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(308) 234-1964

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November 9, 2015 by

1983 Buick Riviera Coupe

1983 Buick Riviera Coupe, 2-door

Original cost:  $15,905  (In 1983, average household income, $21,070; average house cost $82,600)

On loan from:  Brad Kernick, Kearney, NE

Number made:  1,330

Engine, etc.:  V-6; 231 cu. in.; 180 hp; automatic; 3,590 lbs.; 114” wheelbase

The Riviera nameplate was used by Buick from 1963 – 1999.

The Buick Company began business in 1902.  Before this, David Dunbar Buick owned a plumbing company.  It was sold in 1899 and the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company was formed to produce gasoline engines mostly for farm and marine use.  In 1902 a reorganization formed the Buick Manufacturing Company making Buick one of the oldest continuous automobile producers in American history.

The Riviera name first appeared on a Buick in 1949 and was used to designate a new two-door pillar-less hardtop known as the Roadmaster Riviera.  In 1951 it was used for the Super 4-door sedan.  It wasn’t until 1963 that the Riviera became an individual model rather than a name used across Buick’s model lines.

In 1979 the Riviera was redesigned and reconstructed.  It had front-wheel drive for the first time, a 114 in. wheelbase, and a design shared with the Olds Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado.  Motor Trend named it their “Car of the Year”.

Buick began trying to reach out to a younger, more affluent customer in the 1980’s.  Lloyd Reuss became the general manager in 1980 and wanted Buick to become an American-style BMW and he got his way.  The 350 engine was dropped in 1981 and replaced with the Olds 5-liter engine with 140 hp.  The V-6 252 cu. in. engine was now standard.  In 1982 Buick added a convertible to the Riviera line.

By 1982 there were sporty versions of almost every Buick model that featured a firmer chassis, a more potent engine, and “driver oriented” interiors.  Buick started an Indy-car racing program for its V-6 and offered add-on parts to increase performance in order to improve its image as a more youthful, performance-oriented brand.  In 1983 Buick was chosen as the Pace Car to lead the Indianapolis 500.

It worked for a while and Buick went to third in industry production in 1982-3 and fourth in 1984-5.  It slipped in 1986 and 1987 mainly due to new competition from Pontiac which had returned to its ’60’s-style performance theme.

In 1984, Buick decided to cease trying to be all things to all people and began returning to its traditional upper-middle class luxury market niche.

Sources: http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10562/Buick-Riviera.aspx

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/buick12.htm

See also: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Buick/1983_Buick/1983%20Buick%20Full%20Line%20Prestige/index1.html  (Original 1983 Buick brochure)

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 234-1964

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