Unrestored 72k Survivor, 455, 1963 1964 1965 Through 1976 = Classic Rivieras. Az on 2040-cars

This beautiful classic 1976 Buick Riviera is an original, rust free, unrestored, survivor in amazing condition. It has traveled only 72,309 miles (as documented by receipts) since being bought new by Carl Nyberg from Russ Dellen Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac GMC. When Carl passed away, his son Rick took over caring for it and when Rick passed away, his daughter Kymberli became the new caretaker. Kymberli did not have a garage to keep the car in and rather than letting it sit out, she sold it to me. I had planned on keeping the car "forever" but circumstances have changed and I need to let her go. The Riviera has always been garaged, carefully maintained, never smoked in, and just babied its whole life. The original paperwork was saved as well as many of the receipts over the years. The Buick still wears its original code 36 "Boston Red" (aka "Firethorn Red") paint, except for the bumper filler pieces which were replaced and repainted since they crack with age. With the white vinyl top and red and white interior, the car has a very striking and classy appearance. I get smiles and "thumbs up" and compliments whenever I take the car out.

I always liked the 1976 Riviera since it was the end of the line for the classic Rivieras. It had the same basic platform Buick had used since 1963 and was the last year for the big 455 4-bbl V8 engine. I like the rear end styling and the "high level" brake lights which give the car a unique look, especially at night (see photo). They were classy boulevard cruisers that had a great ride and all the cabin comforts of a more modern car.

This Riviera is well equipped with the 60/40 notchback dual power seats, tilt-telescopic steering wheel, am-fm-8 track radio, power antenna, rear window defogger, speed alert (see 2nd needle in speedometer photo), cruise control, power trunk, fiber optic light monitors, chrome road wheels, and as you might expect, air conditioning, power windows and locks, and several other convenience options. To my knowledge, everything works except for the cruise control and the clock. My experience in the past is that the contacts in the cruise control enable switch get dirty from non-use and it is a fairly easy fix. I don't use cruise so it was never a high priority to fix it. Many times the clock will work again with just a cleaning and lube.

The Riviera was a trip down memory lane for me. I used to own a 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 and a 1971 GSX as well as a GTO and a 442 with the 455 engines and although the Riviera is not as strong as those, it still has the torque and feel of a 455 and the sure shifting turbo 400 transmission behind it.

As mentioned earlier, this Buick is in amazing original condition but there are a few flaws that did not show up very well in the photos. As you might expect from a unrestored 38 year old car, the original lacquer paint is showing some cloudy/fuzziness on the top surfaces but as you can see in the photos, it still has a good reflection and looks darn good. There are a couple of small parking lot dings/chips on the body. Inside, the door panel arm rests have had some cracks repaired. The undercarriage has never been detailed and has no rust other than the normal surface rust on the unpainted pieces. These "defects" are very minor and as they say in the car hobby, "they are only original once" and for this reason, an unrestored car in this condition is always worth more than a restored one.

Mechanically the Riviera is in great shape and the car drives tight, smooth, and strong. The tires are older Michelin XH's but they are still in good shape and ride smooth. The battery, brakes, fuel pump and so on are all good and I would not hesitate to drive the car anywhere.

The Riviera is located in Payson, Arizona, 85541 which is about 75 miles northeast of metro Phoenix. I will assist in any way I can in getting the car delivered to you. Please note that even though I do not have the Riviera advertised anywhere else, I do reserve the right to end the auction early if bidding is sluggish so please do not wait until the last minute to bid to avoid the disappointment of finding the auction closed. Finally, although I have done my best to accurately describe the car, it is, of course, sold as is without any warranty.

This Riviera is really a unique and special car and a real survivor. Unlike most older cars that have been abused, neglected, owned by a bunch of kids, and then had someone try to bring them back to life, this one has always been cared for and has had pride of ownership and it shows. I hope the new owner will carry on this tradition. Not only does the car deserve it, but by doing so you will preserve a piece of history and ensure your investment will continue to go up in value. Here is a chance to own a collectable car that is fun to drive, draws a lot of attention, and yet is affordable and does not require you invest a lot of money.

Please feel free to email or call me at 928-468-7060 with any questions you may have. I can usually be reached most afternoons and evenings.

Thanks for looking!