Modified 1973 Buick Riviera

This 1973 Buick Riviera was acquired out of California by the seller in 2018, and a custom interior with black leather upholstery was fitted in 2021. Finished in Regal Black, the car is powered by a 455ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. The suspension has been lowered, Billet Specialities 20″ wheels and staggered-width tires are installed, and Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes have been adapted. Other equipment includes a two-piece front bumper, curved rear glass, bucket-style front and rear seats, a center console, cupholders, air conditioning, power windows, a push-button retro-style radio, and a dual exhaust system. The rear window was replaced in preparation for the sale. This “boat-tail” Riviera is now offered with recent service records and a clean Illinois title in the seller’s name.

The interior was overhauled by Riggs Bros. Auto Tops & Interiors of Downers Grove, Illinois, in 2019. The front and rear seats were converted to bucket-style setups separated by custom center consoles with cupholders. The seats are upholstered in black leather with white stitching and embroidered Riviera-logo backrests. The dash pad and door and side panels also were redone in black with white stitching. Appointments include air conditioning, power windows, and a push-button retro-style radio. Sound-deadening material was applied to the floors before custom cut-pile carpeting was installed. The doorsill plates, seatbelts, and floor mats also were replaced in 2019.

The three-spoke steering wheel has woodgrain trim and sits ahead of a 120-mph speedometer, a fuel-level gauge, and warning lights. The five-digit odometer shows 68k miles, approximately 200 of which were added under current ownership.

The third-generation Riviera was styled under the direction of Bill Mitchell by future Nissan design chief Jerry Hirshberg and features quad headlamps along with a boat-tail-inspired rear end. This example is finished in Regal Black (19). The front bumper has been updated to an open-center two-piece setup without overriders, and the rear bumper also lacks overriders. Other exterior details include fender-mounted turn-signal monitors, dual side mirrors, and bright trim. The curved rear-window glass was replaced and resealed in preparation for the sale.

Black-finished Billet Specialities 20″ wheels with bright lips are mounted with BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 tires measuring 245/40 at the front and 285/35 out back. The suspension has been lowered, and the brakes have been converted to Wilwood discs with red calipers at all four corners. The brakes and the steering are power assisted.

The 455ci V8 was topped with a four-barrel carburetor from the factory for a rating of 250 net horsepower. Buick-branded rocker covers, an open-element air cleaner, a CVF air-conditioning compressor, and a billet accessory bracket are found in the engine bay.

Power is routed to the rear wheels through a Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission.