorious Rivieras from different generations. This one features both the side molding and skirts (should we call it Riviera IV?), plus Buick’s famous chrome-plated wheels. It was originally built with a white vinyl top, but the top has been removed. Inside, you’ll find a Pearl White interior with the optional bucket seats and console. Features include air conditioning, variable ratio power steering and power brakes, AccuDrive suspension system, clock, driver’s side remote mirror, three-inch exhaust system, 2.78 gears, plus upgraded Kenwood stereo/CD player with a pair of rear speakers, and under-dash aftermarket gauges.
There’s many vehicles on the Island of Forgotten Collectible Cars, and the 1970 Buick Riviera is probably the only one of this model to call the island home. With a hot engine and unusual styling that will be appreciated from Harlem to Huntington Beach, the 1970 Riviera is the duckling that’s overdue for its debut. For $48,995, you can strut your stuff and get noticed.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com